Chef Randy is a gem! What a fun and extremely tasty class. Made beef wellingtons and had strawberries with fresh cream. Can't wait to take the class again when I'm craving beef Wellington. Learned a lot of general cooking tips too! read more

Central Market Cooking School - Cooking Schools Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Such a fun and entertaining way to enjoy a week night. We went to the Italian Trattoria night. Chef Ben and Chef Jennifer split the group of 12 into two groups of 6 and gave us hands on opportunity to cook in the CM large and beautiful kitchen. What a fun time! read more

Central Market Cooking School - Demonstration and cooking with Chef Jennifer - Cooking Schools Near Me - Dallas, Texas

If you've got nothin' cookin' -- pun intended! -- check out this school. I was part of a group with a program structured a bit differently than their usual classes. The chef -- a friendly, informative woman -- led us through an Italian countryside meal. Some of us wanted to help, others were just along for the ride (and a glass or two of wine.) There were two hands-on assistants who helped the flow from one course to the next. We prepared Italian antipasto, creamy asiago polenta with fresh grilled corn, chicken cacciatore and zabaglione for dessert. Chef imparted useful tips as the class progressed. Tastings were full- sized portions, making for a lovely mid-day meal. The classroom was designed with an overhead monitor, so everyone could see the intricacies of preparation. The kitchen was fully equipped and ingredients came from the wonderful store that houses the school. read more

I was fortunate to be my friend's guest at a Dim Sum cooking class. Chef Will, Chef Suzy and Roman had the majority of prep work done, but the students put it together along with some chopping and frying. They made great presentations on techniques which were easy to understand and follow. I learned so much. Chef Will always had a smile on his face and was quite funny. They even accommodated for my food allergy. I will definitely take more classes at this location. Thanks Chefs! read more

Book a class now! We did a date night here and enjoyed not only the food but all the great cooking tips. Your class includes a very filling meal plus wine, along with a couple hours cooking alongside the awesome chefs on staff. The last 30 minutes of class you get to enjoy the meal you prepared! We tried the Simply Italian class and it was perfect for our first class. We learned new cooking techniques and the food was divine! We only wished we had a bit longer at the end to enjoy the meal :) read more

Central Market Cooking School - Cooking Schools Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I really had a great time doing this! You arrive, check in, select a seat at the table. You'll make some new friends. They break you into groups of 4 and each team gets a chef to walk you though it all. They talk about the origins of the spices and foods and each of the team take turns doing stuff. You'll make your dishes and they get added to the other teams dishes for later. When you finish all the dishes you sit back down at the big table to eat family style. The chef will serve each person 3 glasses of wine per person and not a drop more (TABC rules). I really enjoyed this and a couple on my team was birthday boy fun. We got to poke fun at him and he had a great time. We also had a brit on my team and talked about what different countries call different foods. I went for the Chinese New Year night (see photos) and have signed up for 3 classes next month: Vietnamese, Sushi and Indian... I'm super excited. They give you a packet to take with you. You can use this to repeat the recipes and get your needed supplies. Because it was Chinese I won't likely cook to many of these day to day... so I'll be excited to cook from the upcoming classes... oh, I WILL make those dumplings at home. read more

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I'm nodding my head with Glenn as I'm reading his review! I took a couples cooking class back in March 2010 themed "Haute and Healthy." It was just perfect! The course taught couples how to make a five course meal that was not only quick and healthy but delicious. Every course was under 500 calories including the chocolate souffle (I could eat like 5 of these bad boys though!). The classes are not too large, there were about 8-10 couples in our class and we split into teams and made mussels in a saffron sauce, a nice green salad with a homemade vinaigrette (only 47 cals!), a potato casserole, coq au vin and mini chocolate souffle cakes. Everything turned out wonderfully and we all sat down in the end with wine and ate with the other couples like one big happy family. I not only enjoyed the food we made but learned some basic how to's like how to hold a knife correctly when chopping vegetables versus meat, how to tell when mussels were no bueno and buttering the souffle dish so the batter doesn't spill and rises correctly. Everyone was really friendly and seemed to know their stuff. The class per couple was about $120 which isn't bad considering your getting a full meal, wine (we were limited to two glasses a person), recipes to take home and and all the fancy tips you've learned that you can show off to your friends and family! read more

