September 30, 2005 - Hartmut Handke, Chef/Owner, courtesy of American Express,

From September through May, evening cooking classes are held monthly in a private room at Handke's. Chef/Owner Hartmut Handke demonstrates the preparation of a complete menu for about 1 1/2 hours; guest then adjourn for a glass of Champagne to another part of the room where the dinner tables are fully set for a multi-course meal with wines. The entire experience lasts for approximately three hours and costs about $60 per person. Because the classes can be held at night in a private room and include a complete dinner, they are popular as a social gathering and have developed a clientele of corporate clients who regularly purchase tables to graciously entertain their customers.

Results: Cooking classes gross about $18, 000 annually. Ongoing classes are always fully booked and corporate attendance is booming.