Boston area culinary class

December 14, 2005 9:14 AM

For Christmas, I'd like to give my sister and brother-in-law, who live in Boston, a gift certificate to take a cooking class together. Can you recommend or help me select a school or instructor?

I'd like to spend about $150-$200, and it would be good if there were a variety of classes/topics from which they could choose. They might select a class about chocolate desserts or maybe more of a fancy entree. If classes specifically for couples are offered, that might be nice, but it isn't strictly necessary.

posted by palegirl to food & drink (7 comments total)

I've heard good things about the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 9:30 AM on December 14, 2005

The Boston Center for Adult Education offers lots of cooking classes, and they also offer gift certificates.

(I haven't taken cooking classes there, but I have taken wine classes, and they were very good.)
posted by nev at 9:54 AM on December 14, 2005

Le cordon bleu is the gold-standard when it comes to cooking schools; this article says they've leased space for a Boston location, but I can't seem to find info on Boston classes. Dunno if LCB would be too pro-oriented, though, but sure to be top-notch, esp. if your recipients want to learn french techniques.
posted by docgonzo at 9:57 AM on December 14, 2005

oh my god can I! I and several of my friends have taken cooking classes at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. In particular we have been in love with the classes taught by chef Rafael Pereira. He is an expert on the history and modern execution of Latin and South American foods, and also dabbles in the Caribbean. It works great to go with a friend/SO, and the classes are small, very personable. You get recipes at the end a discussion of the dish's history and variations during the meal. so awesome.

They do also do a lot of dessert-based classes - I haven't taken those, but my friends have. The teachers also awesome - the coffee-tasting and chocolate-tasting classes were favorites, but they have a large variet of classes and some aren't offered every term.
posted by whatzit at 10:03 AM on December 14, 2005

Ah, their selection: CCAE also does gift certificate/sign-ups, but at least those are some specific courses to suggest or look into. The courses we've taken with Rafael Pereira are Paella, Mexican Regional, and the South American variety course.
posted by whatzit at 10:05 AM on December 14, 2005

Jo at Counting Sheep and Amuse Bouche is just finishing up a year's course for the Professional Chefs Certificate at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, teaches informal cooking classes and would be a great person to ask for recommendations.
posted by ceri richard at 10:43 AM on December 14, 2005

I definitely recommend the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.

My cousin has recently taken some Saturday classes there and loved them. I know someone else who did their Professional Chef program (37 weeks) and had such a great time that he gives folks gift certificates for classes as gifts now. I believe you can give one and let them choose which class they'd like to take.

And finally I know a company that does Corporate Cooking Parties there and always has an amazing time. I keep meaning to take a class there myself.
posted by jdl at 10:57 AM on December 14, 2005