James was a pleasure as a host and a teacher! He is not only an amazing chef but he loves to host. He warmly welcomed us, showed us how to make pizza and let us be social amongst friends. Felt like our own kitchen. I would highly recommend. read more

CookWithJames - Gluten free pizza - Cooking Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great experience provided in an intimate setting. James is knowledgeable and great to talk to. Pasta course was fun to make and delicious. read more

CookWithJames - Pasta Making - Cooking Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

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In an article published in January of this year, Chronicle Staff Writer Janine DeFao wrote "Culinary speakeasies ... are popping up in cities in the Bay Area and beyond, across the country and around the world. Part of the thrill, of course, is the hipness factor, the ego-inflating I-know-something-or-somebody-you-don't-know feeling that comes with being on a VIP list." So naturally, when the opportunity for me to eat at one of these "homegrown supper clubs" arrived I jumped at the chance, particularly since my friend and former colleague, James Stolich, was at the helm. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the beautiful San Francisco flat James lives and cooks in. After a tour of their home, I joined James in the kitchen to watch him in action as he prepared a six course meal for twelve. His marble counter and timeless appliances are the stuff self-professed epicureans like me dream about (while living in studio apartments with little counter space and undersized refrigerators.) Having known James in a primarily professional capacity (we worked together at a UK-based digital business consultancy during the height of the dot com boom) it was a joy to see he's as adept at cooking as he is as an interactive producer. The crowd on Friday night was as eclectic as it was international. As Pia is from Italy, the Italians were well-represented. Other folks hailed from a variety of exotic locales including Queens, Atlanta, Romania and France. While some folks congregated at the table, others mingled in the kitchen either helping James or quizzing him on his preparations. The night began with champagne and appetizers which included prosciutto and roasted cashews with olive oil, sea salt and lime. The subsequent six courses were wonderfully prepared, seasonally appropriate and above all, delicious! From the burrata cheese and golden beet salad to the restaurant-worthy sweet tomato gazpacho and the handmade gnocchi, I was thoroughly impressed at every turn. If you're growing bored of the restaurant scene or just want to try something new, I highly recommend Cook With James. read more

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A while back I took one of Chef James' paella classes. I was fortunate to be with a great group of mostly strangers who were a true delight, full of questions and enthusiasm. The experience was a fun one, I had a great time. Chef James loves talking about his travels and how he arrived at his particular recipe, and even gave us a freebie recipe! The only reason I didn't give more stars is because ultimately the food wasn't edible. It was far far far too saffron-intense for me. I have never made paella before so I figured I'd trust the generous amount of saffron suggested but wow wow wowie. If you make the dish, I'm not kidding, in all seriousness, 1-2 HAIRS is more than enough. Don't add the generous pinches. Oof! read more

Unlike many other meatballs in the restaurant, the savoury tradition meatball dish that we had with Chef James was authentic and made from very fresh ingredients (only the best hand picked ) that makes it extremely enjoyable - one that you cannot miss if you haven't already tried it. It leaves a lasting impression on our stomach and minds; we constantly crave for more. At the end, we had the most tasteful blueberry cheesecake that we thoroughly enjoyed. Beyond the food quality, James is a very down-to-earth person who is knowledgeable in his expertise and is warm, patient and friendly. These attributes contributed to our very fun-filled cooking class. He was also very thoughtful in the dinner set up with the candles and music which made the ambience very pleasant and romantic (you could even think of it as a candlelit dinner in the comfort of your own home) I would love to come back to the cooking class with him when I am back to San Francisco, I think our flight of 15 hours from Singapore is all worth it. Bravo to Chef James! I will highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for a dinner party or just a private cooking class! He is THE Chef you are looking for. Too good to say good bye ! Love from Singapore . read more

