I had no idea what to expect with Cooking by the Bay. What I found was a welcoming atmosphere that encourages everything from beginner- to expert-level questions. The class provides all the equipment and foodstuffs, and ends with a fantastic meal; made more delicious because you can say it was your own handiwork! Suzanne is warm and attentive. Her home is perfect for hosting the small, private cooking lessons. With a total of 5 people attending our class, we worked as a group to create 4 dishes. She taught us some basic technique, as well as secret tricks of the trade. I highly recommend that you sign up for a class. You'll be glad you did! read more

Cooking by the Bay - Beet & Citrus salad, Mushroom Stroganoff, and a fresh fruit Pavlova - Personal Chefs Near Me

Suzanne has created something very special: an approachable cooking class where you learn not just to create some delicious dishes but also tons of practical, hands-on tips around cooking in general. I learned far more than I ever expected and feel very inspired to cook more, and better. Take her class, you won't regret it. She makes it really fun! read more

I love to cook, but certain styles of cooking are very intimidating to me. Thai cooking, for example. It's just one of those cuisines that I figured, if I didn't have a Thai grandmother standing over me teaching me the ropes, I was never going to learn. Well, I am here to tell you that there is no cuisine that you cannot master, because Cooking by the Bay is here to be your Thai grandmother, or Indian mom, or healthy foods guru, or whatever suits your fancy. All it takes is a couple of hours of learning, and then sitting down together to enjoy a lovely meal that YOU prepared. The Thai Style foods class met on Sunday evening, and 6 of us gathered in Suzanne Griffin's spacious Marinwood kitchen, with recipes and a menu set in front of us. We each had our own stations, and Suzanne went over each portion of the meal, making sure everyone had a task to do and knew how to do it. She taught us so many tricks along the way, from knife skills to presentation how-to's, and it was so much fun, I almost forgot that we were learning something! In just a couple of hours, we had a meal made from scratch of Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Asian Dipping Sauce, Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce, Tom Kha Ghi Soup, and Carrot-Scallion Rice. Since we went home with the recipes and instructions printed out, I tried my hand at making a few of the dishes for a weekday meal just a couple of days later. It was so easy and worked just as well as it did in class. And I was able to find the ingredients in my cupboard or at my local grocery store. The classes are well-priced at $45 per person (less than going out to dinner in many cases!), and Suzanne offers a variety of classes to choose from. She specializes in classes to suit individual needs, for example Weeknight Dinners and Kid-Friendly Meals. Suzanne is a certified natural chef, so classes such as Vegan, Gluten-Free, and even Cancer-fighting Dinners are available. A great idea for a couple, group of friends, family or just individuals wanting to learn something new, no matter if you are a cooking novice or right at home in the kitchen. read more

My Book Club gets together regularly & although most of us read the book selection, we really get together to eat. Some of us have dropped the Book Club title & just refer to our gatherings as Dinner Club. A very smart member suggested we take a class with Suzanne for one of our meetings & we did just that & came home with new tricks (hello knife skills!) & recipes as well as a fun night to remember. Suzanne tailored our menu to suit our needs. I can't recall the book we read, but it was food-oriented... as it usually is. We cooked an organic meal of chicken breasts, fried raviolis, kale salad & more. Did you know you can remove kale leaves from the stem just by taking a firm hold of the base & running your thumb & forefinger along the greens? Well, I didn't & now that's the only way I prepare it. If you need a cooking class or just want an excuse to get together with friends &/or family or even strangers over food, look no further than Cooking by the Bay. read more

Yum, yum, yum! What a wonderful way to learn about creating amazingly delicious food. In one hands-on class, I learned more about knife skills, healthy yet affordable cooking ingredients, new foods I hadn't tried, what equipment makes things easy, and other tips and tricks than I had in any other class in the past. Suzanne was also gracious enough to answer all kinds of cooking questions, even when it had nothing to do with what we were making. Plus, we got to eat what we made at the end. The meal was soooo far beyond my expectations. We made Hot Crab Spread on Baguette, Citrus Salad with Avocado, Cream of Asparagus Soup (dairy free), and Crispy Chicken Scallopini. Yum, yum, yum! Oh, I guess I already said that, but I really can't wait to take another class. read more

