My mother-in-law and I took the French Macaron 101 class on Sunday and loved it! Jerry (the owner and teacher) was both knowledgeable and patient - he was very thorough with explanations and answered all of our questions. The class was structured well, and I feel like I could try making macarons again after this class! You get sent home with the how-to packet, as well as emailed a troubleshooting packet, and instructions on how to make the buttercream filling. It was the right mix of explanation and hands on experience. Overall both of us really enjoyed this class! At the end you get to fill some macarons for you to take home and enjoy later. My husband also loved them! Fun fact: if you go to 4 classes you get your fifth one free. Also if you have 5 people you can do a private class which sounds so fun! Can't wait to come back again. read more

For our annual holiday get together at The Kemper Golf Club, part of the festivities included cookie decorating, provided by Give Me Some Sugar. Chef Jerry and Thomas were just too adorable and so very helpful in getting up set up as well as explaining the use of the various frostings in the tubes, showing us the proper way to not only get the frosting out of the tubes but how to apply it to the cookie, They were so helpful, making sure we had everything we needed. As we got to the end of the activity, we didn't even have to get up to get the provided boxes to put our cookies in....they brought them over. I did not eat my decorated cookies because I am not a fan of frosting on cookies, but the three plain ones I saved were delish the next day when I had them with my morning coffee. What I liked about the activity was that Chef Jerry and Thomas were there to make sure all of the tables had what they needed and to answer questions, but they were not micromanaging us. They allowed us to do our thing and have fun. Honestly when I heard what the activity was going to be, I wasn't feeling it. But Tom and Jerry (just had to say that one...HAHAHAHA) made it a very fun experience. read more

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I'm really torn on 3 vs 4 here... the class was great, but the cake we got to decorate and take home was bad. For the price (and how easy it is to make a good cake, demonstrated by the fact *I* have done it), the cake should have been a lot better. The class was fun and informative. Natalie was great at explaining and demonstrating, and very encouraging. It's a fun way to spend a morning and a good way to learn. I walked out with a cake that looked pretty good and was excited to have a slice. When I got home, I took a slice and found the cake to be dry, dense, and tasteless. I don't know if it was old or just overcooked, but it was the worst cake I've had. The buttercream was also kind of flavorless. It was Italian meringue buttercream, which is less sweet, but it had almost no sweetness or flavor. I salvaged one piece by scraping off the buttercream and smothering it in ice cream, but sadly threw the rest away since I definitely wouldn't be eating or sharing it. It was disappointing. I landed at 3 stars because it really is disappointing to take home a fun cake you're excited to eat and share only to find it inedible. Hopefully, my cake was a fluke because it really was a great class. read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow! Had a wonderful experience here! We took cake decorating and learned so much. Natalie and the owner were wonderful! Highly recommend! read more

Recently took the Basic Cake Decorating class with Natalie. Great class. They provide all the necessary materials and equipment, and you get to take home your 6" wide x 4" tall chocolate cake. We used an Italian Meringue Buttercream frosting - airy with a delicate flavor. The cake has a subtle dark chocolate flavor and slices like a dream. They email you the frosting recipe but also ask for the cake recipe if this is your type of dessert. I plan on making cupcakes! I might add some light flavors to the buttercream. Will be signing up for the Croissant class next. read more

This review is for the French Macarons baking class. First bonus point, I was lucky to be able and register for this class on the same day. Their classes get full. It truly was a great informational class and fun. My first thought is it's pricey but after going through the class, we gained so many priceless tips, knowledge and hands on techniques that your first attempt at home, after class, will be successful. The two chefs were great, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive to give everyone help when baking. Also we get to bring some fantastic Macarons home to the family. The class only allows 6 students at a time to allow social distancing. There are hand sanitizers and wet naps at each station. They also sanitize the stations between and after the mixing, piping and filing of the Macarons. I already signed up for my next class and look forward to many more! read more

