The Cooking Schools

This was such an awesome experience! I went with some of my family and they LOVED it! Our Chef Rick was super friendly, funny, and cool! He made the entire class fun and had interesting stories! On top of that, the food was absolutely incredible!!!! When we all sat down to eat, everyone couldn’t stop saying how delicious every single dish was. We were able to take home all the leftovers and Rick even gave us delicious ice cream at the end! If you are just thinking about going, I really do recommend coming here, just pick your favorite type of food and pick a class to go to! 10/10 experience

I had a top tier time at a brunch class with Adrienne! The class was so relaxed and informative, and I loved Adrienne’s fun and warm personality. Literally everything came out delicious. The communal vibe of the class made it like cooking with family!

I have been to numerous cooking classes before but this is the first time I experienced cooking together as a group. It was actually fun and we really enjoyed the class. John is an expert at his craft. We will definitely be booking again. Thanks for good times and great Sangria's lol 😉

This was an incredible experience. I took Chef Meaux’s Got Soul class and had an absolute blast! She has years of experience and taught the class knife skills, various techniques, and her special tips and tricks while we made fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread, and the most amazing Mac and cheese I’ve ever had. I’d recommend this to anyone a date night or solo, the class was an absolute blast! I’m booking more for sure!

Had a work team building experience here and it exceeded my expectations! Everyone was so friendly and the event was well organized. I appreciated the attentiveness and explanations of what we were doing. We made a southern meal with fried chicken, collared greens, Mac and cheese and a few other dishes to have a complete southern experience. Not only did I have a very hearty meal, we all had a lot of fun!

THAI 1 ON was an awesome class! Solo or date night, you're sure to have a good time! Menu was simple yet filling; EVERYONE had a task, so we all felt included. I came away with do-able dishes and refreshing cocktails

Thankyou so so much Cheft John for a wonderful experience of a lifetime! My husband Shawn booked us the thai cooking class on Saturday and it blew our mind! The cocktails were phenomenal! The soup, chicken, stew everything was AMAZING!! Everyone was so friendly, kind and we had such a blast learning how to make cocktails, Thai cruisine while socializing with the most amazing kindest people! We can’t wait to go back for another class!

A Fantastic Sushi-Making Experience at Ima Sushi Class! I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Ima Sushi class at The Cooking Schools at the Irwin and I cannot recommend it highly enough! From start to finish it was an incredible experience. The chef was nothing short of phenomenal so knowledgeable, patient, and engaging. Her passion for sushi-making was contagious and she made sure everyone felt comfortable, no matter their skill level. I appreciated the hands-on instruction, detailed explanations, and the little tips and tricks that truly elevated the experience. The ingredients were fresh and high-quality and the techniques we learned gave me so much confidence in making sushi at home. The entire class was well-structured, fun, and interactive. Plus, getting to enjoy our creations at the end was the perfect reward! I will absolutely be booking another class soon and I can’t wait to continue honing my sushi-making skills with such an amazing instructor. If you’re looking for a fun, delicious, and educational experience, this class is a must! 🍣✨

I came as a part of a work (corporate) group for Paella and Sangria making. I love both those things so I was excited to make and even more so to try our creations! Haha. Overall, it was a good experience. I felt our instruction was detailed between explaining the why behind steps and demonstrating. We got a lesson in knife skills that was cool. Dishes made: -Paella (chicken and a meatless version for our vegans) -Tortilla chips -Pico de gallo -Guacamole -Sangria My only con was that we started late (more than 20 mins) so there was a lot of waiting around at first. I undetstsnd things can happen which is why thebexprrienfe was overall fun and positive. Once we got going, the pace stayed at a steady flow and we were not rushed out at the end. Would recommend if you're in the Atlanta area. The next group after us was also a corporate event, so I'd say the setup works particularly well for that (groups less than 15).

Came here with my colleagues for a team-building class and it was a blast! We made pasta! It was fun to make everything from scratch, including all the veggies that went into the sauce. Our instructor was so entertaining, southern, and sassy (his words lol). He was really patient with some of the people in our group who weren't as experienced in the kitchen and gave tons of tips along the way. I'm not sure it was relaxing haha, but a group of 20 making pasta and sauce from scratch is almost guaranteed to be a chaotic good time. I recommend this for work teams, families who want a group activity, couples, friend groups, or even solo. I'd love to go back and try another cuisine class - there are so many to choose from! Plus there's a drag brunch option that our instructor teaches, which is probably really fun too.

