Like food but fear the kitchen? Now is the time to overcome that anxiety. Just as Los Angeles offers a plethora of international dining options, it also boasts plenty of places and programs to hone your culinary skills. So roll up those sleeves, throw on an apron and hit the stovetop running.
THE CLASSROOM: Andrew’s is a low-key, high-end cheese shop on Montana, and its weekly(-ish) classes follow suit. Interested in cheese from A to Z? Andrew’s has it all, from Abbaye de Belloc (dating back 3,000 years and very wine-friendly) to Zamorano (closely related to manchego). It’s one of the stinkiest, smartest cheese joints in town. THE SPECIALTY: Cheese 101, Sparkling Wine and Cheese, and Spanish Wines and Cheese dominate Thursday nights, while Grilled Cheese and Beer night takes over the first Sunday of each month. Notice a theme? Space fills fast, so make reservations and check andrewscheese.com for exact dates.
THE CLASSROOM: With a French-trained chef who transforms once-daunting dishes into easy at-home eating, BeGourmet means what it says—you can be gourmet without spending too much dough or losing that cozy kitchen feel. Classes are reasonably priced, and the weekend workshops will have you cooking like an expert (and eating like a gourmand). THE SPECIALTY: If it’s fresh this season, it’s probably on the menu. Look for winter favorites such as a roasted parsnip and citrus salad; a mushroom, celery root and truffle oil salad; and salmon and gnocchi with mixed mushrooms.
THE CLASSROOM: The recently realized dream of husband-wife pair Andy and Jayme Brooks, this picturesque Ventura place guarantees tasty treats for cooking attendees. Hint: What you make in the kitchen is what you eat on the simple, elegant, tantalizing tables—pan-roasted crab cakes, green Thai papaya slaw and seared-salmon spinach linguini. Plus, it’s just blocks from the beach! THE SPECIALTY: With four classes scheduled for the year, Brooks keeps its class menus fresh and dynamic. Dates to get hungry and head north: Feb. 7, May 3, Sept. 20 and Nov. 15. And remember to save room—chocolate buttermilk cupcakes with Champagne cream sauce? Yes, please.
THE CLASSROOM: Eight fully equipped kitchen workstations and one jam-packed schedule make Chefs, Inc. one of the most diverse and professional schools in the area. There’s something to fit every taste, including the animal lover (Vegetarian Feast), the partier (Cooking with Wine and Spirits) and the gourmet (Advanced Greek). THE SPECIALTY: Chefs, Inc. offers series and single classes alike, so you can test the water or dive in (for five weeks of delicious eating). Chefs, Inc. also features a star-studded chef schedule for Monday classes.
THE CLASSROOM: Nestled in a well-equipped kitchen-cottage in La Canada Flintridge, Chez Cherie might be the cutest place to cook in town. And while it’s definitely a dining darling, Chez also offers the real-deal on modern recipes and what’s good to eat—right now.THE SPECIALTY: We all know Trader Joe’s rocks our grocery-store socks. Now learn how to make the most of the latest TJ tasties. Cherie also teaches a Saveur-sponsored class on authentic French cooking. Different classes are offered weekly and rotate every month or so.
THE CLASSROOM: With a sharp name and a smart approach to cooking, the Chicks with Knives promise pure S.O.L.E. food in their classes. That's sustainable, organic, local, and ethical. THE SPECIALTY: These small, intimate classes rove across L.A. and tackle four-course menus. Whether in private homes or at the Chicks' kitchen in Hancock Park, hands-on classes such as Cooking Essentials make the Chicks a must.
THE CLASSROOM: A laid back, hands-on cooking school with an eye (and taste-buds) to Indian food beyond the beaten-table. THE SPECIALTY: The focus is on food from the state of Maharashtra, found on India's west coast, where the vivacious head chef, Kaumudi, was born. Run from two locations, one on Robertson north of the 10 and one in Venice, these weekend classes range from Lentil Life and Spices 101 to California Indian and an Indian Tea Party. The food is fresh and flavorful, and the three-hour classes are small to make the experience big.
THE CLASSROOM: We’d be hard-pressed to think of a better place to learn and eat than EatzLA. Greeted with a snack to start and with the cocktails quickly rolling, Eatz is relaxed but attentive, enjoyable and educational. This is a school that tastily balances all that’s best in the cooking world: delicious food, full drinks and a delightful evening atmosphere. THE SPECIALTY: Eatz has a full menu of ongoing culinary opportunities. Looking for foreign fun? Try the Sushi Soiree or Flight to India. Day-to-day dining? How about Your Home Steakhouse? Also check out the Condensed Culinary School, a six-part evening series touching on topics from basic knife, stock, sauce and soup skills to seafood, entrees galore and baking from scratch.
THE CLASSROOM: Located in the artsy district of Culver City, the New School offers professional cooking and baking, as well as recreational, classes that are nothing but pure, delicious fun. Starting with a lengthy, tasty menu, the leading chef explains and educates, then divvies up the foods for a hands-on taste-bud-teasing experience. Post-cooking, the sit-down feast is worth the wait. THE SPECIALTY: There’s a range of worldly (Authentic French Crepes), skill-building (Roasting) and ingredient-based (Baking with Chocolate) courses. Try the Cheese Seminar or the Evening in Emilia-Romagna (distinctive Italian food) or for a fun, sweet twist, become an expert with the Caramel Knowledge class.
THE CLASSROOM: Hipcooks shows that it’s still possible to be ultra-cool in a hot, steamy kitchen. At Hipcooks, cooking is fun—and eating is even more so. Ingredients are healthy, fresh and often organic, and recipes (and wine!) are provided with each session. THE SPECIALTY: Every night has a theme, and every theme has a mouthwatering menu. A few creative kitchen favorites: Jamaican Me Crazy (complete with fried bananas and rum-raisin ice cream), My Big Fat Greek Cooking Class (try the marinated lamb with tzatziki) and the Wustof Knife Workshop (no food for flavor, but lots of food for thought).
THE CLASSROOM: A hop, skip and a jump from just where you need to go to find the freshest ingredients in town, Sur La Table at the Originals Farmers Market covers the table with cooking-class options. The ambiance is fresh and simple, and the equipment in this split classroom-store is state of the art. THE SPECIALTY: For the Bon Appetit reader, the garlic lover and the kitchen guru, these classes cover tasty, high-class fare in classes such as Classic Bistro, Artisan Bread Workshop and Molecular Gastronomy. They aren’t quite as hands-on, but they are seriously fun and seriously educational.
THE CLASSROOM: Organic, vegan, wheat-free, macrobiotic and super-fun—whew!—, this homey culinary institution leads L.A.’s healthy cooking and teaching scene. Run by two food-frenzied sisters, Spork offers mostly weekend classes, plus a sunny environment to meet (and to cook and dine with) like-minded foodies. THE SPECIALTY: These ladies have mastered the art of health-ifying fundamentally unhealthy foods. Register ahead for the Mexican Fiesta, Tastes of Asia and Gluten-Free classes. And don’t forget your favorite all-encompassing utensil!
THE CLASSROOM: This roving one-woman sushi wonder travels the city (and beyond) with a how-to kit in tow. In awe of the swift-serving chefs behind the counter? Envy no longer, raw-fish-eating friends. Make reservations online, break open that bottle of sake, and get the good times (and the rice, fish and seaweed) rolling. THE SPECIALTY: The MakeSushi! series lets soon-to-be sushi chefs decide for themselves—the basics, the basics and beyond, or a private lesson complete with the how-tos on hand rolls, cut rolls, nigiri, etiquette and ingredient purchasing.
