Chef Annie was great! My hubby got me this experience so I could learn some knife & chopping…read moreskills. I was given a choice of menus. Chef Annie came with all the stuff: cooking utensils, pans, crepe maker & all the groceries. She taught my daughter & I how to chop, braise, poach, & cut up vegetables the easy way. We made the whole menu with assistance, she answered all our questions & got lots of tips. It was the best present ever! Annie even cleaned up after us! Can't wait for our next one!

While I did not work with Chef Kathy (she was unfortunately already booked on the date of my…read moreevent), I received quick responses and helpful suggestions.

This was an experience of a lift time..I have attended may similar programs but noting as…read morepractical, inspirational and fun as this culinary experience Thank you for sharing your home and your passion for food. The personalized approach was fantastic . Everyone should go. Even if you say I know how to cook...You learn something new and appreciate the love of food.

Private cooking class with the famous Giuliano Hazan. His Mother, Marcella, is world renowned and…read moreknown as The Italian Godmother of Cooking. We've been waiting years to get in and Giuliano did not disappoint. Fabulous! Fun! Phenomenal Food.... and we cooked it! Risotto with Zucchini and Shrimp, Baked Salmon and the piece de resistance Cantaloupe Gelato!

Delicious Italian food. Our server, Paula, did a great job describing entrees and filling water…read moreglasses. The restaurant filled up quickly after opening and we were glad to have made a reservation. Highly recommended the eggplant involtini served with the house vodka sauce . My husband had the rigatoni with two meatballs and the meatballs tasted like the ones my grandma from Italy use to make. We shared a Mediterranean salad with an excellent balsamic dressing. Our daughter enjoyed the chicken parmesan as did many other people sitting nearby. The pizzas and calzone also looked wonderful. Next time we have to try the homemade lobster ravioli with vodka sauce.

The food was amazing! The marinara sauce was the best I've ever had. I have visited Italy, and I…read morecan confidently say this was the most authentic Italian food I have tasted in the states. Cute and quaint restaurant, great place to eat if you want to get away from the busy vacation crowds.

Walking in felt like stepping into Spain. The owner and chef, Fatima, was incredibly friendly and…read moretook the time to explain the dishes she prepares and even told us about her catering services. She also let us try a few traditional Spanish drinks, which was such a nice touch. Her positive attitude and genuine passion for sharing Spanish culture made the visit even more enjoyable. The shop and kitchen were very clean, which I always appreciate. I decided to try the almond cake, and it was absolutely delicious--I'll definitely be coming back for another slice! I also had the horchata, which Fatima explained is a refreshing drink that's especially popular during the summer. She also mentioned that while the store carries a small selection of products, they have a much larger selection available through their online shop, which was great to know. Overall, it was a wonderful first experience with great hospitality, delicious food, and an authentic atmosphere. I look forward to visiting again!

We FINALLY stopped into this incredible little market and tapas place. Fatima quickly greeted us…read moreand shared all of her Spanish treasures-fresh made paella, gazpacho and almond cake (GF). Soooo delicious. This is a market and to go place-perfect for beach picnics, friends' dinner or just romantic night at home. We always thought it was just catering but oh no! It's got great,authentic Spanish treats and tapas-Iberia, manchego, wines, sardines along with all of the freshly made options. You MUST stop in.

This place is beautiful and very peaceful. You can even have a business meeting here. My waitress…read morewas very friendly. I ordered the special, which included soup, your choice of pasta, and a drink. I loved this place and would come back many times.

Amazing boutique restaurant in Brandon, a hidden gem! Fantastic service, authentic food and wine,…read moredelicious desserts.

My husband and I had the most incredible date night at the Epicurean Theatre! We attended the…read more"Dinner with a Master Chef" class on Friday, July 18th 2014. Our instructor was celebrity chef, Whitney Miller, winner of Master Chef (season 1). The Epicurean Theatre is a gorgeous and very modern culinary classroom in the Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa. The culinary classroom has a kitchen in the front of the theatre for the instructor/ chef and stadium-style seating for the students. (If you want a seat near the front of the class arrive early!) Flat screen televisions are located in the front corners of the classroom to display close-ups of the food as it is being prepared. The layout of the classroom allows participants to eat and drink while watching a cooking presentation. After the chef completes each course of the meal the Epicurean's wait staff serves the dish. Whitney Miller was so charming and entertaining throughout our class. I loved her stories about growing up in Mississippi and being a contestant on the Master Chef. Her menu in our class included some of her favorite Southern dishes: First Course: Arugula Salad with Grilled Figs, Homemade Buttermilk Ricotta Cheese, Crispy Prosciutto and a Citrus Vinaigrette (Wine Pairing: Schiopetto Pinot Grigio) Second Course: BBQ Shrimp and Cheese Grits (Wine Pairing: Black Bird Rose) Third Course: White Chocolate Bread Pudding (Wine Pairing: Rosa Regale) Everything was so delicious and I cannot wait to make these dishes at my home! Confession: I probably won't make my own ricotta cheese for the arugula salad because who has time for that?! We received so many great cooking tips from the class and I plan on purchasing Whitney's cookbook so I can introduce my husband to more Southern cooking. If you are interested in taking a class at the Epicurean Theatre I highly recommend it! They offer a variety of classes from cupcakes to cooking to wine or even speaking a foreign language. They even offer brew bus tours! The classes range from $45-$125. Our Master Chef class cost $65 per person which wasn't a bad deal in my opinion considering we received a two hour demonstration from a celebrity chef, a three course meal, and three wine tastings. Can't wait to take my next class at the Epicurean Theatre!

