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.

Cooking classes, group fun, team building lots of options here . What a cool concept located right…read moreinside Armature works. Unfortunately we didn't have time but you can make reservations online at their website. I'd like to do it next time I'm in Tampa Website and phone number located on their front door is in my pictures

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the sushi making class with Chef Stephen. He made the class very…read moreinteractive and fun to learn. I appreciated that this class was small and intimate. You can tell Chef has a passion for this because he made sure we all knew what we were doing, we could ask as many questions as we liked and he even provided me some short cuts on how to prepare certain things. He has a Gnocchi class coming up and I'm looking into signing up for that. I would highly recommend him.

I recommend the class I booked because of the chefs their interaction and the great experience I…read morehad. I find the website challenging and the knowledge of the people on the phone very minimal.

How many good things can I condense into one review about Chef Alisa and her husband, Alex? I…read morereached out to Alisa by simply searching for a 'private/personal chef' on Google. She was one of the first few chefs in the Houston area that popped up on my screen and I decided to do some more "research;" and by "research," I mean I searched for her on social media platforms to see pictures of her dishes before contacting her...Come on, we're all guilty of it. lol To my pleasant surprise, Chef Alisa was one of the winners on The Food Network's "Supermarket Stakeout" which I thought was a pretty cool thing to have on her resume. :) So of course, naturally, I contacted her to check out her prices and menu. Now, by no means am I accustomed to having a personal chef in our home, but to celebrate a special occasion, I thought it would be a fun experience and a great "date night" for my husband and I. My review is strictly based off of my first experience having a chef come to my home to cook for me and the communication between Chef Alisa and I throughout the whole process. From the very beginning of getting into contact with Chef Alisa, she was extremely prompt in her e-mail responses and very transparent about her rate and any additional costs. After reviewing other chefs in Houston, I decided that I wanted Chef Alisa as our private chef to celebrate a special occasion with my husband, and after that, she sent me a menu with several delicious selections for each course (i.e., appetizer, salad, main dishes, desserts). I think choosing just one option from each course was the hardest part about this whole process, I wanted to try them all. During the selection process, I e-mailed Alisa back and forth a few times asking if I could make small changes here and there (e.g., sub an appetizer, or add a protein), and each time I heard back from her, she was timely in her responses and tactfully offered her professional recommendations. What I liked about Chef Alisa was that she was helpful and respected any accommodations or changes I wanted to make to the final menu. To give you an idea of some of the changes, I asked for, Chef Alisa recommended an appetizer, a salad, main dish and dessert; whereas, my husband doesn't like salad, so I asked if we could have two hot appetizers instead. Chef Alisa was accommodating and made two hot appetizers for us to replace the salad and added a protein to one of the dishes she normally serves as a main entree. While at the store, she even accommodated when I wanted her to change one of the proteins (last minute). Her ability to be flexible and accommodate her clients made her really pleasant to work with. After making my selections, I had to pay 50% of the total cost to Alisa to secure the date and then on the day of, I would pay the rest as well as any additional costs (e.g., groceries). Additionally, Alisa asked for a picture of my kitchen so that she could work her way around the kitchen with ease on the day of her arrival. On the day of, Alisa and her husband Alex (her "sous chef") came over about 3 hours before I wanted our meal served (appetizers by 6:15pm), and she started to cook up a storm as if my kitchen was her kitchen all along. I got to know them as a couple while she was cooking and Alex was prepping and it really felt like I was just chatting with friends. They're a really sociable couple and Alisa's food turned out amazing. The entire meal was served perfectly well-timed, and they were attentive to our needs. The icing on the cake was that there were no dishes for me to do at the end of the night! They left our kitchen cleaner than it was before they came over. :) If you're looking for a fun date night or even a get-together with friends, hiring Chef Alisa for a special occasion will be a treat.

Alisa G. and her team helped me host a wonderful 12-person birthday dinner celebration for my wife…read more She made my first private chef experience fantastic and, because of that, it will not be my last. She presented, at our request, a Mediterranean-themed dinner with appetizer, entree with side, and desert. Every dish she served was delicious and her team took exceptional care of us and our guests. It was all very much appreciated. I highly recommend Alisa G and look forward to using her services the next time an opportunity arises.

We went there last night. The food was absolutely amazing. Felt like we were back in Italy…read more Definitely will go again.

This place is such a gem! The food was phenomenal! My family is from Sicily and I felt like I was…read moreeating my dad's cooking. The owner is super friendly and welcoming. It's a very small place so a reservation is a must! Will be back for sure!

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.

Cooking class review! My friends got this for a team…read morebuilding event- then bought for me for a birthday date night. BYOD and cook and learn plus 10% off ANYTHING in the store. They offer cappuccino espresso too mid class. We cooked Japanese night- miso salmon, fried rice, salad with ginger dressing, tempura veggies, sesame ice cream. Wow, so good and so much food- sad I couldn't take home my leftovers- such a waste. This should change Check it out, but save me a spot too!!!