My husband and I love to cook together and have been saying that we wanted to take a class for years. I found Suzanne at Cooking by the Bay and bought a gift certificate for my husband for Father's Day. We chose to go on a Saturday afternoon and learn how to make pizza crust (something that no matter how many times we tried, we couldn't master) and different pizza combinations. Not only did we come away with a GREAT pizza dough recipe (FINALLY) and having learned new kitchen tips (better ways to use our knives), but after we were done cooking, we got to sit down with Suzanne and the (really cool) people in our class to have lunch. Suzanne has an easy teaching style and made the whole thing a lot of fun. She really cared that we were having a good time and learning. At $50 per person, it was about what it would have cost to go out and eat anyway (especially if you do a dinner class). We will be back to do another class soon (the Farmers Market to Table class is kinda calling my name). Thank you Suzanne! read more

When I first showed up on Suzanne's doorstep last fall, I didn't even know how to hold a knife, much less use one. To me, an oven was 'that thing in the kitchen with lots of knobs on it, taking up space.' I blame a decade of living in Manhattan after college, a college cafeteria that was actually good, and even before that, lovely parents who probably took care of too many things themselves. Flash forward to six months ago, and there I was: a recent transplant to Marin--apparently, a land of dinner parties. I felt hopeless, and knew I'd soon have to start hosting guests at my house. Gulp. Then I found Suzanne! She is calm, kind, knowledgeable, and fun. Low-key, but somehow still high-energy. It's an excellent combination for a cooking instructor. Most of her classes feel like small gatherings of friends, even when no one knows each other--and that's really a credit to Suzanne. I've made lots of wonderful things in class, and successfully replicated them later, at home. I've also learned skills there--not just recipes--so I'm generally able to find my way around the kitchen much better than before. I haven't hosted a super fancy dinner party quite yet, but my oven is no longer something strange and vaguely scary. Learning how to cook properly is a true life skill--one I really wish I'd picked up earlier! So in a way, Suzanne has changed my life :) I'm not a beginner anymore, but I still go to her classes often. Lots of people who can already cook go, too--just to learn some new tricks and tips. I always learn something! I also just think they make for a fun evening. And if there's any other complete beginners out there... Trust me, if I can do it, you can!! read more

My 12 year old and I truly enjoyed learning cooking tips during Suzanne's class. She made cooking look so easy plus she was fun and entertaining. She has so many fun cooking stories to tell. My son was very happy he did the class with me (now, convince any 12 year old that cooking can be fun!) She is wonderful! Highly recommend her class. Thx Suzanne! read more

Suzanne was wonderful! Not only was the food yummy but the fun facts about cooking were much appreciated. I feel excited to cook now! read more

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This class was totally worth it. The instructor (Suzanne) is lively, friendly, and entertaining. Most importantly she is informative. She happily answered all of my VERY basic questions. She provides a personal work station, take home recipes, and a dinner at the end of the evening. You can even bring a bottle of wine to sip over during the class! She explains everything with enthusiasm and you can tell she genuinely enjoys what she is doing. No boring lectures here! At the end of the evening you have at least 3 new EASY and healthy recipes and loads of other helpful tips. I've taken other cooking classes before, but this one is by far the best. The 2 hours was a perfect amount of time to learn something and not get too overwhelmed or bored. This class is perfect for couples, girlfriends, newbie cooks, or as a gift. The only downside is that it might be a bit far for some, but I would say it is definitely work the trek! read more

Lucky us! My daughter gave my husband and me a cooking class w/Suzanne, and what a treat it was! We learned a lot about the basics of chopping, preparing, cooking and serving. Sure, we already know quite a bit about cooking (especially my husband), and we thought "Okay, this'll be fun, even if we don't learn much". Well, guess what? We're holding our knives differently now, we know some secrets about prepping veggies and cooking them, and best of all: we are now making spring rolls at home! We can't say enough about how fun, relaxing and informative the experience was - Suzanne is a natural, and we'll definitely go back for more. read more

