What an amazing experience team building with a cooking class Emily is such a good teacher she is patient and kind taught us the science the aromas and the art of cooking thank you so much for this amazing class and the food was delicious a chefs kiss! read more

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I can't say enough great things about Emily and the class she hosts. I had a tough time finding the right cooking class in San Francisco that balanced quality and budget for my team--and Emily's class exceeded all expectations. She was incredibly accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure my team had the best experience possible. One of my team members is pescatarian and needed dietary accommodations, and Emily handled it seamlessly. That was a huge win! The feedback from my team was overwhelmingly positive: - The food was delicious - They picked up new cooking tips - The vibe of the space and Emily's hosting were top-notch If you're an admin like me or just someone looking for a fun, engaging team activity, I highly recommend booking a class with Emily. You won't be disappointed! read more

So knowledgeable and friendly! Great cooking with a great view of the city. Can't recommend her enough!

We had the best time learning to cook with Emily! We did her cooking class for our friend's bridal shower/bachelorette party. The setting was perfect! What a beautiful loft and kitchen! We munched on an appetizer platter and drank our own wine and champagne while preparing our meal. Emily was easy to work with considering we had one vegan and 2 plant based ladies among us. She has a wide range of menus to choose from. She gave us great tips for cooking as well as buying kitchen products. I highly recommend this cooking class. We are already thinking of having another get together with Emily! read more

Emily rocks and has such patience. Great time and would husky recommend her classes for team building and fun !

Dear Emily, I want to say thank you for your professionalism, for being extremely helpful, and for trying to meet all our needs. I know it's not easy to manage a large group of 17 people. It was a lot of learning, great team building for our team and extremely nice experience. We all had so much fun! Sincerely, Lena read more

First Class Cooking - The Asian style menu was excellent!!! - Cooking Classes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Awesome setting with a view that includes the Salesforce Tower. Fun, casual atmosphere that allows people to participate as much or as little as they want. Lots of cooking practice and information! Delicious, healthy food and best of all, we get the recipes! read more

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For a work outing, we chose to do a cooking class as a way to bond and do something out of the ordinary. The space where the cooking class took place was in a great location but I was a bit thrown off by the fact that it is the chef's personal residence. In addition to that, it wasn't very tidy which made me hesitant to eat/participate because I questioned how sanitary the space was. I can admit that my standards are pretty high when it comes to places where I eat but i think there are basic things any patron would expect when going to a cooking class. Aside from the cleanliness, her recipes were interesting, flavorful, and easy to follow. I also think having smaller groups is key to high particles we had a group of 20 and it was almost impossible for everyone to participate at the same time. read more

I've tried to get into one of these classes 5 times (maybe 4?) now. The last time I tried (for a class that was supposed to be tonight), Emily cancelled less then 24 hours before the class... I guess 4 people dropped out, so it's no longer economical (profitable) for her to have the class. I'm giving up. Emily seems very nice in her emails, so I'm giving 2 stars as opposed to 1. read more

The "hands on cooking class" was a disaster. Chef was completely unprepared, there were no stations set up for participation, we were not given a list of ingredients or recipes, and the food was very basic (at best). The kitchen was a mess and not very clean, and when I asked for extra wine glasses she said "I already put one each out there, I don't know if I have any more" Chef was completely stressed out and did most of the prepping/cooking herself, not very friendly at all, we all felt she just wanted to get it over with. We wouldn't mind paying the high price if she delivered what she promised (I have been to many cooking classes so I know what to expect), but the evening was ridiculous. read more

Booked a private cooking class for a team building event with Emily for 12ppl and it was wonderful! Emily was prompt and accommodating to the requirements of my event and gave us extensive choices for the menu we would prepare! She was very prompt with all pre-event communication making the planning process simple and easy. Throughout the event she gave the group clear instructions and got the entire groups involved with independent stations. And had time to enjoy our dishes at the end of class. Emily was great to work with and I would highly recommend her private classes for team building events! read more

