FAIRHOPE, Ala. - A Culinary Institute of America student will be offering cooking classes for James P. Nix Center members in June.

Amanda Welsh, a CIA student in Hyde Park, N.Y., is doing an externship at Marriot's Grand Hotel in Point Clear, according to a city news release. 

“When she is not busy cooking at the hotel, she volunteers at the Nix Center to fulfill her community service hours for the culinary school,” the release stated. “Amanda will be volunteering at the Nix Center through August.”

Amanda will share her talents and teach two cooking classes in June.

The recipes she plans to prepare are Charles Street Pasta (penne, old bay, grilled chicken, peas, spinach, tomatoes and crab in an alfredo sauce topped with parmesan cheese), which is a signature recipe from a restaurant she worked at in Maryland. The other recipe is Tuscan Pasta (petite bowties, mixed sautéed vegetables and Italian sausage in a sundried tomato cream sauce) which she learned at the Grand Hotel.

 "I am working on my associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and plan on getting an associate's degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Management as well,” Welsh said. “My goal, overall, is to open my own place one day but still be able to compete in cooking competitions.”

 The classes will take place on Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m. Space is limited to the first 20 to sign up.

There is no charge for Nix Center members to attend the classes.

Drop by the Nix Center at 1 Bayou Drive or call 928-2835 to sign up, or become a member, to attend the classes.