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I was quite disappointed with our sushi making class, especially since I had seen so many positive reviews prior to going. Perhaps it was just this particular class, and the other types of classes are better? The class was packed with about 30 people. We made 5 different kinds of rolls, and were each given a box of sushi rice at the beginning for the 5 rolls. My companion had been given less rice than everybody else and had run out of rice at the end, and Chef Mark was extremely rude in giving out more rice (they literally had a vat of rice at the counter, so it shouldn't have been a big deal). The actual rolls were TINY. We started off with a cucumber roll, then moved on to a veggie roll, California roll, Philadelphia Roll, and Heart Attack roll. First of all, none of these were traditional Japanese rolls - which would have been fine, had the class not been advertised as a "culinary trip to Japan"...? After all 5 rolls, each of which could have been finished in about 3 bites, we were still starving and had to get another meal. For the price we paid (~$70/person) combined with the service we received + amount of food we got, this was a terrible deal. I'm still open to trying out other types of CM cooking classes, but probably at another location. read more

This was an absolute surprise! I was taken here as a date and it was the best date I've ever been on. The hosts Mark and Jennifer not only made class fun but I learned a lot too. They even showed you every product that was purchased at Central Market. We made 5 different rolls. Along with making the rolls to eat, we also got 3 glasses of your choice of rosè or saki. The conversation alone was amazing. But I will be going back for more classes. It's great to do solo, with a friend, on a date, with family, read more

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Central Market is great! (All nod in unison!) So when my fiancee and I wanted to take a cooking class together, could we have thought of a better place? (All shake heads in unison!). The difficult question was how we would pick just one. They offer an amazing array of courses ranging from tapas to tailgate snacks to Lobsterfest. We chose risotto, a mutual favorite. So when you arrive, they have everything laid out for you. Nicely printed recipes, aprons, wine glasses.....because you get FREE WINE. During the following 2 and a half hours we made 5 dishes, including fried risotto, and got to eat all of it. The small work groups allowed each of us a shot to prepare various aspects of each dish under the friendly tutelage of our instructor. It was a very nice evening....and folks, if you are looking to meeting someone, this atmosphere is perfect. I also have taken a class on how to make sausage. It was fun and enlightening yet seemed like a lot of work, when they make the same delicious links downstairs. However, if you are one of those folks who has a deer, or possum laying about, Central Market can show you how to encase and grill it. The one downside that I have found is that most classes have a few odd dishes on the docket along with the yummy ones. Of course, I'm a picky eater. Also, these classes still rock. (Nod in unison!) read more

Not to toot my horn here, but I am a bad-ass girlfriend that was cool enough to get the couples cooking class as a present for my boyfriend. What a great purchase well worth the price! I took the beau for a cooking class was focused on indoor grilling and smoking. We cooked barbecued shrimp and grits, salad with scallops and grilled peaches while we drank some decadent red wine. Even though the instructor was bias, for some reason, for my boyfriend the class was very interactive. When she gave some one other than my brown-noser boyfriend a shot at the stove it was really fun! It was very simple, yet thorough instructions. At the end we got to enjoy our creation with even more wine with the wonderful people we met in our cooking class. It was fun and something new and different! read more