I do not understand these negative reviews at all! I signed up for a cooking class here last minute on Thursday. I sent her a email through her website and she had some last minute cancellations so she was able to fit me and my boyfriends mom in. She sent a very detailed email, even letting me know there was a game going on in the neighborhood and warning parking and traffic might be problematic. So thoughtful! Class started at 6:30 and the other two people who were supposed to be in our class ended up canceling as well so it basically ended up being a private cooking lesson for us two! I felt really bad for Emily though and its a huge pet peeve of mine when people cancel last minute. She took it with grace though! Her apartment is gorgeous and I took so many photos of the view and dining area. My phone was dead on arrival and she got me a charger right away. Because its as just my boyfriends mom and I, the environment felt very casual. It was nice! Felt like we were just hanging out with Emily and were free to wander around and ask all the questions we wanted without worrying if we sounded stupid or not. She had all sorts of super cool gadgets but told us how to recreate everything at home with our own tools. We made an appetizer, side, salad, salmon, and chocolate macaroons. The lentil salad was the best thing I had had in my entire life and I made the recipe again last night! There was a ton of food and we were able to take some to go in recycled to go containers. I am all about being ecofriendly so I loved that! She also had some dessert leftover from her class the night before that we were welcome to try. She had half a beer leftover she used to make bread with that she gave me as well. Not sure why everyone is complaining about the small portions or starving to death. There was food available the entire class and the leftovers tasted great! The class was a great deal at $75/pp and I'm definitely looking forward to taking another one with Emily! read more

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Went to a class with some friends and we all went away having learned some great cooking tips and some new dishes to impress our families with. Really fun time too! We got to be involved at every stage of the cooking process then enjoyed our meal all together. Place was easy to get to and had a beautiful view of the city from the kitchen and dining area. We're talking about going back for a holiday get together. Jenn C. San Francisco read more

Great class/evening event- I came here on a first date. The class ended up being small with only one other couple. Emily is a fantastic chef who clearly knows the ins and outs of cooking. She sports a wealth of knowledge about the ingredients as well as science in the kitchen. She is a great teacher: she takes you through each step and explains how it works in the big picture. She allows you to choose the amount of effort you want to put in. You can contribute as much as you wish. As a novice/very inexperienced cook, it was great to hear the background on everything. Probably my favorite part was learning how to cut an onion properly after seeing chefs perform the "trick" on the food channel for years. She also uses prime ingredients, which make a huge difference in the taste and end product. I highly recommend to anyone who is looking to do something fun, entertaining, and delicious- definitely a fun way to spend a weeknight! Thanks Emily! read more

Known as the nomadic world traveler with an eternally vacant fridge, my friends and loved ones found it nothing short of amazing that I finally decided to pave the road to domestication. As I approach my thirties, I feel nothing short of incompetent for not knowing how to adequately cook or bake, nor sew or decorate for that matter. It's almost New Years; I'll just add my many domestic shortcomings to my other laundry list of resolutions. Gone are the days of eating turkey sandwiches every day for lunch and raisin bran for dinner, this self-proclaimed foodie is desperate to upgrade her lackluster cooking skills. Emily Della, at First Class Cooking, sprung up like a mushroom in a rainstorm giving me the inspiration I was looking for. Emily is a friendly informative teacher who thrives in the comfortable chic and urban environment that is her home. One can't help but get temporarily distracted by the massive panoramic windows highlighting San Francisco's architectural wonders. Whiffs of the luscious spinach soufflé and stuffed chicken baking, however, were enough to whip my head back towards the kitchen. Our private group, which included my grandmother, aunts, and female cousins, prepared an easy and tasty meal composed of a warmed goat cheese salad, chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, prosciutto, fontina, & sage, a spinach soufflé, and peppermint bark. We all took turns slicing, dicing and stirring. It was more of a team effort versus everyone doing their own individual tasks. I didn't mind sharing the counter space or occasionally handing off the fancy kitchen knife to another because it gave me the chance to hone in on the cooking tips Emily was sprinkling here and there. Moreover, it gave me an opportunity to pour me another glass of red! All of the food came out fantastic. Surprisingly, I feel confident enough to make it at home. If you're seeking a kitchen adventure, or are paving your own road to domestication, call Emily. She is bound to start your journey off on the right food. read more

