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ROANOKE, Va. (January 3, 2007) - Couples looking to spice up their Valentine's Day can cook up some romance - and delicious dishes - during a special "Cooking Couples" weekend at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. The Hotel Roanoke, a Doubletree hotel, and its award-winning culinary department led by executive chef Billie Raper are teaming up with Chateau Morrisette winery to create a memorable weekend that includes a four-hour cooking class, wine tasting, exquisite meals, luxurious accommodations and unique amenities.
The inaugural "Cooking Couples" class, to be held Feb. 10-11, is designed to teach husbands and wives how to work as a team to prepare a fabulous five-course meal to entertain eight to twelve guests in their home in grand style. Chef Raper and his associates will teach participants about pre-planning, grocery shopping, preparation techniques, insider tricks and shortcuts, finishing work and plate presentations.
Each couple will have their own work station, a complete complement of ingredients and all the cooking tools and supplies they'll need. Some recipes will be entertaining standards that are sure to please anyone while others will be more adventurous specialty items designed to impress your guests.
The Hotel already offers cooking classes through the year, but this is the first one aimed specifically at bringing couples together in the kitchen.
"Cooking is a wonderful activity allowing couples to relax, renew their bond, and work as a team toward a common goal," Raper says. "This is one weekend where couples can get away, enjoy each other and share their passion for fine food and wine."
After registration on Feb. 10 and an optional historical tour of the Hotel, the fun begins with a private dinner and wine tasting in the Hotel's Club aka:. The elegant menu prepared by Raper will feature mouth-watering dishes such as Bourbon Poached Pear Salad, Seared Rye Salmon, Filet Mignon with Foie Gras Bread Pudding and a special Chocolate Valentines Trio for dessert.
A representative from Chateau Morrisette will provide samplings of wines expertly paired with the menu. In a preview of the cooking class the next day, participants will have the opportunity to see Chef Raper finish off dinner recipes and learn some of his culinary secrets.
The evening will be topped with entertainment in the Pine Room Pub or dancing in Club aka: and a luxurious stay in a deluxe guest room.
On Feb. 11, after a hearty buffet breakfast in the Regency Room and free time to explore downtown Roanoke, couples will begin the cooking class under Chef Raper's tutelage.
Advance reservations and prepayment are required. To make reservations, call (540) 853-8256 Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The class is limited to 20 participants.

• Deluxe guest room
• Wine tasting for two
• Dinner for two
• Buffet breakfast for two
• Four-hour cooking school
• A Valentine's welcome amenity
• Cooking school recipes
• Monogrammed Hotel Roanoke apron

ABOUT EXECUTIVE CHEF BILLIE RAPER

Chef Billie Raper has been in the culinary field for over 20 years. His early training included apprenticeships with Kingsmill Resort and Colonial Williamsburg. His professional experience consists of management positions with Sheraton Hotels, Aramark Corporation, and the Main Street Center in Richmond.
Chef Raper has been employed by The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center for 11 years. His hard work and creative talents have been rewarded with several promotions from Regency Room Cook to Restaurant Chef to Executive Sous Chef and finally, in 2001, to the position of Executive Chef.
As an active member of the American Culinary Federation, Chef Raper works to promote culinary education throughout the Roanoke Valley and the southeast region. He earned his Certified Executive Chef degree in 2006. He currently serves on a company-wide food and beverage task force for Doubletree Hotels.
His interests include organic gardening, ice carving, food science and culinary arts training.

ABOUT CHATEAU MORRISETTE

One of Virginia's most renowned wineries, Chateau Morrisette, located in Floyd County off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, produces 60,000 cases of wine per year. Chateau Morrisette currently produces 15 different wines and uses grapes from more than 150 acres of vineyards on site or from growers throughout Virginia.
Chateau Morrisette remains an industry leader in quality wines and has become one of Southwest Virginia's premier destination points. For more information, visit www.chateaumorrisette.com.

ABOUT THE HOTEL ROANOKE AND CONFERENCE CENTER

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center has 332 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and a 63,000-square-foot, high-tech conference center. It is a joint project of Hotel Roanoke LLC, the City of Roanoke and Virginia Tech operated by Doubletree Hotels, a part of Hilton Hotels Corp.
To learn more about this historic hotel, visit www.hotelroanoke.com.