Gourmet cooking school opens

Savvy Gourmet, located at 4610 Main St., Amherst opened on June 26. The business is a cooking school, cafe and a cookware store.

Owners Marie and Michael Battaglia, Western New York natives, built the business around their passions for the culinary arts.

Inspiration for the store came from New Orleans, La. and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Battaglias partnered with the Savvy Gourmet of New Orleans founder Dr. Aaron Wolfson, who plans to spread the word of Savvy.

The concept of the store, Maria said, is have it be a place for people who love to cook.

At Savvy patron sit around the chefs at a fully-equipped demonstration island.

Culinary instruction will help attendees enhance their skills, knowledge and confidence in the kitchen. Savvy Executive Chef Mark Pessirilo taught the first classes on June 27.

Savvy Gourmet offers private cooking classes for parties for eight to 100 people.

For information visit www.savvygourmetbuffalo.com.