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Had a great time taking the beginner cake decorating class with Natalie. She was kind, great at teaching technique and gave us good background so we can replicate at home. I would recommend this class to pretty much anyone! No prior skills necessary. They provide everything and you get to take the cake home. Yum! I came alone and it's always nerve wrecking going to places alone but I ended up having a great time!! read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very clean facility. They supply you with everything you need with out skipping a beat. The instructor is thorough and helpful. I recommend taking a course here. read more

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Give Me Some Sugar was a fun place to spend a Saturday morning! A friend and I signed up for Basic Cake Decorating, which was scheduled for 10:00am-12:30pm, and then loved it so much we came back for a macaron class a few weeks later! Pro-Tip: Get there early and snag the front row :) Class sizes range from 8-12, and everyone works at a table set for two. BASIC CAKE DECORATING: We started by learning to put a crumb coat, and then we put our cakes in the fridge for a while to set. In the meantime we learned how to fill a piping bag, and practiced many, MANY different techniques. Chef Alekka would teach 2-3 different designs (roses, stars, pearls, etc) and then would send us back to try. At the time, we were just practicing on parchment paper, not wrecking our real cakes yet! For the last 45-minutes we had free range to our cake and 5-6 different buttercream colors to use for piping. MACARONS: We started by practicing the macaron shells, and working with egg whites and piping. It's a very delicate, precise art that takes a lot of patience. Chef Alekka even let us dye them different colors! Then we moved on to the filling, in which we made four different flavors: Nutella, PB&J, lemon curd, and salted caramel. There are tons of other options available as well, including mint, peach preserves, coconut, and many more! We spent time putting them together very carefully, and ended up taking home a huge box of about 16, which values at about $40. Given the price of the class, it's a total steal to go home with so many! Overall, the time FLIES BY when you're at Give Me Some Sugar. Everyone is so engaging and fun that I truly enjoy every second! I would highly suggest snagging a Groupon and getting over to Give Me Some Sugar ASAP! I know I personally have my eye on the Advanced Cake Decorating class next... especially because when you grab a punch card, you get the 5th class free :) Win, win! read more

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We did the basic cake decorating class. The class size is a maximum of 12 people which is an appropriate amount. I thought the timing of the class was perfect, and it moved along nicely. The instructor was the owner, she knows her stuff! It made me appreciate all the effort that goes into cake decorating. There were so many things that I was doing wrong that I never knew! They only provide chocolate cakes for the class. I wish they had dates that did vanilla instead. I would definitely try out another class! The taste of the cake was ok not amazing. You're more here for the actual decorating then a great tasting cake, IMO. read more

Give Me Some Sugar - My cake - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my new favorite place! I signed up for a basic cake decorating class with 2 of my friends, and it was so much fun! Natalie demonstrated the techniques for us, and walked around for encouragement to help keep our cakes straight. I can't wait to take my next class here, although it's hard to decide which to take next! Buttercream on my mind... read more

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I've taken 2 classes here - basic cake baking and spring pies. Both were a blast! Chef Jerry's (the owner) instructions are easy to follow and try at home. He made the classes fun and engaging. The best part was taking home all of the goodies we made in class. 10/10 will return! read more

I cannot recommend Give Me Some Sugar enough! I've taken 3 classes and they provide everything you need, taking the guesswork out of it, and of course a nice box of treats to take home. It's a great combination of demonstration and hands-on learning. Not to mention Chef Jerry and his team are phenomenal! Not to mention the place is IMMACULATE! Will definitely be back for all the classes read more

10 stars! We took the pastry class and my wife and I had a blast. It was a really fun time, even if we never cook for ourselves (and we will). In addition, we got to take home what we made and it was great. Not great actually, it was amazing. One of the best dates my wife and I have ever been on. read more