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First off, I'd like to say that I had a wonderful time at last night's Spanish cuisine class! Having worked in the food industry for most of my adult life I never really felt the need to take cooking lessons. Anything I ever needed to know was right in front of me, 5 days a week. Then, what I didn't learn on the job, I'd figure out from watching shows like "Great Chefs of the World" on PBS. (pre-Food Network) With that said, when J asked me if I'd like to join him for this cooking class he'd been looking forward to for month, I jumped at the chance! Spanish cuisine is a favorite of mine, and that was the menu plan of action. The "classroom" is a great space south of Market with a state-of-the-art kitchen, 2 huge refrigerators, a lovely, rustic dining table for 12+, and a view of the City sure to take your breath away. As for Emily, she's charming and her effervescent personality makes for a lively, if somewhat unstructured experience. Since the class was a bit more casual & unstructured (maybe it was just our group?), I'm not sure how beginners would take to it. We had a lively bunch, and once the sangria started flowing, chatter was bouncing off the high ceilings as people peeled off in to groups to socialize as others jumped in and out of actively preparing the food. The products were fresh and delicious; purchased locally and with some sort of story-starting assocition with them. Emily was charming and very informative (thanks for the salt on the garlic tip, lady!). She's traveled the world and her life and professional experiences shine through in her demonstrations. The space was modern and inviting. All the tools from knives to bowls to blenders to stove were top notch! As for my classmates... well, let's just say that once we sat down for dinner, I haven't laughed that hard over a meal in awhile. Everyone was friendly and fun! Would I recommend Emily and her First Class Cooking classes? Absolutely. If you're a beginner, don't be shy asking for direction. I'm sure that Emily will be happy to help. Also, don't come when you're on the wagon. The one thing I regret is not being able to partake in the free flowing wine and sangria. Hey, a girl's gotta have willpower over some things and this week, booze is on my hit list. Guess I picked a bad week to get off the juice! p.s. forgot to mention what we made (duh!!) Roasted Peppers, Machego & Almond Salad Classic Gazpacho Chicken & Chorizo Paella (with seafood) Nectarine Cakes Sangria read more

I tell people that I can't cook, but if the situation calls for it, I probably can. It's just not particularly tasty or anything I would serve to anyone else. Sure, cooking takes practice, but aside from the laziness/too-tired-after-work factor, there's also the "my mom kicks me out of the kitchen" factor. Whenever I am about to head out for a potluck, she'll come in and take over. Those delicious ribs at the potluck last year? Yeah, not me! It's almost like being in elementary school again when the parents were really the ones behind all the food. I've tried following recipes, and they don't usually come out right. Can't even follow simple directions - I hang my head in shame. So when my company recently sponsored several cooking/team-building events, I signed myself up immediately. One of the classes was with Emily Della, the gal behind First Class Cooking. Emily is great, and her classes are fun and social. Several dishes are prepared at once, and after demonstrating what to do with the ingredients, you can just jump right in. Once everything is finished, you can sit down and enjoy the meal with the rest of the group. Classes range from $55 to $80 [California cuisine to Vietnamese to Brazilian to Mediterranean], which seems pretty average for cooking classes. More importantly, bring wine! Our menu consisted of the following: Quinoa Tabouleh - super healthy, we made this with a bit of mango. Jalapeno Spiked Mac and Cheese - tasty with a spicy kick. Basil and Pine Nut Crusted Salmon - YUM! I had my hands all over these during prep time. That was the only proper way to get all the basil and pine nut all over the salmon. Chocolate Souffle - one was a little overcooked, but Emily made this one seem a lot easier than what most people would think. I took the recipes home and tried making the mac and cheese for a potluck the next day. Didn't do so well. Since the parents are out of town for the next few weeks, when I am not imposing myself on friends or inviting them out for dinner somewhere [Week One is already planned out. It's actually a great way to catch up!], I might be trying my luck at not burning the house down with one of the recipes from the class. Or maybe I'll stick to something simple from Trader Joe's. read more

I don't know about First Class, maybe Business or Economy... Emily was lovely and very knowledgeable about food and cooking. She gave us a lot of useful tips (like what to look for when picking lemongrass and 10 min cooking time for every inch of fish), but unfortunately I don't remember what else because we never wrote anything down and my memory just isn't what is used to be... If you are a total novice in the kitchen, a cooking class is a good way to establish a comfort level in the kitchen. But if you already know how to follow recipes, you might not get that much out of it since she basically just walks you through them. There were a number of things that I thought could've been done better. Because the class was held at her apartment and it costs $55/person, I expected a smaller class size. Emily says she averages about 12 students a class (sometimes even up to 20) and I think a maximum of 10 would've been good. As other people have mentioned, she allows you to get as much (well, more like as little) hands-on experience as you'd like. There weren't enough cutting boards, food, or space for me to do everything I wanted to. Also, it would've been nice if she at least briefly went over the recipes before starting each dish. We just kinda dove into it and I felt lost not having a sense of what's coming next. Lastly, and this is a biggie for me, there wasn't enough food! All but 3 of us only got one beef skewer and not lot of fish either (this kinda ties back to the large class size). Although the fish was flavourful, it was a little TOO flavourful and we could've used some steamed rice to eat it with (it was a Vietnamese menu after all). I was still hungry after the meal. When we left, I turned to my friend and asked, "So where do you want to go for dinner?" read more

