If you’re inspired by the food and drink at some of the state’s top-tier restaurants, it may be time to sign up for a cooking or cocktail-making class taught by a pro. Here are some of our favorite spots to take a class:
Cherry Grove Farm
3200 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrence Twp.
This family-owned creamery is located on about 500 acres of preserved farmland. They make farmstead cheese, raise grass-fed beef and whey-fed pork and harvest heritage eggs. They are known for their cheese-making classes, which include mozzarella, ricotta, burrata and paneer. You can also learn how to make sourdough bread or join the Foraging & Feasting class to learn about wild herbs, roots, fruits and mushrooms used in their dishes.
Felina Steak
Hudson House, 2 Chapel Ave., Jersey City
The restaurant is known for its Italian menu, chops, steaks and seafood. But no meal is complete without dessert, so if you want to take your hosting to the next level, sign up to learn how to make tiramisu.
Got Mozz
Throughout New Jersey
Book an in-home fresh mozzarella making class with Chef Joseph Zazzarino, personal chef and co-founder of Got Mozz?! Classes will include all materials to make 1 pound of fresh mozzarella per person.
Heirloom Kitchen
3853 Rte. 516, Old Bridge
Heirloom Kitchen is both a farm-to-table restaurant and a cooking school. Their classes include a Moroccan breakfast, Vietnamese summer, Middle Eastern brunch, steak and eggs, boozy brunch-style cooking, date night pasta and dim sum. Their Bootcamp Series includes advanced techniques needed in the kitchen.
Hudson Table
1403 Clinton St., Hoboken
Some of the classes here are open to kids as well. Learn how to make famous desserts, Oklahoma-style ribs, Thai food, summer grilling, Italian food, NYC deli sandwiches and homemade pasta.
Kitchen Table
1851 Springfield Ave., Maplewood
Topics here include Meal Prep Monday, boozy desserts, an empanada making class for the family class, gluten-free baking, BBQ, and more.
Liberty House
76 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City
Located inside Liberty State Park, this restaurant is a destination overlooking Manhattan. You’ll be treated to light bites as you mix.
Maricel’s Kitchen
1109 Englishtown Rd., Old Bridge
Maricel learned to cook from her grandmother and will be sharing what she learned in this class. Book a sesh here if you love Asian food, specifically Filipino dishes. You can also try your hand at Korean, Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Indian meals.
Montclair Culinary Academy
550 Valley Rd., Montclair
Classes are focused on healthy food choices and cater to kids and adults. After class, you can have dinner at the communal table. Jr. Chefs (ages 7-17) learn culinary skills such as food safety, knife skills, food science and social and math skills. They offer cooking classes for beginners and seasoned home cooks plus private workshops, corporate events, team building and private parties. There are after-school and summer camps, too. Some themes are Spanish paella, French cooking and wine, a summer night in New Orleans, Indian cuisine from Mumbai to Bombay and Japanese sushi.
Natirar
200 Natirar Dr., Peapack-Gladstone
This incredible restaurant offers its own cooking school, with a custom designed facility equipped by Sub-Zero and Wolf. They hold hands-on cooking classes, demonstrations, corporate team building programs and culinary celebrations. Professional chefs and instructors share their knowledge and passion with you while you learn about cooking, wine and entertaining. Discover the benefits of sustainable, seasonal ingredients; sharpen basic skills or advanced techniques; learn global cuisines or make family-friendly weeknight meals. Topics range from light French fare to fancy at-home dining to potato love to a pizza workshop to a Mexican meal.
Papa Ganache Vegan Bakery
106 Main St., Matawan
106 N. Union Ave., Cranford
217 Main St., Manasquan
Learn how to cook vegan and gluten-free dishes and baked goods, including crullers and donuts, bagels and muffins, cookies, pizza, chocolate items, cheesecake, tacos and lemon bars.
Passion for Spices Cooking School
31 Woodland Ave., Summit
Adult classes are taught hands-on by professional chefs, like Taste of Punjab. The World Summer Cooking Camp for kids and teens lets them experiment to cook foods entirely from scratch.
Rat’s Restaurant
At Grounds for Sculpture, 16 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton Twp.
Only 10 people can join per class, so it’ll be an intimate, immersive and personalized experience, including a curated wine pairing. The classes are scheduled for Wednesdays, from January 24 to March 13, and include themes like pasta making, preparing a perfect Valentine’s Day meal and cooking with fish.
Ridgewood Culinary Studio
223 Chestnut St., Ridgewood
The purpose here is to make you more confident in the kitchen. Sign up for classes like Mexican street tacos, Sicilian pasta with pistachio sauce and arancini (rice balls).
The Ryland Inn
115 Rte. 28, Whitehouse Station
Executive Chef Christopher Albrecht and his team will teach you the ins and outs of seasonal classics and international flavors so you can bring your skills to your home kitchen. Learn to can tomato sauce, grill up some steaks and use garlic as the main ingredient.
Shelley’s Table
Barry’s Appliance, 565 Union Ave., Bridgewater
Under the expert guidance of Shelley Wiseman (formerly of The Farm Cooking School), you’ll learn how to make different international dishes. Stay overnight at the B&B, and roll yourself into bed stuffed and sated. She offers other cooking classes throughout the year.
618 Restaurant
618 Park Ave., Freehold
You’ll enjoy some appetizers as you mix up your concoctions of margaritas, martinis and other cocktails.
Stone House at Stirling Ridge
50 Stirling Rd., Warren
Plan a date or a night out with the girls because the classes here are all about food, wine, cocktails and music.
Village Hall
101 S. Orange Ave., South Orange
The architecture here is spectacular–the building is more than 100 years old and was originally opened in 1894. During Churn and Learn, learn the art of making butter. In other events, cook with mushrooms, make your own cocktails and dine at The Supper Club.
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