I've been to two GMSS classes. One was just a week and a half ago (Boozy Bakes), another was years ago (cupcake decorating). Both times were really fun and positive things activities. A great unique way to spend the night! Cupcake Decorating: this was a really hands-on class that let us decorate 6 cupcakes, which we could take home. We practiced certain decorating shapes, then re-used the icing for the cupcakes. Because all the class was spent decorating, there wasn't time spent on making cupcakes or frosting. Boozy Bakes: in 2 hours, we made four great treats: blondies, a cookie tart, "tartlets," and cupcakes. All had alcohol in them. The class was a well-oiled machine, and we learned both recipes and techniques (rolling out tart pastry, making icing cones out of parchment paper, etc.) we made a LOT in the 2 hour period, so sometimes we had to share baking duties. COVID note: masks were required in class. 8 people were in our class total (though maybe that was always the case for classes). The small class was nice because 1. Safety, and 2. It meant the instructor could come along and offer guidance. Apparently GMSS has been around for 11 years. Hopefully they are around another 11 years or more! read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Boozy Bakes treats! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A group of friends and I came here for a BYOB cupcake decorating class on a Friday night after work. The space is small, but has enough space to move around in. After we checked in, we opened up a bottle of wine and got settled at our tables before the class started. The instructor went over a couple of frosting/decorating techniques at a time and then had us try them on a piece of practice paper. After we learned a few of the basic techniques, we got to try them on our real cupcakes. Even though the instructor knew that none of us were trying to become professional cake decorators, he still was good with helping us learn the concepts. You get 6 cupcakes to bring home with you (or eat there if you want). I thought that the amount of time for the class, instruction, and format were all perfect. I highly suggest looking on Gilt City or other sites like that to find discounts though. read more

I only have the highest regards for Give Me Some Sugar. I took the basic cake decorating class with Natalie and I felt I got the much needed guidance I was looking for. I love to bake, however, my decorating is meh. It tastes better than it looks so in an attempt to better my cake decorating skills I signed up for a Saturday morning class. The class was only $75 for 2.5 hrs. In that time you learn how to properly, cut a cake, the right technique to apply a crumb coat, more than 10 different piping designs with three different tips, and many trick of the trade tips. Natalie was awesome. Her explanations were clear, she offered hands-on assistance, was super efficient, and was over all a joy to talk to. She told me she teaches the decorating classes and her colleague (& owner) Jerry teaches the baking classes. Give Me Some Sugar is kid-friendly. Over the summer they hold baking/decorating summer camps for kids. During my class it was all adults except for one kid, however, I was told you can bring a beverage to the classes. I would just double check with the shop beforehand. If you're a beginner or you want to improve your skills, I highly recommend taking a class at Give Me Some Sugar. Regardless of skill level, it seems like the teachers can accommodate and adjust to each person's individual needs. I will be definitely taking more classes with Natalie and Jerry sometime in the near future! read more

An awesome place to spend a Friday night! I took my best friend here as a surprise for her birthday and we both LOVED it!!! We took the BYOB & Cupcake Decorating class. Jerry was super funny and the atmosphere was relaxed and laid back. Good music was playing and after learning a few tricks we were let go to do our own thing and talk amongst ourselves. I can't wait to take more classes here. I would definitely recommend. read more

Give Me Some Sugar - My cupcakes - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had a lot of fun having some work team bonding time at this spot while decorating cupcakes. It's a cozy, independent operation and the owner/instructor was sweet as pie (or cupcakes) in helping us set up, giving us some basic instructions, and letting us have fun. There aren't many fancy contraptions or ingredients to use with our cupcakes, which is just fine for a group of beginners. Instead you'll get some different color frosting and a sprinkle bar to bedazzle your baked goodies. At the end of the class you'll each take home 6 cupcakes. Yes, that's EACH! Some people said they found their cupcakes to be dry, but mine were just fine to me. Of course most of that gorgeous frosting was scraped off because it was way too sweet to eat with all the decor, but the yellow, chocolate, and red velvet were all tasty for me (and i'm ashamed to admit I tried them all). A nice option for a party or team building activity in the area for sure! read more