CookWithJames - Cooking Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Best. Belated. Birthday present. Ever! That's exactly what what I told Miriam after we dove right into the fun and contained chaos in James' kitchen for our team dinner on Sunday evening. Especially considering that my parents had just sent me a five piece Le Creuset set for my birthday less than a week ago, this was perfect timing to learn how to create some carnage with my classy new cookware. James operates out of his gorgeously done-up row house, and his underground supper club/cooking lessons are relaxed, informal, and superbly informative. Joining James here is like settling in at a familiar friend's house you've known for years and immediately being at home. This particular evening's cooking lesson involved a penne carbonara and pork saltimbocca. Everyone donned aprons, washed up, and dove into the making. From slicing the huge hunk of pork shoulder to tenderizing the meat and folding in sage and prosciutto, to breading and frying the saltimbocca, I had the pleasure of participating in all of this. And I loved every second of it. Not only did we get to watch, learn, and make our meal, we consumed it with gusto. With wine. Good wine. Lots of it. And watched James masterfully cut a bottle of bubbly. With a machete. Could this evening -possibly- be any more fun and exciting? Yeah, I know, I'm dorktastic when it comes to food-making. Regardless, everything about the experience -so- SQUEE! If you haven't yet, go. read more

Around October 29th 2011 I wanted to spend a memorable one year anniversary together with my girlfriend Steph. Knowing of her passion for cooking, I started to look for cooking classes taking place in San Francisco and Berkeley that very weekend. Due to Halloween all the popular places hadn't anything on offer, so I was forced to change my plans accordingly. That's when I came accross James' web site and it immediately caught my attention. After exchanging a few email messages about the menu and the payment, the private cooking event was set to happen on the evening of Monday, October 31st. I took my girlfriend to the City without letting her know what she was into - a surprise is only a surprise if your plan stays secret. The GPS guided us to a restaurant nearby of James home to hide all clues from Steph. You should have seen her astonished look when we walked past the restaurant she thought I would take her to for dinner. Instead, I continued uphill into a calm neighbourhood area. Steph must have thought I had become totally crazy when I randomly walked up to the door of one of the houses on the street. Knowing exactly that I had found James home, I rang the doorbell ... James, aware of my visit, got up from the living room sofa, opened the door and let us enter. After an introduction of himself and his background, we went onto a short tour through his appartment. We ended up in his large, professionally equipped kitchen and started to prepare food right ahead, while sipping from our red wine which I had bought earlier that day. At the beginning, we were actively participating, but eventually we let him handle the things while he told us a lot about his experiences in Spain. My girlfriend, curious as she is, got into a lively discussion about anything related to food and James' was able to answer all her questions as well as giving her advice on improving her cooking skills. I'm a huge fan of the Spanish and Mediterranean kitchen, but James showed the both of us how easily you actually can cook awesome tasting, but nevertheless totally healthy food based on just a small set of very simple ingredients. After James had finished each of the course, he filled our plates, took the plates to the living room and left us alone in the beautifully decorated dining room, where I could spend talking privately to my girlfriend while eating the delicious food. Candlelights did the rest! Overall, I can recommend James to any boyfriend who wants to give his girlfriend a very, very special treat which she's going to remember for quite a while. The food James prepared was able to beat a lot of dishes a "professional" cook could have prepared in some moderately priced restaurant. The atmosphere was especially awesome and romantic because we didn't have to share the celebration of our anniversary with dozens of other people crammed into a restaurant. Thank you very much, James - we might be back someday. read more

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I came here last night with some family and friends. I really was not sure what to expect. Even after reading all the reviews, this was something completely different. We walk up and James was very welcoming. We chatted for a little bit and then we started with some appetizers and wine. Started with a few kind of cheeses, crackers, and some roasted chili peppers! Oh man...those were delicious! We headed to the kitchen to learn exactly how Paella is made; rice with chicken and chorizo! FYI ~ did you know true authentic Paella cane take a little over an hour to make?? Who knew!?! So as the night goes on, James was great about showing us the step by step process. Shortly after the hour, we were ready to sit down and enjoy some home-made Paella! Overall, this really was a great experience! We got a bit loud, but that might of been because we finished off 6 bottles of wine, plus has a few drinks beforehand! FYI ~ This event was planned by my brother who found a Yelp Deal...so if this happens to pop up again, I highly recommend you buy it! read more