I went to a great event here called Cupcakes and Cocktails held by Chef Beth Lukens, who owns and…read moreoperates the local company Cloud 9 Confections. Everything about this event was fun. Just like you see on cooking shows, Beth stood in front of the 3-tiered seating area, with a camera on her, and a camera overhead showing inside the pot she was cooking in. Beth is an experienced baker, and I loved that in addition to demonstrating how to make the Bourbon Chocolate Pecan cupcake, she also gave us helpful tips for substitutions and shortcuts. In addition to cupcakes, the event included 3 cocktails, specially designed to compliment the cupcakes we would be taking home. Pumpkin Prosecco - made of champagne and pureed pumpkin, Hard Apple Cider - made with gin, cider, and fresh crushed grapes, and a Bourbon Cocktail - but after the first two drinks, I have no recollection of what went into this last one. It was great, though! :-) Roger, the bartender from the hotel restaurant Élevage, came in each time to explain his concoction, which was really a nice personal touch. After Beth demonstrated how to make the first cupcake, all the participants went down to group stations where we got to frost our own cupcakes. She had all the different cupcakes lined up for us, as well as the different bags of frosting. First we did our own Bourbon Chocolate Pecan cupcake - by scooping out the inside to fill it with pecan filling, then frosting it with a thick bourbon chocolate buttercream, and sprinkling roasted pecans on top. Next was the Hard Apple Cider cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream. And finally we did the Pumpkin Spice cupcake, with a sweet cream cheese frosting. I have to admit, there was a LOT of taste-testing the frosting, even after the cupcakes were all frosted. Beth even provided plastic cupcake containers, so our 6 masterpieces (2 of each flavor) could travel in safety and comfort. I would definitely do another event here - it was very well organized, and in addition to the promised take home cupcakes, we were also provided with recipes on how to make the different cupcakes and frosting. The only thing that wasn't cool, and wasn't mentioned ahead of time, is that you had to pay $5 for valet, which also meant tipping too. I think the Epicurean Hotel needs to include this in the cost of the class, or let people self-park in the spots they have available for the wine store or bakery. Other than the parking, an A+ event from start to finish. Support local small businesses and go check out Beth's webpage, too - yum!

Cannoli making class was fun…read more So the 3 stars is based on their customer service & how we were treated. 7 of us signed up for a week night class. We arrived late because we thought the class was 30 mins later than it was but we text them we were on our way. They were visible annoyed when we walked in & we did not get a warm welcome. I have to say there was only 2 people, a couple, in the class so it wasn't like we interrupted a big class. We were bringing the big class. And they had only poured milk into a pot & letting it warm up when we arrived so we had not missed anything. The whole class the women that worked there were not giving warm fuzzy vibes. It lacked fun & enjoyment honestly. We felt like we were treated like a nuisance & like we couldn't even laugh. The cannolis were good & we learned a lot.

We rented out the space on a Saturday afternoon to celebrate a friend's birthday. The space was…read moreclean and everything was setup when we arrived. They also have a nice selection of wine. We made the Sweet Ricotta Brule. They was a total of four people on staff to assist our class of 12. Everyone had a great time. I am looking forward to taking the pizza making class this summer with my son.

I loved our cooking class with the chefs tonight. They were so kind and worked hard to help us…read moreprepare our dishes. I feel confident about recreating it too because they really taught all the dishes well. Kitchen social also has higher chairs so you don't have to stand the whole time too.

My daughter and I want to the Christmas cookie baking class on Dec 7th and it was fabulous. The…read moreclassroom is situated where you can comfortably sit while watching the chef demonstrate the cooking techniques. We prepared 4 different cookies and were able to take them home to enjoy. I recommend this place to anyone who loves to eat and loves to learn culinary skills to prepare wonderful dishes. Check out the calendar online for their schedule of themed classes