I just had "Seasoning and Browning class," which was FANTASTIC. Helen is great, and the class is very informative. I could not recommend more. read more

We can't recommend Helen's Kitchen Cooking School enough!! We just finished our first cooking class with Helen on how to make different types of meat. She is so knowledgeable and does a great job educating and answering questions. This more than made up for our horrible experience at Sur La Table several months ago. Helen takes time to ask everyone at the beginning what our questions are going into the class and what we hope to learn, and at the end of the class does a whole Q&A session. She prints of recipes, shopping guides, and includes links to her YouTube videos on the recipes, she even included a bonus recipe for us just because she thinks it's delicious. Helen is worth every penny, can't recommend her enough. It was a great date night! read more

Helen is a wonderful teacher. She explains tricks that many chefs don't think to explain because they do them naturally and without thought. I watch Helen's videos regularly on YouTube, and I still learned a great deal in this class. I have already made two dishes I learned to make, and they both turned out great. I would definitely take another class with Helen in the future. Her classes are a reasonable price with great value for the money. On top of all of that, she's a warm, funny, and helpful teacher. read more

Loved my first cooking class with Helen! I was in her first-run of doing the pâte à choux course and had an amazing time and learned so much! Helen started the class with a demo and thoroughly explained the process, what each step of the dough should look like, different equipment to use, and troubleshooting. I had always been intimidated when recipes called for weighing ingredients, but Helen showed us affordable scales we could buy on Amazon and how to use them and it is SO EASY. After her demo we split into 2 groups of 3 (6 total participants) and made our own doughs (with Helen watching and correcting as we went along), baked them, and then filled them. Helen also taught us how to make a pastry cream (!) and chocolate ganache, and then had other fillings ready for us to put in our finished puffs - a red bean and vanilla pastry cream, baked fig and blue cheese marscapone, salmon pâté, poached pear and pastry cream, and a traditional eclair. Then we got to eat them! This whole class was well orchestrated and very informative - Helen is a wonderful teacher. She also had everything ready for us - aprons for everyone, ingredients and utensils out, etc. - and a printout of all recipes for the dough and fillings, as well as written instructions for troubleshooting, recommendations for shopping for the ingredients in the area, and other helpful tips. She followed up after the class with an electronic copy of the printout, links to all of the non-standard equipment we used (so we could purchase them on our own), and even helpful articles on topics we discussed while eating our treats (like what the best sous-vide machine is). Helen offers gift certificates so I will definitely be asking for these for upcoming holidays and birthdays - I can't wait to try her other classes! read more

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With referece to the review by RITA from Hudson, MA... All I can say is that woman knows absolutely NOTHING about Helen nor her cooking classes. My wife and I have taken several of her classes and they (and she) have been so wonderful that we have participated in her Patreon account for two years! Helen is the consumate teacher and her background fortifies her expertise. She's a loving mother and wife and graciously opens her home to her students to learn, and question, about all things having to do with the kitchen and cooking. Everyone LOVES her style, her ease, and her genuine affection for those who come by to learn from a terrific chef. I guess what I'm saying is that if you read that rediculous review by RITA, discard it completely. It makes absolutely NO sense. Helen Rennie is the real McCoy and you should not hesitate for one moment to attend her classes. I personally guarentee you will not regret it. In fact, you'll probably sign up for 2-3 more classes during the next month or so! Read all the other reviews and then try to figure out why this scorned woman would write such garbage. If you want a fun, delightful, and really helpful evening or day of cooking and instruction, sign up for a class or three. You will be a MUCH better cook. read more

