But sometimes we like to mix things up, expand our skillet (sorry… skillset!), and impress our pals with our newfound talents.
There’s a range of cooking classes across Brisbane with options for all ages and all skill levels, with a mixed bag of cuisines and styles. Take your pick, and prepare to flex…
COME AND COOK | THE GAP
Come and Cook hold small, interactive classes for kids between 7 and 16, helping the young ones gain some independence in the kitchen.
If you want your kids to help with weekly dinners or expose your selective eater to new meals, Come and Cook hosts after-school classes called Dinner Club. A seven-week program run with fresh menus each week, Dinner Club gives budding chefs the chance to learn new skills under the guidance of owner Karen Browne, get to know different cuisines, and come home with dinner!
When school holidays roll around, Come and Cook offers special workshops with wild and wacky themes like Harry Potter sweet treats and Iron Chef Japanese! Plus, if you are looking for unique birthday parties, Come and Cook has you covered. With their popular cooking class parties, chefs can cook their own party food and have loads of fun while learning a few new culinary skills! Hosting 6-10 kids in the kitchen, the mini chefs work together to cook their own party food and go home with a gorgeous cotton chef’s hat and a recipe booklet to recreate the dishes again for the whole family (lucky you)!
Come and Cook also offers a four-week term for NDIS-specific groups (up to six participants) of kids, teens, and adults to cook in a supportive, small-group, hands-on, and friendly setting. Support workers are very welcome in these workshops. Read more about Come and Cook’s many classes here.
Golden Pig Restaurant and Cooking School | NEWSTEAD
From sourdough to soufflés, modern Italian and Mexican street food, Golden Pig has a class and a cuisine for everyone. The restaurant, function space, and cooking school is run by executive chef Katrina Ryan–a friendly and experienced chef who is ready to turn you into the next culinary wiz!
Golden Pig runs a series of hands-on classes suitable for all skill levels with the essentials like bread, pizza and pasta essentials, and some elevated offerings including native Australian ingredients and the brand new Taste of Mauritius class! For the sweet tooths out there, we strongly recommend the Elements of Desserts series, with sessions devoted to mastering caramel, chocolate, and meringue.
You won’t be left with a rumbling tummy when you’re finished cooking up a storm, either, as the class sits down in groups to enjoy their handmade feasts with accompanying drinks. Talk about a golden pig-out!
With a reputation as one of Brisbane’s best cooking schools, Golden Pig’s classes are in high demand! You can book yourself in here. (Golden Pig is implementing COVID-safe practises such as reduced class sizes and providing masks for participants.)
LA MACELLERIA | VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Enter the Laboratorio del Gelato and learn the secrets to becoming an artisan gelato maker at La Macelleria!
Starting with theoretical principles followed by practical exercises on the machines, the gelato workshops show the full gelato making process from beginning to end. Learn the difference between gelato and ice cream, understand the raw materials that go into gelato, step through the stages of the production cycle, and hop on the machine to make your own 1L pack of the good stuff! With classes no larger than eight guests at the West End and Teneriffe gelaterias, be sure to book yourself and your fellow sweet tooths in!
MECCA BAH | NEWSTEAD
Turn your next dinner party or family barbeque into a festive and multicultural affair by learning a range of fragrant, unique and delicious dishes from across the Middle East at Mecca Bah’s ultimate Middle Eastern cooking class.
Enjoy nibbles and drinks on arrival before the talented chefs take you through various dishes step by step, sharing tips and tricks for mastering this incredible cuisine along the way. After you’re finished cooking up a feast, sit down as a group and enjoy your very own three courses over a few more drinks!
THE NORMAN HOTEL | WOOLLOONGABBA
We cannot think of a better place to learn to grill to perfection than at Brisbane’s worst vegetarian restaurant (aka The Norman Hotel) by one of the Norman grill masters.
Held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays once a month, refine your skills at The Norman Hotel’s Mastersteak BBQ cooking class! A popular gift for your carnivorous loved one, the class includes two hours of cooking and drinking, plus a Norman Hotel ‘Brisbane’s Worst Vegetarian Restaurant’ chef apron to take home and wear whilst grilling the perfect steak.
MONS BAN SABAI | CAMP HILL
Constantly awarded Brisbane’s best thai restaurant (for darn good reason), Mons Thai is a family-run restaurant and cooking school in the heart of gorgeous Camp Hill.
Held monthly for groups of 12, these classes are known to book out well in advance. Each session includes hands-on cooking under the guidance of the talented chefs, a glass of wine on arrival, a post-class feast, and a take-home bag with recipes and a signature curry paste.
NEW FARM CONFECTIONERY | NEW FARM
Let that imagination of yours come to life in the chocolate bar making workshop, get crunchy at a brittle and honeycomb session, or a little gooey at the marshmallow or caramel masterclasses. Those budding chefs of yours can get in on the action too, with kids chocolate workshops on offer for 10-16 year olds!
Whatever workshop you choose, you’re guaranteed to be walking away with a wealth of new knowledge, a sugar high and a bag of goodies to take home (if they get that far!).
So, what are you plating up next?
Keeping The G&G up to date with tasty tidbits requires a lot of lattes and espresso martinis, so we occasionally collaborate with local businesses we love, like these. Want to advertise with The G&G yourself? To see how we can help you out and to learn more about our food-crazy audience, head here.
