Ethan BrownImagine hearing “Compliments to the chef” after serving up a delicious feast for your friends and loved ones – Isn’t that music to your ears? The good news is that you don’t have to be a master chef to make it happen!
Whether you’re just starting in the kitchen or already a seasoned cook, Ottawa’s got the perfect cooking class for you. Check out our list of the best cooking classes in town for that clean plate guarantee!
C’est Bon Cooking
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Address: 200 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7C8
Contact details: +1 613-722-8687
Opening hours: By appointment
Since 2009, C’est Bon has been dishing out culinary adventures as a cooking school and food tour hotspot.
They also offer virtual cooking classes, bringing the kitchen magic to your doorstep. It’s a fun 90-minute online session with all the ingredients conveniently delivered to your door.
C’est Bon has everything from fancy gourmet meals to kitchen must-knows. So, whether you’re nailing pasta sauces or perfecting your chopping skills, they’ve got your back.
And here’s the cherry on top: they run Teen Chef Summer Camps for budding young cooks (ages 10 to 14), and for us adults, there’s the Adult Learn-to-Cook Program. It’s a six-week journey into French cuisine basics.
| Pro tip: Just a heads up, the cost for a single in-person cooking class can be a bit steep, with most of them ringing in at over $100 per person, not including tax! |
Le Cordon Bleu
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Address: 453 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6R4
Contact details: +1 613-236-2433
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Le Cordon Bleu has many programs to boost your skills and confidence (a knife pro, if you will) in the kitchen. Whether you’re a newbie or a foodie, they’ve got something for everyone.
Their campus is like a chef’s paradise, decked out with cool tech like closed-circuit cameras and top-notch audio systems for super interactive classes. And you’ll get your hands dirty in their three kitchens, where you’ll turn theory into tasty reality.
However, going to Le Cordon Bleu isn’t as cheap as we’d like. Take their Superior Pastry course, for example – it’ll set you back $10,400 if you’re local and $10,900 if you’re from abroad.
But it’s an investment in your culinary journey that’s sure to pay off big time!
| Pro tip: The Le Cordon Bleu GRAND DIPLOME is achieved after completing the Basic, Intermediate, and Superior courses in Cuisine and Pastry. This earns you a Cuisine Diploma and a Pastry Diploma. Just a heads up, the cost (9 months) for local students is $61,575.00, while international students will pay $65,225.00. |
The Urban Element
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Address: 1867 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1G 5A3
Contact details: +1 613-722-0885
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Urban Element specializes in wedding catering, event services, and engaging cooking classes.
Their in-person classes are a steal at around $150 each and cover exciting themes like Mediterranean flavours or a deep dive into soups. But if you prefer learning from the comfort of your own kitchen, their online classes are where it’s at.
Running until year-end, you can explore everything from vegetarian Thai food to classic Spanish dishes and even Mexican comfort food. And let’s not forget holiday baking and basic canning – they’ve got it all!
On top of that, each online class comes with a recipe meal kit that’s packed with whole, pre-scaled ingredients, prep and equipment lists, recipes, and insider tips from culinary experts and chefs.
| Pro tip: Class rates range from $95 to $180, a bit higher than most. But they offer a wide range of options, from basic kitchen skills to advanced techniques and international flavours. |
Cozymeal
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Address: Ottawa, Canada
Contact details: 800-369-0157
Opening hours: By appointment
Get ready for a cooking adventure with Cozymeal – it’s not your typical kitchen experience. They’ve got in-person and online cooking lessons, virtual mixology sessions, coffee workshops, and even wine or whiskey-tasting events – catering to all tastes!
It’s also worth adding that they spice things up with team-building activities, whether you’re hanging out in person or virtually.
And get this – their online classes won’t break the bank, starting at just $19 per device. You can expect to have expert chefs walk you through the art of making the perfect Italian risotto, crafting sushi from scratch, or creating a full plant-based holiday feast.
| Pro tip: Don’t forget to hop on their website to keep tabs on their monthly schedules and the variety of classes they offer! |
Ottawa Chinese Cooking Studio
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Address: 211 Black Sage Crescent, Gloucester, ON K1V 2J7
Contact details: +1 613-366-5778
Opening hours: By appointment
Try and dive into Asian cooking with Ottawa Chinese Cooking Studio. They’re all about exploring Chinese cuisine and beyond – think Thai, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and more!
But it’s not just about recipes – they believe anyone can easily master exotic dishes. With options like in-studio workshops for schools and companies, plus private hands-on classes in your kitchen, cooking becomes accessible to all.
