II had an extremely disappointing experience with the French Finesse Class. The class was to feature Grilled Salmon with Caper Sauce, Grilled Vegetables, and Parisian "Gnocchi." We made the grilled salmon and vegetables, but the so-called "gnocchi" was a disaster. This was extremely disappointing because I was the most excited about making the gnocchi. Instead of making a more traditional gnocchi like you would picture (little dumpling pillows), we ended up with a soupy mess of polenta mixed with milk, butter, and French cheeses. The instructor told us that this polenta mixture would typically be baked in a pan and then cut in little squares like gnocchi (or at least that's what I understood), but in class we just let the mixture cool off and ate it as it is. It was basically eating polenta cheese goop - disgusting, and nothing like the gnocchi I pictured. First of all, the class description should have clearly specified what type of gnocchi we'd be making and if the class would not finish the entire recipe (note: writing "Parisian gnocchi" for the class is not sufficient because just by a google search there are different ways of making it). It's misleading not to clarify this in the description. It makes me wonder about the rest of their classes and what else they mislead people on. Secondly, the class was advertised to run from 6:30 PM to 9 PM. However, we finished (and I mean completely finished like by the time we finished eating everything) by 8 PM. It felt like they were rushing us out. They started cleaning up and doing dishes while we were still sitting at the table. It made us feel like they wanted us out as quickly as possible. If the class had actually run the full time as promised, we could have spent that extra hour finishing the gnocchi properly. Or we could have done the gnocchi first and while it was baking, cook the grilled salmon and vegetables. And that definitely could have been possible (I mean, come on). Instead, we were left with a below average dish and a rushed experience. Overall, this class was a huge letdown. The misleading description, poor quality of food, and the rushed environment made for a frustrating experience. I wouldn't recommend this class to anyone. And with the price I paid, I felt robbed. I do not know how they think this can be okay. To be clear, I would give the staff and my experience cooking everything else 5 stars. But the gnocchi and rushed experience really completely destroyed this entire thing for me. read more

Cook, Cork & Fork - Cooking Classes Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

I do not recommend this cooking class. The teacher explained nothing about what we were cooking, nothing about the cuisine, the culture, what ingredients are typically used in the dish, why they're used, etc. We chopped common ingredients and put them together in a pan on an electric stove. The recipe looked like it was printed out from google, there just wasn't any thought put into the class. Nothing unique about the dish nothing out of the ordinary, nothing interesting. The food came out fine, nothing to write home about and certainly something that could be whipped up at home. I thankfully used a gift card otherwise, paying $200 for two people for that experience would have been outrageous. I would say it's a nice night out of an activity with drinking but you pay more for drinks, better off at a nice restaurant. Highly do not recommend this class if you're looking for an actual cooking class and a teacher who actually enjoys what they do/cook. read more

Had a great time celebrating a special occasion. Server Debbie was great. She took very good care of us. We will be back.

If you would like to enjoy a bottle or a glass of wine and awesome ambience, I would recommend this place. They have a bar. They have a retail area, but I've been there a few times for wine and conversation with friends. Of course, great service. read more

Enjoyed a Thursday early evening visit. Lovely comfortable place. Great wine and excellent food.

This was our first time at Cook Cork & Fork. We took a cooking class on a Saturday night named Date Night Latin Lover for my friends birthday. The front of the store has high end cooking and baking items. There are many unique items that you won't find at a big box store such as quality mixing bowls, pans, flavored oils. In the rear of the store is a full modern kitchen. The class has their own 4 person stations that were set up and ready to go with cutting boards knives etc. A cooking instructor takes you step by step through the prep and cooking process and then you enjoy a wonderful dinner that you all prepared. There are two tv's that allow you to see in detail the cooking instructors presentation. We had a fun time talking and cooking with the other participants. You can purchase beer or wine to accompany your dinner. There were leftovers if you chose to take some home. There is ample parking on street or behind the shop in the municipal parking lot. I would love to take more classes and hone my skills. read more

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Did an empanada class and had a great time - love how interactive it was. i also loved we could buy a bottle of wine and have fun.