We Just cooked a 5 course meal using the flavors of Peru. My heart and belly are full. Great date night!! We were greeted and invited to don a chefs apron and a name tag and then sit and eat small appetizers with a table of approx 18 people. When the class began, we were broken into teams of 4 or 5 students. There were 4 chef instructors. After preparing and cooking all 5 courses you sit down to eat your appetizer and your 2nd course is served to you. Then your 3rd and 4th course are served buffet style. The fifth course of dessert was then served. We don't drink alcohol but they had a choice of white or red. We drank the tea they also had available. Our instructor, Chef Duane, was funny and very informative. He didn't mind that I'm a beginner cook and asked stupid questions. Everything was very hands on and he never talked down to us about our techniques or lack thereof. I could go on and on about the food. What an experience. What a meal. What a night! read more

This is easily one of the most fun activities to do in Dallas. In a city that's mainly centered around drinking and bar hopping, sometimes I find myself longing for something different. This definitely fits the bill! This would make a great date night or girls night. I have even taken some guy friends and they loved it. Included in the price of a class, you get wine or sometimes beer if you prefer. This makes the class feel more social and not just about listening. The class is interactive and informative, but not to the point that it alienates those who may not be really into cooking. I have taken someone who had no intention of ever making the recipes again and he still had fun. The recipes are delicious and the class concepts are diverse. At the Dallas location - Holly is an amazing instructor so make sure to get in her group. Linda is also very nice and accommodating. The best part is that you get to eat the food at the end of the class! Yum! So good! Anyway, I can't say enough good things about these classes. A must do! read more

My husband and I had a great time at cooking class! The night was fun, educational and flew by! We made delicious food with chef Michelle! We couldn't have asked for a better menu or teacher! Everything was perfect! :) read more

Central Market Cooking School - Cooking Schools Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This is a great way to learn some new recipes and have fun doing it. I have been to two courses and both of them have been excellent! Be sure to book early, you can always cancel, the classes fill up fast! Each class follows a similar format, you learn as you go, cook as you go, drink wine as you go, eat at the end. So if you are hungry before you go, might want to grab a snack to hold you over. I have been able to use the techniques and recipes in my day to day cooking. You will not be disappointed, it is a good value. They also offer a "frequent class" card, be sure to get one, after 8 classes you get a discount on your 9th class. These are also great for date night!! read more

Definitely one of the best date nights ever! The food was SO good I couldn't believe I'd made it. There was also more than enough food for everyone. Most people didn't eat all of their food and there was lots of food left over. Most of the recipes seemed a little too complicated to replicate at home but there were two (maque choux and fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade) that I will definitely be adding to my repertoire! Also, the written instructions didn't reveal EVERYthing the chef was showing us so several of us grabbed some pens and began jotting stuff down as we went along. Everyone on our cooking team was very friendly and most were giggling the whole way through. That may have had something to do with the wine they kept flowing but it sure made cooking with strangers lots of fun. We were on Ashley's team. Linda's team wasn't smiling so much. They also messed up their Bearnaise sauce and had to throw it out. Awe. Anyway, It's a totally relaxed class where you need minimum common sense (not skill) to follow along and will work as a team to achieve your goal. For my class (A Taste of Louisiana) and any class like it, I definitely recommend cool clothing. It gets HOT in that kitchen. Beware though, you might get splashed in the face while making Bearnaise sauce, or worse, splashed with hot oil while frying ... EVERYTHING. They do provide aprons at the beginning though. Aside from wine, there is unlimited water and tea to battle the heat. My class was over at 9 and the store closes at 10 so you also have some time afterwards to make purchases if you want. Overall, This was one of the top 10 coolest things I've ever done and I can't wait to find more classes to enjoy. It was worth every penny!!! read more

