Amazing how HEB culinary academy provides learning journey of diverse foods and flavors…read more Professional Chefs make an experience awesome and memorable. Facility is big and has everything what needed for trainees.

Coolest HEB ever, walked here for some healthy snacks. The have a large selection on beers and…read morewines, fresh deli very well managed for such a busy area. I sat out on patio and ate my summer spring roll with sweet chili dip and sipped on some cold chilled Moonshine Tea. They have gasoline if your in need of a fill up before you hit the highway.

came as a plus one for a company event! if you're viewing this experience from that perspective, i…read morethink it's a great! they're super organized and know how to cater to a large group (~25 people) really well. we assembled a berry tart to bake at the start then got to build our own bruschetta combos. there was whipped feta, turkish apricot, and orange chutney as bases, and you could top it with mint, tomatoes, bell pepper, and cucumber. at the end before we ate, we took turns seasoning the chicken and watched a demo on how she made the carrot hummus. i didn't learn as much actual cooking as i was hoping. i'll have to try their public classes instead!

Such a fun date night experience! The cooking classes are held in a beautiful space in east Austin…read moreand are lead by very talented and kind chefs. They describe it as a "recreational" cooking class, which means there is some light cooking involved but they've done a lot of the heavy lifting which takes the stress out of the experience and maximizes enjoyment. There were about 15 people total in the class. It's BYOB and they give you all the recipes after. We attended the New American Mediterranean class. Menu items included strawberry gazpacho, an arugula salad, carrot hummus, lovely grilled chicken marinated in Mediterranean spices, and berry ricotta tarts for dessert. Each item was more epic than the last. My girlfriend and I agreed that this was the best meal we've had in a long time. Absolutely delicious! We can't wait to try some of the recipes at home, and attend another cooking class (possibly the Italian one!) soon.

I signed up for The Naked Bite's "Quick Weeknight Meals and Variations" class last week. I am…read moretrying to incorporate more veggies into my diet, but knew I would need some help making them more exciting and flavorful. The class was a public class taught at Chef Amber's beautiful home, and I was joined by 9 other people eager to become more "green". Chef Amber was super personable, friendly, and clearly passionate about teaching us how to make healthy food that we want to eat, that is nutritious, and quick enough to put together for a weeknight dinner. I not only came away with 5 recipes I feel comfortable recreating on my own (and a multitude of variations, thank you!), but also picked up some knife skills, tips on kitchen utensils to use, tricks on how to store garlic and make my own veggie broth and so much more. Additionally, the atmosphere and vibe at Chef Amber's allows you to feel very comfortable asking questions, sharing life stories, cracking jokes (maybe that's due to the wine?), and overall having a ton of fun. I've already made a few of the recipes, Sunflower & Kale Pesto with Crudite and Kale Salad with Toasted Almonds, Avocado and Lemon Vinaigrette, for friends that we've had over and both received rave reviews. I highly recommend this class to anyone that is interested in eating great tasting food that makes you feel good. This class is not just for vegetarians! There were a few people in this class who had formerly shunned veggies and they came away the most excited about this experience. Can't wait to try out more recipes!

From the owner: The Naked Bite offers public and private cooking classes, as well as small event catering services…read more Our culinary style is plant-driven (though not exclusive) and integrates global flavors while focusing on local and organic ingredients. We believe that pure food is synonymous with enjoyment and overall health. If you are interested in adding some vibrant knowledge to nourish you and your family, our cooking classes or personal chef services are for you! If you follow a special diet such as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, you'll find plenty of options here. Hope you're hungry; it's time to take The Naked Bite! ~Chef Amber Antonelli

We came here for a pasta bianca cooking class. I'd say it wasn't really a cooking class per se, as…read morewe were pretty much only responsible for making the pasta dough; the sauces and all the other dishes were prepared by the chef, with mostly showing and explaining. Going in, for some reason, I had the conception that we were going to be split into groups and then each group would be responsible for one of the dishes. Anyways, it ended up being more of a chill relaxing time, with the chef doing 95 percent of the cooking for us. So, I would classify this as more of an interactive meal experience, where you get to craft a tiny portion of the meal (in this case, the pasta dough), and do some light preparation, such as prepping herbs. It was pretty fun, tasty food and nice dessert. Also super friendly host. Oh yeah, they have chickens in the backyard. And there was this cute kitten around in the front.