We recently had a Corporate event here and all appetizers and dessert were really good. The knife skills and pasta making stations gave people something to do and mingling was great since sitting there was no option to sit. A cool experience. read more

We got a gift certificate for Christmas to try this place out. We learned there were 4 people to a station and decided to make it a double date. We had so much fun learning how to make fresh pasta. Our instructor John was patient and funny. The helpers joined in on conversations and made the environment very welcoming. Definitely would come back! Food was delicious! read more

Cook, Cork & Fork - Finished product! - Cooking Classes Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

I did the meatless Monday cooking class with My dad. It was a gift for him for Father's Day. I was very pleasantly surprised with how wonderful this class was. The room was clean and aesthetically pleasing. We were greeted warmly. All the staff were wonderful and friendly. They were knowledgeable and helpful. Chef Lucio especially made the experience more memorable for me and my father. He joked with us and was definitely fun and entertaining. We had a wonderful time, gained useful skills and enjoyed our delicious meal at the end. Thanks for having us, we will definitely be back! read more

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This is a cute kitchen shop and cooking class space for those that are looking to enhance their kitchen. I went in to sharpen some knives. They normally do it within 24 hours, but they were able to do so on the spot. I was in and out in 15 minutes. They have some great sets and utensils for the kitchen. It's going to be my go to spot for gifts and any other items that I can find to fill my kitchen. read more

For Christmas, I bought my wife several experiences, one of which was a cooking class at Cook, Cork & Fork. W e loved it. Enjoyed some wine while cooking a great dinner. We were at a workstation with another couple and had good conversation and a great meal. We will be back. read more

I recently had a surprise birthday party for my wife here. We had 30 people in total and everyone loved it as something different! The owner was great to deal with and the staff did an outstanding job. There was more than enough food (took some home too). Very accommodating for one person in the group that had food allergies too! Really highly recommend and plan to come back again for a class because we had such a good experience. read more

Came here as part of a private "cook off" company event. Pros: -It is a good group event. Everyone really enjoyed themselves. -Staff really knows what they are doing, and put together a real efficient experience. - Meals were of exceptional quality. Plenty of drink selections. - Nice gift shop. Tad pricey but many cookware, kitchen, wines, and other items to choose from. Cons: -If you're not into cooking like me, you may get a little lost here. I've been to similar events and have dealt with more nurturing instructors. It wasn't a huge issue, but the shortness of instruction made me feel a little out of place and lost. - It's pricey (but most would consider it worth it) - Not wild about the parking options here, but that's a nit pick Bottom Line: -It's not really my thing but I would not object to going read more

Highly impressed with my awesome date night with my husband cooking lesson on Meatless Monday with Tracy. The food turned out delicious with homemade veggie potstickers (who knew making these would be so fun?), Tom kha veggie tofu soup and panang curry! We are definitely going to be able to make these at home and will be back! read more

My husband and I had a wonderful time at the Cinco De Mayo cooking class. We learned how to chop, dice, slice and cook a delicious meal and enjoyed eating it too! You have a great staff who is friendly knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you for having this special place right here in Palatine. We will be back! read more

My boyfriend and I attended the Thai Me Up cooking class and enjoyed the experience and food. Our favorite part of the class was learning about Thai ingredients which we previously had very little experience with. The one draw back for me was that technically, the skills were very low-level (cutting up vegetables, zesting limes, and stirring in ingredients); we would have liked to learn something a little more exciting skill wise. I did like that we got to create all the dishes (I have been to other classes where the dishes are divided up among the participants). Alcohol was a la carte, nothing was included in the price of the class. Food was delicious and we got to take home all the recipes, plus they have a store up front with a lot of cool cooking gadgets for purchase. read more

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Came here with my wife on the weekend they opened. My wife was registered for a cooking class and we asked if I could join in IF there someone who was registered didn't show. Was spoken to rudely, actually very sternly, that I couldn't because I hadn't registered. They would rather have an empty seat over a registration technicality? We also felt their items were grossly overpriced. Won't ever set foot in there again. read more