I LOVED my course here!! I took a sushi making class with a friend and it was awesome! I was having a hard time finding a school that would have vegetarian options and this school was able to accommodate me! They provided aprons to keep you clean during the process which was appreciated! We cut up the veggies and learned how to slice things properly for sushi! We learned the tools needed to make the sushi! Lots of wonderful learning here! Can't wait to come back for another course! The sushi was yummy and we even got an extra set of rolls to take home!

4.7/5 I treated myself to a brunch cooking class for my birthday! We had the pleasure of cooking with Chef David, with a menu that consisted of: French toast w/ a banana foster compete, creamed spinach, crab cakes, poached eggs, million dollar bacon, smashed potatoes and mimosas. Experience: I don't eat pork or beef, and I was late to mention that before the date of the class. But they were nice enough to allow me to bring in my own bacon and went the extra mile to make sure there was no cross-contamination. The do start on time, so I do advice getting there a lil early. Once the class starts, you wash your hands then they give you an apron. I liked that everyone had something to do, whether it was prepping or cooking, it was very hands-on. Chef David was engaging and taught us a lot of new tricks and tips when cooking certain items. The food turned out to be really good, and the mimosas were a hit! Ambiance/Parking: It is a decent sized area, with a full kitchen and a few fridges along the walls. Plenty of seating near the door, and they have aprons for you there. Parking is simple, you can park in the front on in the back closer to the cooking school. They have pay for parking signs up but I do not know if it is enforced. Overall: This was a fun experience and I am glad I took advantage of coming to this class. I will definitely be booking another class and I hope I am able to have Chef David again.

We had a really fun cooking experience. The chef was lots of fun and interactive. We learned a lot and enjoyed ourselves. Fun surprise at the end to get some ice crea too :) would definitely consider coming back to do another class

This was such a great experience! We have been dying to try it and finally went for the Paella and Sangria class and it was just phenomenal. It was a great mix of learning, being hands on and simply relaxing while eating a fantastic meal. The chefs were so kind and we made so many new friends in the class which was awesome. It was just the perfect night for any group of friends, date night or a family.

I just finished with my second class. This time it was sushi. I've always been intimidated at the thought of making sushi at home. Not only does Jake break it down to show how easy this can be, I also have a great time meeting new people. I can't wait to take even more classes!

I have been wanting to try a cooking class forever, and I'm so glad we have this place in the area. We went to the "knife skills and Mediterranean food" class and had such a great time! Chef John and Rick kept it light and fun, gave people more specific individualized pointers when they needed to, and somehow had us eating an amazing feast at the end. I've been an avid home cook for a long time, but I still learned a ton of really useful pointers and came away with some delicious recipe ideas. The class was mostly couples, but the vibes are chill enough that I'd go by myself, too. Definitely great for couples, friends, groups, anyone really.

An amazing experience from beginning to end. John and Rick made you feel right at home. They made it very easy for guest to interact with each other an not feel like strangers. The kitchen set up is very nice and clean and has a real southern feel to it.

Amazing time learning how to cook with my son! Adrienne and Rochelle were fantastic guides. Food was delicious and everyone had the best time. Can't wait to do it again.

My gf and I had the pleasure of taking a Cajun pasta class with chef Mo! Such an amazing experience. Chef was fun, knowledgeable, and upbeat. Everyone had the best time. She was so witty, and the food turned out amazing! Such an incredible experience. We will absolutely be back to learn more from Chef Mo! Thank you so much for the experience!

Such an amazing experience! The entire thing was laid back and yet still very informative and engaging. It was chef Mihoko's last class and I loved being a part of her last set of students. Her instructions were easy to follow, and she had so many helpful 'take home' tips. The school itself is very homey and doesn't have the fluorescent glare of a 'normal' class room, which I loved. It felt more like I was in my best friend's kitchen learning a new recipe with her. It was an awesome experience, we'll definitely be back soon!

Had an amazing experience last night with my company team building event at the Cooking School at Irwin! Jake was an incredible host and made the night so fun and inclusive for our entire team. This experience is a must!!