In a (futile) attempt to domesticate me, the best friend signed us up for Emily Della's "Southern Favorites" class. Emily answered the door with a smile. She made us feel welcome in her beautiful loft right away. An entire wall is dedicated to windows and showcases a view I will forever be envious & in awe of. Her entire first floor is a dream for anyone who entertains often: lots of seating, a serving table, a kitchen that looks straight out of a Food Network TV show and food everywhere. Emily demonstrated each step of the cooking process & then had one of her 10 students take over for her. I encourage everyone to be enthusiastic & participatory so you can get the most out of her class. Emily threw out so many helpful cooking tips throughout the night. We cooked: - lynchburg lemonade- a whiskey & citrus drink that held up well for the duration of the 3 hour class - buttermilk biscuits with cheddar & thyme (and other herbs)- it came out flakey & buttery - stuffed zucchinis- this was a huge hit. the cheese was so crispy. who knew a zucchini could be so flavorful? - shrimp & andouille sausage gumbo- amazing - banana souffle for dessert with a caramel sauce- light, fluffy & full of banana & vanilla flavor We were able to sample the fruits of our labor around the big table after about 2.5 hours. It was interesting to share a meal with the 9 strangers who all lent a hand to make it happen. During the meal, Emily answered questions & engaged us in good conversation. She was very personable and provided a comfortable environment to have fun & learn. Emily made us all feel we could pull off a successful meal in the kitchen. I could not believe how great all the dishes came out. Thank you to my BFF & to Emily for finally getting me in the kitchen...it only took twenty something years... read more

Canceling a class with less than 24 hours notice because another party cancelled is very frustrating. I booked this cooking class for tonight 3 weeks ago for my fiancé's birthday that is today. I then sent another email 5 days ago reconfirming the class. Last night Emily sent me an email saying that the other party (not part of my party) cancelled so she could not justify holding the class. Emily was very clear in my confirmation email 3 weeks ago that she has a 5 day cancellation policy for customers to avoid being charged full price for the class. This policy should apply both ways. While I was very excited to try Emily's cooking class, I don't think I would give her my business now. Note that 2 stars is for the creative concept and menu and sincere apology I received. But sadly I can't rate anything beyond this given my experience. read more

I took Emily's cooking class and it was SO fun! The class is in her huge condo. The entire floor is open sunny space and most of it is the huge kitchen which has lots of counter space. I believe there were about 12 people in the class. Emily was clear with her directions and gave lots and lots and lots of little tips....like different methods of chopping, how to cook/bake/etc things other than what you are making, and various variations, commentary on the tools we're using, different things to achieve different flavors, the chemistry (like why you have to mix dry and wet recipes separately with baked goods).... I feel like I learned a ton and it was lots of fun. Her kitchen is impressive, with two fridges and just everything amazing....I'm really impressed with all her tools and really need to update some of my tools (no worries she gave me tips on where the best deals are), I am definitely investing in sharper knives! Some of the class was her demonstrating but she always had us all do stuff like chop and stir and get into it, and explained why and how. I took the Greek class and we made a watermelon salad.... It had mint leaves, and feta cheese and was colorful and amazing. She gives you tips throughout...how to pick the best watermelon (hint: it should sound hollow when you knock it), seedless vs. with seeds...how to make vinaigrettes...how to slowly pour the cheese in while stirring.... We also made a lamb artichoke stew (omg this was delish! i'm definitely making this! it was much easier than you'd think.), dolmas with quinoa and swiss chard (easy, simple, healthy appetizer) and biscuits with figs and honey sauce for dessert. At the end we all sat around her large table and had our feast... it all came out awesome! I mean that was SO delicious. I just hope I can recreate that at home. (she gives you a print out of all the recipes you made and said I was free to email her with questions). And Emily is just so warm and sweet and approachable and delightful. You can tell she loves what she does and loves engaging people in cooking healthy food and having people over. Did I mention she uses all/ organic food? Disclaimer: I love cooking. and eating. Both things make me really really disproportionately happy. If you don't like cooking or eating you may not enjoy it as much as I did. Personally, I love things that engage so many of my senses and found the cooking class inspiring. read more