OK this place is wonderful. I didn't quite know what I was getting into when my husband surprised me with a cooking class night...but I LOVED the idea...and really loved the experience. I did feel like it was a bit pricey initially...but that said...I believe it's the experience that makes it worth the money. I think it would make a lovely double date because you are paired up w/ another couple during the cooking/eating portion. When you arrive - the owner is bustling about - checking people in and offering to get them drinks. Very welcoming, clean store. The chef begins the instruction and taught how to properly cut an onion (VERY HELPFUL). Chef is very personable and offers handy tips as he walks around during the actual 'prep' portion of the teaching. This activity could be made or broken by the couple you end up sharing the table with! So - we were very fortunate to get a nice couple...and really everyone seemed very nice. I can definitely see it being awkward if you get someone who perhaps isn't having as much fun as they thought they would. Would be a fun GALS night!! I will definitely go back for more! read more

What a fun and hands-on experience! We had a work event with about 18 people and John [owner] could not be more accommodating. He ensured that we had everything we needed for our event. We choose the Mediterranean menu which included a Chicken and Chorizo Paella, Shrimp Scampi, Mediterranean Salad, and Pear Crumble- yum! There were 4 work stations set up and each was provided with a different recipe. Our event package also included white and red wine along with beer and iced tea - which really provided that laid-back atmosphere of being in your own kitchen while cooking with your friends. Lucio was the head chef who was charmingly witty and extremely knowledgeable and Ed and another employee [forgot her name :( ] assisted with the salad and dessert recipes. All employees were so incredibly nice and helpful. The final product was amazing. All 4 menu items complimented each other so well and they even set out vases with flowers at each of the workstations while we were eating. What a nice touch! Overall, everyone that participated in our work event had positive feedback of this place and would definitely go back. read more

Cook and learn together while pairing wines (or beers) with your meal. Instructed by their great chef/teacher, what a fun way to eat out! Amazing place, expert chef training and a cool store with tons of kitchen gadgetry (and don't overlook the wine selection). Just a tremendous place in Palatine. What a find! read more

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ABSOLUTE gem of a place and this is the highlight and BEST place to visit in Palatine. From start to finish! Online scheduling very easy. Chef Eagle was absolutely excellent, along with Stacy and Jeff, John and Mica! A wonderful team approach and all so very helpful. The atmosphere at the store is very welcoming, great selection! Wine selection is very nice. The workshop/class area is top notch, great set up, total respect for cleanliness, excellent viewing area and loved the counter height perfect for all heights. Chef Eagle "hit it out of the park" on introduction to Sushi, which until tonight, I have been intimidated by this food genre. I completely feel empowered to try this at home! Amazing job to this place and the team! If you're looking for a stellar gift idea, buy a GIFT CERTIFICATE! read more

Cook, Cork & Fork - Cooking Classes Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

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A fantastic Date Night! I bought cooking classes as a surprise birthday gift for my boyfriend, and it was an amazing experience. We took the Latin Sabor class and our instructor, Lucio, was kind, helpful, and a delight to spend 2.5 hours learning from. We made chicken escabeche, Cuban rice and beans, and roasted carrots with queso. I was so impressed that we made such delicious food, and Lucio was the best instructor! The food was OUTSTANDING, and my boyfriend loved his surprise. Thank you for making our night truly memorable!!! read more

We took a sushi class here with Chef Eagle. It was pricey but great. Both Chef Eagle and his assistant Ed were awesome! The fish was very fresh and we learned some real and practical sushi making. The wine we bought was reasonably priced and delicious. After we made our sushi, the chef created a delicious dessert for us while we eat. Overall, a great time! read more

I attended with a work group for a team building. There was about 15 of us in our group. We were broken up into separate stations to work on different parts of the meal. Our meal was of Spanish influence. The instructors were professional and kind to us novices. The food turned out great. We all enjoyed the evening. read more

Had a great experience here. Pretty space. Well run operation. The class size was nice and small. I believe there were 4 tables of 4 each. This place is popular and they could have crammed twice as many people into the class but that would have negatively impacted everything. Each foursome cooks as a team, so I recommend coming in multiples of 4. Did the Greek food. Was very good. read more

Fun learning experience!! And the food was delicious. Definitely want to come back to do another class again!

