If you’re looking for something novel to do on your next date night, check out Sur la Table’s cooking classes! We recently took their Date Night: Passport to Thailand class and had a wonderful time both learning about Thai cooking and enjoying the delicious food.
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Because it was the Cleveland Guardians’ Opening Day, we were lucky to have a smaller-than-usual class size. It was just us and a mother with her three daughters celebrating one of the girls’ milestone birthdays.
View the full schedule of classes here!
What to Expect at a Sur la Table Cooking Class
When we arrived at Sur la Table, the classroom was already set up and the chefs had us get into our aprons and wash up. We were making four dishes that night and our first event was a demo of the sauce we’d be using with the Pad Thai and the coconut-lime sorbet mixture.
After the demo segments, we were given various raw ingredients to prep for the Pad Thai, Larb Gai, and Panang Curry. Once all the chopping/prepping was addressed, we each had a chance to work on the creation of the dishes.
Finally, it was time to eat! Everything we made was delicious and tasted similarly authentic to what we enjoyed while visiting Thailand. The Panang Curry and Coconut-Lime sorbet were crowd favorites. My personal top choices were the Larb Gai and sorbet.
We had a fun time getting to know our classmates, comparing travels, and notes on the various dishes. We all agreed that a cooking class makes for a fun night out, whether you’re on a date, with another couple, or having a friend’s night!
Conclusions
Our 2-hour Sur la Table cooking class was an ideal mix of chef demos and hands-on work. We had plenty of time to take notes and ask questions. The chefs really knew their stuff and shared not only technique tips but preferred brands, local spots where we could purchase ingredients, etc.
Costs run a bit higher than what you’d expect to pay for a comparable meal in a restaurant but you’re getting the experience of learning how to make these dishes at home. Furthermore, class recipients all receive 10% off store purchases and $10 off per person for future class registrations (both good on the day of class ONLY).
If you’ve had your eye on something pricey, it can be smart to register for (and enjoy) a cooking class and then make your purchase that same day.
Key Takeaways
- All classes are led by professional chef instructors.
- Classes are 2 to 2 1/2 hours unless otherwise noted in the class schedule.
- Hands-on classes are limited to 12-16 students, depending on location.
- You will work with other students in groups of 4, sharing workstations and equipment.
- You will be standing, cooking, and working for most of the class.
- Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and have long hair tied back.
- You can bring in a bottle of wine (or beer) to enjoy with your finished menu!
- All food must be consumed on-site, no takeaways (unless noted in the schedule).
- Students receive a coupon good for 10% off in-store purchases on the day of class as well as a $10 discount for any future class registrations.
Have a great weekend, everyone! I’ll see you in May. Until next time…