Class Reviews - Gnocchi & Spaetzle, Easy as Pie, and Spanish Seafood Tapas" The Gnocchi & Spaetzle Class is my 3rd class with Helen since Summer, 2014. I keep returning because she is an excellent and fun instructor and the classes she offers are interesting to me both for the range of food I enjoy and for the techniques I learn. The only real equipment that I've seen so far that I would say is a "must" that an average cook/baker may not have, assuming good knives and a honing steel are already on hand, is a digital food scale with a tare weight feature and an Imperial/Metric (lb/gm) option ($15-35) and a Spaetzle cutter ($15-20). The first class I took was the "Spanish Seafood Tapas" in the summer of 2014. I've attached pictures to this review as it's too far in the past for its own review. I'd highly recommend this class if you enjoy Octopus as I've never tasted such tender Octopus in my life. And, it's easily reproducible at home with no special equipment. The second class was the "Easy as Pie" 2015 which, again, was a great learning experience. I've attached pictures both from the class and from my own baking to show that the items are reproducible. The Tarte Tatin is a great dessert if you want to bring something for a holiday meal or a party as you can prepare it in the pan ahead of time and finish baking it in the oven in approx. 30 minutes. I was a hero at Thanksgiving, 2015 when I brought that out of the oven. This latest class (Gnocchi & Spaetzle) was again a terrific class both in the food we made and in the easy, and again, reproducible techniques I learned. I had made Potato Gnocchi in the past without good results; mainly broken gnocchi in the pot. Helen's providing us with the correct weight proportions means no more guessing at the potato/flour ratio and the drying technique before cooking and the Ricotta Gnocchi were new to me. I had sampled Spaetzle in March while in Germany (pictured with Venison Roast) and would put the batch we made with Helen up against it. The same with the Potato Gnocchi against those I had last week with an Amatriciana sauce (pictured). The Gnocchi & Spaetzle class is something of a specialty class as it was not attended well for a while. So, although you can find a lot of Helen's other classes and recipes on YouTube, this isn't one of them. Tips: Listen - Helen gives a lot of good tips that can get lost while engaging in casual chit chat. This is very common from my experience. Ask Questions - Helen is very patient and enjoys instructing pupils. Caveat: The classes are not rated or offered at differing skill levels. My experience has been that the classes have both first timers (for preparing the topic) who may also not be experienced in food preparation or cooking. If you're more experienced, patience will be needed. read more

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I used Yelp a lot to find good restaurants but I was never motivated enough to register as a member and write any review. I love Helen's class so much that I decided to write my very first Yelp review. I took my first class about 2 months ago. It was the fish class and it was awesome! Three hours went pass very quickly and I learned a ton. I took the "tender at the bone" class one month later and it was equally impressive. What I love about Helen's class: 1. Helen is very knowledgeable and nice 2. It is small class of 8 people, everyone gets to learn well and ask question whenever 3. Helen not only teaches how to cook the dishes but the theory behind the cooking. Cooking becomes not just an art but a game for me. Now I learned the theory, I no longer have to try hard memorizing the steps and I can easily apply the theory to other dishes. 4. The classes take place at the big kitchen of Helen's house, very quite, clean, and cozy. I recommend Helen's class to anyone who is interested in cooking. It's definitely worth the price! read more

Helen is an awesome cooking teacher. My bf and I took her fish class at her home and found it entertaining, unpretentious and of course, delicious. Bf's mom got us a gift certificate for a cooking class with Helen last Christmas, which we managed to lose. He explained in an email to Helen and she very kindly sent us a new code. Helen is funny and her kitchen warm and inviting. Her classes are eight people, and cost $70 to $80 for a three-hour session. I love to cook, but bf and I were clearly the ones at the class who knew the least about cooking and food. Fortunately, Helen is skilled at teaching both ends, and each person participates in some aspect of the cooking (chopping, testing the fish for doneness). Then, as the dishes finish, we all eat family style. Helen also told us how and where to shop for fish and all sorts of informative tidbits about the properties of various fish, storage, etc. We made bluefish with crispy potatoes, swordfish provencal, salmon teriyaki, poached halibut in sorrel cream and trout amandine. They were all delicious but not difficult, and I make the bluefish dish often. It was the perfect gift! I'm dying to go back for the French bistro class. read more