I just celebrated my friend's birthday with First Class Cooking. There is absolutely nothing better than a one and a half block walk to an evening's festivities. Makes it all the easier to stumble home afterwards. Party commute aside a festive time was had by all. We prepared three simple Brazilian dishes and a moderately difficult chocolate souffle for dessert. I've taken a number of hardcore cooking classes before and our hostess Emily set a nice tone of cooking facts, techniques, keeping everyone busy and just letting us do our thang. The event (not so much a class) takes place in Emily's exquisite mansion which is worth the $55 per person admission alone. Emily was extremely accommodating, handled 15 moderately inebriated people well and helped us create a delicious meal. The evening was enjoyable and memorable. It's too bad we didn't have enough seats at the table to include Emily because she seems like a really interesting character. My only suggestion would be to make sure to bring enough alcohol as it is not provided. Also some appetizers such as bread and cheese would help the triathlons of the crowd make it to dinner. Granted, to remedy the appetizer crisis I went on a mini-field trip to Whole Foods around the corner with three gorgeous women. We bought bread, cheese and six bottles of wine 'n bubbly. So lacking hors d'oeuvres is not always a bad thing. ;) (3.75 * stars) read more

Dear Emily, You are amazing. It takes not only a skillful and passionate cook to run the colorful and educational show that you've successfully been running for the past 5 years, but also takes a person with a beautiful and big personality. My wonderful boyfriend earned 10,000 points in my book by treating me to such an inspiration (you!) for our anniversary. Being an avid and adventurous cook as well, I didn't expect to learn too much technically, but was blown away by so many skills that you've gracefully mastered! 1) Letting novices take over, throwing all chances of "imperfections" to the wind vs. "AHHHH! HE'S NOT CUTTING THE EGG PLANT EVENLY!!!" (definitely a thought I had during your class!...something I need to work on) 2) The natural welcoming and relaxed presence you have at the dinner table vs. potentially awkward silences, being "Martha" and lecturing us on what's "right or wrong" in cooking, etc etc 3) Your organization - definitely not easy to cook with as much cool as you do with 8-10 hungry mouths wandering around your kitchen while explaining all steps thoroughly. 4) Your loveliness! It's not easy being so lovely....hahaha! I'm truly so excited to have such an amazing and inspirational experience be my 100th YELP review! Rachael Ray doesn't hold a CANDLE to you! Also, I thought you'd be interested to know that I think you're just like your favorite plum - definitely sweet, but bold with underlying spice! Sincerely, Jane aka Asian girl who is obsessed with your pig and beef parts plates!!! read more

Emily's cooking classes are a fantastic way to spend the evening. I've been to two of her classes now: Mexican/Californian class on Cinco de Mayo and a Vietnamese cooking class. These classes are great for: * people who are afraid of cooking and need to build some confidence in the kitchen * people who want to know how to cook healthy food for themselves at home * people who want to know the basics of cooking, prep, simple kitchen chemistry (i.e how heat affects your food, what salt does) These classes are not great for: * people who aren't great with knives * people who dislike food * people who eat at McDonald's a lot. For the Mexican/California class we learned the following: * Mango-Avocado Salsa * Pico de Gallo Salad * Fish Tacos * Fresh Margaritas * Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes For the Vietnamese class we learned the following: * Claypot Fish * Fresh Spring rolls * other great stuff I can't remember read more

There's not much to say other than what's already been said already - Emily's class is great. I like to cook a lot, but I'm lazy. I like cooking with/for others and so when it was announced our department outing for work was to be held here, I was excited. Her classes are fun but also very educational as well. She teach you certain techniques that can be used in all your cooking - why you cook certain ingredients first and others later, how to cut certain foods up, etc. I highly recommend this class, especially if you're a guy and you can't cook anything that can't be cooked on a George Foreman Grill. read more

My fiance and I went to Emily's last weekend. Super duper yummy food and she somehow makes it all look so easy! I am clumsy, awkward and intimidated by many kitchen appliances. Her class takes the intimidation factor out of cooking. She also has a very wide knowledge of food, nutrients, stores, resources, etc. read more

I'm going to repeat what a few others have already stated here but worth repeating. I was part of a private group booked for a team building event. We were also surprised that there was a dog in the house and hanging out with us the entire time. (guess she assumes no one is allergic or afraid of dogs?) We thought this was a little inappropriate given that we were cooking. The class was neither very structured nor very hands-on. Emily was knowledgeable and opinionated, spoke very quickly and jumped from topic to topic, and was not able to hold our attention for any length of time. She was also very short with a few of us and rather than suggesting the right way to use a knife, for example, she would say things like "you're doing that wrong". There were no individual cooking stations. We stood around and basically waited for her to tell (yell?) out directions like chop the onion or grate the ginger. She seemed a little distracted or frazzled and it took several hours to get the meal prepared. She was put off that someone in our group was a vegetarian. We were all a little surprised at how short she was with us and did not create a warm and friendly atmosphere. Fortunately, we all had fun in spite of her demeanor. Perhaps we just caught her on a bad day? When the food was ready, Emily told us to come fill our plates - then basically started cleaning the kitchen and ignored us. We felt that she was waiting for us to leave. I'll give it 3 starts instead of 2 only because the food was delicious. read more

