At home with Chef Laurence Literally. My wife and I---and another lovely couple---spent a morning and afternoon in her home, where she treated us to an east-going culinary adventure. In a handful of hours she shared her years of cooking experience in such a cordial, pleasant manner that even a kitchen novice could be comfortable. The more experienced in the kitchen gained tips and skills. (I can now confidently make a Beurre Blanc sauce, one of the French Master Sauces, to which we added a few strands of saffron and a generous dash of cayenne.). Beyond the food---a soft and tender halibut with the aforementioned Beurre Blanc, a fricassee of vegetables, a fresh garden salad with homemade ricotta sprinkled on it, and a blood orange upside-down cake----we dined on the presence and persona of Chef Laurence herself. Not only is she a chef extraordinaire but she is a wonderful person who shares her life as easily as she shares her home. When you sign up for her session, you get a four-course meal that consists of great food, culinary knowledge, exceptional hospitality, and an experience with a pleasant beautiful person who reminds you of the pleasures life has to offer. read more

We attended Market Foray's cooking class in January, and it was one of the most enjoyable and educational experiences I've had in the kitchen. We started with a trip to the farmer's market, where Laurence pointed out different items and talked through the differences in different types of food (green garlic was new to me!). We later met at her home, and the cooking began. She did a good job of rotating the tasks throughout the group, and explaining the techniques as she went. We got to taste as we went, and after all the chopping was done, wine was served. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the other participants were friendly and engaged, making it a fun, social experience as well. And, of course, the best part was sitting down at the end to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The dishes we prepared were full of flavor and creativity, and I walked away feeling incredibly satisfied and inspired to keep cooking. I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves food and wants to expand their culinary horizons. Whether you're looking to learn new techniques, discover fresh ingredients, or just have a fun day out, Market Forays is a fantastic choice. read more

Amazing experience! It was great shopping and cooking with Laurence. She opened the group up to a whole new world of ingredients from the local farmers market and fish market. We made a whole array of dishes and they all were so simple to make yet so delicious. I would highly recommend taking one of her classes and I would happily do it again read more

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If you want a memorable, fun and educational day in a great setting, spend a day cooking with Laurence Hauben in Santa Barbara. You'll prepare the food alongside Laurence and have a truly enjoyable time. It's so good we've gone back three times. read more

Our group of colleagues was looking to do something special to celebrate a mother to be for a baby shower and Chef Laurence prepared the most incredible experience for us. We had a group of 12 and came to Laurence's beautiful home in Santa Barbara where she welcomed us into her kitchen and her garden. She designed a thoughtful menu for us that relied on fresh local foods and accounted for any dietary restrictions. We were able to help in the kitchen for hands on experience and learning and we were able to craft our own floral arrangements in the exquisite garden, learning flower arranging techniques and trying them out for ourselves. We enjoyed the lunch in the garden at a gorgeous table set for 12. It was clear every single detail was well planned to make sure we had the best experience possible. We absolutely could not have asked for a better day and all of us will cherish the lovely time we spent together. If you do only one thing in Santa Barbara, do this! We will definitely be back! read more

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Had a most wonderful day with friends as we gathered for a cooking class with Laurence. She welcomed us into her beautiful home and shared her recipes as we cooked and talked. The food was delicious and made with only the freshest ingredients. If you are visiting Santa Barbara be sure to sign up for a great experience read more

What a fun day and fun way to learn and explore local fresh foods. We started at the fish market, and moved to the farmers market where chef knew everyone by name! We learned how to select ripe fruits and vegetables and I got a real taste of what fresh quality food means to our meals! The kitchen and cooking experience were just as fun, it felt like family cooking with learning all along the way, and oh my was it delicious. Can't wait to do it again. read more

Laurence and her team created the most incredible, magical evening for myself and my family for our wedding rehearsal dinner. Not only was the food delicious, but she had the best calming energy. She and her team went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. We will never forget this night and couldn't recommend her enough! read more

We had a fabulous experience with Laurence. She is a legend at the farmer's market and knows how to shop for the best in season produce. Her well equipped kitchen is in a lovely setting; it's easy to imagine that you are in the French countryside. We had a great time preparing and enjoying our meals, with many instructive pointers along the way. She is great company, as were the four new friends we met who joined in the experience. read more

Laurence has a true gift of cooking, educating, and hosting! From sign up through the end of the Saturday Farmers Market cooking class, she made the experience easy, customized, and a truly immersive day! I highly recommend taking this class with Laurence! read more

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I just had the opportunity to have a private cooking class with Chef Laurence and it was a delight from start to finish. We started the day with a trip to the fisherman's pier and farmer's market and then to her home for conversation and cooking, surrounded by her gardens and home which look plucked from Provence. The food was delicious, as was the wine, but I most enjoyed the conversation. I will be returning as soon as I can. read more