We came to this very lovely and homey feel cooking school as a team building event one word to describe the experience: SUCCESS! Not only did the wonderful chef John patiently walk us through making a very tasty, lemony chicken sauce and al dente pasta but he shared some cool culinary tips! As a team we got to know one another better and we got to meet the owner Jake. Our meal was complimented with a salad, with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing and toasted, tasty garlic bread. The meal was rounded off with a bowl of Jake's homemade chocolate cinnamon ice cream...Yummy! The entire experience was a gastro delights. 10 out 10 highly recommend!

We had the privilege of taking the first Dog Day Afternoon class at the Cooking School. It was very fun and interactive. My puppy loooooved the food. The recipe was super approachable and easy to recreate. Very affordable as well. We had three items for the pups that we were able to take home very healthy portions. A frittata, meatballs, and frozen treats. The human food was very yummy also. The instructor was very clear and helpful. He answered any questions that came up. I learned a lot from the class and would take it again or recommend it to anyone with confidence.

I managed to have fun at the knife skills class I took because of the positive vibes of the other students, but unfortunately, I can't say that I would recommend this class. The instructor was at times rude and impatient and seemed annoyed when people asked him specific questions. He also threw in a couple of off-color jokes for free. I was surprised to hear them promoting team building for corporate groups. Sounds to me like HR's worst nightmare. And no, cheese does not belong in hummus.

I wanted to surprise my boyfriend with a unique date, and I found a Groupon for a cooking class for 2 at The Cooking School at Irwin Street. Due to our schedule restraints, we signed up for the Soul Food cooking class which fit our availability, but they offer lots of different classes like a pasta featured class, brunch, healthy cooking, couples and kids classes, and desserts, to name a few. You must sign up through their website, which is easy to navigate. They suggest wearing closed-toe shoes for safety, and I suggest wearing comfortable clothes because you will be standing for the entirety of the class. When you arrive at the building, you wait in the back area with the couches until your instructor comes to take the group to a different building where the class is held. In this room, there is a stove top, oven, convection oven, sink, restroom, and long dining table for eating after. You can bring your own alcohol, which you are allowed to open at the end of class, but I do suggest bringing your own beverages in case you get thirsty. My instructor, Jamia, is amazing. She was funny and engaging to the whole class. If you are shy, these classes will get you laughing and interacting with your fellow students right away. Everyone watches the process and everyone helps cook a little bit of the meal. At end, everyone sits together and eats family style. And after class is done, you walk to Jake's Ice Cream and get a free scoop! For the soul food class, we cooked "angel eggs" (deviled eggs but there's a story that goes with it), mac n cheese, sautéed greens, and fried chicken. Everything tasted amazing, and I'm pretty proud that we made it together. My boyfriend and I loved the experience and would definitely recommend to anyone in the area.

Took the ravioli and sushi making classes. Highly recommend. Environment is very casual and friendly. Both classes I've taken lasted about 2 hours before food was finished so definitely eat some snacks before going!

Our team building event was a success. Chef Jake is full of energy and kept each individual in our group of 11 entertained & engaged. He also remember everyone's name. The food was home grown and fresh and the menu aligned to everyone's dietary restrictions. This was not just a team building event it was an experience! My group is still thanking me for booking this experience.

Great cooking class with an amazing atmosphere! Will definitely be trying recipes at the house.

Had a great time! the class size was perfect, everything was set up before we arrived, great atmosphere. the dish was delicious and even though we make fresh pasta at home we learned a lot about mixing the dough by hand and how to crimp the ravioli properly plus a new recipe. great class with Chef John, will definitely be back!

Overall this was a great experience but not so much a cooking class. We didn't cook exactly, just chopped, and threw stuff in a pan that turned into an amazing meal. We had Salmon with Pesto, Quinoa, and Sweet Potatoes. We learned the basics for each recipe, their ingredients and how to prepare them. Then chopped up our portion and put it in one pot. I really enjoy the cooking and simmering, I had imagined I would be cooking my own meal. At the end we ate together and got to know each other. There were about 12 of us in the group which is just enough to keep it intimate. I did walk away with new recipes and cooking tips and even new friends. However, I did not feel like I cooked, I guess this is as hands on as it gets for the Irwin Cooking School. I kinda expected the home-economics model they had in high school (each get their own little kitchen and and learn to cook their own recipe). I am glad I did the Scoutmob, it was a great way to see if this was for me. It's not exactly what I was looking for. it is more of a supper club. If you want to meet friends and learn to cook basics, this could be the class for you. I am more of the hands on, cook my own and learn an intricate recipe kind of gal.

