Gourmet cooking demo at Soons Orchards

New Hampton — Learn how to prepare fresh produce with a Culinary Institute of America grad — Chef Shawn Hubbell — from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Soons Orchards in New Hampton. The day also marks the first apple cider pressing of the season at Soon’s. It’s the peak of the season for Soons’ famous “Honeycrisp” apple variety, and the second weekend of you-plck apples. Chef Hubbell’s cooking demonstrations are offered free of charge. Customers can stop in at any time to learn how to prepare an easy vegetable tempura and dipping sauce with Soons homegrown vegetables, like zucchini and peppers. Hubbell will also demonstrate an apple and pear dessert tempura with an Asian caramel sauce using Soons’ homegrown apples and local Bartlett pears. Recipes will be provided to take home. Hubbell has years of cooking experience, most recently at Maggie’s in the Alley in Chester. As interest in local food and the latest cooking trends continues to grow, Soons wants to educate consumers on how to use local produce in easy home cooking. The orchard is also considering offering additional demos and hands-on cooking classes for adults and kids. A recent class on canning was filled to capacity. If interested, people may sign up at the orchard or send a note to info@soonsorchards.com. Soons Orchards is a fourth-generation family business founded in 1910.