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Not only is James an amazing chef and teacher, he's an awesome person as well. My boyfriend and I took a small-group pasta-making class in his lovely home and came out with delicious new knowledge and a great experience. His instruction was great, his wine delectable, and the recipe simple yet phenomenal (the best kind!). We even still keep in touch! Highly, highly recommend taking one of his cooking courses to learn how to make fantastic food and enjoy his company. read more

After scouring the internet for a good cooking class in the city for a bachelorette party, I finally decided to go with James. He was very accommodating to our food requests and curated a menu perfect for our tastebuds. We were all extremely pleased with our experience. If you are looking for a private cooking experience in a beautiful San Francisco home look no further. The bulk of our cooking experience was making fresh pasta from scratch. Our group of 6 had a go at the dough and we even customized our pasta to stretch 5 ft long. James was a good sport about it. He introduced us to tiny green peppers that tasted amazing after roasting and prepared a charcuterie with a delicious selection of cheeses. Our first meal was a tagliatelle dish with the most amazing tasting mushrooms ever! With our second meal being wild salmon that was simple to prepare but tasted like hours in the kitchen. For dessert we had Spanish cheesecake that we raved about wanting to replicate. But due to the time limitations we did not get to experience baking the dessert - that would have easily made the 3 hour class to a 5 hour class. Overall the experience was phenomenal. From getting our hands dirty, to watching a real life cooking show. He shared his ability to make the simplest things taste better than what you would have at gourmet restaurant. James made this bridal event entertaining and fulfilling... For our tummies read more

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This was my first time at a CookWithJames cooking class. It won't be my last! The food was great. The people were fun. I think the fact that we all were involved in the making of the food made it all the more delicious! We made carbonara with guanciale and prosciutto, and saltimboca. It was phenomenal! James is incredibly knowledgeable about food--especially Italian food. All the ingredients are organic and of the highest quality. The paired wines were also delicious and well-balanced. We began with a cabernet sauvignon and ended up with sancerre; both complimented the food well. I especially appreciate how easy and relaxed everything was. It was like going into a friend's home and helping him cook. Everything was easy and fun. I can definitely go home and make those recipes again. The class was SUCH a good deal. For $50 I got to eat a fabulous meal, socialize with other foodies and cooking enthusiasts, and I got to see first hand how to make these great Italian dishes that I've always loved! read more

CookWithJames - saltimboca - Cooking Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

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When I saw this deal it sounded like fun, and I thought I could learn some things. I invited my sister and son. My sister and I are accomplished cooks, and my son is interested in learning. We chose the Italian meal. It included carbonara and saltimbocca both of which we have made at home many times. But James's take was different. He used chunks of pancetta WAY bigger than I ever have, and I was worried about the fattiness. And he added a little pasta water to the sauce before mixing in the eggs. The result was a thinner coating on the pasta, which made for a lighter dish--very good. Oh and the pancetta fat--give me more!! I didn't notice it a bit. We usually make saltimbocca with veal or chicken, but I really like the pork version. Cheaper than veal and moister and tastier than veal or chicken. The big lesson here was how he browned the pork for that beautiful crust. And how he finished the second side. Quickly sautéed chard and kale veggies were a treat. I'd recommend James to new cooks or seasoned cooks. There is something for everyone to learn-and have fun. Now let me jot down a thick slab of pancetta on my shopping list......... read more

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We cooked with James as part of our work team-building activity, and everyone LOVED it! The experience isn't as hands-on as some of the other schools (e.g., where everyone has their own station) - James kitchen is on the smaller side and we rotated through (for example, while making pasta from scratch). However, everything else made up for it - being at James' home itself created a cozy welcoming vibe. He is an excellent cook, the food is beyond delicious and shared a lot of tips and tricks with everyone in the group. He was easy to work with from the very beginning, truly wanting to understand our goals, dietary restrictions (we had plenty of those:) and went above and beyond to create a fun afternoon for us. I'd highly recommend his classes! read more