My friends and I took a class with a Nyesha, we absolutely loved it! We made Paella and Sangrias. Nyesha was an amazing teacher and made following along fun and easy for beginners. Highly recommend.

My friend introduced me to this place after going for a taco cooking class there. What I absolutely love about this place is that 1) it feels very homely. It's calm and quiet, and there's separate space for cooking and eating. 2) Chef Mihoko Obunai is such a sweet, fun and bubbly personality - and finally 3) the class is very accessible for those that have not stepped foot in a kitchen. We did a sushi making class and I had a great time. Bring a date or a friend!

Hubz and I had a great time in the Pastabilities class today. Upon arrival, we joined a small group making our total 8. We paired off at the 4 designated stations, and all had the opportunity to make ravioli and tortellini. During the 2 hour class, Chef Ramsey patiently instructs with ease and simplicity. He is a knowledgeable professional who is also a great teacher. Hands on was the highlight of this class. A small portion (the meat) of the meal was prepared in advance, and much of the prep (dicing of fresh ingredients & salad prep) was explained but not completed as a group. I appreciated that as it gave us more time to practice our fresh pasta. That is, afterall, why I chose this class. Upon completion if the meal, we plated our creations, and enjoyed the meal we'd prepared along with the other class attendees. We were also told to stop by the ice cream shop for any scoop of our choice which was included in our meal. We're looking forward to using what we learned there at home! It also doesn't hurt that we were able to save some money on the experience. Thanks, Groupon. We'd highly recommend this option for a date day, or a different kind of outing with friends.

I attended the Creole Dinner Party on Friday 7/26/19. I am constructing this review to express how disappointed I was with the experience. I've participated in several cooking classes in the past, and do not feel this one met expectations. I do not feel we received $85 per person worth of culinary education nor dining experience. I'd like to start by stating that Chef Eboni was a delight, and the food that was prepared was fine. One of my grievances is that we came to a cooking school to essentially watch five other couples cook. The contributions and learning that we made included molding a store bought pie crust into a foil pan, dicing an onion, and hand crushing pecans. Meanwhile other couples were preparing various ingredients or stirring a pan. The majority of class time was spent watching 10 people crowd around two stoves while only two participants stirred. I felt as though we were a part of an assembly line rather than a school. My second complaint is that the class did not match the description of what was marketed online: This class is highly interactive, as you will learn about "The Holy Trinity" - the base of New Orlean's Cooking, how to make a roux and make your own seasoning mixes for your recipes...yeah, no prepackaged jar stuff in this class! I've already stated my point on the interactiveness of this class. We didn't learned anything about "The Holy Trinity". We did not prepare any roux. We did not make our own seasoning mixes. We used plenty of "prepackaged jar stuff". Lastly I believe Eboni mentioned the class was supposed to teach us how to prepare three dishes, but we were only taught two. You have sent an email containing a link to provide feedback and suggestions, but the link only directs me to the scheduling section of your webpage. I cannot find a location on your webpage to provide feedback. I understand that we paid for an experience and an opportunity to learn how to cook dishes. I wish to reiterate that I do not feel we received $85 per person worth of culinary education nor dining experience.

My daughter and I went to the Mexican fiesta cooking class and had so much fun! We joined other couples (and singles) to learn new techniques to make a Mexican feast. Chef John and Chef Teree were warm and friendly and welcoming and wonderful.. Highly recommend!

My boyfriend and I signed up to do this cooking class with the expectation that we would be working together in a pod of some sort with little to no communication with other people. Boy were we wrong! Jake really encouraged the importance of community. We got to interact and meet so many different people. It was so fun and everyone got to make their food together. The end of the class finished with Jakes Ice Cream. I really feel like I got to bond with people and the food was beyond amazing!!! Highly recommend!

I've never taken a cooking class before and my friend who lives in Atlanta really wanted to check this one out and it was so worth it! First thing. Huge shout out and thank you to Chef Paul! He was so funny and helpful and we learned so much from him. He actually got me excited about cooking! If I don't remember anything else, at least I know how to properly cut an onion now lol! The kitchen/dining space was very clean and homely feeling. I loved the size of our class. The 9 of us had great time getting to know each other while learning fun new recipes. Our theme for the class was Sunday Brunch and my favorite dishes we made were the cinnamon crumble coffee cake, shrimp and grits, and the frittata. Chef Paul was kind enough to email us all the recipes we made that day. My stomach is growling right now thinking about that yummy meal! If you're looking to learn new things to impress in the kitchen definitely sign up for a class here. They offer a wide variety and sometimes have a Groupon deal, so you're sure to find something that piques your interest! And a fun treat after you finish a class you can get a free scoop of ice cream for dessert next door! Thanks again Chef Paul!

