An Aphrodisiac Cooking Class will be presented by Chef Elizabeth Podsiadlo, also known as the “Opera Singing Chef,” at the Pacific Beach Women’s Club at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 29. The event is just in time for Valentine’s Day. Dishes will include filet mignon with a spicy mustard sauce, horseradish mashed potatoes, chocolate mocha cookies and an ancient love potion. “Each dish contains ingredients known for hundreds of years as being an aphrodisiac,” Podsiadlo said. “Since I am the Opera Singing Chef, there will be a few love songs sung as well.” Podsiadlo will be joined by pianist John Danke, baritone Pandeli Lazaridi and tenor Jef Olson in performing arias from Mozart, Gluck and Puccini. They will also assist in the kitchen. Even though the class is being held at the venerable PB Women’s Club, Podsiadlo said things could still get out of hand. “At last year’s Greek food cooking class, the phyllo dough was flying to the sounds of Beethoven’s 5th, and I mean flying,” she said. “It took us an hour to clean up the mess afterwards, and the attending ladies laughed till they cried.” The club’s Hornblend Hall is among her favorite venues to perform. “It is a singer’s dream as the acoustics are amazing,” she said. “The wood in the theater and the shape of the mouth of the stage have made this a wonderful place to sing and hear singers.” Podsiadlo is the author of two novels about cooking: “Talking Pictures” and “The Last Aria.” She has also recorded a companion CD for “The Last Aria” and a second CD, “The Good Woman.” Podsiadlo can be seen once a month on “San Diego Living” on TV Channel 6. “There will be recipes and samples of each dish for everyone participating in the Aphrodisiac Cooking Class,” she said. “Iowa Meat Farms donated the beef at half price, which is very generous.” Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for any San Diego Chapter Women’s Club member. RSVP by Jan. 25 at (858) 547-8620. Walk-ins will be charged double. The Pacific Beach Women’s Club is located at 1721 Hornblend St. For more information, visit theoperasingingchef.com.
