Best cooking classes in Amsterdam
Riki arrived in Amsterdam six years ago unaware that you could buy a burger from a wall. Fortunately she found a culinary life beyond fried treats and a lot of it is tucked away in places you might miss on your own. Use her inquiring fork as your compass to the finest restaurants, cafés and foodie experiences around the city.
Masters and apprentices
If you are looking for a fun and novel way to entertain colleagues or spend some quality time with your friends, culinary masterclasses are a great way to go. The rest is really up to you, whether you fancy making chocolates, rolling sushi with Michelin-starred chefs or picking edible leaves off a tree!
Sweet tooth masterclasses
Kees Raat (founder of Unlimited Delicious) is a rebel chocolatier whose creations make a mockery of conventional shop-bought varieties; imagine honey, thyme, and walnut or chipotle and green tomato. Each unique combination is based on one of six cosmopolitan cities - and the chocolate itself is fair trade (Original Beans). Watch how it’s all done then have a go yourself (even lick the bowl!). Chef Kees is currently offering four classes in bonbons, patisserie, wedding receptions, and high tea. For information on joining up, visit Metropolitan Deli.
Originally from South Virginia, Amsterdam-based Rebecca Treherne shares her passion for baking cupcakes (and all things cavity-inducing) via Alice in Cakeland.
Just a year on from inception, she offers cupcake decorating workshops to the masses. She hosts both regular and private group sessions across the Netherlands, as well as cupcake BBQs!
High art food
Occupying the Westergasfabriek is the modern kitchen studio De Culinaire Werkplaats, the brainchild of mutlitalented foodie designers Marjolein Wintjes and Eric Meursing. Their innovative creations include ‘emotion bread’, colour-based concepts (black soup anyone?), and ‘veggie bling bling’ to name but a few. Prizes have been raining down on De Culinaire Werkplaats recently - they have been named the 'Best Vegetable Restaurant in the Benelux 2011', been awarded the Max Havelaar 'Golden Tray' for their Fairtrade@Work enterprises and have also entered the prestigious GaultMillau listings.Visit their workshop to explore the possibilities for private masterclasses, group workshops, parties, installations and more. For more information, visit Proef.
The Okura Hotel is an epicurean's dream hosting two Michelin-starred restaurants, Ciel Bleu and Yamazato. Both regularly run culinary workshops covering French and Japanese cuisine, vegetarian food and even high tea followed by dinner with the fruits of your labour.
Sessions typically last four hours and feature preparation of a thrilling Michelin-inspired menu. Workshops are open to all levels and available for both private and professional bookings (up to 100 people). For prices and reservations see website.
The pan is mightier: Bloggers offering classes
British expat Vicky Hampton brings us the best of Amsterdam’s culinary scene with regular restaurant reviews and recipe ideas on Amsterdam foodie. When she’s not busy playing chef at her exclusive pop-up restaurant, Hidden Kitchen, where parties of eight pay to enjoy a seasonal tasting menu with matching wines in a central Amsterdam apartment, she’s holding workshops across the city for small groups.
The cross-over of blogs and cooking classes doesn’t stop there. Cook 44 is a local blog written by a band of Italian friends. Passionate about their culture and cuisine, these guys aren’t just handy with the pen, but with the pan, offering cookery classes and a private chef service.
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