I had a nice time at this cooking class because I always enjoy cooking with my partner, and the other students were fun to work with. However, I was not a huge fan of the instructor for the class I took. Chef John (Knife Skills) seemed to not have a lot of patience for the students' questions and made some comments that made me and some of the other students a bit uncomfortable. In addition, I cook a fair amount at home and did not learn many new techniques, so I'd say this class was more for beginner home cooks. The meal we made had some nice dishes and others that were pretty meh (including poorly seasoned dishes). I've gotten better recipes and cooking techniques from online videos, though there is something fun about working with a class in person.

Amazing experience. We went here on some goofy team building exercise, and ended up having an awesome time, eating great food, and learning a ton. Since taking this class I have made the street corn at least a dozen times. The cinnamon ice cream was to die for, and the over all atmosphere was a blast. These guys seriously know what they are doing, and how to do it well.

I'm not sure why everyone says that it isn't a cooking class. It may not be the Cordon Bleu, but it's a instructor led class where you learn to cook a meal. What else does it need to be a cooking class??? Chef Paul provided lots of instruction and good tips for any novice or average level cook. So, not sure what else delineates a "cooking" class. There were 8 people in our class and the meal was sweet potato gnocchi in a sage brown butter sauce with an arugula salad. The arugula salad was topped with toasted pine nuts and a homemade vinaigrette. Chef Paul was so personable and friendly. It seemed like we were in his kitchen at home having a good time while learning something cool. He answered all kinds of questions, some related to the meal at hand and some not. He taught us the correct way to hold a knife, some entertaining tips and I even learned how to cook real grits...not those instant things. I would definitely recommend The Cooking school for a fun date, a girls night out, or just something fun to do on your own.a Can't wait to take another class soon!

I would say this cooking class was more a of social event rather than educational. It was a group of 12 people who were all very nice. We start off by introducing ourselves in order to get to know each other since we will all be cooking together for the next 2 hours. The cooking class was more like an "organized mess". There was 6 different recipes to make. Our group of 12 had to split into about 6 groups to follow 1 recipe per group. So basically you only get to make 1 dish, unless you finished your recipe early and you get to watch/help someone else cook. The teacher didn't really instruct, they layout out recipes printed on paper and you read them yourself. If you had a question the instructor will answer your questions. I basically felt like I was cooking at a family members house. Not all the bowls/pots/utensils are laid out in front of you. So if the teacher is busy doing something you end up searching for items that you need in cabinets, the fridge, drawers. I have never been to a cooking class, but I would have preferred actual instructions from a teacher rather then reading it myself. The food was ok. it was an Italian class and like I mentioned we prepared 6 dishes. 1. Eggplant parmesan - which at the end I felt was too cheesy. And I love cheese. 2. Braciole - I've never had this before, I would say it's was pretty tasty. Although one of the members of the group said to make a proper Braciolle it has to be slow cooked for hours. And then it would melt in your mouth. I have no idea if he's right. 3 Mannocoti - We made homemade fresh shells, which were more like crepes, and filling. I liked this dish best. 4. Anti Pasta - No cooking really, just 2 people cutting the meats and cheese 5. Linguini and Sauce - just plain pasta cooked and sauce from a Jar. 6. Tiramisu - It was way too strong, most people did not finish it. Someone reading the recipe misread the amount of rum Here's something that threw me off. The sauce we used for all recipes were all from store bought Jars. And they were some kind of cheap brand that I would never use. Maybe it's just me, but I never use sauce from a jar. I make my own sauce with a base of Crushed tomatoes, garlic and other seasoning. The store bought sauce wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. With all the entrees mentioned above, it was about a whole tray of each dish. So splitting 6 Dishes between 12 people was plenty. Everyone had a big plate of food and was stuffed. Some people couldn't finish their food and were given to go boxes. If you want to meet new people and cook something you may have not made before this is a place to go. If your expecting something more formal, than this isn't the place to go. Maybe other classes were more instructional, I'll check into it.