9/7/2011 Luis and I are really looking forward to tomorrow's Shrimp Sensational Class in Dallas. I can't wait to tell you about it. The class included the following dishes: Mango Salad with Grilled Shrimp-This was very tasty. It consisted of brown sugar and lime juice w/ red chili, shallot, cilantro, fresh mint, and mangoes! The shallots in this mixture was delicious. Luis mentioned that the mango pieces should have been cut smaller like the size you find in a salsa. I agreed. The mango pieces were as large as ice cubes and we were using a medium sized shrimp. Shrimp Gazpacho with Basil Croutons-This was one of my favorites. It tasted like we had just picked veggies from a fresh garden. I enjoyed this w/o the shrimp! It had (2) types of tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, garlic, cumin, jalapenos, and red wine vinegar. I am looking forward to making this. I asked approximately how much money it would cost to make this dish and the instructor could not guesstimate? Marinated Shrimp with a Champagne Beurre Blanc Sauce-Skip this. The flavorful shrimp was tasting okay until we put that butter sauce on it. Ginger Apricot Shrimp-This was very tasty and most student's favorite. Essentially this was an Indian food dish. The instructor said the recipe came from Bon Appetit which it may have, but its and Indian dish. I like Indian food. Luis says he doesn't like Indian food, but he liked this dish! I can see our enjoying an Indian buffet soon:) Giant Shrimp in a Masa Herb Crust: I had high hopes for this dish, but crash & burn. It was way to salty to enjoy. I asked the instructor what region of the world these giant shrimp came from. She said she didn't know. She didn't call downstairs to the seafood counter to get the answer either. After the class we went downstairs to the seafood. We saw the seafood man who sold us our first lobster for Valentine's Day. He was the same man who supplied the shrimp for the upstairs class. He pointed the sign in front of the Giant shrimp and sign read Vietnam. The sign also read $27.99 / pound. He was formerly a truck driver and able to provide more information and recommendations about how to cook the seafood. He was even able to give us a good explanation of the difference between shrimp and prawn. These cooking classes are a nice evening out, but they do not stress cooking technique. Our instructor did demonstrate and took time to show the proper way to how a knife and cut small veggies. I really appreciated that lesson. The arrangement of the tables was different at Dallas as opposed to Plano. The tables were set up facing other people as opposed to Plano's having a more traditional everyone gets to face the front orientation. Our instructor at Dallas did not project her voice and had no ability to captivate her audience. Dallas and Plano cooking schools really suffer from the lack of instructors who can entertain a small group setting. A teacher who has a real passion for cooking and can demonstrate this in an enthusiastic way would be a real joy! I noticed the Dallas class had some mother/ newly wed daughter combinations. The Dallas class had more of a "NorthPark" flair than the Plano class. Our next class will be a lobster class in Plano. I sure hope we get an enthusiastic instructor! We cancelled this class b/c I found the "seasoned cook" on You Tube and he "TEACHES":) He makes a lobster bisque. I plan to buy a Bamix mixing stick very soon and start making his recipes. We have made his stuffed cabbage so far and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! read more

What a great way to spend an evening. A friend and I went to the "cooking with wine" class. You break off into groups of 4 with your own chef and make the whole meal from start to finish. Wine was served as we were cooking. After everything is made you all sit down to the meal you made. The instructors were knowledgeable and fun. Very social atmosphere. I'll definately be taking another class. read more

This was such a fun date night! I would highly recommend it. I only gave it 4 starts because it's a bit pricey. There are so many classes available, that it was hard to narrow it down. The class was extremely organized and the background information was appreciated. You won't regret going to this cooking school! read more

The wife and I took "Seafood 101," and had a blast. The instructors are very knowledgeable and helpful. The classes are a little expensive, but well worth it! Great time, we will be back! read more

I got this for my boyfriend as a birthday gift because we both love to cook. He chose the steak and bacon class and it was really fun. We learned a lot, ate a ton, and everything was pretty tasty. It was also a pretty good value considering the food we made and the wine included. The instructors were extremely knowledgable which was nice to know the reason why we do things in the kitchen. The rest of the people in the class were also very nice and we enjoyed talking to them. The only thing I wish was different were smaller groups. You break into teams to make things and while you are working on one thing, you may be missing how to make an entire dish. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely do another class. read more

We went to the pizza class at Central Market for a date. It was so much fun! We learned so much and the instructors were SO knowledgeable!! We went because we had a Groupon which made it less expensive. Still worth the price, though! read more