A nice experience, though I don't think I'd shell out $55 to do it again. The friend I went with obviously loved it more - because it was her THIRD class! The one thing that surprised/disappointed me was the fact we didn't each have our own individual cooking stations. Instead, the group simply stood in the large kitchen and watched as Emily explained and initiated each step - then one of us stepped up to finish it - be it chopping, stirring, mixing, what have you. Emily's very professional and approachable, and overall it was a pleasant experience. The best part? My friend and I were able to recreate two of the four dishes (we were lazy) last night by simply following the recipes. :) read more

I always leave Emily's class completely satisfied with my meal and experience. I can't say enough nice things. I love the recipe choices Emily makes based on what is local and in season. It's fun to watch her cook and listen to her talk about it all. I personally also love to jump in and get involved. Emily always makes it clear that you can be as involved as you want. I find I remember more if I do it, plus I really enjoy cooking. I would probably take at least one of these classes a month if it weren't for my tight budget. But I will definitely make room for more in the future. I've learned about how to store fresh herbs, how to make delicious salmon, and about making truly refreshing salads with dressing made from scratch. Addition: As of February 17, 2013 Emily creates a fun atmosphere with an approach to cooking that is not intimidating or lacking in energy for any level of culinary interest. I first attended one of her classes as part of a singles dating social event but I found myself more excited less about the dating and more about learning new cooking skills, and about Emily's personal and professional experiences within the culinary world. It was also fun meeting new people as interested in cooking as I am. So while I would do the dating night again for sure, I was very happy to take 2 more cooking classes with Emily sans dating element. Emily has inspired me as a mentor in the culinary world, so much so that I still love getting her emails with the monthly schedule of classes; Even now that I have moved across the country. I would love to do what she does some day and welcome people into my home for cooking instruction and socializing. Bravo Emily & First Class Cooking!! read more

This was really really fun. Before I give you my thoughts, understand that this is not a cooking "school" style place. Students don't get their own workstations. You don't create your own dishes. Everyone drinks wine and joins Emily in her kitchen. There are several cutting boards to help out and sort act as her "sous chef". Emily is really good at prepping food, cooking and working her kitchen and engaging everyone all at the same time. That was a skill of hers unto itself. Emily Let's start with her. She's a lot of fun, really engaged with the group and has so much passion for what she's doing and given that she isn't even formally trained (which shocked me a little) I was so impressed at her level of knowledge. I know how to cook. I used to own a restaurant. I was there because my fiancee wants to learn to cook, is new to SF and wants to meet new people and do new things. It was more of a fun date idea than anything else. Emily knows gastronomy and the science of food. She does a great job at demystifying a lot about how to prepare dishes and really puts you at ease with things like souffle, coq au vin, etc.. While I was taken aback at first at her admission that she wasn't formally trained. I thought about it sitting next to her at the big table during dinner and realized that her "school of hard knocks" education made me feel more like, "hey, I can cook that too then!" And, that was her point (...subtle though it was). You don't need a Cordon Bleu diploma to conquer recipes that you thought were over your head was her message. She is really fun too. I was lucky and got a seat next to her. When I asked about some of her funniest moments/craziest nights, she told some RIOTOUS tales that had the whole table laughing. The People There were around 12-14 people. A mix too. Hip pregnant girl with her friend on a girls night out, 4 coworkers on a teambuilding, single guy in his late 30's early 40's, cute single girl late 20's, first date couple, quiet asian girl single, and me and my fiancee. Not a single wierdo in the bunch. You could easily make friends at an event like this. You could also meet someone if you were single and looking for that from the crowd I saw too. It's not singles "scene" per se. It's just a very relaxed atmosphere with a crowd that's there to have fun and learn a tip or two about cooking...oh and drink good wine! The Food This was the best part for me. It wasn't the menu. The food she made was really good. It was all the recommendations about where to go in the city for fresh produce, for fresh fish, good meat, etc. -- place I had never heard of! This alone was worth the price of admission for me. Her Place Emily does all this from her loft condo not far from the ballpark. She has her dog "Buffy" sniffing around all night which gave it a homey feel that I liked. She has a big kitchen where we were all comfortable hanging out in, asking her questions and helping prep with her. She has a gigantic floor-to-cieling glass wall that has a panoramic view of the the SF skyline. Very nice. Dinner was at a really long wooden table that was set casually and perfect for the occasion. I will definitely do this again and bring friends next time. Emily is really inspiring and fun. Book her now!!! http://www.emilydellas.com/index.html read more

