Chef Gio is running a very professional operation that is informative, enjoyable, and tasty. My wife and I attended a class offering instruction on American Regional Pizza. More specifically, Detroit vs. New Haven pizza. We've had Detroit style pizza prepared by a handful of different local establishments in the area over the last five years with no two being alike. Some we enjoyed more than others. Neither of us has ever experienced New Haven style pizza, but I'm acquainted with a number of friends who seriously rave about New Haven "apizza" and are willing to do a road trip there in order to compare some well known New Haven businesses. This class with chef Gio seemed like the golden opportunity to experience "apizza" without enduring the approximately six-hour roundtrip drive. There were about twenty-three students in this class seated at three long tables capable of holding eight each. Beer and wine are available for purchase. The wine can be purchased by the bottle or glass using wine cards in a self-service dispenser. We were satisfied with the carafes of water that were provided at each table. While sitting at the tables provides a reasonable view of what chef Gio is doing at the chef's table, a large overhead monitor ensures that there is no bad seat in the house. The printed recipes provided are intended for your note taking. They only list the ingredients and not the techniques needed to make your end result. With chef Gio's tips and explanations of how, when, and why certain ingredients are combined, it would have taken a twenty-five page book if a regular recipe were provided. Some hands-on experience is provided to give you a feel for what can not be explained in any other way. An example in our class was oiling the rectangular pan for the Detroit pizza and properly spreading the dough in the pan. I've never worked with dough that felt like this. When the dough was ready we also provided the toppings of cheese, pepperoni, and sauce. The New Haven pizza took less time to make so, while our Detroit pizza was proofing we were eating the "apizza." While it was very tasty, I now know that it is not a style that I'd be willing to drive 160 miles for. It was too thin and crispy for my liking. As for our Detroit pizza, it definitely was delicious but not up to the standard of what I can enjoy from a couple of the local establishments, even though we used quality ingredients. The amount of time and work it would require making it at home vs. having one in thirty minutes is a no brainer. Chef Gio's classes are fun, entertaining, and culinarily enjoyable. The only recommendation I would offer is to bring a cushion for the stool you will be sitting on. read more

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I recently attended a NYC bakery class where we made three different pastry selections: babka, black & white cookies and crumb cake. It was a great class and I loved the snacks he provided while we learned. It was slightly hands on which is just how I like it. It wasn't too crowded and the other people at my table were friendly and had taken other classes so let me know what to expect. I'd definitely return as he is passionate about what he teaches. read more

Gio Culinary Studio - Cooking Schools Near Me - Voorheesville, New York

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Had a blast learning all about Sicilian street food with Gio. His class was the perfect blend of "hands on" and observation with lots of samples for everyone. We received printed recipes and Gio provided careful instructions and tips/techniques so we can try what we learned at home. I'll start with the sfincione and will work my way up to arancinu. These classes never disappoint. Highly recommend! read more

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Attended the Italian Steakhouse class with the dynamic duo Gio and Jerry. The chef Gio was very informative and he explained everything so well. There's TV screens, so if you're sitting in the back you can still see. The menu was simple and phenomenal tasting. It's partial hands on and that was perfect for me. Everything is clean, not even water spots on the cutlery, and gloves for everyone I love this! There's wine for purchase. Jerry is friendly and methodical in everything he does. If I were from the area I would definitely take more of his classes. Recommend read more

Amazing class , chef Geo is amazing.. we had such a great time learning to cook an Italian steak.

The class was not as helpful as I had hoped. There was an expectation that you take notes but since my handwriting is pretty bad, I had to take pictures of other students notes. Not what I was used to in a cooking class. read more

Authentic culinary experience. He shares his knowledge easily. The food is the best in the area. Highly recommend!