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Laurence was amazing!! She is a wonderful person and teacher. She was patient and kind and her recipes were absolutely delicious. We had a group of 11 and everyone felt like they contributed to our dinner and all had a blast. Highly recommend for anyone with a passion for cooking who is visiting Santa Barbara read more

I hired Laurence to cook a romantic dinner for two in my home. Every detail including the meal and dessert was exquisite and flawless. She also stocked my kitchen with all kinds of delicious and healthy snacks from the farmers market or that she had prepared. She brought chamomile and lavender flowers that are still enchanting my kitchen. She is a brilliant chaff and a lovely human being. I highly recommend her for any occasion. Professional and lovely. read more

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We just returned from a three-day Culinary Tour of Santa Barbara where the highlight of our time there was clearly the day we spent with Chef Laurence of Market Forays. We started the day at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market where Chef guided us through the market, selecting the absolute freshest of amazing fruits, vegetables and protein which became our dinner for the evening. Chef Laurence then welcomed us into her beautiful home and French-style gourmet kitchen where we all engaged in hands-on preparation of what was to become an absolutely scrumptious meal. It was a beautifully welcoming, educational, and inspirational day all the way around, and we would highly recommend this experience to everyone. A day spent with Chef Laurence will not disappoint! read more

My friend and I spent an absolutely delightful and informative day with Laurence learning about puff pastry, cheese and more. It was a blast. She made an amazing menu according to our preferences and created a relaxing and concise shopping/cooking experience throughout the day. The food we ended up making was wonderful, I couldn't help but go for second helpings! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a classy food experience in Santa Barbara. I would even say it is a must-do if you were in the area. Thanks again for the awesome day! Here is one of the courses we created that day, I am thrilled to show it off. read more

Market Forays - Absolutely delicious. - Cooking Classes Near Me

We went on a market foray with Laurence as part of a culinary adventure weekend and it was absolutely the best part of the weekend. We met her at the fish market to begin our shopping for lunch and she greeted us with fresh-baked madeleines. Laurence walked us through the market and told us about the various seafoods that are unique to the Santa Barbara area--we picked up a rockfish for lunch and tried some fresh sea urchin, which was amazing! From there we went to the farmer's market and picked up some beautiful fresh produce. Then it was off to Laurence's beautiful home kitchen to prepare lunch. She had a detailed menu planned for the day and all the prep tasks in an easy to-do list that we could check off as we went along. Laurence did the lion's share of the work, but had some fun culinary tasks for my wife and I to help with, and she was very good about explaining the whole process and how all the different foods would come together. We had some wine and snacks midway through the day, then finished up the cooking chores and got all our food in the oven. A short time later, we were eating one of the best and freshest meals we've ever enjoyed. Laurence is a joy to spend the day with and there was never a rushed moment even though we were with her from 8:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon. It was the highlight of the trip and we can't wait to visit the market and spend a day cooking with Laurence again the next time we visit Santa Barbara. read more

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Laurence came recommended to me by a colleague and I couldn't have asked for anything better! Her communication was so quick & easy. And she helped me plan the tastiest dinner for my brother's birthday. He's a "meat and potatoes" guy and she put her own delicious flare on it. The cheesecake she made was beyond amazing. Highly recommend her services for a private event, can't wait to have her again next time we are in Santa Barbara! read more

My brother and sister-in-law invited us to do a Market Foray with Chef Laurence. It was a wonderful experience! We first visited the pier to see and choose fresh fish to roast, then spent over an hour at the most amazing Farmer's Market I've ever been to. When we arrived at Chef Laurence's home, it was such a pleasure to work with her to prepare all the tasty choices for our gourmet late lunch! An experience I'll never forget. She is a relaxed, teacher whose joy in working with food and helping others be successful cooking shines through. read more

A perfect two days. Laurence provided a two day private cooking class for us and the whole experience was remarkable. After a farmers market shopping extravaganza where we learned about many local and seasonable offerings, we moved to the kitchen and created an incredible classic French lunch. We also prepped for the next day. Day two was equally amazing culminating with a perfect dinner, great wine, and great conversation. Fun, educational, and a culinary delight. We recommend Laurence as a remarkable chef and instructor. read more

We did this on one of the hottest days we've had in years and, despite the heat, it was wonderful. Laurence creates a comfortable and fun learning experience from shopping at the fish markets, farmers market and cheese store to prepping and preparing the meal of several courses. And the finale of eating the fruit of our labors in a very relaxed and social manner really made the day. We can hardly wait to do it again. read more

Market Forays - Cooking Classes Near Me

Participating in the Market Forays with Laurence as our guide was a delight! I loved being able to relax without thinking about the time, and engage in something fun and different. Laurence is a beautiful host - inviting you into her home and sharing her culinary knowledge. Everything was absolutely delicious! I do hope to come back again in the future. read more