From kids’ classes to vegan and vegetarian options, they offer a range of lessons, including corporate team-building, children’s cooking classes, weekly sessions, and private cooking events.
| Pro tip: To sign up, it’s best to email them with how many people are coming, their names, and the class name and date you’re interested in. You can always find their latest group class schedule on their website. Or, if you prefer, fill out the Registration Form online. They’ll get back to you real quick! |
Chef Ric’s
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Address: 384 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5Y8
Contact details: +1 613-518-1415
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM; Saturday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Meet Chef Ric’s – a one-of-a-kind social enterprise linked with The Ottawa Mission. They’re all about serving healthy, affordable meals, rocking catering services, and running a Food Services Training Program (FSTP).
Now, the FSTP isn’t your typical culinary program; you can think of it as a backstage pass to a culinary career, and get this – it won’t cost you a dime! They’re all about giving you the skills and certifications needed for a quality performance in a commercial kitchen.
From getting your hands dirty with industry-grade kitchen gear to learning from top-notch chefs, it’s a combination of practical and theoretical skills. And guess what? Graduates land jobs quicker at decent-paying spots.
| Pro tip: Here’s the deal: they take student applications on a first-come, first-served basis. If you applied but didn’t get in this time, no worries! They’ll keep your info and let you know before the next group starts. |
Supply and Demand
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Address: 1335 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3B7
Contact details: +1 613-680-2949
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Here’s how it goes down at Supply and Demand: The night kicks off with a glass of wine while guests dive into the world of pasta crafting. With their expert Chef leading the way, you’ll pick up some valuable tricks and techniques honed over years of experience.
After the hands-on class, it’s time for the main event: a delightful three-course, family-style meal featuring the pasta you’ve just mastered. And it’s accompanied by specially selected wine pairings to complement the flavours!
The whole experience comes at $165 + HST. And if you can’t make it on the scheduled date, no worries – just gather a group of six, and they’ll make it happen another day!
| Pro tip: The pasta class menu is set as a family-style meal, so they can’t cater to gluten and dairy allergies. But if you have any other allergies or restrictions, give them a heads-up beforehand, and they’ll try their best to accommodate you. |
La Bottega Nicastro, ByWard Market
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Address: 64 George St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5V9
Contact details: +1 613-789-7575
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Discover the flavours of Italy right in your own kitchen with La Bottega. In their classes, you’ll explore at least three courses, all paired with wine.
They offer a variety of sessions like Risotto 101, Northern Italian Comfort Food, Cook Tuscany, Fish and Seafood, and more. Keep an eye on their classes for special sessions where you can learn from Guest Chefs from local restaurants.
And if you’re a wine enthusiast, they’ve got wine classes led by a La Bottega Wine Expert, featuring five wines and five antipasti. It’s a great way to bring a bit of Italy to your cooking repertoire!
| Pro tip: Make sure to check out their website for upcoming classes and events because they tend to fill up fast! |
Pot and Pantry
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Address: 254 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1L9
Contact details: +1 613-565-1212
Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday, and Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Thursday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pot & Pantry is like a treasure trove for kitchen lovers! You’ll find Canadian-made housewares, gourmet groceries, and all those top-notch kitchen brands you adore.
But here’s the fun part – sign up ahead of time for one of their two-hour classes and get ready to pick up some new cooking and cocktail skills. The classes happen in the evening after the store shuts down and magically transforms into a cooking school.
They’ve got a bunch of diverse classes, from nailing caramel basics to mastering knife and pastry skills. It’s a kitchen adventure you won’t want to miss!
| Pro tip: Here’s the scoop: most of their classes start at just $90, and they fill up fast! So, make sure to check out their website or give them a call to get the inside track on their upcoming ones before they’re all booked up. |
Shafali Indian Restaurant
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Address: 308 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E5
Contact details: +1 613-789-9188
Opening hours: Tuesday to Wednesday, and Sunday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Thursday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Friday to Saturday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10 PM
At Shafali Indian Cuisine, you can master the art of preparing healthy and exotic Indian dishes with their experienced chefs.
In these classes, you’ll dive into the basics of Indian cuisine – think of essential spices, traditional cooking methods, and a whole bunch of recipes you can easily whip up at home.
| Pro tip: You can register and attend Shafali Indian Cuisine’s Indian cooking classes at their Ottawa restaurants, either individually, with a partner, or as a group. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for workplace team-building activities! |