Great experience at the urban farm location. The people that run this are so sweet and personable, it doesn't feel at all like a cooking class. It's more like hanging out at your friends house and helping to make dinner. The coolest part of this experience was going out back to the farm and picking the vegetables for the dish ourselves. Taking "farm to table" quite literally. While I really enjoyed the experience, I didn't feel like I learned anything and I wasn't completely impressed with what we made. Our Brunswick stew was essentially veggies from the garden, some chicken, and Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. I get it that the Sweet Baby Ray's was meant to save time, but first of all, ew; and second of all, if I'm paying that much for a cooking class, I want you to take the time to show me something cool. I really loved the concept and the people, I just wasn't that impressed with the product. That being said, it is a really fun and interesting way to spend an afternoon, and would make a killer date. I would definitely be willing to try them again for a different type of class.

The place didn't feel super clean. I think it may have been the clutter that made it feel unclean.

I can't say enough incredible things about Chef Jake and his cooking school! We came for a bachelorette party and (as the bride to be) I couldn't have pictured a better activity to do! We never felt like we were being rushed, we were able to ask questions and learned a ton! We did holiday sides for our class and everything we made was absolutely delicious (special shout out to that stuffing!) Chef Jake ensured we were all included in every aspect and understood what we were doing throughout the class and always made time to answer questions completely. Although the experience, food and everything we learned was fantastic; the best part was honestly how personable, friendly and humble Chef Jake is. He responds very quickly when trying to set things up and added to the fun of our day! Through his stories and his actions you can tell that Jake is a phenomenal human and truly cares about the community and bringing people together through food. All of us had such a great time and I cannot wait to return with my other friends and family and try different classes!

Everyone here is super nice and it's a great and fun group outing! The food is also delicious. I've done this twice and would recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience I shared with my team as we used this class as a team building activity. Chef Jake was quite personable and made the experience fun and interactive for a large group. Although i enjoyed the experience I rated The Cooking School at Irwin Street two stars because the was not great. My group learned how to make pasta and chicken and eggplant parmesan. I've never tasted food bland in my life. I know everyone's palate is not the same, but the food lacked seasoning and didn't entice me to ask for the recipes to make at home.

Went to the Cooking school last night for the Thai 1 On class and it met all my expectations and then some! Chef Kyle was a great chef with years of experience and information. We learned how to buy knives, chop safely, and what to look for in the grocery store when shopping when looking for certain ingredients. Kyle was so knowledgeable about how to buy food, where to buy, and he was open to fielding all sorts of my crazy cooking questions. Everything was very interactive and we got to do as much chopping and cooking as we wanted. The class was an intimate setting where we met some really nice people. After we cooked the food we sat outside on the Belt Line on their back porch and ate our delicious dinner. Definitely walked away with friends and memories! I think for my next class here I want to try a knife skills class or any other class Kyle is teaching. Ps it's BYOB so walk across to Hop City to grab some beer or wine!

Had the most amazing experience at the Cooking School at Irwin Street. Tonight was a special occasion, Jake (Chef and owner) worked with my partner to set up a private event for two. This was his first time setting such an event. Speaking for both my partner and I, this was a fantastic event. We enjoyed the ambience, the one on one attention and learning to cook a full meal: salad, main dish and dessert (beef tenderloin, mash potatoes made from scratch along with asparagus, kale and a fantastic blueberry bread pudding). Jake was hands on but truly allowed us to cook the meal and provided wonderful hospitality. Would recommend over and over again.

Our team went here for a cooking class as a team building day and it could not have been more perfect! The food was phenomenal and learning the history of what we were cooking was so interesting. I will definitely be coming back here for the class, but several more times for the ice cream!

ABSULUTELY DO NOT GO HERE! DO NOT WORK WITH THESE PEOPLE!! PLEASE READ THIS I reached to to the school and chef on Friday September 5 to see if they would be available for the next day - Saturday, Sep 6 to have a private cooking class. Chef Jake Rothschild responded to me at 4:15 pm saying that he would be able to do it the next day at 7:30 pm. I agreed we went over the menu and he sent me a bill to pay of $399 at 5:45 I confirmed the receipt and paid in full. 2 hours later a very unfortunate and unplanned situation happened in my family that would absolutely changed everything for the next day. Right away I emailed him and was honest about what happened. To which he replied that he had cancelled plans and already done shopping (in the short 2 hours window, but ok) and that cancellation policy is 48 hours. I suggested that I pay for groceries and asked him to please have an exception to the policy since I couldn't have physically have 48 hours since this was planned 24 ahead (which he was given). He was very rude and told me that I didn't care about other peoples plans. Which is absolutely not true. Plans change. Unfortunately mine did.. And with all the curtesy and respect I reached out to him right away 24 hours ahead so that he could adjust his as well. But since that time he stopped responding to me!!!!! I thought maybe he already went to sleep and waited till morning. Still had no answer. I emailed one more time, but still got no response. This company just STOLE my money and disappeared!!! If you have such strict policy with 48 hour cancelation and not willing to work with people than you shouldn't even entertain an idea of booking people less time ahead! Within given situation I given my notice of cancelation almost right away! within couple hours!!