Looking for a fun activity for a date night or with a group of friends? I highly recommend cooking…read moreclasses at Sur La Table. Learn new skills, spend time together, and eat a delicious meal that you make! We have attended several of classes over the years and most recently a tamale making class in December and a sushi making class in January, and we are already signed up for a Thai cuisine class in April. The instructors are great, providing cooking techniques and tips, as well as insights on where to get ingredients that are used. After the class, you receive a store discount to get any cookware or utensils you may need to make the meal. We love cooking at home and this is a great way to learn the basic skills needed to broaden our repertoire.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to volunteer at The Kitchen House & my experience was such a…read moredelight. At first I felt excited and nervous, just because it's a new experience for me.However, Nicole, Blake, Megan & even Ms. Ivann made me feel so welcome! I joined in on a culinary class based on sauces, stocks and soups and the guests did an amazing job. The concept of the volunteer is to guide the guests & just be a kind person in their culinary journey This venue is breathtaking, the kitchen is awesome and the knowledge you gain is so worth the experience. I will definitely be back to volunteer again! The guests made: mac and cheese, green bean casserole, kale soup & an awesome salad with the veggies sourced from their own garden Please take a class! I know i definitely want to!

The Kitchen House is a not-for-profit garden and cooking school that focuses on teaching healthy…read moreplant-forward recipes to adults and children. Ever since Publix Aprons Cooking School closed, I've been looking for a cooking school that has fun adult classes. The Kitchen House has just started a monthly "book club" called Plot to Plate where they feature a book that relates to or includes recipes. This month was Lessons in Chemistry so my friends and I decided to attend. We bought our tickets in advance as classes can sell out. The classes are different prices depending on what the class is. The house is in a residential neighborhood in College Park and does not have a dedicated parking lot so I would suggest getting there early as you have to find a spot along the street. When we arrived, we were greeted and given a welcome drink, in this case Cardamom Decaf Coffee because it was cold out. One of the instructors said that normally we would walk the garden at the beginning of class and also eat outdoors but since it was cold, we were going to skip the garden and eat inside. Once everyone arrived (cooking classes can have up to 20 people), we met in the lobby to start talking about different themes of the book. Then it was time to wash up and go to the kitchen. All the ingredients were set out for us and we picked the Veggie Pot Pie table with other attendees. The instructor gave us some knife skills lessons and then we all started cooking, using the recipes at our station. Each station makes one recipe so you don't get to make everything. And, the instructors and volunteers don't show you how to make everything first (like Publix Aprons used to do). But, if you just dig in and start going, it is a lot of fun. We had some questions along the way, like is there a spatula we can use? Or, is this the flour or the cornstarch? The volunteers were great and answered everything in a friendly way. As it said you could do in the welcome email we received before the class, some folks brought their own wine and the Kitchen House provided glasses and would pour for you. I think if we go back, we would definitely bring our own wine. My friends and I made the drop biscuits for the Veggie Pot Pie, which were surprisingly easy to make. We were finished early so we also make the Brownies for dessert that used olive oil and maple syrup instead of butter and sugar. When everyone was done cooking, we gathered in the lobby again while the volunteers cleaned and set up the table for dinner. Then, it was time to eat! Dinner was served buffet style and the Kitchen House split our food for people who had different dietary restrictions. For example, some of the recipes used non-dairy alternatives as some people in the class were lactose intolerant and one person had a mushroom allergy so they got a small spinach gallette instead of the mushroom Gallette for everyone else. As we sat down to eat, we discussed the book more in depth. Everything tasted great and we had a wonderful time. We received all the recipes in an email after the class so we could make the foods at home. I will definitely be looking at other adult classes here.

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!

We've had Chef Al cook for our family 3 times now and every time has been such a treat! The food he…read moreprepares is simply amazing--some of the best food we've ever had. Everything is always cooked perfectly and the flavors are next level. He works together beautifully with his wife who makes awesome desserts. It is a full service experience from start to finish--preparing a menu, cooking food on site at your home, and then they take care of all the clean up when it's over. Not only is Chef Al an amazing chef, but he also is a pleasure to talk to, he's engaging, and he's happy to answer questions. Our kids love him too! If you're looking for an amazing private chef to deliver the ultimate luxurious dining experience, look no further. Chef Al is your guy!

WOW what an incredible dinner experience!…read more We provided Chef Al with a rough idea of our dinner preferences along with a couple food allergies and he created a stunning menu in no time. He was also able to make adjustments as needed. The private dinner was absolutely phenomenal and delicious. Chef Al is no ordinary chef, you can tell he has some upscale culinary training and experience. The food was so delicious we didn't want to stop eating lol. Ahi with an incredible soy orange glaze over crispy wontons and Chilean sea bass cooked to perfection were just a couple of the highlights from our dinner. Chef Al is so great this was actually the second time we booked him! And his encore was just as incredible as the first private dinner he did for us last year. Super friendly and professional - would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for the perfect private dinner experience.