This post is sponsored by Craftsy in partnership with Foodie with Family. All opinions are mine.
I’ve long been a fan of Craftsy classes, and today I’m excited to share another standout offering. Sauce making can feel intimidating if you haven’t had someone show you the techniques—whether you’ve never worked in a kitchen or your family didn’t have a go-to sauce maker. If you want to learn classic sauces or sharpen your sauce-making skills, the Craftsy class “A Modern Take on Mother Sauces” with James Peterson is an excellent place to start.
James Peterson is an accomplished culinary instructor, chef, and James Beard Award–winning author who wrote the advanced curriculum for The French Culinary Institute. If anyone can teach the ins and outs of sauce making, it’s him—and Craftsy brings his expertise to you. One of the advantages of Craftsy’s platform is instructor interaction: Peterson is available to answer questions and even offers troubleshooting if you send a photo of a sauce that didn’t turn out as expected. The course is available on demand with unlimited access, so you can watch, pause, rewind, or revisit lessons whenever you like.
What’s covered in the class?
James Peterson covers the fundamental mother sauces along with practical variations and techniques for using them. The course includes instruction on:
- Béchamel
- Beurre Blanc
- Tomato sauces
- Brown sauces
- Velouté
- Mayonnaise & aioli
- Hollandaise and Béarnaise
He also demonstrates creative variations—such as herb infusions and cheese-based adaptations—and provides classic and innovative recipes for serving the sauces. The class addresses the tools and equipment you’ll need to consistently produce great results.
Why take a sauce-making class?
A well-made sauce elevates good food to great food. Building basic sauce skills gives you the confidence to improve everyday meals and to create impressive dishes for holidays and special occasions. With Thanksgiving and other food-centered celebrations approaching, mastering sauces also means mastering gravies and finishing sauces that make a meal memorable.
Like any culinary skill, sauce making takes practice. Having a trusted instructor like James Peterson guide you through the fundamentals and common pitfalls speeds your progress and helps you gain consistent, reliable results.
Special offer
Craftsy offered a limited-time discount for Foodie with Family readers. If you’re interested in the class, check Craftsy’s current pricing and promotions—classes often go on sale. The course remains available for unlimited viewing once enrolled, so you can learn at your own pace.
I recently made smoked salmon eggs Benedict for my family using techniques from the class—smooth Hollandaise really makes the dish. Thanks to James Peterson for the inspiration and instruction.