At some point in my life I want to be one of those dames that throws a mean dinner party. I want to be able to say to my guests "see all this gourmet loveliness that you are about to feast on, that was all whipped up by yours truly aka moi." However, seeing as how I don't cook that scenario is a long way off. Still an amazing dinner party where I helped make the food, is totally possible, thanks to James. James is the mastermind behind an underground supper club and this event space/dinner party extraordinaire experience. I along with my fellow East Coasters arrived at James' picture perfect abode which is btw straight out of a magazine or a Bravo reality TV show. He greeted us warmly, gave us a quick tour of his home, and then led us into the kitchen to present our assignment/menu. After all this is a cooking class/dinner party hybrid. That night James had planned an Italian meal with penne carbonara and pork saltimbocca ( with a name like jump in mouth, imagine how yummy that is). We listened carefully to the instructions and then stepped out to watch James saber a champagne bottle... ahhhh what a start to a great night. Bottles of wine were also popped open and we took our turns prepping the saltimbocca. Yes, even I helped, ah the proud moments of my culinary beginnings. We were then able to enjoy our delectable hard work, some folks gladly asked for seconds. It was one of those dinner parties were conversation and the vino flow and everyone seems to be having a lovely time. If I lived in San Francisco I'd be hosting a dinner here at least once a month, not to mention I'd probably want to host brunches and book club dinners there. James is an amazing host. He speaks Italian and Spanish and can explain food in a really fascinating way, often giving entire stories about the organic eggs or the Spanish style prosciutto. Even the music he played off his iPod was good. This dinner was the perfect ending to a Sunday night. read more

Crush #230989: Underground supper clubs. Not that I really knew what they were prior to cooking with James, just that I had heard of their mystique and always wanted to be a part of one. At James' abode, with my fellow east coast loves, I got a taste of the good life. Pork saltimbocca, pasta carbonara, and bubbly de-corked via saber: this is the high-end life I'd very much like to lead on a more regular basis. Even for only one night, I loved the experience. Being able to take the driver's seat (even if only for just a bit) on creating a truly wonderful meal was a unique and memorable experience. My mastery of cookies and cream cupcakes is just about all I've got to proclaim in the cooking world, but in James' hands I felt like I could do anything. Chocolate souffles ain't got nothin on me! read more

I hate to be the first one of 4 star rating, but oh well, that's just me. The experience was unique and felt different than other nights out on town. We didnt know who would be the other 8 guests last Saturday night, which contributed to the excitement. We arrived on the stormy night around 8 ish and started with some prosecco, prosciutto, and salami in the living room (the salami was amazing). Conversation was a little stilted as 10 random people came together for the start of a long evening together. There were two couples who were great fun - and with more and more wine, we ventured into some open dialog and stories! The courses started off with the salad of burrata and beets. There was A LOT of burrata -- and it was GOOD. Other courses, not in order, consisted of osso bucco (I think), bruschetta with mushrooms (very tasty), a pasta, tongue (I snuck into the kitchen and saw Francois cutting the tongue) and one other main with a nonsweet dessert. Everyone brought wine and the table shared all of them (I am not sure if James pulled any wine except for the prosecco - this policy should be clarified since through this site and others are mixed whether or not wine is provided or not). It felt a little pricy for a 6-7 course tasting menu (MASA's tasting menu is like $110) but the food was plentiful and company was funny. We had some post-dinner laughs about some of the evening's interactions. It was great for its novelty, but I probably wont return. I do recommend it though! I take it back, I may try it again in another 6 months or so, and might stack the deck and bring along others... read more

Cook with James....means I was going to COOK with James?? NOT! He was an amazing guy..don't get me wrong. Very sweet. He brought some of the best ingredients for the dinner....I'm picky when it comes to choosing meats, cheeses and he was good with his selection. What was not good was his selection of the menu. It was average...which didn't require a whole lot of cooking to begin with. I had pasta carbonara, saltimbocca with chard both of which had pounds of butter it it...really you need to bathe collards in butter too?? Too greasy for my taste. Desert was good but it was prepared beforehand....no fun;-( I don't think I would recommend this place. It's better to just enjoy a gourmet dinner in a fancy restaurant for that price since I didn't get to cook myself at all. read more