My boyfriend and I had a fun evening out at the Cooking School at Irwin Street. We took their Pastabilities with Sauce class taught by Chef Tony. We had a fantastic time learning how to make our own pasta from scratch. It was a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere and we had a small, intimate group of four. Chef Tony educated us on the various techniques of creating pasta that he learned from his Italian grandmother. We used no equipment so we could learn the authentic way which was fun and challenging! He entertained us with stories about his grandparents coming to America from Italy and told us a lot about his family. We each had our own station to make the dough ourselves and the chef helped when needed. Be warned, making pasta is long, hard work! Lol, my arms got tired from rolling, but hey that's the real experience. The chef made the filling and the sauce, but showed us how to do it and told us all the ingredients. We asked him many questions and he was very informative. At the end, we each made 6 raviolis that the chef cooked in one big pot and when they were done, we all sat down and enjoyed them together. Then we finished filling the rest of the ravioli to take home for leftovers...we have so much ravioli left! Our pasta turned out delicious and we had a great time! I would highly recommend the Cooking School and Chef Tony if you want to have a fun evening out!

I took the Pastabilities class yesterday, after finding a great Groupon deal for my first experience here. I'll absolutely go back, and look forward to working with everyone, especially Jake, our pasta instructor. Our class was at the Sweet Selma Farms location in College Park. The best description of the location is "magically delicious", as in a beautifully outfitted, magical escape from city grind and grime. I could see Snow White or the Smurfs being really happy here...as long as I get to be they're personal chef, lol! Jake was the most gracious and accommodating host...food allergies were addressed; even for the guy with the garlic allergy who came to make his girlfriend happy (cudos, dude). Jake even offered to make him an alternate sauce. The class was small and very hands on. We learned to hand make basic pasta dough, and trust me; by hands on I mean completely made by hand (mine are a bit bruised today). You became intimate with your rolling pin, believe me! But the conversation and instruction was so casual and laid back, with the homey setting and the fab background music, not to mention the intoxicating smell of roasting butternut squash and last-of-the-season garlicy pesto (did I mention that they have a working farm, and are working on getting organic certified?) We made butternut squash ravioli with pesto, to eat immediately and with enough to take home for another full meal. We were also treated with Jake's famous, and soooo delicious Tiramisu ice cream. So good, I forgot my lactose intolerance; it was well worth it! Overall, it was a great experience; I felt a wonderful sense of community and true love of great food. I'm happy to add Irwin Street Market to my list of faves!

Like most people, I went to the Cooking School at Irwin because there was a Groupon for it. (Note: I don't cook much if at all but it was a date night option that sounded romantic) The school itself is behind the main store, when you enter you will notice there's one kitchen like setting with some tables next to it. There is also a long table where you'll be doing prep work, which is what you'll be primarily doing. As other folks have mentioned, the class is not really teaching about "cooking" per se, but just how to make something like lasagna or apple pie by prepping it. It's a very relaxed environment, my class had 4 other couples of various ages who were looking to do something together on a date night. The instructor was very friendly and accommodating, she pretty much did the actual cooking and baking, and also helped teach everyone how to prepare everything correctly. Otherwise while the food was cooking people brought wine to drink and just converse. The food ended up tasting very good, and they encourage you to pack leftovers for later. If you're looking for a date night or a night to have fun with a few friends, this place is definitely a very affordable and great option, if you're looking for a more serious cooking experience you probably might want to look for other places that might focus on the cooking itself.