1. Agenda: We attended the public Pasta Bianca class this Thursday from 6:30-8:30 PM. Before the…read moreclass officially started, we enjoyed an appetizer prepared by our instructor and took a brief tour of the lovely backyard. We had some casual conversations with the host and other guests, which made for a warm, welcoming start. The class began with a demonstration on how to prepare fresh pasta dough using semolina flour, water, and salt. After watching the technique, we each made our own dough, wrapped it in plastic, and let it rest. Next, we moved on to sauce-making -- a hands-on but light part of the class. The instructor led the process and explained the ingredients and techniques, while we assisted. We made pesto, tomato sauce, and a pepper vinaigrette, learning about how to choose quality ingredients and balance flavors. Then we learned how to shape malloreddus and trofie pasta. As we made our own versions, the instructor gave helpful feedback and prepped dinner items like salad with vinaigrette and homemade croutons. To finish, she cooked our pasta, tossed them with the sauces, plated everything beautifully, and we all sat down to enjoy the delicious meal we had helped create. 2. Venue: The class is hosted in a charming house on Chatham Avenue, decorated with cool artwork and featuring a lovely backyard -- cozy, relaxed, and thoughtfully designed. 3. Teamwork: There were two other groups in the class. Each group prepared their own pasta, and the food was cooked separately. We all enjoyed the fruits of our own labor, but the atmosphere encouraged casual conversation and mutual appreciation. 4. Instruction: Our host, Megan, was fantastic -- warm, funny, and highly skilled. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu (if I heard correctly) and has years of industry experience. She demonstrated key techniques for making flavorful sauces and shaping pasta, offering tips throughout without overwhelming us. 5. Recipe: Everything we made was completely vegan and absolutely delicious. Megan had her own creative twists on classic recipes, and they worked really well -- flavorful, satisfying, and fresh. 6. Tools: The kitchen has everything needed for pasta-making, plus some really neat cooking gadgets. I especially loved their pepper grinder and salt container -- simple but super handy. 7. Parking: Street parking is available. 8. Overall Experience: Megan went above and beyond. She prepared iced water, roasted broccoli, and hummus for us to snack on before class. Although the class was scheduled for two hours, we stayed nearly 45 minutes longer and never felt rushed during the class. When time needed to be managed, she let us know in a clear, friendly way. She also prepared complementary ingredients to pair with our pasta and sauces, and even prepared each of us a delicious vegan chocolate mousse topped with hazelnuts. The basil we used in our pesto came from her garden. Everyone in the class was friendly, and while collaboration wasn't required, conversation flowed naturally. One group offered to take pictures of my husband and me, while another shared pasta-shaping tips. We had such a great time and will definitely be back for another class.

Great little place where you can learn to cook like a chef. Fantastic place with all the BBQ…read moresauces and so much more. If you go out back there's a small private lake. Try the food your mind will explode. Super delicious everything you try you'll want to buy it all. Don't forget the wine!

My go-to spot for relaxation on stressful days. I adore the flower covered walk ways and beautiful…read morelake in the back surrounded by large pine trees. The only issue is that it closes early and is super packed on weekends with limited parking. My best option has been coming for lunch when possible during the week. It is absolute heaven enjoying their peach Moscato with a good book while catching some vitamin D as butterflys flutter around me. I don't care what type of day I'm having, this place makes it better instantly. They often have great deals. The last time I went they gave me some free cheese sticks with my purchase. It was very nice of the workers to let me sample a few options before deciding, and the customer service was smiley and friendly just as you would expect for such a classy and beautiful spot. I highly recommend this one if you need to decompress or just if you want to get out and enjoy the sun on your skin.

Amazing grounds and comfortable rooms. Complementary breakfast was good. Eli and Vinni were very…read moreaccommodating.

We enjoyed our two nights stay recently at Blair House Inn…read more First of all, it was very quiet and serene. Also, the bed was extremely comfortable and also the pillows. Everything was very clean, and although we didn't eat breakfast, which were included, I'm sure they were probably very good. The host, Eli, was professional and polite. There is a spa on the property, and when we go again, I'm going to be sure and schedule something to pamper myself! The landscape was beautiful, and although it is a small property and is still in the process of a few renovations, nonetheless, we would definitely recommend this bed-and-breakfast, especially if you're looking for a place of quiet, rest and relaxation.