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Amazing baking school! I have taken 12 classes here and each one of them have been amazing! To the people complaining about a dry cake on a decorating class, y'all need to read the class description a little better. read more

Why 5 stars? Because I'm not craftsy or artsy, but this was so much fun. --- --- --- As a kid, art class never really spoke to me. I enjoyed it as a break from trying to read some boring book, or learn about the periodic table, but it definitely never fueled me to get out of bed in the morning. Ironically, I ended up making a career for a while out of producing things that were aesthetically pleasing, but that was all stuff I could create on a computer. When it comes to my artistic hand/eye coordination, I'm hopeless. But with all of that being said, I really enjoyed Give Me Some Sugar! The instructor/owner did a great job of teaching us how to turn our cupcakes into masterpieces, even if her clientele was a bit... limited. But actually, some of my colleagues were quite the cupcake decorating pro's, but some were on the hopeless side like me :) And then, obviously, my favorite part was being able to take home six cupcakes each! I devoured half, but by the time I went through three of them, I was all cupcake'd out. If I wasn't traveling, I definitely would have saved the other for later consumption, but instead, they were left in my hotel room. Hopefully a nice member of the house keeping team at my hotel found themselves some poorly decorated cupcakes that looked just delicious enough to try. read more

Just had an awesome class/teacher and would recommend to anyone looking to learn about decorating cakes (they also have a ton of other baking classes) or a date idea. Wifey and I took the cake decorating class (beginner) and Natalie walked us through everything. From leveling to piping technique and finally our cake (crumb coat). The class was a perfect size for the 2.5 hours (16 of us) and allowed a lot of hand-on guidance through the decorating process. Unfortunately I am not a great decorator but I do excel in eating cakes! Bonus points for having a gluten-free option ($10 extra) for the celiac's out there (they took extra precaution in making sure no cross-contamination in the tips/storage). read more

Give Me Some Sugar - My "masterpiece" - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cake decorating has been on my bucket list of activities to try with my artsy-fartsy 10-year old daughter so I was super pleased to have had our first experience at Give Me Some Sugar. Though I purchased the deal through Living Social, I would gladly pay the regular rate for any class given the quality of the experience. I corresponded with Alekka, owner and instructor, to sign up for the date we wanted and they were fully booked :( Most places would have left it there but she was relentless in following through to make sure that my daughter and I get to attend the class we wanted. In the end, we took the cake decorating with fondant. Loved everything from the cute shop with all sorts of fun items that were not just all baking "materials." As a teacher myself, I am always paying attention to how the instructor "scaffolds" instruction and Alekka was spot on. She presented the information in a clear and concise manager and throughout the class, she made sure that everyone was taken care of. Can I just say that I have a new found appreciation for all the cake boss fans out there and I completely understand the difference between a Costco bought cake and one prepared with expertise! I agreed to my daughter's "buy me this, Mommy" at the end of class as I knew that what we learned from class would be replicated at home over and over again (well, I know she will --- I am not the crafty type, at all!) Great experience...we will be back for sure! read more

Came for a Sunday morning Basic Cake Decorating class with my bff. We bought the Groupon, which was an amazing deal. As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted with coffee and aprons. Cakes were positioned at each station and we were off! Alekka started by teaching us how to fill and crumb coat our cakes. Then she came around and made sure we were doing it correctly. We went onto piping-it was amazing to watch her technique and skill. Even though I was pretty bad at this part, it was so fun! The last hour of the class was dedicated to us decorating our little cakes. There was plenty of frosting and everyone was talking and having a great time. Our cakes were boxed up and we got to take them home in cute pink boxes. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to have some quality friend time/ girls time. Alekka and her staff is so knowledgeable. I learned so much. They have a lot of different classes that I am going to look into registering for. read more