Bought a Yelp deal and took my boyfriend. Since we were coming up from LA, he was really accommodating about finding a good day for us to come, since we had to plan further in advance. James is really nice and definitely knows his way around the kitchen. I loved asking him questions, from ingredients to kitchen tools. He taught us how to make simple dishes that I can't wait to make again at home! James gets the best ingredients and if you're living in SF, definitely ask him where he gets his groceries from. We had a nice time watching him cook and sipping on some wine, and he also let us get our hands dirty and prep part of the meal. I must say, he bought the BEST prosciutto I've ever had in my life... When each dish was done cooking, my boyfriend and I ate in the dining room and ate while he kept an eye on the kitchen. I'd love to come back to cook with James, perhaps when he hosts a bigger session with more people! read more

The look on my girlfriend's face as we walked up to James' house for a surprise cooking class was PRICELESS. She had no idea what we were doing at this random house on Masonic, and when an unfamiliar man answered the door she looked horrified. She wouldn't even walk up to the house! That horror quickly transformed into excitement, however, as we got the appetizers underway for our rustic Italian ravioli dinner. I cannot recommend this guy highly enough - he's very professional and we had so much fun learning how to make a deceptively simple ravioli dish from scratch. His renovated kitchen is a pretty incredible work-space and his home is clean and comfortable. read more

Two weeks ago, I made one of the best decisions that I've made in a while - I booked a date to bring my 11-person team to James' home for an evening of cooking and conversation! I have to admit, I was not 100% certain that this night would turn out well - I take the planning of my team outings very seriously because I know that a few things must be NAILED DOWN in order to make a strong team bonding experience: 1) the team needs to feel like they're in a comfortable setting, 2) the team needs to be doing something unique and interesting and 3) there needs to be some level of collaboration. This night was all of this, and then some! Immediately upon arrival, James greeted us at the door and walked us into his BEAUTIFUL naturally lit home. His home is one of the most beautiful homes that I have had the privilege to walk into in San Francisco. We walked in, put our things down, and were brought into his living room, where Gretchen, his girlfriend, served us a tray of delicious appetizers - peppers, cheeses, and sausages of some sort. My team immediately picked up on the energy and warmth of the home and the environment, a perfect setting for an 11 person team to sit down, chat, drink some wine, and spend some time bonding. A few members of the team left the group and entered the kitchen, where James and Gretchen gave them the opportunity to get a little hands on in learning how to make hand-made pasta. When that portion of the night ended, we were then welcomed into the dining room, at which time James and Gretchen sectioned off the dining room for the rest of us to enjoy our courses. The food was great, the cheese/flan dessert was delicious, and my team was able to experience a very memorable and enjoyable night. I would highly recommend this experience with James for a large team interested in doing something unique for the night. While I do wish that we were more hands-on when it comes to making the food, it was a very warm and enjoyable night nonetheless. The next day at work was amazing - the entire team didn't stop expressing how much they enjoyed the night before, and it was clear that everyone became much closer as a result. Thank you James and Gretchen for such a fabulous night! read more

Once again, standing ovation for Cook With James. This time we were at this very cool venue in North Beach called CookHouse (go to Cookhousesf.com to see their gorgeous space). Our friends also used James for their wedding rehearsal dinner. Definitely the most unique wedding rehearsal we've ever been too. James' knowledge is excellent. His rapport fantastic. And the food magnificent. It doesn't get any better than this. Thanks James!! read more

Had a team event at James' and thought it was lovely. A few of us who like to cook wished for a more hands on experience (I would say for a larger group, hands on might be too tight) but the surrounding, food, James' personality was just really fun. Hoping to come back with my husband. read more

