Miel Chef Jason LaIacona to Host Cooking Skills Workshop Nov. 11

Miel Restaurant & Bar will host a cooking skills workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Chef Jason LaIacona will lead the session, which the restaurant has branded The Living Well. The event is designed to teach participants how to approach cooking as a practice rather than following rigid instructions.

LaIacona will draw on his two decades of professional kitchen experience to demonstrate essential skills. He plans to share time-saving shortcuts and specific tools that chefs use to streamline meal preparation. The goal is to help home cooks understand the process behind the food so they can make their own adjustments in the kitchen.

The workshop is structured to be interactive. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, including those that feel too basic or difficult to answer. The atmosphere is intended to be serious in content but relaxed in tone. Attendees will eat the food they prepare during the class. The menu will feature multiple courses using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Participants will also receive a beverage of their choice, including wine, beer, or a nonalcoholic cocktail.

The curriculum focuses on building confidence and troubleshooting ability. By the end of the evening, attendees should be able to apply fundamental techniques to create varied meals. They will learn how to fix complicated or time-consuming recipes without relying on internet searches. The session will cover common mistakes that prevent skill improvement and offer professional tips for flavor and presentation.

LaIacona aims to show that recipes are sources of inspiration rather than strict rules. He will guide students in using accessible and affordable tools suitable for all skill levels. This approach allows for improvisation, such as substituting ingredients based on what is already in a pantry. This method contrasts with highly technical recipes that require specific, hard-to-find items.

The restaurant emphasizes that the session is a practice, not a traditional class. This distinction highlights the focus on understanding the mechanics of cooking over memorizing specific dishes. The workshop aims to reduce the stress often associated with preparing complex meals at home.

Tickets for the November 11 session are available through Miel’s Tock website. Miel Restaurant & Bar is located at 343 53rd Ave. N. in Nashville.