We had the most memorable evening at Chef Stephanie Chinchilla's chef's table. The experience was…read moreintimate, warm, and beautifully executed from start to finish...every dish told a story and every detail felt intentional. We began with the Aji tuna on crispy rice, topped with a delicate sliver of jalapeño and crispy shallots, a perfect balance of freshness, spice, and crunch. The second course was Stefanie's famous focaccia...one sweet and one savory. The savory version featured parmesan, her homemade bread and butter, pickles from her garden, and a touch of mustard seed. The bread, made simply with flour, water, and salt, takes two to three days to create. The sweet focaccia was equally impressive, topped with brie, honey, and a guava jam made from her own garden-grown guavas... truly special. Next came the sweet potato course, made from her garden's harvest and paired with roasted pine nuts and coconut-shaved gnocchi in brown butter. The flavors were rich yet comforting, and the presentation was artistic and thoughtful. The main course... short ribs with a stunning potato gratin, was a showstopper. The short ribs were tender and deeply flavorful, garnished with delicate edible flowers from her garden, while the gratin was layered beautifully and topped with a fragrant chimichurri. Dessert was one of the best I've ever had: a sticky toffee date cake with a caramel apple sauce made from apples in her garden, served with raw cream vanilla bean ice cream. The balance of warmth, sweetness, and texture was perfection. The wine pairings, thoughtfully curated by Oscar from Sequoia Grove Winery, elevated the entire experience, from the velvety Merlot to the bold Cabernet, every sip complemented the food flawlessly. What makes Chef Stefanie so special is her warmth and authenticity. She shares her passion for food and where it comes from in a way that's engaging and educational, never pretentious. She spends time presenting each dish beautifully, with an artist's eye and a chef's heart. Her artistry, attention to detail, and genuine love for her craft come through in every course. I'll absolutely be attending her future chef's table events, a beautiful evening of intentional cooking, soulful flavors, and gracious hospitality.

I can't speak highly enough of the incredible experiences we've had with Stephanie Chinchilla. She…read morecatered our daughter's graduation party, she catered an intimate COVID birthday dinner, and we've taken several cooking classes from her over the years. For Christmas one year, my husband gave me the gift of her recipes. Every experience is top-drawer, from the incredible food, the personal touches, the elegant yet casual atmosphere she creates around every event. Her entire staff has been wonderful. After every event, people flock to us and ask for her number. She's Orange County's number one best kept culinary secret.

It was an amazing experience. We had a lot of fun and everything you need for the cake is provided…read moreto you.

Parking situation: huge lot with other shops nearby!…read more Very clean space and well organized! The staff are there to assist with certain portions of the baking process, but otherwise it's hands off which is super nice. I've come on two separate occasions, and both times had a blast! They have different levels of difficulty, and the prices are not bad at all! Would recommend to anyone looking to spend a few hours doing something

I was nervous about signing up for the home cook course, felt vulnerable in a new environment in…read morewhich I had no skills or training in. I can't recommend this beginner course enough. Even after the 1st day my meals at home were suddenly consistent and significantly better. 12 weeks later and I am confidently relaxed in my kitchen. I enjoy the ease that I feel now; from preparing dinner, menu planning, temp control, and little tips you just can't learn on google. Learning in person from Chef Jason and Chef Ben with a group of funny, eager, and caring adults has really shaped how I can give back to my family. This was the common denominator for all the students in our course. We wanted to learn a new skill to share with the ones we care about most, our families. "I haven't made a sh**** meal since day one of this course" - quote from my fiancé Take the leap and invest in yourself and your family plus laughing about it along the way is always a plus.

I am a home cook that wanted to deeper dive into cooking and to learn some new skills. I had a…read moregreat experience in the beginner cooking class at Culinary lab. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The class covered all the bases of what you could learn in a beginners cooking class. From potion, to fish, to veggies, to knifes skills it is a good balance. The pace was not too fast but not too slow. We would learn about a subject, watch the chef cook it and then do it ourselves. I really liked my chef instructor explained things thoroughly but not overly controlling. One of the best parts is you got to take your a recipe sheet home with everything you learned that day and the food that you made, my husband and my kids always loved that. Over all it was a great experience and I will be back for more classes!

Fantastic experience! Love Sarah's enthusiasm and skills!…read moreDelicious pad Thai and red curry that I will make again. We will be back!

We had an amazing class with Sara for her thai food night! Everything was prepped as we did the…read moreHipCooks mini 2 hour class but it was great! We learned the seasonings and flavors and got to enjoy our food after. Highly recommnd for date night or just a solo adventure

Great Food, But the Experience Needs Work!…read more My boyfriend and I attended a Sur La Table hands-on cooking class, and overall, the menu and food were great. Everything we made turned out really well, and the concept is fun. That said, there were a couple things that took away from the experience. First, be prepared to stand the entire time, including while eating. After about two hours of cooking, you're still standing while trying to enjoy your meal. By the end, I was honestly just ready to leave and ended up rushing through eating. Second, and more importantly, we were paired with another couple, making it a group of four. Meanwhile, other couples were not paired up. This meant we had to share tasks and the experience, even though we paid the same price. We came to cook, not to watch another couple cook part of our meal. For the price, I would expect a more consistent and fair setup across all groups. Sur La Table has a great concept and great food, but the experience could definitely be improved.