I am not a cook, in fact, I have only one pot and one horrible knife and am great at ordering take out....anyway, I also took the Thai cooking class and really enjoyed it. Since then I have bought some new pots/pans and a couple of good knives and have enjoyed the transistion of eating poorly to taking better care of myself by eating organic and well. I made the spring rolls for Super Bowl, everyone was convinced I bought them... I didn't and have made many more since then. If I can cook and learn from Suzanne, you need to treat yourself to taking a class... I am signing up for more! read more

I booked a cooking class with Cooking by the Bay as a surprise to my mother and wife on our California vacation. It should be mentioned that we are at different levels--I love to cook cuisines from varied ethnic backgrounds, while my mom mostly does simpler meals, for example--but this didn't matter. Suzanne made the class fun and informative for everyone. She teaches students basics like how to hold a knife and cut an onion properly, as well as how to season to taste without over-doing the salt. Attention is given to making a meal all come out on time, and it's amazing how fast the time goes by as the class is so much fun! I'm so glad that I booked this class as it was one of the highlights of our trip. I'd recommend this class to any beginner or intermediate cook who wants a fun evening and a chance to make some dishes that he or she may not normally cook. read more

I attended my second class with Suzanne last night. Her class is a great way to not only learn how to make wonderful dishes for dinners but also her classes instill confidence in you that you can make dinners yourself with little hassle or stress. A key part of the session is planning the meal by looking at the cooking times and preparation steps for each dish so you can envision or write down what needs to be done first and what preparation for the next dish should be started early. There are tips on cutting ingredients with the chef knife and nutrition considerations in what goes into dishes. I found myself constantly jotting down notes and tips on the recipe pages that she provides. I will be looking for another class to take next month. The gift certificate which started me taking the first class makes a great birthday gift. read more

Took the South of the Border Class and it was awesome. The recipes were easy to follow and Suzanne is very professional offering tips along the way. I highly recommend this cooking school! It's fun, informative and delicious. read more

I took a class from Suzanne this past week on a Wednesday night, and it was terrific. Initially, I was impressed that the other classmates had traveled from Oakland and Stockton - that is a testiment to the quality as they drove to San Rafael on a week night. Suzanne is very welcoming as the classes are in her home, and she has a terrific passion for food without being too formal. The tips and tricks along with instruction were great, and the meal at the end was the perfect ending to a great night of company, learnign some new cooking, and having a few tasty bites along the way. Suzanne has a great class, and I would recommend this for anyone wanting an enjoyable evening with a great learning experience. read more

I found Suzanne's class accidentally one day and decided to sign up with a co-worker. Might have been one of my best ideas ever. We had such a blast and learned so much. Suzanne is amazing and nice and patient and forth-coming with cooking knowledge. She was just wonderful. And now I can't wait to sign up with my boyfriend. Take her classes!! I promise you won't be disappointed. read more

Took a class with Suzanne last night with a livingsocial deal i got and it was AWESOME. She is incredibly friendly and easygoing, and makes you feel at ease right away. I love that the class is in her house because it feels so much more relaxed and cozy. Every single dish we made last night was absolutely delicious and had the added bonus of being healthy. She uses real, simple ingredients you can easily find and her recipes are definitely easy enough so that you can come home and do them on your own. Can't wait to take more classes with her- highly recommended!! read more

Right from the start Suzanne was fun. Learned a ton from the class. As a newly wed its hard to know how the hell to cook and suzanne taught us everything from knife skills the power of spice in a good recipe and how to dominate in the kitchen. Definitely going back and if you are thinking about taking a class in the bay, Look no further :) A+ read more