"My compliments to the chef!" Never have these words had so much meaning, because when you Cook With James, one of the chefs is James. The other is you. James is a talented and passionate chef who has worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant Quince in San Francisco, among other establishments in America and in Europe. His sense of earned confidence and skill in his well-appointed kitchen is palpable. But the Cook With James experience resonates because he shares that sense of confidence and skill with you, making you feel like the most complicated-looking and delicious dishes are well within your reach to prepare. I'm a novice chef. So my girlfriend bought me a private Cook With James session for my birthday. At first I was nervous about whether I'd be able to keep up. Let me tell you what we made: Baby artichoke pasta in cream sauce, Grilled sardines, and Pork Saltimbocca. I would never have tried any of these on my own. But being in the kitchen with James, it was as if he had pulled back the curtain and demonstrated that there's no magic to it. Good ingredients, simple steps, a lot of tasting along the way. I feel like I could replicate those three dishes easily. And here's the best part. My girlfriend had asked for a bit of knife skills to be included in the session. To accommodate, James chose dishes that incorporated knife skills in creative ways: de-boning the sardines (!), trimming the baby artichokes, and slicing the pork. And that's what makes this experience so different. James is not there to impress you with his cooking skill. Nor is he there to tell you what to do. James shares a love of cooking WITH you, and shows you what that means. In an age of celebrity chefs and frantic displays of cooking prowess, it's refreshing to meet to meet a real person who cooks with love, and inspires that in others. My girlfriend and I will be going back, and bringing friends. read more

James creates a unique and wonderful dining experience for his clients. I think James is amazing: knowledgeable, funny, interesting, committed to creating a community that honors and recognizes quality food, and his take on the standard dinner party is brilliant. I went with a friend with a Bloomspot deal, and will book again. The wine he chose was fantastic, the paella was delicious, and the whole conversation was interesting and fun. I will definitely book again and this time without a coupon. He is that worth it. read more

James made my birthday a success on many levels. I had done extensive research prior to speaking to James. From the moment I contacted him, he was personable and understanding of my needs. He suggested a menu, we discussed, made some changes and off we were. Prior to the event James was extremely responsive and had great follow up which I appreciated greatly. As for the event itself, it was by far one of my most memorable birthday's to date. James did an excellent job of decorating the table, welcoming us all into his beautiful home and preparing an exquisite meal (loved the chocolate truffles :-)). My friends loved it because it was much more intimate than dining out, yet had the sophistication of a top notch meal and best part is none of us had to clean up afterwards. My friends still tell me what a great time they had. If I had to do it over again I would do exactly the same way. Thanks James! read more

I'm giving this review because I think James is very nice and I had a lovely time and met some lovely people. The ravioli was delicious and surprisingly easy to make.. I was also really impressed my husband planned this Valentine's Day surprise to support my new love of cooking. I'm surprised to see mostly positive reviews and wonder if I'm being over critical or maybe James had an off night. The lower rating is to be totally honest about the design of the experience. When something says it goes from 6-9 - we really hope it does and that we're not eating the main course at 9:30 followed by a salad very confusing as salad should be served before or at least with your pasta. The event was supposed to a max of 10, but it was 12 and felt crammed. The time took longer because James cleaned between each part vs planning for next step. Dishes should have been cleaned after we left and salad could have easily been prepared by half the group so we could eat a bit before dinner. I tried hinting at this several times but he kept saying salad is after... maybe is that the traditional Italian order of courses and I'm oblivious to that? Not sure... all I know is I was starving and exhausted by dinner time. Desserts could have been plated before we arrived if weren't going to be part of the cooking. He also didn't explain what dessert was until we asked.. also no coffee or tea with dessert despite the fancy espresso machine. Oh and the water pitcher was so tiny - my poor husband was refilling it constantly throughout the night. I hate to write such a negative review but I truly hope this changes because there is potential and as all the other reviewers have mentioned the food is delicious and James is lovely. He just needs help with service design. read more

Dinner at James was FANTASTIC!!! it was the first time for me to try the supper club deal. and james and pia definitely made it great and unforgettable!!! we walk in without knowing what to expect but the atmosphere and food were so incredible that we were speechless. and hands down its one of the best dining experience i ever had. dinner included 8 dishes. (included dessert) perfect portion and has variety of different food and flavor. spoiled the great experience but like the other yelper said, if you are true food lover, you gotta try this, james cook with the freshest ingredient and the uses top quality of food.. bottom line.. you must try!!!! and you will love it!!! read more

This is a wonderful evening with a small group of friends or just a loved one! I can't wait to go back and do the Italian meal. We did the Spanish Paella this time. Photos of what we made and ate can be viewed here: http://eatsporkjew.com/recipes/seafood-paella-recipe/ read more

