Recreational cooking? Idaho has classes for fun, flavor, and camaraderie. Professional culinary pursuits? Idaho has programs for individuals wanting to pursue a career in cooking.
Recreational cooking classes require advance registration and can be taken at the following locations.
The Basque Market - Learn to make Basque foods such as paella and what wines pair well. Shop the Market afterwards for ingredients and paella pans.
Season + Taste, Chef Christina Murray - Multiple class options each day, Monday through Sunday. You’ll find something that suits your tastebuds.
Some chefs offer private cooking classes – ask your favorite chef!
Professional culinary skill development and degree earning programs are available too.
Life’s Kitchen - Non-profit Life’s Kitchen mission is to “transform the lives of young adults by building self-sufficiency and independence through comprehensive food service and life skills training, placement in the foodservice industry, and continuing education.”
College of Southern Idaho (CSI), Twin Falls – Offering two certificates and an AA in Culinary Arts, CSI’s “Culinary Arts program is a technical program resulting in an Associate of Applied Science. This program provides culinary and hospitality education designed to prepare students for the many positions in the hospitality industry. Students gain skills and knowledge in food preparation, nutrition, menu planning, sanitation, equipment operation, inventory control, purchasing, and customer service.”
Sun Valley Culinary Institute – The Institute offers cooking classes as well as a professional program through its devotion to culinary education and experiences. Its mission is large: “Provide culinary education to students, professionals, and enthusiasts. Attract and develop workforce talent for our diverse hospitality industries. Strengthen and diversify the local economy. Promote community health and wellness with a focus on local food sources and sustainability.”
Whether you are a foodie hobbyist looking to expand your repertoire or a chef-in-the-making, Idaho has food for fun classes as well as serious culinary programs for pursuing work in the food and hospitality industries.
What to consider when choosing cooking classes
When choosing a cooking class or school, consider the foods you’d like to learn more about. Explore whether you’ll have hands-on experience or be watching a meal be prepared for you in a class setting. Some cooking classes are about recipes. Others are about ingredients. Still others are about the tools you will need to make the recipes. Some classes combine all of these teachings and ingredients. Certificate and degree culinary programs teach food handling, nutrition, food preparation, and combinations, along with cooking for a varied number of people. The Treasure Valley used to have a degreed culinary program; now, Twin Falls or Sun Valley are the closest places to earn a culinary degree. Cooking classes for every palate can be found in Idaho!