It was a really sweet gift from the BF to take me to a cooking class. And I have always wanted to try it out so when we went to First Class Cooking, I'd have to say it was a neat and enjoyable experience. Emily is friendly, knowledgeable and super down to earth. Great teacher and fun to listen to. I love to cook and I learned a lot of basic cooking techniques from her. She has different dishes for everyday so depending on what your food preferences are, you can choose a day where the meals are of interest to you. Prices range from $55-80 per person and per occasion. She houses up to 10 people per session. She teaches cooking classes from her beautiful home which has magnificent views of the city. The only problem I had was that I would have loved for it to be a little bit longer and more in depth in explanation and for it to be more hands on. I felt a little rushed and felt like I was just helping her make something as opposed to getting hands on training.Maybe this was due to her place not having enough workstations? Not quite sure. Overall, the experience is really fun and definitely worth a try. read more

For our second trip to the bay area, BH wanted to do something special, and since he knew I liked to cook and bake, he signed us up for First Class Cooking. While we searched around and compared prices, we finally settled on First Class Cooking, since their prices (only $55 per person) were reasonable and because they had an opening for the weekend we so happened to be in town. BH and I were a little disappointed to find out that we were going to be cooking in someone's kitchen (we should've done more research) because we both envisioned that each couple/family would have their own "kitchen" to make the food in, very similar to how a class at a culinary institute would be conducted. While we were a little deflated from the get-go, we were very impressed with Emily's patience, her background in promoting nutritional and healthful eating, and of course, the exquisite view from her modern little loft (getting to her apartment was like going into a security vault in a movie, where you had to punch in codes to access the front doors as well as the elevators.) Working on the food was interesting - people/couples/families took turns. Everyone contributed a little to each dish. It seemed disorderly and hectic, but it all worked out in the end. After almost 2.5 hours of prepping, cutting and cooking, the meal was finished. The menu wasn't very exciting for that day: quinoa salad with corn, corn salsa, pork tenderloin and s'mores cupcakes (the best part of the meal!) and after all was done, BH and I felt that the food turned out only okay. We left with a lot of good pictures and one usable recipe from this class - the s'mores cupcakes. Made with graham flour, the cake part was moist, not at all starchy and thick, very light and slightly crumbly. The "fluff" was sweet, airy, and creamy on the tongue, and the chocolate ganache was rich and smooth. I'm definitely going to make these in the future. read more

So, the barometer for ANY good cooking class is: would you go back again? Now, I realize that's covering a lot of ground, from: - did you (and your friends, if applicable) have a good time? - did you learn something? - was the instructor instructive? - how was the general setting? In my case, it was more like "did my wife like it?", to which I can definitely say, yes. Hence the 5 stars. Emily D. is totally professional, has a perfectly laid-out kitchen, really caters to all skill levels, and knows exactly what she's doing. What I really liked about Emily was that she walked me (over the phone) through all the courses for that month and helped me pick the perfect one for my wife's birthday. And it was such a success that she's since gone back for two other classes. Make it a party, make your own dahl, but mostly, just make it there. Reasonably priced and great Pac Heights setting. read more

oh, emily. I guess the mantra is if it ain't broke (in your mind), don't fix it. I attended a friend's birthday party with First Class Cooking 6 years ago, and attended another one recently and had pretty much the same experience. 1) you don't eat until like 8:30 pm. So you are standing around starving for two and a half hours with nothing provided to tide you over. 2) the food is mediocre and portion sizes are tiny. I left hungry, AGAIN. 3) You don't really learn much- it's very chaotic. 3) Location and view are beautiful. We still had a great time because it was a group of friends who got to hand out but it had nothing to do with the cooking class- we could have been anywhere What was different: there was a dog. I thought that weird since this is billed as a cooking class (aren't there regulations on that?) He's a nice dog, but felt unclean. I would crate him at a minimum in the event guests are scare of dogs (can't help the allergy bit, but whatever). The house was a bit unclean. Piles of paper on the stairs, lots of oddly used soap in the bathroom, rotting fruits on kitchen counter. I didn't get the sense that any amount of cleaning (or even straightening up) was done before her guests arrived. When the food was served the plates were chipped and the chair I sat in nearly collapsed it was in such rickety shape. It just felt slightly disrespectful in the sense that she didn't care enough about her paying guests to invest in new plates (cheap, replaceable Ikea ones? Sure!) or fix the chair. All of these things combined give the impression that she doesn't care- that she's just going through the motions which is a shame. read more

