I’ve had many a bachelorette cooking class and even one couple who loved cooking and wanted to do my Culinary Challenge as their wedding reception. Now I can add  engagement to the list of unique experiences that have occurred during a class!

Congratulations to Jesse Barnes & Cicely Shelton who became engaged tonight during my Low Country Cuisine class!

Earlier this week I received an email from Jesse saying that he and his girlfriend Cicely LOVE to cook and were scheduled to be in my Low Country Cuisine class during their visit to Savannah. Because of their mutual love of food and cooking (and presumably one another) he wanted to make the class even more memorable (apparently 3 hours with me doesn’t qualify?) by proposing during the class!

We traded several emails back and forth regarding what might be the best method (ok, so he didn’t like my suggestion that we wrap the ring in plastic wrap and nestling it down inside the shrimp for her to discover while peeling them). He opted to go with the more subtle suggestion of assisting me with serving the cake at the end and placing the ring beside her cake.

Just as class was wrapping up everyone was about the enjoy their slightly still warm from the oven Pecan Praline Angel Food Cake when Cicely sat down to discover a little black box was sitting beside her dessert plate. Unfortunately I forgot to ask her what went through her mind the moment she saw the box but the expression on her face did look a little perplexed. Any confusion quickly went away the moment Jesse knelt down on one knee, and in front of the other guests, opened the box and asked her to be his sous chef for life (or something like that). She quickly latched her arms around his neck in what had the potential to be a choke-hold but thankfully turned out to be one giant bear hug accompanied by the brightest happiest grin you can imagine!

Of course I like to think that I played at least a minor role in the situation….prior to class Cicely claimed not to like grits. By the end of it she declared that even she would eat the creamy oh-so delicious aphrodisiac-like grits we prepared in class. I’m thinkin’ the grits revelation was what really sealed the deal but Jesse’s not commenting .   Perhaps it was because she passed the “gas test” by successfully whipping up a beautiful Pecan Praline Angel food cake? Whatever the case, I’m sure he’s just happy that she has now “seen the light” and they can enjoy grits together for many years to come!

The next time you take a cooking class there’s no telling how it might change your life!

(by the way Jesse & Cicely,

come back for your 50th anniversary and the cooking class is on me!)