I took the vegetable class and it class beat every expectation that I had. Helen is both an excellent cook and teacher. I learned so much in a very short period of time, and she presented everything in a way that is easy to remember. Of course, she gave us the recipes and notes from the class too so we could focus on listening to her explain the techniques. I will definitely be taking more classes with her. read more

I can't believe that I was not able to find any fish related classes in the Greater Boston area aside from Helen's. I was so ecstatic when I signed up for Helen's mailing list thinking that I can sign up for the class. Unfortunately, the process was not as simple as I thought it would be, her classes sells out very fast. After a month wait, I was able to register for her fish class. Three months after I longed for a fish cooking class, I finally attended my first class with Helen. Small class, there were a total of 8 students, perfect size so that each person still can have an interaction with her. Very insightful class from beginning to end. It was not just a cooking class, she talked a lot about selecting the right fish, which fish mongers to go to, how to substitute within a recipe, etc. Dishes that were cooked that day were delicious. So far, I tested two recipes on my own last week and it turned out really good. Helen's classes are in Natick, it was somewhat of a long drive for me, but it was worth it. I have been cooking class hopping from Boston Center Adult Education (BCAE), Cambridge Culinary School, and various other places and I think Helen's cooking classes are highly recommended! I have another class booked with her in June and I can't wait for my next class. read more

I took Helen's "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" class. I recommend spending an evening with Helen because not only is she a knowledgeable and highly skilled Chef, but she is witty and downright adorable! She clearly loves to teach and encourages home cooks never to fear in the kitchen. When you go to her class, you will take part in the cooking process and taste several mouth-watering dishes that you won't forget, and the best part is, you will then be able to make them at home. Helen has a star quality about her and she has nowhere to go but up in the culinary world, so I suggest taking advantage of her classes as soon as you can! read more

Took sous vide cooking class last night, it was excellent. Helen is smart, very knowledgeable and readily shares many insights and helpful cooking tips. I can't wait to cook now! I look forward to taking another class. read more

I have now taken two cooking classes from Helen and I am very happy with what I have learnt! I have taken the French baking class and the meat class! Anyone at any stages in their skills are welcome! read more

I have signed up for a few of Helen's classes. They are intimate, educational and hands-on. She engages you, answers questions and gets into technical information about food, cookware, technique and anything else she integrates into the classes. She is consistently pleasant. She knows her stuff. She does not waste time, she starts when the class starts and continues on, which is appreciated for those that arrive when they are supposed to be there. Not inexpensive, but certainly worth the level of intimacy and her level of quality (cooking, food she purchases, etc.) She is passionate about what she does and it shows. I do plan on taking on many more classes. read more

I attended Knife Skills class recently and liked it a lot. Helen is very good teacher. Updated in 2016: I attended two more classes since then and I loved them both (Fish and Vegetables). I highly recommend this cooking school. The class size is small (max 9 people) and everyone gets to participate in cooking & ask questions. read more

Helen Rennie is an excellent chef and outstanding teacher. While I considered myself a very good home cook, over years of taking very nearly all of Helen's Kitchen's cooking classes, Helen has definitely upped my game. I use her techniques and tips on a daily basis. Moreover, her classes are very entertaining and swoon-worthy delicious. The lastest class I took was "Spanish Tapas" and it was exceptional. We made roasted cauliflower-almond-onion-parsley salad and potato-onion-egg tortilla which were "to-die-for," followed by beef sliders with roasted red pepper-tomato-onion-garlic spread and garlic shrimp, equally yummy. As a sweet surprise ending, Helen then served a burnt Baque cheesecake that she'd recently mastered. It was truly "out-of-this-world." As usual, I left confident that I could recreate all the dishes at home and eager to race right out, get the ingredients and try. If you take a class, you'll find it beneficial that Helen recreates some of the dishes on YouTube. She also provides hard copy handouts with the recipies and shopping tips. I always leave with dozens of valuable hand-scrawled tips scribbled on the back of my handout and find myself referring to them long afterward. My favorite classes have been "Orgasmic Vegetables" (completely changing the way I think about cooking and combining them)," "Grilling Fish" (wonderful fun and unbelievably delicious if you like fish), and "Sauce and the City" (demystifying sauces so I now whip them up with ease and not trepidation.) Whatever your cooking interests, Helen offers a class that's sure to be fun and fundamentally useful. read more