Everything promised and more. Great food, beautiful home, James and Alejandra became instant old friends. We were missing a couple "ingredients" for the libations, and magically a bottle of vermouth appeared in my hands. Thanks, James! In summary, your only disappointment will be the wait until your next visit.. read more

I have known James for three years and have attended his cooking classes and dinners and wine dinner pairings. Every single time I join his dinner groups, the food is fantastic, the wines are good and the company was above par in every way - from James' staff to the invitees. STUNNING PEOPLE AND FOOD. I recommend James as a chef, teacher and an excellent and fair business man. I have experienced this side of James when we hosted a dinner in my own home for his clients. Hire James as a chef, teacher or researcher and writer of food and wine related business. He has the credentials and the ability read more

Overall, I felt that James could have spent more time explaining and "teaching". The night we went, James was with his girlfriend who is also his assistant. She is extremely friendly but I felt that she stole the show. As much as I loved to hear her life story, I paid to learn how to cook the dish. Sometimes I felt like he was about to speak but then his girlfriend would enter into another conversation topic and he would just shut up until the next step of the cooking process. In the end, the entire cooking process was NOT hands on. In fact, we had very little to do with the dishes served that night and were promised to have the recipes emailed to us instead (again probably because he didn't have a chance to ever tell us the recipe while he was cooking) I prefer to have some hands on portion...even if it's just chopping ingredients. If you like to have a nice meal served to you by nice friendly people (think of it like a restaurant but with the recipes emailed to you after), then this is your place. If you prefer to actually learn how to make Spanish food, I'd suggest you go somewhere else. read more

Just redeemed my Yelp deal at "CookwithJames". I would have given him 3 stars for the deal itself if it weren't for the two issues listed in subsequent paragraphs. The wine James provided was excellent as was the music on his iPod. James and his kitchen and dining area are pleasant. The food is so so. I have had better and worse. We were uninterested enough that we didn't take home the rest of the pork saltimbocca even though we'd eaten less than half of what we prepared. Obviously we didn't take home what was left of the pasta. In spite of the title, you will not be cooking with James. You will be watching him and, if you have the Roman dinner, the only thing you will do is pound the pork for the pork saltimboca, add the prosciutto and sage and fold it over. The rest of the time you will watch James and chat with him about where he buys his provisions. I have two further complaints with my dealings with James. The first complaint concerns his cancelling our first appointment. We had made the date on August 6th for Friday Sept. 16th. I had made it clear to James in my emails that scheduling was a problem since my partner works evenings. On Tues. Sept. 13th in the evening I sent James an email reconfirming and asking what time we should be at his house. The next day (Wed.) at noon, not having heard back I resent the email. Over 24 hours after the initial email I heard back as follows "I was supposed to come back today but there was a terrible accident (a bridge collapsed on 15 cars and trapped people) happened at the border. I was not able to cross and missed my flight. I've decided to extend my stay in Mexico through the weekend and so unfortunately will need to reschedule our Friday dinner. I am very sorry to do this but the border situation is going to be a mess for the next few days and I'm enjoying the family time" The collapse happened at 10:45 in the morning on Wednesday and (according to the NYTimes) travellers were redirected to a bridge/crossing 5 miles east so James could easily have gotten back in plenty of time for our appointment. All news reports are that by the next morning both crossings were moving smoothly. I write this because while James is entitled to run his business as he sees fit, his potential clients are entitled to know exactly how conscientious he will be about their appointments with him. My second complaint involves James' request for tips. and not just that, but tips based on a certain amount. I was taught that you tip employees (like waiters or massage therapists in a spa) but not business owners because employees do not get to set their own pay, whereas business owners can charge what they think their services are worth. James reminded me in his email a few hours before our appointment that "per the Yelp deal gratuity is not included and while of course optional is certainly appreciated". The Yelp deal, obviously written by James, says one should tip based on the total value of the deal ($215) and not the discounted value ($130). We did as requested and tipped on the whole value but, frankly, it left a bad taste in my mouth, and based on my two complaints plus the mediocrity of the food I coudn't recommend using James' services. read more