Did one of the Italian cuisine classes with my family and had a fantastic time. Learned a lot and had a terrific meal. We are now hooked and can't wait to try the next one. Great time, great food and lessons we will definitely be using! read more

I have attended three Chef's Tables and at least a dozen differed classes at the Culinary Studio. Gio takes care to explain each element of what he is doing. NOTE: this is not an activity for the intellectually lazy participant. You have to take your own notes (which is actually very helpful in understanding the process) and pay attention to what is going on. There are a variety of participation levals depending on the classes, and you must choose one for your skill set and attention span. The food is always great, but know the difference between a chef's table and a tasting portion before you go.... you have to share. I truly appreciate Gio's candor in the cooking process, but it may be suited for more cosmopolitan audiences. If you are a regular at chain restaurants, the offerings at the Culinary Studio may not be for you. read more

The classes at Gio Culinary Studio are absolutely fantastic. I've been to a handful of the classes, and I find them very informative, with what seems to be an incredible amount of knowledge on the chef's part. Oh, and the food was absolutely incredible! I find it so helpful that I was able to choose classes with the amount of hands-on demonstration that I'm looking for. I've been to both the Chefs Tables dinners (which are usually a four course, full dinner with no hands on), and instructional couples night classes, where you get a sampling of all the food made through the evening, with varying degrees of hands on participation. Either way, I'm always surprised how stuffed I am when I leave! On top of it all, his personality, style of humor and no nonsense approach makes the class that much more enjoyable. If you haven't been, I suggest you go! I give it read more

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Took my fifth class last month, and it was as amazing as I anticipated it would be. Chef Gio is a trained, accredited chef as well as a talented, skilled instructor who shares his knowledge and expertise in an engaging manner. Some of the instruction in the classes is hands on. His explanations of the techniques are explained so well. Check out the photo below that shows my daughter's copious notes she took on the page next to the recipe ingredients. Good cooking is all about technique and acquired skills. For example, you learn why it is important to weigh ingredients rather than measure. Chef Gio convinced me that I needed to get a Food Scale! This class focused on Italian Street Foods: Arancini -- Sicilian Rice croquettes Porchetta -- Herb and Garlic Roasted Pork Piadina -- Roman Flat Bread Pizza Parigina -- Layered Pizza Gelato The Pizza Parigina was a personal favorite. The crust was airy yet slightly chewy. Perfection. We learned how to achieve that quality crust. I plan to make this dish with Chef Gio's recipe and techniques. As in previous classes, we sampled generous portions of each of the delicious dishes. You may bring wine to the class; wine glasses are available. Cold and hot water from a dispenser are available as well. Looking forward to taking another class from this Master Chef! Chef Gio was voted as one of the two top chefs in the Capital Region in 2019. read more

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Wonderful experience. Can't wait to visit Chef Gio again!!! My family and I arranged a surprise private Chef's Table for my wife's recent "landmark" birthday. The evening was fantastic. The menu (chosen by the Chef based on my wife's preferences and his inspiration) was fantastic. Wonderful salad starter, luscious pasta course, delicious crusted beef steak cooked to perfection in his 700 degF oven, signature roasted potatoes, capped off with a pistachio semifreddo what was eye-popping. Everyone had a wonderful time. Chef Gio was a gracious host and kindly shared his extensive knowledge and insights on the food, its preparation, and its connection to Italy. A perfect evening all around. read more

I was very sure I review Gio's - This is odd. I have taken two classes here, both were fun nights! The first I took was a Tuscan Dinner theme - We made roasted chicken thighs, hand made pasta, and dessert. All was fantastic. Second class was pizza making, and we made 3 varieties of pizza. This one was great as well, and tasty! I liked my classes here when I took them, however, I have taken more classes now, and I have realized what Gio's is missing, more hands on. The classes here are informative, and Gio is a great chef and a decent teacher, however, it is hard to learn how to cook by sitting and taking notes for 2 hours. There was little to no hands on learning here. The classes are fun, you can BYOB, but it is like sitting at home watching food network. He even has cameras set up so you can see because you are set so far back from the actual cooking. The food (he cooks) is delicious, but I have found it hard to recreate anything due to the style of class. The paper recipes he provided also did not have all the directions so you have to vigorously take notes throughout. If I were to take another class, I would go to A Different Drummers Kitchen / The Cook's Resource. read more

We took a couples class recently and had a wonderful time. I felt it was the perfect mix of instruction/discussion and hands-on cooking. My wife and I marveled that the 3+ hour class went by in the blink of an eye--it was that enjoyable and the food and information were top-notch. We will be back. read more