thank you helen. I loved the "Cool Beans and Grains" class. I made some quinoa last night which I have never made before and your soy quinoa recipe was a great compliment to wild salmon on the grill. The best part of the of the class was to watch you prepare and cook and to see how natural and joyful cooking is for you. Also, how you involved everyone in the preparation. This was exactly the type of cooking class experience that I was looking for. I can't wait to attend another class. I plan to do them all! Thanks, Carol read more

Loved it! My boyfriend's parents bought a private group class for us, his two brothers, and their significant others so there were 6 of us in total. We had a ton of fun and the food was amazing. We had a vegetarian among us as well as someone with pretty strict dietary restrictions. Helen did a great job customizing the dishes to their needs, but in a way that didn't compromise the quality. I've only ever been to one cooking class (in Cambridge) and I have to say this was a completely different experience. In the other class I took, the instructor gave us a 20-minute schpeel at the beginning about the ingredients that we were about to cook with. Then she handed out recipes to everyone and let us go at it for the next 3 hours. It was 10pm before we even got to sit down to enjoy the food and I didn't feel like I learned anything. With Helen, she mostly did the cooking (with our assistance) but taught us a lot about the food and technique as we observed everything. Half of us already considered ourselves pretty good home cooks, but we still walked out of there feeling like we learned a lot. The best part was that the 6 of us got to sit down to enjoy the food together and have time to relax and socialize between each course. I am looking forward to going back for another private group class. It was such a great way to spend time with family and friends! read more

Because of Helen, I can now cook. No really, it's the only reason. I am now more popular.

I am 10 years old and I took your knife skills class. You were really nice to me and treated me like a real chef. we had a wonderful time and I learned a lot from that one class i took from you. I signed up for your sauce class may 19th with my mom. read more

My son and I recently took Helen's first class on Grains and Beans and were not disappointed. It was 3 solid hours of teaching, lots and lots of information, very interactive and worth every penny. We made 6 dishes (maybe 7?), each delicious and nutritious. And the handout at the end was a bonus. Helen is a born teacher, super organized and prepared, and very enthused about her topic. We can't wait to take another class - we just can decide which one! read more

Helen Rennie is a very strong woman. She is a lovely, intelligent and experienced chef, but she also possesses well formed opinions and carries her attitude on her sleeve. This capacity for both confidence and wisdom allows Helen to be an excellent teacher who has taught me more through some of her off-hand comments than some cooking classes have taught me in a two hour session. Helen is the epitome of an excellent chef: she has experience, technique and poise behind her so that it is quite clear that she knows what she's doing. But it's more than that: she also breathes cooking; making food is her lifeblood and preparing meals seems to inspire something in her very soul. I mention this because no matter what class you take with her, you will learn not just how to make those two or three dishes, but also a number of other techniques that are very useful in the kitchen. For instance, I took a pizza making class with her where I also learned two ways to chop an onion, how to hold a knife and how to make caramelized onions, among many other little things. So, yes I know how to make, roll and prepare a flat-bread pizza, but I have these little skills that are useful in other dishes. However, many of these skills are not expressed officially in her class, but are frequently comments that she makes she see you struggling or comes up with an idea. This love of cooking has created in Helen a very strong personality that some may be put off by. She is so comfortable with herself, that Helen's kitchen actually refers to the kitchen in her family's home. I only mention this because I could see some people made uncomfortable by the way Helen manages her space. However I find that, without her capable presence, I would not have learned as nearly as much. This wasn't a problem for me or anyone else in the class, though I could see how some people may be turned off by this. At one point early during the pizza making class Helen said, "If you want pizza in half an hour, then you could pay $7 at Dominoes. If you want something good that will impress everyone, you can make my pizza." Helen is a strong and wonderful chef and I look forward to taking more classes with her. read more

