Gabrielle Z.
Yelp
Brunch: delicious with slight tweaks to the classic favorites; Cooking classes: tasty and healthy (be prepared to stay a while).
Ever since they moved to Yancey, they've opened a kitchen/restaurant where you can dine for brunch from 9 am - 2 pm on Saturdays. It's a great way to start the day before brewery hopping. For a good pre-drink day, I recommend the Pancake Tacos, with three fluffy pancakes stuffed with thick slice bacon and eggs and accompanied with a spiced maple syrup. So filling and do worth it! The space is airy and open, with a lot of seating and a good handful of menu options.
Classes here are super fun! You don't have to worry about bringing any supplies except for your own wine! I've come more than a handful of times over the years -- on date nights, girls' date nights, and for a team building activity with coworkers. You get to be really hands on at your own table station of four people, taste test as you go, get 1:1 tips and suggestions, take notes, eat what you cook, and take home leftovers! You also get to take home a recipe book, which includes cooking instructions and all the notes you take during your class. If you're beginner or experienced, the classes are catered to anyone! Alyssa is a great instructor who gives insightful tips, and her staff is very helpful and answer even the stupidest of cooking question! She even partners with Chefs around the city to co-instruct her classes, so you get exposed to a lot that Charlotte has to offer.
The only downside to the classes is that they can go for 3 hours depending on the attention your class needs or the dish you're making because you end up making a side dish or two/an appetizer, entree, and dessert -- this means that if your class starts at 6:30 you might not start eating until 9/9:15pm...and if that's on a weekday then that's a pretty late night.
Other than that, I love Chef Alyssa and her husband Andrew (who does the social media and PR for Chef Alyssa's Kitchen) -- they're great people who love to bring sustainable, healthy cooking to the masses.