Great cooking classes for school aged kids. Love this place.read more

This place is the best. I had gone to many classes about 10 years ago and after a hiatus, I…read morereturned because I saw that there was a cool class for Mardi Gras. It wasn't my first Mardi Gras demo class, it lasted about 3 hours and there was wine pairings. It was a wonderful way to celebrate in a lowkey and delicious setting. The chef spoke about the way to prepare the dishes, we tasted them and I learned that New Orleans cuisine has many sauces which (for me) are quite complicated so I am happy to eat them on special occasions when I'm dining out. Most classes are minimum 60-80 dollars and can cost more depending on the ingredients. The classes can be demos or hands-on. Some are 21 and up and will offer wine pairings as well. Pro-tip, they release next month's schedule (on event brite) on the first of the month and offer a 10% discount if you book your next month's class within the first 7 days of the previous month. This year, I was checking out their schedule and it piqued my interest that they offered a shorter than average (1 hr) Lunch and Learn to celebrate Mardi Gras. I booked my ticket which was about 30 dollars, a steal compared to their usual prices. I was delighted to see that Chef Sid was still there, whipping up delicious New Orleans cuisine. We had the crab creole dip, crawfish etouffee over rice and we finished with a brownie and butter pecan praline frosting. Everything was well seasoned and flavorful. I also learned a few tricks to try. I hope they offer more of these opportunities because it was a quick, and cost effective way, to come back!

We attended the Paella Valenciana class. What a blast! Our two instructors were terrific and fun…read more We started by making an eggplant and bell pepper dip, then a fantastic chicken and duck paella, and then we were served an excellent flan de Naranja. Would absolutely do this again. Totally fun 2.5 hours and went home with leftovers!

Freda's Kitchen - Iron Chef Review…read more We engaged Ashley and her team to create an Iron Chef style event for our family of fifteen ages 5-84 over the holidays. They did an absolutely incredible job! Ashley made sure every detail was taken care of and coordinated the entire event flawlessly. Ashley's team members (Kyle, Kristin, Holly and Chef Uyen Pham) were all exceptionally professional and they ensured it was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. Although the final results are still under protest (just kidding). We highly recommend Freda's Kitchen for anyone looking for something different whether it be a team building or in our case a family event. We also held it at Wilson's Appliance in Dripping Springs who were gracious in allowing to use their top of line equipment in their model kitchens.

My friends and I did a cooking class here and had a great time. Our chef and her assistant were…read morereally friendly and down-to-earth, and they gave an introduction letting us know about their business and why they started it, which gave some meaning to what we were doing. The space where we ate was gorgeous and felt like we were dining in someone's beautiful home. Half our group was running late (30 minutes!) due to the marathon closing off some roads, and they still gave us our full experience. FYI, it is BYO here! If we had known earlier, we would have brought our own additional drinks, but they did serve us wine. The kitchen was a little cramped for 14 of us, and compared to other cooking classes I've done, it was a little ad-hoc getting everyone organized. They didn't have a pre-set number of people for each station, and with only 2 staff, they were stretched a little thin helping everyone. It all worked out, but it was a little slow figuring out who would do what, with rough last minute estimates on how many people were needed at each spot. Still, our food was great, we all learned some new kitchen skills (though the chef did help us quite a bit to get us there!), and we had a fun time! There were tons of leftovers too.

I recently checked out the café at the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio. I ordered a…read morematcha, but unfortunately it was way too sweet for my taste. That said, the pastry was excellent( super fresh and definitely the highlight of my visit.) My total came out to about $14, which is a bit on the pricey side, but I don't mind paying it knowing it supports the students and their training. Parking is something to plan for: you only get 30 minutes free at the Kohler Garage, and the Pearl District no longer offers two-hour free parking. There is paid public parking available nearby, though. I would absolutely come back for their dinner-course meal. I've done it multiple times and love it every time. However, I'd probably skip the café drinks in the future and just stick to the pastries.

The restaurants are fabulous! What a wonderful environment for young chefs to foster their passion!…read moreThank you!