POULSBO — A bid for their first museum means Poulsbo Historical Society members are constantly cooking up new ways to raise funds these days.

Add a Kirkland chef with North Kitsap ties and they’re hoping they have a recipe for success.

Next month, the Poulsbo Historical Society will be hosting four cooking classes featuring Pat Kasnick, owner of Neighborhood Cookin’ with Kas, a mobile cooking school in the Seattle area.

Kasnick has local ties as historical society charter member Muriel Williams (granddaughter of North Kitsap Herald founder Peter Iverson) is his aunt. Kasnick also lived in Poulsbo until he was in high school. Society member Roseann Mitchell said Kasnick heard of their efforts to raise money and offered his services for free.

“He just wanted to give back to the community because this is home to him,” Mitchell said.

The former Port of Seattle Chief had always been interested in becoming a chef. When he retired in 2002, he went to culinary school and then recently opened his house-call chef school. Kasnick will also be serving as the head chef of the Raspberry Island Remote Camps in Kodiak, Alaska this summer.

Society member Barbara Mitchusson said Kasnick has an energetic and easy-going personality that makes him fun to work with. She also thought Poulsbo would be a great location for the unique fund-raiser.

“We thought it fit so well with this community because Norwegians are always known for their hospitality, which always includes food,” she said.

The classes that will be offered are:

• 1-4 p.m. April 15 Asian Hors d’oeuvres — menu includes Vietnamese summer rolls, Chinese steamed shrimp, Korean barbecue beef and Japanese Ahi tempura with tempura vegetables

• 6-9 p.m. April 15 Pacific Northwest Seafood Fest — menu includes pan-seared scallops, smoked salmon chowder, halibut and spring vegetables and coconut rice

• 1-4 p.m. April 16 Barbecue and Grilling — menu explores the basics of sauces, marinades and rubs for flank steak, chicken, salmon, shrimp, portobello mushrooms and vegetables

• 6-9 p.m. April 16 Mexican Fiesta — menu includes chipotle salsa, guacamole, sopa de tortilla, salad, rice with seafood, chiles rellenos and mousse de tequila

Each class is $75 per student and is open to 10-14 students. Reservations are due by April 4. Classes will be held at the home of Gordon and Pat Stenman in Poulsbo. All participants will take part in the “hands-on” experience, as well as sample the food and take home free recipe cards for all the dishes. Kasnick will supply all of the cooking needs and historical society members will be providing the food and accompanying beverages such as wine and beer.

“And if this is a success, we will do another one in the fall,” Mitchell said.