Classy Cooking

For most people, cooking classes are something only for cheesy first dates or culinary professionals, but whether we know it or not, most of us at some point have been through a cooking class. It might have been as simple as baking cookies with grandma or learning how to grill a steak with dad on the BBQ…whatever it was, it counted.
Unfortunately, many people end their culinary education in childhood except for watching the occasional cooking show on TV. But cooking classes can be fun and informative for people of all ages and walks of life, and luckily, Miami has a number of institutions the host them on a regular basis. So if your 4-year-old loves to help you bake (even if it’s just licking the spoon), or if you’re looking to improve your dinner parties, there are plenty of options around town.
Cooking classes for kids is a great way for little ones to meet other aspiring chefs and work on those motor skills that are so important. Cooking With Kids Miami offers weekly classes for children ages 3-6 and 7-13 for both cooking and baking as well as birthday parties and other events.
For adults, there are a number of offerings, especially through Johnson & Wales University, as well as Miami-Dade College, both of which offer classes for everything from cheese-making and French cuisine to cake decorating and baking. Both schools offer short-term and long-term courses for a wide range of folks and tastes.
For those looking for a more upscale culinary experience, The Biltmore Hotel has a range of classes including baking, cooking and a 3-day culinary boot camp all with the backdrop and amenities of the legendary hotel at your fingertips.
Publix, the place “Where Shopping Is A Pleasure,” also makes it easy to get passionate about cooking. Whether you’re a novice or a career chef looking to expand your repertoire, this top grocery store chain offers you the opportunity to work with renowned chefs, authors, cooking celebrities and restaurant professionals to develop your culinary arts — from specific world cuisines and time-tested cooking techniques to specific topics such as the perfect appetizers, tasty desserts and holiday meal plans.
So regardless of what you’re planning on the menu for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert or your next big party, one thing’s certain: We could all use a little help in the kitchen when it comes to amping up our culinary skills!