I took the Handmade Holiday Treats class at Sur La Table and it completely exceeded my…read moreexpectations. In just two hours, we somehow managed to make fudge, marshmallows, caramel turtles, and bark--which still feels a little unreal. Jessica was AMAZING. She kept an almost full class organized, on schedule, and stress-free while making sure nothing went wrong (no small feat when working with hot sugar). Her passion for what she does is obvious, and she shared so many helpful tips along the way. I'm comfortable in the kitchen, but this class reminded me there's always something new to learn. Huge thanks to Sur La Table for a fantastic experience, and an even bigger thank-you to Jessica for making us all look like pros by the end. Would absolutely take another class with her!

If you're intimidated about making a sourdough starter or sourdough bread, then you need to take…read morethis class. Taleen simplifies the entire process so it feels totally doable. We actually made our own starter and mixed up a loaf to take home and bake the next day. She demonstrates each step clearly and then has everyone follow along, so you never feel lost. She also provides all the tools and ingredients, which makes it easy to just show up and learn. The class is relaxed, informative, and perfect for beginners. I highly recommend for anyone who's been wanting to try sourdough but might feel overwhelmed by "feeding" your starter; Taleen has a simple process for this to allow us time to get used to the art of making sourdough. I'm so glad I took this class, I left with the confidence and knowledge to take care of my starter and continue to make my own sourdough at home.

I attended a sourdough bread making workshop and was very impressed with Thaleen's knowledge,…read morepatience and friendly demeanor. She took time to explain each step of making sourdough from beginning to end and had no problem any and all questions, even when certain individuals interrupted her instruction, she was patient and gently went back to teaching. I had fun as well. I am looking forward to a workshop for advanced bakers.

We celebrated our friend's birthday party to learn how to make Sushi with Kate. Great time! Love it.read more

We booked Kate for a private sushi class for Valentine's Day. Spectacular experience. Kate came to…read moreour home and brought all the necessary ingredients and equipment. She kindly and patiently explained each fish, preparation, and technique. She even brought her own home made sauces and ingredients - including a delicious chocolate cake for dessert. We enjoyed her company, her instruction, and especially the food! Could not recommend her more highly.

Our chef, Anthony, was great. He showed us how to make an Italian menu, and we both learned some…read moregood tips. Unfortunately we stood for two hours during the class. By the time all was cooked and ready, we were given a plate and a paper towel w/ utensils. There was a small water cooler where you could serve yourself in 2 oz. paper cups. No seats for eating! Who eats standing up--especially when you've spent all this time cooking a lovely meal!!?? Very disappointed about that. We had 15 minutes to eat, standing up, and they were already cleaning up for the next class. We paid $208.00 for the two of us. Too bad they could not make it more classy. A chance to sit down, take our time to enjoy the meal, and even have a glass of wine would have been lovely. NEVER AGAIN.&

I booked a Private pasta making class for 2 , as a Father's Day gift to my husband. I paid, and…read morenever received a confirmation for the date requested, which was a couple weeks after. After a 5 day wait, I called to find out the status, and was told the chef was not answering, and that they'll get back to me in a few minutes. They never did. I reached up to them two more times that week with the same reply, and no follow up. On the last attempt I was suggested to change the class to something else, which, of course, I did not; and cancelled the whole thing.

I took a macaron class here today and had a great experience! The instructor provided clear step by…read morestep instructions that were easy to follow. What I really appreciated was how thorough it was, because I feel confident I can recreate what I learned at home. I know other cooking classes have a lot more pre-prepped steps, so this made all the difference. Highly recommend it!

We were sooo disappointed!! Nothing like when I went back in 2018. Learn nothing, was not giving…read morerecipes to follow?And no explanations why we were doing anything. We were just shouted orders .. do this, do that. No reason given. AND 2 of us we made food for 4, so we expected to take home leftovers from our 1/2. NOPE! I think the staff takes it home. Never again.

We had my daughter's 9th birthday at Lil Chef this past weekend, and it was such a hit. The two…read morechefs running the party were awesome--funny, super interactive with the kids, and on top of every detail. They handled things I didn't even realize I didn't have to do--like setting up the goodie bags, cutting and serving the cake, packing leftovers--which meant I actually got to relax and enjoy the party. The kids had a blast making their own pizzas and decorating cupcakes, and the fact that the place comes already decorated with birthday banners and permanent balloons made it even easier. Plus, being able to bring in our own food and drinks (including alcohol!) for the adults was a huge bonus. Everyone kept commenting on what a fun and unique party it was. If you're planning to do goodie bags, I recommend ordering aprons on Amazon instead of buying them from the venue--it's cheaper and makes for a cute party favor. Also, I suggest putting a balloon on the directional signs in the shopping center by Dunkin' Donuts so your guests don't get lost, since it's a bit tricky to get there. Highly recommend Lil Chef if you want a fun, stress-free, and memorable birthday party.

We just celebrated my daughter's 9th birthday at Lil' Chef School, and I have to say, it was the…read moreabsolute best party we've ever hosted. If you're looking for a unique, engaging, and (most importantly) stress-free party venue, look no further! The moment we arrived, the staff was fantastic. They were incredibly friendly, professional, and had everything set up perfectly. They managed a group of twenty 9-year-olds with ease, keeping them entertained, focused, and most importantly, safe while they learned to cook. As a parent, the experience was truly seamless. The instructors handled the entire cooking lesson, kept the flow moving, and then--the biggest win of all--they took care of all the messy cleanup! I was able to relax and enjoy the celebration rather than running around managing logistics. The facility is bright, clean, and perfectly equipped for young chefs. This wasn't just a party; it was a fun, hands-on memory the kids won't stop talking about. Lil' Chef School is an absolute gem, and I highly recommend them for any birthday celebration!