One Fish, Two Fish. My wife and I enjoyed our cooking class with Helen. She explains EVERYTHING and is patient and very knowledgable. The fish dishes we prepared were awesome. I can't wait to prepare these dishes again and try others she provides on her blog. She has inspired me to cook more. Thanks, Helen! read more

Helen Rennie is a professional chef and if you can get into a class then you go to Helen's Kitchen - which is literally in her home - for some phenomenal cooking classes. I received a gift certificate for cooking lessons and truly think it was one of my most favorite gifts ever. I love to cook and I have learned so many things from Helen, plus now have so many more recipes! She also writes a great blog where you can find even more yummy recipes! If you like to cook or even if you are looking to broaden your cooking repertoire, you can't go wrong at Helen's Kitchen. read more

I have taken two classes in Helen's Kitchen and thoroughly enjoyed each. My favorite was "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" but I also had a lot of fun at "Cool beans and grains". I like that we got to help do the cooking in class and eat what we made. Helen has such interesting recipes and she really knows her way around the kitchen! She is friendly, patient, and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend giving her a try. read more

I've taken two classes with Helen - her fish class at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and her pasty / apple class just the other day at Helen's Kitchen. Both times I came out with a much better understanding of cooking and food, and with a full stomach. She really knows her food and she is a great teacher. I recommend her classes to anyone who wants to be a better cook at home. read more

I just made the tomato onion tart that I learned to make last Saturday in the Easy as Pie class. My family loved it, as did I. I came home after Helen's 3 hour class with the ability to throw together pate brisee (I have discs of dough in my refrigerator) and now have the savvy to bake tarts, pies and galettes. I am extremely pleased. The class was not too long and therefore not overwhelming so I actually retained what I was taught. All in all, a wonderful cooking lesson. read more

Fantastic! What a fun experience. I took the fish cooking class (One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish) and I left with a lot of knowledge and confidence in cooking. I as super impressed with Helen's knowledge and how well she organized the class. Not only is this a great learning experience, it's something fun to do for a girls night or a date night. I'll definitely be signing up for another class. read more

As a chef in the worcester area who was interested in fine tuning his pastry skills- I was delighted to hear from Helen herself! I called and left a message describing my goals. Helen (yes her) called me back in 2 minutes!~ and ran me through her end of year lineup which did include a pastry class. I know that her class is mainly for home cooks who want to learn some skillful techniques but I have to say that I'm thoroughly impressed with the personal approach she takes! (And she is so sweet!) If you are looking to take a class and polish your technique at home...then call her! Do it now! read more

Helen is amazing! The participants in our class ranged from super experienced to me - proud if I don't burn microwave popcorn. We cooked 5 different fish! Helen's explanations are so helpful and easy to follow. The group is small so it's easy to ask questions. Trying the recipes at home is very doable, especially since Helen emails videos and recipes just hours after the class. Classes fill fast, so don't hesitate! read more

We've taken two classes - Pasta and Knife Skills - with Helen and loved both. Helen knows her stuff, making it fun and entertaining to learn. And she's very patient with students like me who have a lot to learn. Great fun! read more

I have taken a bunch of Helen's classes and I think each one is better then the next. I have loved the veggie class, the grains and beans, the red fish blue fish, sauce in the city and soups. I can't wait for the next class!!! read more

