Best Cooking Classes 2022
Ranjana’s Indian Cooking
Ranjana’s Indian Cooking Classes has been providing authentic vegetarian preparation in the Chicago area for over 30 years. The energetic and creative chef invites food enthusiasts of all interests and skill levels to embark on an exciting culinary journey in a single, custom, or series of four classes. Attendees will receive hands-on instruction for nine amazing dishes followed by a sit-down dinner in the chef’s home. Classes are BYOB, relaxed, and dinner-party style complete with cardamom and cinnamon infused tea. Single class students can choose from simple menus using available kitchen ingredients to innovative fusion and special occasion meals. The four-class series option will teach over 40 recipes and provide a thorough understanding of the Indian vegetarian cooking tradition. Ideas for custom class menus are infinite. Past topics and suggestions include curries, fusion cooking, understanding spices, chutneys and relishes, Indian sweets, and so much more.
The Social Table
The Social Table provides lively cooking classes with a dinner party style to food enthusiasts in the Chicago area. Students have fun eating and drinking, and the staff cleans up. The nightly evening classes are very hands on and allow students the opportunity to meet new friends. The passionate chef and food educator encourages students to laugh, chop, saute, cook, plate, and drink. The open class menus are pre-set, and service is family style. The Social Table offers an expansive selection of red, white, and sparkling wine for purchase in-house. Attendees are also welcome to BYOB. Private classes allow students to pick the menu, guest list, and music playlist for the evening.
Naveen’s Cuisine
Naveen’s Cuisine has been providing enjoyable cooking classes to Chicago-area food enthusiasts for nearly a decade. The talented professional chef teaches new cooks to appreciate the flavors, spices, and simplicity of Asian cuisine. He specializes in exploring the exciting and flavorful world of Indian and Thai food during class. Naveen’s Cuisine commits to building confidence in the newest of cooks while teaching students to prepare fresh, well-balanced meals. Classes focus on instruction, recipes, ingredients, and provide the opportunity to enjoy the delicious creations. The chef offers instruction in group sessions, as well as private classes with customized cuisine. The classes are BYOB with no corkage fee.
Cooking Fools
Cooking Fools has been providing globally influenced cooking classes to Chicago-area food enthusiasts for more than a decade. The casual and informative atmosphere offers hands-on instruction, practical techniques, and tasty food. Cooking Fools specializes in keeping techniques simple using fewer gadgets and tools while focusing on creating dishes with bold, fresh flavors and healthy ingredients. Attendees can expect to learn in a hands-on environment, create tasty food, and have a memorable experience. The friendly and knowledgeable staff commits to providing an interactive food experience that works well for corporate team building events, social outings, focus groups, and open cooking classes. Cooking Fools offers an array of exciting classes including tamale making, sushi for lovers, pasta making, pizza workshop, international dumplings, alternative sauces, and much more. The BYOB classes offer a relaxed atmosphere in which attendees can make new and lasting friendships.
Marcel’s Culinary Experience
Marcel’s Culinary Experience offers the ultimate in cooking education for enthusiasts to discover fabulous food adventures. The Chicago-area establishment features a fun atmosphere for food enthusiasts to learn, watch, dive in, eat, and interact with new friends. Professional chefs and chef educators share a passion for cooking, creating, and celebrating food. Marcel’s Culinary Experience has the perfect class that for various palates, global curiosities, and social schedules. Cooking students can expect to have full access and enjoy the amenities of a professional kitchen. The talented team of culinary experts has a wealth of experience creating original dishes from a variety of cuisines including Italian Feasts, French Bistro, Asian Fusion, Southern BBQ, and many others. Food apprentices will focus on selecting top quality ingredients, techniques of preparation, and presentation skills.
a tavola
a tavola has been providing the ultimate in cooking classes with Italian regionally inspired flavor for more than 20 years. The Chicago-area restaurant presents an intimate dining experience complete with authentic Italian dishes featuring the finest imported products. The fun and relaxed atmosphere allow attendees to enjoy a glass of wine and participate in preparation as much or as little as desired. The passionate and talented chef teaches food enthusiasts to make restaurant quality items simply and easily at home. Each class features an appetizer, a pasta, an entrée, and a dessert from the a tavola restaurant menu. The evening culminates with a sit-down dinner featuring the class created feast.
Dave’s Specialty Foods
Dave’s Specialty Foods provides unique cooking classes that offer a memorable experience for Chicago-area food enthusiasts. The hands-on classes provide attendees with a variety of recipe choices, techniques, tips, and tricks of the trade. The passionate chef-owner shares his energy and enthusiasm for cooking during every class and demonstration. Food apprentices can expect to leave the class with the confidence to re-create delicious dishes. Dave’s Specialty Foods offers an exciting interactive opportunity for cuisine-based fun that is great for girls or guys night out, couples classes, book clubs, or church groups. An expansive selection of classes is available that focus on veggies, grains, grill creations, seafood, comfort foods, Italian, warm winter soups, and more. Dave’s Specialty Foods focus on creating awesome food, fun times, and enjoying the company of others. Additional class options include private group classes, as well as in-home demonstrations.
The Wooden Spoon
The Wooden Spoon has been providing the ultimate in fun hands-on professional cooking classes for 15 years. The Chicago-area family owned and operated establishment is a go-to place for high-end kitchen products and educational, entertaining cooking classes. Food enthusiasts will enjoy a quaint, wood-floored showroom complete with a beautiful demonstration kitchen. The dynamic and passionate chefs ensure each class has a distinct, personal flavor where attendees learn skills for a lifetime of culinary enjoyment. The Wooden Spoon offers an impressive variety of culinary experiences to choose from including Seoul food, European favorites, tastes of Tuscany, Mexican tacos, Indian, Southern American, and so much more. Students will cook, taste, and develop better culinary skills whether a beginner or a serious cook in training. Couples can enjoy fun and interactive classes that promote an atmosphere of living, loving, eating, and finding romance.
