Thanks to our sponsor, Mary Free Bed YMCA.

The YMCA is a place where you can challenge yourself to learn a new skill or hobby, foster connections with friends through our lifelong learning programs, or bringing your loved ones closer together through our many family-centered activities.

Cooking Classes Around Greater Grand Rapids: A Bit of Everything

These local programs offer classes on a wide range of culinary traditions and techniques. Browse their course offerings to find the perfect idea for your next ladies’ night out, date night, or me-time!

1 – Downtown Market | Grand Rapids

Offering everything from kid and family cooking classes to highly specialized courses on things like pasta techniques, sushi, and even cocktails, Downtown Market has a motherlode of cooking classes for you to explore. (616) 805-5308

2 – GRCC Cooks – Your Community Kitchen | Grand Rapids

Savor the world-class facilities and well-seasoned instructors of Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. Learn the fundamentals of knife skills, soups, sauces, sushi or vegan cooking, and become familiar with world culinary traditions like those of Thailand, South America, Vietnam, and Africa. (616) 234-3837

3 – Kitchen 242 | Muskegon

From French cuisine to Asian noodle bowls, this unique commercial kitchen has made it its mission to provide a space for the community to create and learn about all things related to food. (231) 769-2202 (Muskegon)

4 – Sur La Table | Grand Rapids

Sur La Table offers some amazing courses in just about everything from brunch to European dishes with flair. Look for their special girls’ night out and weekly Friday date night events! (616) 956-6880

5 – Tamara’s Cooking Classes | Grand Haven

For almost 20 years, Tamara’s has been teaching hands-on classes at the Oak Lane Kitchen in Grand Haven. In just one class, learn all the skills necessary to prepare several dishes. (616) 847-0312

6 – The Local Epicurean |  Grand Rapids

Adventurous foodies can snack on imported cheese, pesto, baguettes, and infused beverages while learning practical and advanced techniques. Looking for something special to do for date night? Check out their unique “Class for Two” programs! (616) 206-5175

Just for Kids – 5 Places Children can Learn to Cook

Cooking is such a rewarding skill for kids to learn, but with knives and hot stovetops involved, you have to take care when teaching. These local places put safety first, but followed very closely by tons of FUN.

1 – Cooking with Jen

Cooking classes for one-on-one instruction or cooking parties for up to 8 kids are a great way to get kids to learn and enjoy the cooking process. Perfect for birthday parties or Christmas gifts. For more information and prices, contact Jennifer Culler. Jennifer is a trained pastry chef and music educator with 13 years teaching experience. (269) 275-6315  

2 – YMCA

One more reason to head to the YMCA!  They offer weekly and monthly cooking workshops for kids (and adults too) that focus on locally inspired cuisine, cooking techniques, and healthy recipes.  New classes start in January. Call to register or visit their site to find the location and schedule that works best for you. (616) 855-9622

3 – Kentwood Parks & Rec

Kids will focus on learning the basic uses for all of the most common kitchen utensils, create recipes they can reproduce at home, and take home a recipe book with all of their creations at the end of the class. (616)656-5270

4 – Sur La Table

These two day workshops expose kids to the techniques that result in some of their favorite recipes as well as basic knife skills. 800-243-0852

5 – Downtown Market

Kids will love the Downtown Market’s Simmer Camp that is offered every summer at various times and over the course of several days.  There are always themes assigned to each session of Simmer Camp and kids can pick the ones that have a menu that sounds like something they’d most like to create. Be on the look out for other, shorter, classes offered at different times throughout the year too. (616) 805-5308

We love hearing from YOU! If you try out one of these cooking classes, be sure to let us know.

Cooking Classes Around Greater Grand Rapids: Specialized Programs

The programs offered below focus on classes about just one particular kind of food: be it Italian or edible flowers, pig butchering or root beer making. You’ll be sure to find something to broaden your culinary horizons and bring fresh life to your kitchen!

1 – Amore Trattoria Italiano | Comstock Park

Join Chef Jenna every second Saturday of the month for a free, drop-in style Italian cooking class–no registration required! (616) 785-5344

2 – Chocolates by Grimaldi | Grand Haven

Why paint canvas when you can paint, flavor, and decorate your own unique chocolate bar? Grab your bestie or hubby and come learn all about the chocolate making process, then design and create your very own chocolate bar. (616) 935-7740

3 – Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars  | Holland

Make the most out of cooking oils and vinegars with these specialized classes. You’ll learn the art of pairing and blending flavors, practice some classic and also creative applications for vegetables, salads, soups, and meats, and master  dressings, marinades, sauces, caramelizing and more! Check out their Saturday Girlfriend Weekends, designed especially for you and your tribe. (231) 944-1145

4 – Louise Earl Butcher | Grand Rapids

Are you a meat lover? Join this locally sourced, whole-animal butcher shop to learn things you can’t learn anywhere else, like how to butcher a pig and make your own sausage! (616) 930-3602

5 – Frederik Meijer Gardens | Grand Rapids

Good cooking begins with good growing. Cook from the ground up with courses that feature the fundamentals of vegetable gardening, how to plant and care for an edible landscape in your own yard, and how to cook with local herbs and edible flowers. (616) 957-1580

6 – Sanchez Bistro | Grand Rapids

Check out the specialized, fun courses offered seasonally by this tapas bistro, like learning how to make your own paella (yum!). (616) 774-8272

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