The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Cozymeal/Instagram
- Cozymeal lets you find and book cooking classes ($100-$125/person) led by professional chefs in your city.
- We used Cozymeal to book a pasta-making class and loved it - both the organized, easy-to-use booking process and the fun, educational class itself.
- If you're looking to try a new experience with loved ones, as either a gift or just because, we recommend Cozymeal to make it happen.
If you're ever looking for something new and different to do, a cooking class is a fun way to learn new skills, spend time with a loved one, and enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor afterwards.
Having exhausted every shopping mall, bar, and restaurant in your area, you might want to spend time with your friends in a more active way. Or, instead of doing the usual expensive dinner date, you and your partner can make the gourmet meal (and the new memories) yourselves.
Cozymeal is an online platform that lets you browse and book these cooking experiences, whether you want to give a unique anniversary gift for two or have a night out with your 10 closest foodie friends.
The classes offered through the site are led by professional chefs and are currently available in more than 20 major cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston. In addition to small group cooking classes, you can book team-building classes for your office and food tours (in select cities).
Here's how Cozymeal works:
After selecting your city, type of class, number of guests, and date (optional), you'll see all the cooking experiences available to book. A glance through the page tells you how much each class costs, the chef's rating, and the next available class you can book. Most classes cost $100 to $125 per person.
Cozymeal
Click on a class to learn more about the exact menu you'll be cooking, how long the class is, previous guest reviews, and the chef's background.
As you drool over all the different meals you might cook, which may range from classic French dishes to vegan soul food, make sure to consider factors such as current class size and class location. Each class has a minimum guest number, and if your chosen date/time doesn't reach that minimum, your booking will be canceled. As you browse dates and times, the site will tell you how many other guests are already signed up for each class.
Some classes are led by "traveling chefs," meaning they'll come to your kitchen with all the necessary supplies. Others are hosted at the chef's kitchen, the exact address of which will be provided after you submit your booking request. Keep these distinctions in mind as you browse the classes.
Cozymeal
After you book a class, you'll receive multiple emails: one confirming your booking request, one confirming the actual class once the chef has accepted your request, and a couple more reminder emails in the days leading up to the class.
Using Cozymeal, I booked a Fresh Pasta 101 class for myself and Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton. Here's how that experience went:
From start to finish, we had a great time. The chef's space in Greenwich Village was clean and spacious, and the chef himself was professional and friendly. Though the maximum number of guests for this class was 12, there were only two other guests in our particular booking, which meant plenty of space and opportunity to get our hands dirty, as well as individualized attention.
The class provided all the supplies, including aprons, tools, appliances, and ingredients. Though I love cooking, I hate the prep work and clean-up - with the class, I could just focus on the fun parts and leave the dirty pots and pans behind.
Connie Chen/Business Insider
The three-hour class flew by, which was no surprise since we were making three different pasta types and sauces, plus a dessert. However, we never felt rushed, and the chef was there with us every step of the way.
I can't speak for all the classes offered through Cozymeal, but this one was especially rewarding because the chef didn't just dump ingredients on us and act as a human recipe book. He reviewed important cooking fundamentals such as mise en place and proper knife techniques, and gave us helpful tidbits we could take home to our own kitchens.
Afterwards, we enjoyed our pasta dishes with our fellow classmates and new friends, and got to take the leftovers home, too.
Mara Leighton/Business Insider
With visions of cavatelli and fettuccine still dancing in my head, I would highly recommend using Cozymeal to find your next cooking class. The platform is easy to navigate, offers a wide range of cuisines, and connects you to professional chefs and fellow guests who are just as excited to cook as you are. You can book a class directly, or buy a gift card for someone who will enjoy a memorable cooking experience.
Find a cooking class near you with Cozymeal
Buy a Cozymeal gift card here
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Find all the best offers at our Coupons page.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.