Suzanne's class was great! I took the Thai cooking class. I wasn't sure what to expect and half expected that I needn't spend the money because I could just look up the recipes on the internet. However, i've found that recipes are just guides and often times if I'm not familiar with a recipe, my execution can be a disaster. Herein lies the beauty of Suzanne's cooking class. Since I was unfamiliar with cooking Thai cuisine, Suzanne's very helpful tips on making the spring rolls and green papaya salad were great for me. I feel confident I can do this on my own now. I think if I had ventured on my own without Suzanne's class, I might have decided it wasn't worth the effort. Suzanne is very professional and knowledgeable. She is well prepared with handouts, prep space for every participant, aprons, and ingredients. Her instruction is informative, she allows a lot of class participation with questions and answers and cooking, and she's punctual and sticks to the timeframes. And then you get to eat a lovely meal. Definitely recommend Suzanne's Cooking by the Bay. Happy cooking. read more

I attended a private class with a group of girlfriends for a birthday celebration. We had a great evening. It was a fabulous way to interact with friends - chopping, prepping and everyone cooking together. Suzanne was outgoing and full of useful tips. She allowed us to bring our own wine which we enjoyed along with the fabulous dishes we created! We even walked away with some great recipes! A fun way to spend time with friends - I would definitely do it again. read more

I took Suzanne's French Bistro class and it was so fun and informative and great tasting. It was a great environment in which to learn and practice tips for cooking including the basics like how to hold a knife and the best type of knife for cutting veggies etc. The recipes were elegant but easy to follow with simple ingredients. Great place to ask questions about how best to prepare food including those not on the menu. Thanks for a great and fun evening! read more

I am not a cook at all, and I took Suzannes class.. Thai cooking. And I make spring rolls every week. I didn't realize how easy it was to make, and healthy. Great way to learn to cook and meet new people. Highly recommend!! read more

What a fun, informative, delicious class this was....Im not a cook at all so I was worried that I would be way out of my league...but not so ...Suzanne is a wonderful teacher for chefs of all levels. read more

Hands on is the best way to learn for me. The "how to" demonstrations were excellent. The practical application critique was useful. I learned many general cooking tips that will make whatever I cook tastier. The food was excellent. The entire experience was fun as well as solid learning. I will definitely be back. read more

Suzanne's classes are fantastic! I have had the pleasure of attending two so far and will be back for more. Just booked a private cooking party for my birthday with four of my friends. Suzanne tailored the "farm to table" theme I chose with a mouth-watering menu featuring fresh, seasonal produce and meats. It was a delightful evening of great food and fun. I highly recommend Cooking By The Bay and Chef Griffin! read more

Suzanne has a way with teaching! It's personalized, organized and oh, so delicious! I attended a series of 6 classes she tailored for our private group when she first started teaching and I was tremendously impressed. I always looked forward to the next class in the series. I learned so many cooking tips & I now make her recipes at home all the time. They are simple, healthy and crowd pleasers. I recently indulged in yet another class when my best friend chose to plan a cooking class as her birthday celebration. What a great idea! The next thing on my list is to take one of her ethnic classes. Yum! read more

Suzanne is remarkably organized and efficient at getting a whole lot of good cooking and sharing of tips done with a group. I arrived realizing I was exhausted from the day and not feeling well enough to be fully present, but the festive atmosphere and casual tone she sets made for a fun evening anyway. The other participants were all delightful, and the food we prepared with Suzanne's expert orchestration was delicious. We all took away some good tips that will come in quite handy. read more

My two adult children, their significant others and my husband and I had a fun filled and educational evening with Suzanne! With a host of dietary restrictions among us, she crafted a menu that made everyone happy and allowed us all to learn something valuable. Several weeks latter, we are being complimented on our knife skills! We will be back for more - this is such a delightful and different way to spend time together. Thank you Suzanne! read more

I took my college-aged daughter to Suzanne's cooking class last night - as a belated surprise birthday gift. We both really enjoyed the whole experience. The food we made was delicious, the skills we learned will last a lifetime and the new friends we made was great. I shall be booking another class with friends as soon as I can. read more

Suzanne was terrific. She taught us girls some great cooking tips and taught us how to make a fabulous healthy meal. She was engaging, fun and really knew her stuff. We will be taking a Fall class for sure and I will be making the meal we made again, so delish!!! read more