Maybe you’ve left one of your favorite restaurants wishing you could recreate a similar dish at home or wondered if you had it in you to turn flour and eggs into a delectable homemade pasta. Or perhaps you’ve streamed so many cooking shows you’re eager for the chance to finally say “Yes, chef!” for real.
You’re in luck.
Pastry chef Saura Kline, who leads classes at Local Jones. (Provided by Local Jones)
One of the latest restaurant trends in Denver is chef-led cooking classes. Unlike the date-night cooking classes that have been around for years at cooking schools, these classes provide a new way to experience your favorite restaurants, and also learn from the chefs who are designing the menus.
But here’s the thing: You’ve got to be in the know to discover some of these classes. A tip: Sign up to receive news from some of your favorite restaurants, and frequently check the events calendars on their websites to see what kind of classes or workshops they have cooking. Many of these classes sell out faster than you can say “bon appetit!”
Here are a half dozen restaurants where you can take classes, plus a cooking school developed by a pair of top Denver chefs.
School of Fish at Stoic and Genuine
If you sit at the raw bar at Stoic and Genuine, you can observe the art of oyster shucking. But this Union Station seafood restaurant has more formal classes, too.
A pioneering of cooking classes at restaurants in Denver, Stoic and Genuine started offering its School of Fish sessions back in 2016. A steady stream of regulars sign up for the monthly classes that almost always sell out. The class themes change by the month, with chefs sharing their knowledge about cuisines from around the world, as well as butchery and cooking techniques, said Tim Kuklinski, the culinary director of Crafted Concepts.
“School of Fish got started as a way to have personal face-to-face interactions with our guests and to spread the knowledge we, as chefs, have about the abundance the oceans have to offer,” Kuklinski said.
Upcoming classes concentrate on Jamaican cuisine (May 4); creative octopus dishes (June 1); summer boils (July 6); mollusks (Sept. 7); sea monsters (Oct. 5); seafood pastas (Nov. 2); and Peruvian cuisine (Dec. 7).
Two-hour classes begin at 10 a.m. and are $115 (including lunch). Reservations are required. Visit stoicandgenuine.com/events for more information. 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver.
Taylor Hargrove, left, and his wife, Katie, follow chef’s directions during a ceviche-making class inside the Hotel Clio in Denver on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Ceviche-making at Toro
Skip happy hour and learn how to make Peruvian ceviche on a Friday afternoon at Toro, where classes come with complimentary margaritas. Held at the raw bar, participants learn the ins and outs of the Pan-Latin restaurant’s Amarillo Ceviche, which uses a spicy, citrus-based marinade to cure the tuna. The ceviche recipe also calls for leche de tigre, radishes, cucumber, sweet potato and canchas (a toasted corn snack) for some crunch. After you’ve perfected your ceviche, use some plantain chips to scoop it up so you can do a proper taste test.
Classes are from 4 to 5 p.m. Fridays. The cost is $37 and includes a welcome drink. Purchase tickets in advance at torodenver.com/store/event. 150 Clayton Lane, Suite B, Denver.
Pasta-making at Restaurant Olivia
Michelin-recommended Restaurant Olivia began offering pasta-making and wine education classes last year. Executive chef and co-owner Ty Leon heads up the pasta-making program, teaching guests a range of techniques from basic to advanced. Working with egg-based dough, pasta apprentices will learn how to make tajarin, tagliatelle, pappardelle and farfalle. Leon shows how to use a semolina-based dough for spaghetti, linguini and fettucini. Guests can take their pasta to boil at home, along with a handful of recipes. They’ll also learn tips from Chef Leon — like how double-zero flour is best for pasta dough (but all-purpose works in a pinch).
Chef Ty leads a pasta-making class at Restaurant Olivia. (Provided by Restaurant Olivia)
The next classes are scheduled for 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on May 4 and June 8. The cost is $125, plus tax and a 20% service charge. Reservations are required and can be made at oliviadenver.com/events. Chef Leon also hosts private classes.
Sushi Rolling at Colorado Sake Co
Ahead of the “Sushi 101” classes at Colorado Sake Co., chefs prepare sushi kit bento boxes. They can tailor the offerings to fit dietary restrictions, and the vegan kits are loaded up with seasonal vegetables and occasionally fruit, said Josh McElreavy, owner of Colorado Sake Co. Students will then learn how to roll and slice their own sushi, and learn the difference between temaki (hand roll), futomaki (fat roll), and uramaki (rice on the outside). At the end of the class, you can eat your sushi paired with house-brewed sake; you’ll also get a small starter kit so you can flaunt your sushi skills at home.
Sushi 101 classes start at $69. Classes are regularly held, and advanced tickets can be purchased at coloradosakeco.com/events. 3559 Larimer St., Denver.
Baking Classes at Local Jones
From citrus shortcake to caramel Basque cheesecake, Local Jones pastry chef Saura Kline shares all types of scrumptious recipes on her dessert-focused blog Sweet Saura. But you can also learn directly from Kline as she occasionally hosts pastry classes at Local Jones. Her next class is at 10:30 a.m. on May 11 and is a Mother’s Day-themed “Mommy & Me Bake Class” ($65) where she’ll be teaching the art of decorating with buttercream florals. The baking series will continue throughout the summer.
Tickets to pastry classes and other events can be purchased at halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com/local-jones/happenings. 249 Columbine St., Denver.
At the end of a sushi-making class at Colorado Sake Co., you can eat your sushi paired with house-brewed sake and you’ll also get a small starter kit so you can flaunt your sushi skills at home. (Joshua McElreavy, provided by Colorado Sake Co.)
Maki Rolling at Uchi
Uchi, a Japanese restaurant in RiNo, offers occasional classes teaching the art of maki rolling. During the class, guests will learn to roll one of Uchi’s signature maki rolls, working with ingredients like yellowtail, avocado, shallots and cilantro. Sushi chefs from the restaurant lead the classes at Altius Farms Garden, which is right above Uchi Denver.
The next class dates are April 24, May 15, May 29 and June 13. Classes begin at 7 p.m. and the omakase dinner follows. To be notified of upcoming events, sign up for newsletters from Uchi or check their website at uchi.uchirestaurants.com/location/denver. The link is launched on our website at 2 p.m. two weeks before the event date. Maki classes start at $150 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and include the multi-course omakase experience.
Worldly Dishes at Create Kitchen & Bar
Create Kitchen & Bar is technically not a cooking class in a restaurant — but it is located within a food hall (The Stanley Marketplace) and it was founded by Erasmo Casiano and Diego Coconati, who were 2024 semifinalists for the best chef award in the mountain division for their concept, Lucina Eatery & Bar. The class titles wander from Buenos Aires to Africa to Havana. The Japanese ramen classes have proven to be a hit, Casiano said.
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“This class is where we show guests how to make their own Shoyu broth and put together a beautiful bowl of Ramen,” Casiano said. “I think guests love learning the elements of their Ramen bowl like the tare, the broth, and the care needed and taken with each ingredient.”
Another popular class is on paella, one of those dishes that people are very much intimidated by, said Casiano, and this class demystifies the process.
“Guests are really engaged with our chefs,” he said. “They’re interested in our stories, where we gained our skills and our experiences. Our guests really enjoy our chef tips or how we do things in professional kitchens and learn about how to apply those tips at home.”
Most classes are $99 and include a paired beverage. To book a class, visit the calendar at createkitchenbar.co. 2501 N. Dallas St., No. 128, Aurora.