Cooking class as a gift

I've taken great classes and given them as a gift at Institute of Culinary Education on W 23rd in Manhattan. They have an extensive selection of recreational classes, as well as a professional program. The classes are great fun, and definitely worth the price.

http://www.iceculinary.com/

Its also great to give to young kids. One of my son's favorite Christmas gifts was a gingerbread house making class at ICE. I have given it as a gift a few times and it has always been extremely well received.

I have sent my husband to ICE (knife skills) on the advice of another friend who did a thing where you go with a group of friends, learn and make a dinner and then eat it. Sounds like fun.

Just got an email last week from Abigails that they have a lot of great sounding classes -- http://www.camaje.com/CAMAJE Cooking Classes Winter 2010 Schedule_.pdf

Subject: Cooking Classes

I think that Brooklyn Kitchen is a far less expensive, far more intimate experience than FCI or ICE. Plus, it's nice to support local, Brooklyn businesses, right?

I've been looking into this as well lately. The Brooklyn Kitchen classes sound great but there are also some I'm really interested in at the Astor Center. They also have some booze classes that sound fun.

http://www.astorcenternyc.com/series-hands-on-education.ac

I just wanted to chime in and say I've done two classes at Brooklyn Kitchen now and will definitely go back for more. The classes were both small--about 18 people--so I could ask all of my questions and actually get up and see things (like color changes).

I did the sourdough class and the cupcake class (I wanted to learn the Robicelli's frosting technique). I grew up with parents who bake breads and cakes (both self-taught) and am pretty comfortable with this stuff, but I still learned a ton in both classes plus they have a nice shop with kitchen gadgets, grains, and a small meat counter.

I thought the sourdough class at BK (http://www.thebrooklynkitchen.com/calendar-of-classes-and-events/) was great. They instructor covered all the basics and then some on bread making. They sometimes have other types of bread classes, like focaccia.