Cooking Class in Santa Monica: A Night Out
One of my most anticipated nights out this year was a cooking class in Santa Monica. I am no stranger to cooking classes. This is something I like to do when I travel. I have taken a cooking class in Thailand where we made curries and mango sticky rice and toured local food markets and sampled local fares from vendors. I also took a cooking class in Oaxaca where we made mole verde, pineapple rice, and to which I owe a chicken tortilla soup recipe I make to this day.
But it never occurred to me to take a cooking class in LA until I received a gift certificate to the Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories from my employer.
A Passion for Cooking
Matt and I like to cook A LOT. I spent many years in the restaurant industry in Chicago where a significant portion of my paycheck was spent bellying up to the bar and tasting my way through the Chicago restaurant scene.
I taught myself how to cook by reading Mark Bitman’s How to Cook Everything after subscribing to a meat CSA that would drop off whole chickens and frozen pork shoulders, and beef meat for stew along with a dozen fresh farm eggs to my house every other month.
I also love to bake. I had a grandmother who made blue ribbon pies and baked bread from scratch daily. She taught me how to measure flour using the scoop and sweep method and how to integrate flour and butter into perfect pea shapes with a pastry cutter for an extra flaky crust.
Matt loves to grill all kinds of meat and slow cook with his trusty Crockpot. We are pretty creative and have a thorough and diverse roster of meals we rotate through. So this seemed the perfect gift and night out, one we wouldn’t EVER have thought to buy ourselves.
This was a wonderful gift for so many reasons, and it was a no-brainer to feature this cooking class in Santa Monica for Day Pass Los Angeles. And the meal we chose to prepare was a pretty sophisticated 4-course meal taught by a professional chef. Everything is mis-en-place (or pre-prepped), so you can spend that extra time opening your bottle of wine, chatting with your new neighbors, and maybe the best part is the fact that you get to leave without cleaning a single dish!
How to Choose Your Los Angeles Cooking Class
So what do you want to cook? The hardest part was choosing the course. Do we want to perfect our pizza-making skills, dabble in cheese-making, or branch out into the world of Spanish tapas?
The classes fill up fast and weeks in advance. After researching the list of classes that had everything from doughnut-making to meat and whiskey pairings, we opted to take a class on cooking whole fish.
Neither of us has a ton of experience cooking fish other than salmon, and this seemed like an opportunity for us to learn a new skill. Our fish was paired with a lemon risotto, some grilled endive and to finish the meal off we were to cook a pistachio olive oil cake.
While the menu seemed a bit ambitious on paper, and preparation took a little longer than planned, it was well worth it, and we departed with plenty of leftovers.
Don’t Forget the Wine
Taking a cooking class in Santa Monica is the perfect date night. And it’s BYOB, so make sure you bring some wine.
Although it’s not advertised, you can bring your own adult beverages. the Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories offers wine glasses, mini-fridges, and all the accessories you need. There is also a restaurant next to the cooking school that will sell you bottles off their menu for 1/2 off. We had a heads-up on this and brought our own.
Take a Cooking Class in Santa Monica
We can say enough about it! We absolutely loved our cooking class date night cooking class in Santa Monica.
A cooking class is a fun experience AND you get to eat what you make. It offers a unique and immersive experience. You learn new culinary skills and techniques, meet new people, and test out recipes under the guidance of a professional chef. It’s also great for a birthday party or any other celebration with friends or loved ones. A cooking class allows you to prepare great food and bring the recipe home to impress your friends and give you an excuse to throw your very own dinner party. A good meal is the ultimate catalyst for encouraging conversation, fostering human connection, and creating lasting memories.
Best Gift Ideas For Foodies
A cooking class in Los Angeles is a great gift for the foodie in your life, and here are some other great food-inspired gift ideas. Trust us, we’ve tried and loved them all.
Cooking Lesson
The gift that keeps on giving. An experience, a cooking lesson, dinner, a recipe, and hopefully some leftovers. Give the gift of a cooking class in Santa Monica at the Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories or something similar. We promise it will be money well spent
Gift Certificate to a Favorite Restaurant
Not everyone wants to sing for their supper. Support your favorite restaurant while treating someone to a culinary experience and a break from routine. We love Hippo in Highland Park.
Cocktail Class
The perfect gift to spice up a date night. Learn all about different kinds of cocktails and the techniques of shaking, stirring, and pouring them from any one of LA’s numerous mixology classes.
Want to keep it simple — or include an add-on gift? Send them a great book on mixology.
Spices
The Spice Station in Silver Lake offers a unique array of gift sets including Gourmet finishing salts, infused sugars, a baker’s gift set, or BBQ rubs for the grill master in your life. The selection is inspiring.
Wine Club
Did someone say wine? A wine club subscription is a great way to discover new wines and expand your knowledge. Personalized boxes of wine arrive monthly filled with bottles from your favorite winery or perhaps a curated selection from around the world.
Olive Oil of the Month Club
If wine isn’t their thing, then consider sticking with the food and kitchen theme and give the gift of olive oil. An Olive Oil of the Month Club membership can be gifted in the 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month packages.
Send a Cake
You need a last minute gift? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with Send A Cake! Did we mention they offer overnight delivery? Think exploding butterflies, roses, confetti and a delicious little cake. Perfect for — co-worker, boss, mother-in-law — the sky’s the limit. Pick from your favorite signature box, for any occasion to be delivered right to their door. Choose your own adventure. They are expanding their options by the day and most are customizable.
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Send your loved one a curated package of Jeni’s Ice Cream. They advertise Ice Cream for every occasion. Choose from a “Gimme chocolate collection” for a decadent gift or opt for their zippier “summer collection” to refresh your taste buds. They even have a pint of the month club. Ice cream, you literally can’t go wrong!
Omaha Steaks
An oldie but a goodie, Omaha Steaks has been a mainstay in the food-gift world for years. They offer great gifts such as steak and seafood combos, BBQ packages, and even gourmet desserts. A great way to show someone you care about them and their taste buds.
Edible Arrangements
Trust us, they are delicious and fun. I recently sent an Edible Arrangement last minute to a friend that was in a motorcycle accident. I was able to customize them with a little mylar “Get Well” balloon. He loved it! Choose from same-day delivery options!
If Edible Arrangements aren’t you’re thing, keep it simple with a Dulcet Fresh Food Basket.
Bake Some Cookies
Cookies from scratch are cookies from the heart. From oatmeal raisin to the classic chocolate chip, send the gift of comfort and happiness. Trust us, homemade cookies are a wonderful gift that is sure to delight. If your giftee loves to bake, consider gifting a best-selling cookie cookbook.
Got a cooking class you’d like us to try? Don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know! We are always on the hunt to try a new cooking class in Santa Monica or anywhere in the Los Angeles area.