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Love it! Love everything about it! We hosted my BFF's surprise birthday party (a brilliant idea by her mom) and we had the BEST time. I showed up early to set up and the owners Alekka and Jerry were there to greet me. They're fun, energetic, and sweet (I'm guessing from all that sugar). The same can be said about the GMSS studio - lots of pink and vintage touches. The birthday girl was excited to see her personalized Marie Antoinette sign in the window display. Our party did the "Crazy for Cupcakes" class and Alekka demonstrated a few techniques before we each started decorating a half dozen cupcakes - 2 people in our group are on a gluten-free diet and GMSS happily accommodated them. Once the demonstration/practice session was done, Alekka cranked up music and next thing you know we were dancing and frosting to Jay-Z. At the end of the class, we cut birthday cake, opened gifts, and shopped. Since we booked a private class we were given 20% off all items in the store. I walked out with a lovely apron and adjustable rolling pin. The final verdict: I will definitely return - mostly likely for the French macarons class and donuts class! :) read more

Give Me Some Sugar - From the "Crazy for Cupcakes" class on 4/27/14. - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried the macaron class with two of my Yelp friends last month and had a blast. The usual chef who teaching the class was out, but the owner was an excellent teacher. The class was small, about 9 people, which made for a fun, intimate, hands-on experience. Each person was able to participate in the demo and try it on their own. The instructions were easy to follow. At every step, the chef shared practical tips and troubleshooting ideas. I learned a lot of new tricks! The macarons came out beautifully. The chef already pre-made another batch to add to our supply to take home. We were able to create delicious fillings like lemon and salted caramel. We were able to take home at least a dozen each. The store itself is very cute and nicely decorated. They sell cookbooks, baking tools, and baking accessories. You even get a discount on supplies when you buy after taking the class as well as a $10 voucher towards a future class. read more

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I encountered a microaggression from the owner while attempting to check in for a scheduled class. A microaggression is a commonplace behavioral indignity that communicates a hostile, derogatory, or negative prejudicial insult toward a culturally marginalized group. When I arrived for the class to check in, I tried to open the door to no avail so I rang the door bell. I could clearly see the owner through the glass as he looked at me and abruptly looked back down on his computer. He intentionally ignored me as I tried to get his attention again to let me inside since I registered for that evening's class. I waited outside and only when two ladies came to the door alongside me (who were not members of my ethnic group and also were registered for the class) did he finally acknowledge my presence and gestured for us to come in. I was deeply offended and disgusted by how I was initially mistreated. Since I had already paid for class, I stayed and made the best out of an otherwise unpleasant experience. It is unfair to be judged and stigmatized on the basis of skin color. I can only hope that the owner will become more diversity friendly and culturally sensitive. All patrons should be equally welcomed. Review update based on the owner's comments: The owner's response was clearly disingenuous and demonstrates his insensitivity and lack of customer service. A simple apology would suffice, not a snarky rebuttal. Let's be clear, sexual orientation is not synonymous with race/ethnicity. The fact is, I did not feel welcomed because you willfully discriminated against me based solely on my race by not letting me into your establishment until the other ladies arrived. You deliberately made me, a patron, wait outside. Your actions were cruel and inhumane. No one deserves that kind of treatment. Just own your actions! Perhaps you thought that I was a hoodlum, not a professional with a doctorate degree. You made erroneous assumptions based on my appearance. Don't make excuses for your behavior...take this as a learning opportunity to do better! I decided to take the high road and make the best out of the situation since I'm quite sure that you would not have issued me a refund. Trust me, I wanted to leave as I was frustrated and humiliated while waiting outside. read more

