Brian Malarkey to Host Virtual Cooking Classes

He can currently be seen competing on Bravo’s “Top Chef: All Stars L.A.”, but Brian Malarkey has been sheltering at home in San Diego since mid-March, when he and business partner Chris Puffer decided to temporarily shutter all of their restaurants just before the official dine-in ban.

The Puffer Malarkey Collective has been raising money for its 380 furloughed staff members through an employee relief fund, auctioning off chef dinners and other dining experiences; next month, they will launch a series called “Cooking with Malarkey”, virtual Zoom classes hosted by the celebrity chef in his own kitchen with proceeds also going towards the fund.

The hour-long interactive classes will start on Wednesday, May 6, with a menu of favorites from Herb & Wood that features roasted chicken with salsa verde, roasted baby carrots, and crispy potatoes. Participants will receive an ingredient and shopping list as well as a recording of the class and recipes; single class tickets are $50, although larger classes can be customized for groups.

“We’ve all been stuck at home for six weeks now, and I’m sure we’re all tired of cooking the same things and going through the motions doing the same routine,” said Malarkey, “I want to make cooking fun for people, and recreate our favorites we’ve all been missing from our restaurants, experiment with new dishes and flavors, and just connect with people who are all experiencing this crazy moment. We’re all in this together, so come into my kitchen, let’s cook together, talk Top Chef, and let’s raise some money for our Puffer Malarkey Collective Employee Relief Fund!”

The series will likely continue into June, depending on any changes to the stay-at-home order; upcoming classes include Baja Asian Street Food on May 11, Top Chef Top Hits on May 14, and Kid-Friendly Favorites on May 19.