I really hate it when businesses I adore get discovered by Daily Candy... because obviously while it's great for the business, the secret is out and I can no longer feel smug. Alas, Emily was written up in yesterday's DC, and I suspect she will be unbookable in very short order. Emily helped me arrange a private cooking class for 12 women. She was super flexible about the menu and food requests from people who don't eat this or that. When we actually did the class, it was SO much fun. Emily has a very warm personality that brings even the shyest people out and chopping, or stirring, or beating things. The food is delicious, and the price is EXTREMELY reasonable. Plus, you can bring wine to enjoy during the class and for dinner afterward. I'm coming back for more classes -- I'd love to try the Southeast Asian and Indian ones -- as long as I can get in, of course! P.S. even if you think you're doomed in the kitchen, you should go anyway -- if for nothing else than to see the house (AMAZING) and the dog. :) read more

This is THE MOST fun way to learn about culinary arts! First , everyone stands around Emily's gorgeous kitchen cutting, chopping, blending, and casually sipping on wine while Emily explains everything there is to know about the ingredients and magic of cooking. At the end of the evening, sitting around this gorgeous wooden table over looking fantastic views of SOMA , the cooking lesson transforms into a fabulous dinner party ! Worth trying at least once. A little pricy though, $55 a lesson. read more

Emily was wonderful in hosting us with a company team building excercise. Starting off, she was very accomdating since we had a large team of 15 individuals. We planned the menu from appetizers to dessert, from her selection of meals. We also brought our own wine for pairing. Our entire team enjoyed participating in the activities from blending, cutting, asking questions on basic cooking tips...Emily was just the best host. I would love to do this again with my girlfriends... read more

I purchased gift certificates for my boyfriend and I to use as his Christmas present. We finally decided on a class in February and were super excited to gain some new skills & recipes. Going in, I expected that this would be the kind of class where we'd have our own cooking stations and eat what we'd be cooking at the end. However when we realized it was in her (amazingly furnished!) home kitchen, I think we were a little caught off guard. The con of course is that it's not very hands on and you're pretty much watching Emily cook the entire night. She asks for help cutting, stirring, cooking, and cleaning simple things but again, we were expecting it to be individual stations where we'd be doing all the work. The pro of this setup though is that you can really appreciate and see how knowledgeable Emily is. She explains the science behind everything such as which food items pair together well and why they do, which techniques would be best to use for each case, and other niblets of wisdom that you can carry on in the future. Everything we had was delicious. The night's menu consisted of the following: -Apple Cider Lynchburg Lemonade: So happy we got to make as many as we wanted throughout the night! The recipe was a bit too sweet for me because I like my cocktails strong but nothing that a heavier whiskey pour didn't fix. -Clam Chowder with Bacon: Thinner than the typical clam chowder that I'm used to, which was a plus. This had all the flavor but didn't make me feel heavy and full after. Will be using this recipe many more times in the future. -Treviso Risotto: My first time making risotto! I got to work with the risotto the most, which was really helpful. Turned out very good. -Roasted Lamb with Whiskey Glaze: This recipe looked way too easy that I thought there's no way this is going to be amazing. I was wrong. It probably comes down to the quality of the meat but this recipe didn't allow for the usual gamey taste lamb has. -Peach and Berry Crumble: Again another super easy recipe that turned out great. For my next cooking class, I'd like to go to one that's more hands-on. However I think that this would be a great activity to do with friends or as a team bonding event. Emily's place is amazing and I adore her custom kitchen. read more

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I've been three times, and I'm happier with it every time. Emily has such a great wealth of knowledge. The classes are fun and social, and I really enjoy participating as we go. The best, and unique, thing about this class is that you really could work on every dish if you wanted. I love how she works this out. To echo another warning, though - sign up the day you get the calendar...she's popular! read more

This is a great class for those who are total novices in the kitchen, or might be scared of what even goes into preparing food. Emily was so warm and friendly she could put any take-out addict at ease. While I very much enjoyed her class, there were some drawbacks (for me at least). Like I said, the class was a little junior level. The activity level is rather minimal, it's more standing around, watching her cook and you get to jump in occasionally. Take note that it's not fully hands on. And in that vein, you can be at the mercy of others in the class: one girl added too much spice to the dessert, rendering it inedible! I felt so bad for her, but it was a friendly environment and we were forgiving, even though we kept teasing her.... The food we made was decent, but nothing super gourmet or surprising. Save one, the biscuits! She had some great tips that I took to heart and I even made the recipe again and took it to Thanksgiving dinner and it was a hit. Walking out with this one new skill was worth the price of the class. read more