Thank you for great night! My daughter and I loved learning some new techniques for some of my home town favorite recipes! Utica night was so much fun and we enjoyed all of the recipes. A huge thank you for still having all of your amazing classes with no assistant. Looking forward to my next class soon! read more

My Dad gave my Mom, Sisters and Me gift certificates to Gio's for Christmas last year. We finally used them tonight and had a fantastic time! Gio is a phenomenal teacher and Chef. We enjoyed the observational portion of the class along with participating in actually making our own fresh pasta. Gio provided the ingredients lists for all of the foods we made along with blank paper so we could take notes to prepare the meal ourselves at home. I would definitely recommend this culinary studio to others. It's a great place to go with a group, sip some wine and learn how to prepare (and sample) some yummy food! read more

I've taken multiple classes at Gio Culinary Studio and had a phenomenal experience each time. You'll learn cooking techniques that are applicable beyond the recipes in each class, and his food is FANTASTIC. I'm convinced you won't find a bad class on the schedule! read more

Chef Gio certainly is very talented and if you are coming to his classes to watch him cook and take notes then this is a great studio for you. However, when I saw that there would be a hands-on component to a class I assumed I would actually be helping to make the sauces in a sauce class, or cut the food in a knife skills class. You spend 80% of the class listening and watching him do what you thought you paid to do, 5-10% of the time doing actually performing hands on skills, then 10% listening to him talk about how everything is better in Italy. On top of that he had a bit of a sassy attitude where he was rude to some of the people at the class for asking questions that he either considered beneath him or that he didn't like. Not all questions were met with this response but if somebody pays for a class they shouldn't be talked down to in front of the entire class. I reiterate that the food I tasted in the end was delicious and he certainly knows how to cook but I won't be going back for a class or recommending it to anybody I know. read more

I attended a chef's table last night and, because most of the food was served family style, the women with the "robust" appetites at the head of table left only a few bites for the last served. While the few mouthfuls that made there way to our end of the table were very good, we will not return. read more

I had the pleasure of attending the Couples Chocolate Dinner Class on Valentines Day. My boyfriend and I were very intrigued at the idea of Chocolate Ravioli and the idea of cooking savory dishes as chocolate being the main component. We were beyond pleasantly surprised with the entire experience. The food was incredible. Chef Gio was extremely knowledgeable and skillful in his techniques and in his manner of teaching. I learned about the importance of the quality of ingredients that were used during this class. Though this was only a "some hands-on" (25% student participation) class, we really enjoyed being able to roll out the ravioli. It was fun to interact with the other patrons within the class as well. I will definitely be signing up for more classes. I think my next class will be a "hands-on" which is described as 50%-75% student participation and then maybe the next class will be "demonstration" only, so that I can sit back, take notes and enjoy, what I have no doubt will be an incredible meal. read more

I had a wonderful time last night learning about making fresh pasta and ravioli with Chef Gio! Class included not only the filling preparation, pasta making, and sauce creation for four different dishes, but also a smattering of Italian language and culture. I will definitely be returning! read more

We ran into this New York chef/teacher at a restaurant while on vacation here in Italy, after talking for some time during our 2 hour lunch, he invited us back to a villa along with his students to learn how to make some authentic local fare. In the 3 hour session, we learned to make a pasta called brinoli (spelling?) a Tuscan sauce, bread and dessert. It was a lot fun and great learning experience. He's a little far from us in upstate NY, but when we're back in the states we'll definitely keep in touch. read more

My wife and I truly enjoyed last evening's 'Dinner in Florence Class with Chef Gio.' From the discussion of fresh squeezed olive oil to San Marzano tomatoes to understanding the cooking benefits of salt, dry ricotta and unsalted butter; Chef Gio presented an enthusiastic and educational experience. Complete with a bottle of Cianti Classico (BYOB), sampling the delicious food including Crespella, a wonderful crepe filled with ricotta and spinach, an absolutely tender Florentine porterhouse and Cantucci, a warm, biscotti like desert served with a sweet wine (Vin Santo) was a true culinary delight. Chef is a talented chef and teacher presenting interesting insights into the Italian food experience in a home kitchen atmosphere. We are definitely going back with friends next time. Bravo Chef Gio! read more