The Sushi class made for a fun and unique date night. I would definitely recommend for other couples or even families. Chef Eagle made the class really fun while also teaching a lot about the history and cultural elements of Sushi. read more

Store is filled with tons of kitchen gadgets you never thought you needed. Kind of pricey but if you are in a pinch and don't want to wait on Amazon, I'm sure they have just about anything you need last minute for your dinner party. The cooking classes her are a bit remedial but the kitchen area is very nice space to work. Not very challenging or creative for an adult that has been cooking for a while. They watch over you and give you step by steps. That's great and all if this was a kids class. I would have preferred if they gave us the recipes and let us go at it solo and walked around giving tips or be near by with questions. read more

First time here, interesting place. It is more for my wife but they do offer a lot of new kitchen concepts.

We took a class here for the first time this past Friday and loved it; we plan on another class in January. Spotless place, professional and personable staff and easy to understand recipes. Wine selection good and reasonably priced. read more

Edited...John contacted me and my mother in law directly and dealt with the incident...I am confident that all issues were addressed and wouldn't hesitate in returning for another class or recommend it to others.. Nice to see a business owner take action in a timely fashion read more

Cook, Cork & Fork is amazing! I took a class with a bunch of friends one night and we enjoyed a great class, wonderful food, and a yummy glass of wine all while talking and having a blast. Totally a great place for a group outing. Plus, my kids took their kids cooking camp. My kids talk about it all the time! And they have re-made their recipes at home several times with enthusiam. They four days making Italian, Asian, Mexican and American dishes that they devoured and even had some leftovers to share at home. I can't say enough. Wonderful chef, owners and venue. read more

I came here once for a cooking class with my wife and we were so pleased we decided to have my 30th birthday here. From start to finish everything was fantastic, the staff, the class, the food it was all perfect! Couldn't have been more happy. read more

Awesome new business in Palatine. Classes are fun & interactive. Booking was a breeze, owners John & Mica are super awesome! Looking to book a party here in the near future. Thank you to my husband for buying me a gift certificate here, LOVE IT!! read more

I've been here before for a bachelorette party and it was wonderful; however, last night my mom, sister, sister in law and my sister in law's mom had a bit of a different experience. As soon as we walked in the person behind the counter (who I believe was the owner) didn't even say hi to us and just immediately asked us where we parked. At least show some respect and greet us when we walk in...we're paying a decent amount of money to be here. Then he asked who was in our party. Our sister in law's mom has been on the waitlist and signed up later than we did. When we told this to the owner --he was super frazzled and seemed pretty heated and said that next time we need to call ahead and tell him (even though they tell you not to call or inquire about the waitlist). Why is this my job? And why are you making this my fault? You should be glad I'm even paying money to be here--it really soured our night. I'm really only giving 3 stars because our instructor, Lucio, was amazing and was an excellent teacher. read more

My wife and I went to the seafood class. We had a blast. Chef Lucio explained everything in an entertaining way. The other staff was very helpful and welcoming. Great facility. We will be back. read more

A nice place for a higher end cooking enthusiast. A bit pricey though. It was our 1st time there and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I was disappointed though as when we went to check out they decided not to give us the discount on the wine we purchased (there was a 20% off for their 1 year anniversary) but rather a small seasoning packet. A poor choice as the feeling as we left was not good. Probably won't go back. read more

Don't let the few negative ninnies here fool you. I cook for a living and am amazed that I always find new gadgets and toys that I never knew I NEEDED. :) If you want to complain about saving a few dollars, I'm sure the greeter at Walmart will be happy to say "hello". (actually not, he's paid to) Meanwhile you could support a local biz owned by good folk. I haven't done a class yet, but plan on it just for fun and something new, besides making a mess in someone else's kitchen. Keep in mind that it's NOT culinary school. If you're an experienced chef, congradts. Now put your ego in check. Go have fun and try something new. You might actually learn something. Odds are good that you'll wind up having a good time. This post excluded, don't believe anything you read on yelp. read more

We are repeat customers! We have learned so much from Chef Lucio while having so much fun. Ed also makes the evening fun. We are already reviewing the calendar for a family Christmas outing - great way to spend time together doing something fun. read more