I had a wonderful time cooking with James last evening. James is truly a chef par excellence. Right from the experience of being in his fabulous kitchen to learning all about mushrooms, the theme for the evening, and eating the delicious goodies was sheer joy. Chef James demonstrated his mastery of techniques with ease and aplomb. Truly wonderful! read more

We celebrated a friend's 30th birthday here last year and it was such a great experience. Granted, some of us didn't actually 'cook'....which was nice for me because I learned recipes and didn't have to do anything! The birthday girl did most of the cooking per her request, so it was a win-win. Great ingredients, easy but elegant dishes, and great wine pairings. This is such a great alternative to the standard dining out experience in SF. Also, James is a super nice host and his house is something to be quite envious of. read more

to start, i had a hard time scheduling a time to do our cooking class, which was a bit frustrating. at times, it seemed our email communications were going into the ether because i had to follow up several times in order to get answers about the menu for the evening, where to be, what time, etc. since i'd gotten a yelp deal, i could understand that his schedule might be pretty full accommodating other guests. the cooking class itself was really fun and enjoyable. james is very knowledgable and a warm host. he showed us some tips and tricks that we still talk about and the food was wonderful - we were so happy to have leftovers to enjoy over the next few days. that being said, i was pretty disappointed with the follow-up. he said he was going to email us the recipes for what we made that night but i never heard from him again. after all of the back and forth just getting the night we went to happen, i didn't have the energy to beg him for them. i understand that people get busy and all, but if this is a full-time or even a side business, this seems pretty basic. 1) have a great cooking class, 2) send out recipes, thank guests for coming, encourage them to come back so you can repeat process. we'd told friends about the class and they sounded interested to the point that i was considering a group class for all of us, but the lack of follow-up has made me pretty reticent. read more

I went as a single to James' last dinner and had the BEST time. I love eating delicious food and had a dear friend who would indulge me with fantastic meals at Aqua and Farralon (sp?) and the like...but then my friend had the bad taste to up and die on me so no more fine food for moi. Until dinner with James! This meal was easily as good as any I've had, from the food to the wine to the company. The other guests were all so interesting, I wished I'd had more of a chance to get to talk to more people. I did get to sit next to Ria, James' sweetheart, and had a delightful conversation with her. I am looking forward to the next one! read more

It was our 6th anniversary and my wife asked me to take her somewhere where it would knock her tastebuds out! I think James did the trick and made my wife work for it as well! We had fun making little pepper poppers, carbinara pasta, saltimbocca pork and dessert was already made for us. it was a very fun intimate night for us. well done! read more

Absolutely great experience. James is a good teacher and very knowledgeable with respect to the cuisine we were preparing. He's also a good guy with lots of entertaining stories. Our menu was the paella, which was absolutely delicious. This dish has not become a favorite for my wife and me. He was able to adjust to the dietary restrictions my wife and I have, and the dishes still came out perfectly. This is definitely something we would do again, and we would consider having another class with James. read more

For our 7th anniversary, I was looking for something unique for us to enjoy. Being that we have a 20 month old, I knew that we would be getting away for the weekend, and heading to San Francisco is a perfect little get away. Knowing my wife's passion for Italian food, I thought it would be a blast to learn a few tricks from an expert that we could take home with us. That is where James came in. Contacted James about 3 weeks in advance, and setup the night. Made a few changes to the courses along the way as my wife read the menus and picked out the dishes she wanted to learn. James was very flexible, and even agreed to a change the day before. When we got there, James was very accommodating. We both wanted to learn, and James allowed us to be very hands on. Every dish, we had our hand in from the very beginning. He was a great teacher, in that he would demonstrate a technique, and then allow each of us to attempt what he demonstrated, or if we didn't want to do that, he would have just done it for us. I got the feeling that some folks don't want the hands on experience, but that is definitely not my wife and I. The meal was spectacular, with each course unique and delicious. We truly gained confidence in our abilities, and will be utilizing the recipes we worked on, and probably try a few more that James has posted on his site as well. Overall, the evening was fantastic, and I would highly recommend James if you are looking for culinary experience. read more

We spent a delightful morning learning how to make paella - James was great and full of good suggestions on technique, we really enjoyed ourselves and learned a lot. Thank you James. read more