Helen Rennie is a fabulous cooking teacher. I just attended her "Sushi, Ceviche, and Tartar - The Secrets of Raw Fish" and it was a great experience. I bought it for my girlfriend and it was a lot of fun to do together. I learned a lot about cutting fish, cutting vegetables, where/how to buy fish and Helen's secret tips! It is important to know how to cut properly, and the fish needs to be cut in a specific way- which I never knew before. She is so knowledgeable and funny during our cooking/dinner session, I felt like I was in my own home, I have never met a nicer chef before. I think it is a great gift for anyone who loves cooking, wants to learn how to cook, or is just looking for a great time with some great food. The sushi turned out great, and it was really enjoyable to make it on my own. I highly recommend Helen's Kitchen and I hope you try it out because it is definitely worth it! I will definitely be back in the future. Best of luck Helen- Keep up the GREAT work! - Ryan P. read more

I scheduled a private cooking class with Helen for a corporate team building afternoon. Helen was incredibly easy and efficient to work with in setting up the logistics of the class, and followed suit throught the class and follow up. She read our group dynamic perfectly, and provided an afternoon of learning, cooking and delicious food, as well as lots of laughs. Helen's knowledge base is phenomenal, as is her delivery of instruction. We selected a "social" class, and the group consensus is that we did the perfect balance of cooking, eating, eating, learning and drinking wine. Helen's recipes and ingredients were delicious and novel. For anyone in the Boston area looking for a group activity, I highly recommend a class in Helen's Kitchen. I'm looking forward to going back for a public class soon! read more

My girlfriend and I have taken two of Helen's classes now, One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish and Tender to the Bone. They were both exceptional classes. Helen is one of a kind. You feel right at home in her personal kitchen. You feel immediately comfortable learning, asking questions and communicating about cooking. Helen takes plenty of time to explain everything you need to know about food, the myths and the reality and puts it all in plain terms. She even gives you materials to take with you in case you forget! The class was well worth the cost and I would recommend to anyone. read more

Helen's amazing food knowledge and ability to teach are exceeded only by her generosity of spirit. Some teachers will dole out information in dribbles, but she gladly shares everything she knows (or thinks you should) about the topic at hand. For years, I have struggled to make good pasta at home, getting inconsistent results. Recently, my whole family (including my 8 year old daughter) took her pasta class and loved it. We have made pasta many times since, and it comes out perfectly every time. Was her class worth it? Yes, and then some! Now the hard part is deciding which class to take next... read more

I sought out Helen's private class for my husband's 30th birthday party. I wanted something fun, different, and low-key. We had an adult pizza party with friends. It was fun, intimate, informative, and delicious. Helen is truly a pro. She was very responsive to my emails right from the get-go, and worked easily with my requests about what kind of pizzas to make. She adapted to our group seamlessly, knowing when to push the hands-on aspect and when to leave us to catch up and chat. I would absolutely recommend Helen if you were interested in a private event. I can only imagine her regular classes are fantastic. read more

She might be a great cook and the classes might be great... I would never know because extraordinary circumstances are not taken into consideration for not being able to make it to the class. Kept my money with pleasure and no flexibility to take another class. I am surprised that in the 21st century any business can thrive with such poor customer service... definitely not spending another dime there read more

I took Helen's fish cooking class. Helen does a great job, not just of teaching cooking techniques, but also of explaining the entire process from selecting sources, shopping, storing the fish in transition and in the fridge, and on to multiple styles of cooking- not overcooking! We made five totally different dishes and even the bluefish was terrific! Maybe I won't throw out the next one I catch. The recipe handouts, and especially Helen's website and blog, are first rate and instructive. I've already cooked a dish at home and it was the best tasting fish dish I've ever cooked. read more

Passion, knowledge, humor and great personality. These are the hallmarks of great teachers and Helen Rennie has them in abundance. My fiance and I attended her "Sauce and the City" class. We had a wonderful time and learned a great deal. We left knowing how to make a great stock, three different entrees with a different sauce each and a delicious salad. And all this in three hours! Helen kept us all engaged and involved, welcomed questions, was happy to respond on related culinary tangents and still kept us on schedule. Additionally we picked up tips on knives and chopping skills, cookware, the science behind cooking and the best places to buy great ingredients. I can't wait to sign up for my next class! read more