Spice up your life with these cooking classes
From a quick one-hour demonstration class to week-long immersive schools, cooking classes are hotter than a Lodge cast iron skillet. The possibilities can range from regional cuisine to international fare, as well as specific techniques, date night, kids’ cooking classes, and more. It can be mind-boggling to choose! Here’s a baker’s dozen list of 13 of our favorites.
Cozymeal
Locations: Nationwide Cozymeal has a huge collection of live and interactive online classes (cooking, mixology, wine tastings) in 70-plus cities. With classes like Authentic Latin Flavors in Miami and Fundamentals of Making Sushi Rolls in Seattle, there’s something for everyone. You also can choose among hundreds of interactive, online classes, like Handcrafted Sushi, Dim Sum Brunch, and How to Build a Better Burger. Cozymeal also features private chefs, food tours, events, and the popular Cozymeal shop, where you’ll find cookware, cutlery, appliances, kits, and a “sale” section.
Sur La Table
Locations: Locations: 50-plus stores across the U.S. Founded in 1972 and still a leading kitchen and culinary retailer, Sur La Table hosts both in-store and online cooking classes that offer expert instruction and convenient class options for people of differing kitchen and cooking experience levels. Resident chefs typically teach more than 40,000 cooking classes a year. Along with a wide variety of offerings, the brand’s popular and well-loved Date Night series continues to expand. Sur La Table’s Kids and Teens cooking classes provide one of the largest national culinary programs for children, with more than 10,000 aspiring chefs taking three-, four-, and five-day courses.
Culinary Institute of America
Hyde Park, New York; San Antonio, Texas; and Napa, California From half- and single-day food and beverage classes to comprehensive multiday boot camps, there’s something for everyone at all three campuses of The Culinary Institute of America. Subjects include plant-forward cooking, Asian and Mediterranean cuisines, and a rigorous Basic Training boot camp. Each CIA destination also features foodie shopping and world-class restaurants, including personal favorites, like American Bounty Restaurant and The Bocuse Restaurant in New York, Savor’s Live Fire Kitchen in Texas, and Gatehouse Restaurant at The CIA at Greystone and The Grove at Copia, both in California.
Eataly
Location: 8 stores in the U.S. and 35plus abroard Eataly is heaven for everyone who lives to eat. All of Eataly’s stateside destinations — New York (two locations), Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, California (two locations) — feature tasty restaurants, markets, and shopping, but many may not know that the stores also offer dozens of cooking classes throughout the year. Along with popular pasta classes, cheese and wine classes, and kids’ cooking classes, Eataly fans also love the dining, shopping, wine and beverage events, special dinners, storewide festivals, and market tours.
Johnson and Wales University
Locations: Providence, Rhode Island, and Charlotte, North Carolina Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University and its College of Food Innovation and Technology are global leaders in culinary education. The university also offers classes to amateur chefs looking to learn more. Chef ’s Choice recreational cooking classes help students sharpen cooking skills, explore global cuisines, and cook like a pro. Classes combine hands-on experience with demonstrations from professional chef-instructors, with classes ranging from Artisan Breads and Spreads to Autumn Pies to Holiday Feasts and many more.
In the Kitchen with Chef Bob Waggoner
Location: Charleston, South Carolina Beloved as the longtime chef at Charleston Place’s renowned Charleston Grill, In the Kitchen with Chef Bob Waggoner features two- to three-hour classes with different menus, convivial cooking instruction, active participation, and a tasty dinner in a contemporary Market Street kitchen. Those who want a taste of South Carolina’s Lowcountry should check classes at Bluffton’s Culinary Institute of the South, while those visiting the Upcountry may want to take classes and go shopping at The Cook’s Station in Greenville.
Big Green Egg Culinary Center
Location: Atlanta, Georgia From novice grillers to so-called EGGsperts on all things Big Green Egg, Atlanta’s Big Green Egg Culinary Center will expand your cooking knowledge with new recipes, techniques, and skills when using an EGG grill, even if you don’t own one — yet. The possibilities include many hands-on and demonstration classes that feature a variety of culinary favorites, like Go Fish, It’s Tailgate Time, and Couples Night at the Big Green Egg. In addition, more than 20 Big Green Egg dealers offer cooking classes, like Eggs by the Bay in Santa Clara, California.
New Orleans School of Cooking
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana It’s easy to discover the secrets of authentic New Orleans Creole and Cajun cuisine, thanks to cooking classes at the renowned New Orleans School of Cooking, located in the heart of the French Quarter. Popular classes feature the vibrant flavors and rich culinary traditions of the Big Easy, as expert chefs guide participants through an immersive, handson experience or by simply watching as chefs in a demonstration class. Participants will learn iconic dishes, like gumbo, jambalaya, and bananas foster.
Jungle Jim’s International Market
Locations: Location: Fairfield and Cincinnati, Ohio The two locations of Jungle Jim’s International Market feature fresh produce and seafood; deli counters; natural foods and supplements; beer, wine, liquor, and cigars; lots of specialty items; an American Grocery; and, of course, tens of thousands of international items from more than 70 countries. But, veteran Jungle Jim’s visitors also rave about the cooking school at its Fairfield location, with hands-on and demonstration cooking classes covering a variety of topics and themes that range from date night to Italian-themed classes.
Fischer & Wieser Farmstead
Fredericksburg, Texas Situated in the pretty Texas Hill