Whether you’re looking for a clue in the kitchen or a creative date idea, a cooking class is an outrageously fun way to spend an evening. Balancing your gluttony with a dash of education at Toronto’s best cooking schools.
Calphalon Culinary Center
State-of-the art facilities, chef-worthy equipment and a meticulous mise en place make this downtown’s finest cooking school. Order a carafe of wine and get going with classes ranging from Mushroom Mania to Vietnamese to knife skills. On second thought, for knife skills, skip the vino. $70 – $130. 425 King St. W., 416-847-2212.
Dish Cooking Studio
With classes like “Naked In Tuscany” and “Date Night Cooking with Beer,” you know Dish’s classes will be fun. (Booze helps, too.) And if all else fails, you can grab duck confit to go from Dish’s prepared food section. $75 – $175; Couples, $250. 390 Dupont St., 416-920-5559.
Aphrodite Cooks
The focus at Aphrodite is on creating a passion for food – and for each other. Classes for singles and couples feature favourites like grilled quail or duck spring rolls. Get ready to work together, eat well, and watch the sparks fly. $100. 876 Bathurst St., 416-792-3212.
Sushi-Making For The Soul with Shin Aoyama and Sang Kim
It takes a decade to become a master sushi chef; take a class with Shin Aoyama instead. Sang Kim, too, is a sushi encyclopedia. Watch in awe as Aoyama demos his skills, then try it yourself. Even if your makimonos aren’t pretty, top-quality ingredients ensure tastiness. For prices and locations, contact: [email protected]. Pictured above, the author’s own maki rolls, made at a class.
Image courtesy of Jason Nip.