Brindille
Brindille provides custom cooking classes to food apprentices in the Chicago area. The talented chef-owner offers detailed instruction and demonstrations in a casual and intimate setting. The interactive class ends with a wine luncheon among fellow food enthusiasts. Attendees can expect to learn essential techniques that professionals use in the kitchen.
Expert Answers To Common Questions:
- Introduction
- How can I start learning to cook?
- What are the different types of cooking classes?
- What should I learn to cook?
- Is cooking hard to learn?
- How much time does it take to learn to cook?
- How do I know if I’m a good cook?
- Are some people just naturally good at cooking?
- How much is a cooking class?
- How to learn cooking techniques?
- How much do cooking classes cost?
- How much do private cooking lessons cost?
- Why are cooking classes so expensive?
- Are cooking classes worth it?
- Should I learn to cook?
- What should I wear to a cooking class?
- Where did Gordon Ramsay learn to cook?
- Q: Introduction
- A: Learning to cook offers you a way to eat gourmet meals every night of the week while saving money on your weekly grocery bill. However, it isn't a skill that comes easily to everyone. In fact, professional chefs often practice for years before they're able to make restaurant-quality dishes. If you're looking to improve your skills in the kitchen, cooking classes are a good place to start. There are educational options available for all skill levels, budgets, and interests.
- Q: How can I start learning to cook?
- A: There are many ways to learn to cook, and one of the most effective is taking cooking classes. During in-person or online classes, an instructor can walk you through the steps of creating meals until you're able to do it yourself. If you're working with a smaller budget, you can also teach yourself to cook using online recipes and tutorials.
- Q: What are the different types of cooking classes?
- A: There are a number of skills to master when it comes to cooking. Here are some of the most common types of cooking classes:
- Restaurant cooking
- Pastry cooking
- Baking
- Knife handling
- Region-specific cuisines
- Q: What should I learn to cook?
- A: When choosing what to learn to cook, it's best to start simple dishes and foods you know you won't mind eating a few times. A frittata can be a good recipe to start with, as it includes simple ingredients, such as eggs and vegetables, and it required minimal preparation.
- Q: Is cooking hard to learn?
- A: The great thing about cooking is that there are recipes for all skill levels. If you want to start simple, pasta dishes or even salads can be easy to learn. If you are looking for something more advanced, you could try cooking a souffle or hand-folded dumplings.
- Q: How much time does it take to learn to cook?
- A: Simple recipes can be mastered in as few as one or two attempts, while more complex dishes might take a several attempts to get right. If you cook a few nights a week, you should have a small collection of recipes you feel comfortable preparing within about a month.
- Q: How do I know if I’m a good cook?
- A: The first test of a good cook is the reaction of your diners. If your friends or family members like your food, that's a good sign. The second test is whether you're able to achieve consistent results. If your pasta sauce turns out different every time, you may want to practice a little more.
- Q: Are some people just naturally good at cooking?
- A: While some people may have more developed palates or better techniques, the truth is that everyone has to practice to be good at cooking. Even famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Guy Fieri attended culinary school to master their craft.
- Q: How much is a cooking class?
- A: On average, you can expect to pay about $50 per hour for a cooking class. The cost can range from $25 to $200 or more, depending on your location, the type of class you want to enroll in, and the experience of the instructor.
- Q: How to learn cooking techniques?
- A: Practice is the best way to learn basic cooking techniques. You improve your knife skills by chopping vegetables, and you learn to control the heat of your pan by sautéing. Watching online tutorials can help you learn more advanced techniques such as parboiling or poaching eggs.
- Q: How much do cooking classes cost?
- A: Cooking classes can be cost as little as $50 per hour, depending on various factors, whereas a high-end culinary education can cost much more. For example, classes at the Culinary Institute of America start at about $13,000 per semester, but you earn a diploma if you complete the course.
- Q: How much do private cooking lessons cost?
- A: Private cooking lessons tend to be more expensive than group classes, and start at $100 to $150 per hour. Prices also tend to vary more, as the instructor can increase or decrease the rate due to travel costs, materials, and other factors.
- Q: Why are cooking classes so expensive?
- A: Cooking classes are expensive because creating delicious meals isn't a skill many people are qualified to teach. The costs for instructors, facilities, and materials add up, resulting in high class costs.
- Q: Are cooking classes worth it?
- A: For the right person, in-person and online classes can definitely be worth it. In-person classes offer the benefit of life feedback on your techniques, letting you learn as you cook. Online classes are less hands-on, although they're often less expensive and may be easier to fit into your schedule.
- Q: Should I learn to cook?
- A: Learning to cook may help you eat healthier and save money on groceries, as it lets you start with raw meats and vegetables rather than buying prepared foods or pre-made meals. Cooking can be a fun hobby, and it can give you opportunities to host family get togethers or entertain friends.
- Q: What should I wear to a cooking class?
- A: When attending a cooking class, it's best to wear clothing that you won't mind getting dirty and that isn't too baggy or cumbersome. It's also a good idea to ask whether you'll be provided with an apron or if you should bring one from home. If you have long hair, be sure to tie it up.
- Q: Where did Gordon Ramsay learn to cook?
- A: Gordon Ramsay earned a degree in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College, where he honed his cooking skills as a young man. Afterward, he gained his first industry experience at the restaurant Harvey's working under chef Marco Pierre White.