I bought a certificate from Gilt for a basic cake decorating class - SO pleased!! They eagerly accommodated my vegan wishes - cake and icing were all dairy/egg free (and DELICIOUS). Jerry was our teacher - my friend and I had a total blast with him. I have a bit of experience with cake decorating, but this was a great class to get me rolling again. Jerry was very helpful throughout the whole class - I can't wait to try another!! Highly recommend for a fun afternoon - either alone or with a group! read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Cake decorating basics.. Gotta start somewhere! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got my wife a class for Christmas this year, she came home raving about it and can't wait to go back. read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came for the buttercream flowers class. Had a blast and learned a ton! The instruction was really great; our teacher was talented and nice and made us all feel like we were doing well (even though my roses were square cabbages...). The class included a cake to decorate after practicing the different techniques. All I would change is letting the guest choose whether they get a chocolate or vanilla cake. Def would go back! read more

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We booked this class as a birthday event for my sister and had a great time! Chef Jerry was fun and taught us so much. We it came time to decorate our cakes I felt like I had too many options but in a good way :) The store is cute, clean and organized. We will definitely go back for another class! read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Loved the cakes we made today!! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Fun class! We took the cupcake and cocktails class. First they teach you basic icing techniques then you get to decorate 6 cupcakes all while drinking wine! read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Cupcakes and cocktails. My masterpiece!! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The owner Aleka has to be the nices person in the world all the classes are hands on and very informative they even have discounts I cannot express how my baking and decorating skill have improved this place is Top Notch read more

Give Me Some Sugar - Cupcake class give me some sugar - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place! I have taken two classes-basic cake decorating and Halloween cookies. The owner and his staff are professional and make it super fun. They explain everything in simple easy to learn exercises. Plus you get to keep your creations! I am definitely taking more classes, just have to pick what's next!! read more

My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Give Me Some Sugar last February for our anniversary. We attended the cupcakes and cocktails class, lead by Alekka. Let me tell you, as soon as the class began, I knew we were in for an educating, yet fun, evening! I enjoy baking, but have never really decorated! I learned so many easy decorating techniques and even bought some frosting tools to decorate my own cupcakes at home! Oh and did I forget to mention you can have cocktails while learning?! Their shop is the cutest and the environment that the staff creates for their "students" is so refreshing and FUN! I've attended two cupcakes and cocktails classes thus far and am scheduled to do a couple of new classes! I can't get enough! If you are looking for a new and fun alternative to date night or just something different to do (trust me, it's fun for the guys too!) check out Give Me Some Sugar!!!!!! read more

We had so much fun. learn a lot! I will come back for more classes. We attend the buttercream and fondant class. read more

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Everyone should know about this wonderful place. Too my granddaughters and they had a wonderful time. I'm thinking of bringing the whole family. A wonderful gift for a baker at any level. The staff is friendly and very patient with all the students. There was a mixup with my reservation but the staff went the extra mile to fix. Can't praise enough. read more

I took Basic Cake Decorating with Chef Alekka and five other students. I didn't get much sleep thanks to a wedding the night before, but she was super nice about my need for a slow pace and coffee. Basic Cake Decorating covered icing your cake and basic cake decorating (using Wilton tools). Half the time was spent learning the basics and practicing. The rest of the class was spent designing your own mini-cake. It was a challenge for me, but like I said, I was on the short-bus to school that day. Tipsy Cake "hosted" the class, and even that location set-up was fun because it was cool to see the cakes that were going out for the day. My only recommendation is that it would be great to have more classes, or even just Basic Decorating II where we can keep practicing with Chef Alekka's help. She does offer in-home classes you can set-up with friends, but that takes some organization and willing friends. read more

My friend and I found a deal on Groupon for a cake decorating class...it was definitely worth it. My friend signed up for the class and when I had gone to, the class was full. They were really accommodating though...we called and they said they'd let me into the class and opened up an extra spot. The class size was relatively small, so everyone got a bit of individualized attention and instruction. It was one of the things on my bucket list and both my friend and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is definitely much harder than it looks!! I am now looking into more classes offered by them! read more

Give Me Some Sugar - The cake I decorated! :) - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fun and relaxed class. I did a cupcake decorating class. Instructor was great. They show you a few techniques and ideas and then you drink some wine and let the creativity flow! I love how small the classes are, probably 12 people max. It makes a great night out. read more

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