My two daughters and I did the Market Foray experience as a time to bond. I did research on local cooking experiences, and MF seemed a good fit. We met at the harbor, then visited the Farmers' Market and C'est Cheese, which were informative and pleasant. We then were directed to a home belonging to a friend of Laurence (instructor) for the class. Although the home was beautiful, it was not equipped to handle 8 cooks and an instructor. The participants kept getting into each other's way, and we had difficulty finding rolling pins, sharp knives, and cutting boards. The foods prepared were excellent and varied, but the class was not at all hands on to the degree I was led to believe. Additionally, when one of us attempted to cut a vegetable or place something on a serving tray, if it was not how the instructor wanted it, we were informed of this and it was given to another participant to "fix." The only refreshment offered during the preparation was water. Some of the participants took pieces of bread or potato on the side we were so hungry. Much of the time we just stood there and watched Laurence cut, roll, display, or fry. When it was time to eat the salad entrée we all sat at the table and waited as each person was served their portion. My food was cold by the time all were served and we could eat. My daughters and I were served last during several courses. All of these issues could have been easily resolved if the prepared food items had been centrally placed. Then each participant could have been actively engaged creating their own repast, food would have been hot when eaten, and all would have been served simultaneously. I feel we should have been informed of the change of venue and offered a discount. Bottom line: The food was good, Laurence is a good cook, but lacks in teaching skills and empathy for her guests. Thank you. read more

My wife and I recently spent a day at one of Laurence's cooking/food experiences. The day begins with Laurence meeting the group at the pier and offering one of her freshly prepared scones and giving each of us the program/ menu for the day; the beginning of a perfect day. She then converses with her friend the crab fisherman and selects two enormous rock crabs. Then, we head over to the fish market where they offer us samples of candied salmon and salt cod while one of the fish guys explains what he feels are the best local fish for us to try; we end up with an outrageous piece of local, freshly caught ahi ( the menu called for halibut but we all agreed that the ahi looked too good to pass up) and he gives us the center cut to ensure that all of our steaks are the same size. Off to the farmers market where Laurence must know just about everyone there. She gives us advice as to how to select fresh produce as well as what specific produce is each vendor's specialty. Another menu alteration when we could not find squash blossoms; Laurence uses her creativity to come up with a papaya and avocado salad recipe as a substitute. With bags full, we then head to the cheese shop. Another great experience and more tastings. Finally, to her home where she takes us through the food preparations, sipping wine and finally, the feast. We finally left her home around 4:45 completely satiated and content and contemplating returning another time with a group of close friends to share this incredible experience. Vienna and Mike read more

Mike and I enjoyed a fabulous weekend in Santa Barbara recently and the highlight was attending Laurence Hauben's Market Forays. We met her at the harbour (she provided yummy scones and the agenda for our adventure )where she introduced us to the fishermen and two (unlucky for them) rock crabs were selected. Next stop was a small but busy fish market on the pier for a very fresh piece of halibut. Off to the amazing Santa Barbara farmers market where we not only met a variety of the farmers but leaned how to select the best fruits, vegetables, goat cheeses and breads. After buying the provisions we needed for our lunch, we headed to C'est Cheese where we learned about and tasted a variety of cheeses. Selections for the cheese course in hand, we headed to Laurence's charming home where we donned aprons and unpacked the provisions. She explained and created our mise en place (our action plan) and then we washed, sliced, chopped, steamed, baked, and even made home made puff pastry and mayonaise from scratch. Time flew by (with a little help from a lovely rose wine) and the next thing we knew we were seated at a beautifully set table ready to enjoy a 5 star lunch that we helped create. Lunch started with a mixed lettuce salad with sliced pluots and a crouton with goat cheese, then steamed rock crab with homemade mayo, tomatoes onions & squash filled with bread crumbs and herbs, perfectly cooked halibut, a cheese course and last but not least a peach gallete made with home made puff pastry. Thus was accompanied by a J Roblar Chardonnay. We left around 3:45 pm full, happy and far more knowledgeable then when we arrived. This is not to be missed. Merci Laurence! read more

5 of my relatives and I recently had the amazing experience that is Market Forays. Laurence graciously accommodated our group on a Tuesday where we met at the Farmer's Market in the late afternoon. If the day had ended there I would have been quite happy. Laurence's expertise and creativity brought so much fun and wonder to the shopping experience. Luckily, though, the excursion continued to the Harbor where we purchased beautiful local halibut. Then it was off to the cheese shop where we again sampled delicacies and chose items for our cheese course. Our last destination was Laurence's home where we planned to cook our bounty. Her home felt like we were at a farmhouse in the south of France. Laurence led us through an organized and fun cooking class. Our meal was out of this world and the experience no doubt made it even richer. This is a fabulous event for those who love to cook, but would also be fun for those who don't cook but who enjoy and appreciate delicious local cuisine. I live in the area but my relatives are all from out of state so they were really in awe of all Santa Barbara has to offer. I learned so much and I am looking forward to the next time I get to join a Market Foray! read more