I held off on writing this review until after we received my cooking class "do-over" last week. And, I'm happy to report that Irwin Street delivered on their promise to make our second class better than the first. I initially learned about Irwin Street though my office because Chef Jake and Chef Sandy held a cooking demo with us last winter. I loved the recipes, and how they made everything taste great without getting too elaborate. And, that you could get involved if you wanted, or watch and eat if you didn't. They did a great job! Fast forward to August: my boyfriend and I went to a class at their Irwin Street location courtesy of Groupon (for boyfriend's birthday). We chose a couples cooking class and were looking forward to it. Due to unfortunate circumstances, one of the chefs wasn't able to make it and another chef filled in. All would have been fine, except we didn't do much cooking. The sub chef did all the work, save for chopping some peppers (which we all knew how to do), and served the one food my boyfriend hates: salmon! He was a good sport and ate it, but I felt awful that his birthday gift didn't turn out as intended. Not to mention, the food was centered around the chef's dietary restrictions and featured veggie noodles (cut with her spiralizers that she brought from home and tried to sell to us), cooked in a lot of coconut oil. Don't get me wrong - I like veggie noodles and coconut oil, I just thought the oil was too heavy. And, she prepared a ton of it rather than teaching us how to make a meal for two without leftovers, like the staff told me when I called. No matter how I looked at it, it was a far cry from the veggie lasagna, proscuitto-wrapped chicken, and apple pie we were supposed to make. After this experience, I wrote Scott an email about how disappointed I was in the class. He wrote me back and said he was sorry about what happened, especially given how I had prior experience when they came to my office. He immediately offered us a do-over and got us into another class. Our second class was held with Chef Sandy, and it was much better! We were more hands-on, and actually learned how to make dinner for two without a ton of leftovers. The proscuitto-wrapped chicken, veggie lasagna and apple pie were great! Even the next day. My favorite part was making the lasagna: who knew you could just roll everything up in a noodle and avoid the "whole pan and getting sick of it after two days" thing? I didn't, and will keep that in mind for future endeavors! One thing I have to note: this is not the class where everyone gets to cook on their own hot plate, in their own skillet, etc. You prepare some of the food, but it gets put on a pan with everyone else's until it's ready to be eaten. If you're looking for something like the Chopped kitchen, where you have your own statoin and can prepare your meal yourself (minus the mystery basket and time limits), then I suggest looking somewhere else. Otherwise, Irwin Street is a great place to attend an introductory cooking class!

My roommate and I recently purchased a groupon for the Pastabilities class and it was fantastic! After a rather stressful day, this is exactly what I needed. I'm going to go over the experience from start to finish: Punctuality: We started right on time, so be right one time! Don't be THAT person. Atmosphere: We sat around and actual kitchen table, in a fully equipped, well designed kitchen, and first introduced ourselves and our cooking expertise. It was a nice ice breaker. Chef Jake then introduced himself and his origin with Italian cooking... a real Sicilian in the house. Instructor: What a great guy! Chef Tony taught us the natural way to make pasta, just some semolina and eggs. It was so much easier than I thought it would be! As we cooked, he told us stories about learning to cook with his Grandmother in Sicily. Which made the class fly by! He answered general cooking questions as well. Very excited to make more pasta at home with the leftover dough. Food: It was excellent, if I do say so myself. Great job to my class! We even got a complimentary ice cream scoop from Jake's ice cream. Overall: I will be back! I encourage anyone who wants to take a low stress, educational cooking class, to visit this school.

We had so much fun taking this class! My fiancé and I took a couples cooking course where we made prosciutto wrapped chick breast and veggie lasagna with apple pie for dessert. My fiancé has always felt he doesn't know how to cook but this class showed him he can! He did most of the cooking himself and he could not be prouder of himself. We will be back for more classes for sure! Chef Sandy was a great teacher and so much fun to talk to. We met some great couples there and just had a blast interacting with everyone. Highly recommend you check this place out!

I just finished a wonderful Soup from Scratch class taught by Jake. He was very passionate by cooking health meals and had a great personality. We had a very small and intimate class of 4. The class was hands on, no sitting back and wait to eat. We all had our own cutting board and knives so we cut up veggies and cook chicken to create our soup. We received clear and concise instructions as well as great fun facts about cooking techniques and food. After we finished cooking, we all sat down together to enjoy our meal and have some great conversation. We grab a scoop of Jake's ice cream (Strawberry White Grape Sorbet for me) to finalize our awesome meal. We made so much soup, we all were able to take a soup container home. I can't wait to have my leftover soup tomorrow. Finally they have a new scheduling system that they are currently working out the kinks. I highly recommend taking a class.