I have now hosted 2 birthday parties at Schola, this last one in March for my husband's 60th. Their new place has a view of the water and took what was a very good party venue to a GREAT party venue. Schola, what do I love about you? 1. Amy and all the staff have been so helpful and accomodating. 2. THE FOOD - it's all delicious! I didn't think that would be possible, especially when you're having your friends cook it, but the food is really really good. 3. BYOB - makes it much more affordable (we hosted 54 people). Schola provides glasses, buckets. I bring coolers, ice, cocktails, wine, beer and seltzer (they have water in pitchers). 4. Cooking together - nothing breaks the ice for folks more than working together. For folks willing to do the work, they have fun together. If you're looking for a place to throw a party, choose Schola! read more

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I came here with a few friends for the Art of Making Soup class. We made 4 different soups which were all pretty unique in flavor profile. The chef was friendly and had a good sense of humor. My only drawback is that I was looking forward to learning something new such as a cooking skill but there wasn't much of that. I appreciated how you can take home the leftovers and the provide to-go containers. read more

I came here for what I thought would be a great date night to learn how to make pasta. It turns out the class is very social and not actually all that great for a date night. I thought we would at least have our own stations and be making our own meals--instead we worked as a collective, creating a sort of assembly line for rolling, stuffing, and making sauce, and we could jump around as we pleased. I forgot the instructors name, but he was very energetic, knowledgeable in his instruction,and friendly---making a very delicious focaccia bread for us to nibble on---which was a highlight. The space is also very cute! At the same time, for a pasta making class, I was not prepared to have everyone's hands rolling and cutting the food I would be eating at the end of the night. I tried not to look at what others were doing, as to not ruin my experience, but I do not feel enough emphasis was put on cleanliness to make this something I would want to do again. For example, we were rolling pasta with our bare hands, but some people were drinking their BYOB beverages, eating , and taking pictures. I don't think any hand washing took place in between. Lastly, we made 3 different pasta dishes and only 1 of them was really good in the end. The others were edible, but just not that great and needed more flavor. If I did return, it would be with a private group of people I know to make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable. OTHER GLOWS: -Free parking validation for 3 hours right outside! -10% off at lighthouse for byob drinks before hand (we didnt know this!) read more

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YES! YES! YES! Came here for the kids cooking class and it was great. Easy parking in Canton in the adjacent lot with 3 hour validation so free. All the supplies you need are provided just bring yourself and appetite. It is BYOB so you can bring with or patronize the neighbor store for 10% off. The owner and chef was an awesome instructor and very patient with the kids. Her personality alone will make me continue patronizing this business. I will return for an adult class soon. The prices vary based on menu so don't get hung up on the cost keep looking. The kitchen and bathrooms are clean. Just come here you won't regret it. read more

Schola - Cooking Schools Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Love Schola! I can't believe I havent given Schola its flowers yet! If you want a cute date night, fun girls night, maybe even an office bonding this is such a great space! The classes are varied and you can participate as much or as little as you would like. I Was the champagne fairy last time and enjoyed bouncing around filling everyones glasses and then enjoyed a delicious meal. The time before that I hands on learned how to make chimichurri. Both fabulous experiences Every Chef was so knowledgeable and fun at leading the class. And bonus the spirits store on the corner gives you a discount when you drop in with your apron on read more

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Ok we finally made it to a pasta class for date night. It was pricey but we learned a lot about a plethora of things. I would say it was worth it. I had a great time in this big playground kitchen. People were nice and the instructor was super knowledgeable. I ate and ate and ate until my heart was full. The only downside and it's a big one for me is that everyone in the class touches the food you eat. That kind of freaked me out. I watched every single person wash their hands but it still bothered me a bit. I say all that to say that the food was tasty and I did not get sick. I would say give it a try but just be aware that you and few strangers will all be touching the food. read more

What a time we had here! Chef Amy and Chef Adam did a wonderful job accommodating our large group. The skills learned are foundational, taught in such a way we will be able to build upon them. We made fresh fettuccine, tortellini and orecchiette. We also learned a wonderful pesto, bolognese and a salad dressing that made non-salad eaters devour it and ask for more. It was an experience second to none. Great for all occasions... team building, girls night out, date night and more. More pictures to come. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Schola is incredible! I've been to my fair share of cooking classes, and this one by far exceeded all the rest! The owner and chef is incredible. She's relaxed, lets you try anything and everything, and you can participate as much or as little as you'd like! You get to learn different techniques, taste test as you go, enjoy as much wine as you please, and get to meet a lot of cool people as you cook. Our favorite part was learning how to prepare and cook octopus (but mostly eating it!!) We cannot wait to come back! read more

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My work hosted a cooking class at Schola and it was so much fun and very organized. While we mingled for first 30 min they brought out dips and charcuterie apps. Our group was very large (close to 60 people), so they broke us up into groups at different stations. We made spanakopita, empanadas, shrimp, sweet potato tajin and the chefs took it upon themselves to make tenderloin and cod for us to try. It was very well done and you could tell ingredients weren't cheap. It is BYOB but they offer glasses and water. This class would probably be best for 20 people but we had a great time. It looks like you can even sign up for a class individually. For the experience I think $65-75 is worth it and would make a great gift. read more

Schola - Cooking Schools Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Absolutely love this experience. I can throw down in the kitchen but it's a different perspective when you are in a professional kitchen. Not only do I get an amazing meal, but I also learn how to make a few new recipes along with a fun day date with my boyfriend. I met some really cool people too. I enjoy rotating through the different sections to see how other groups prepare their food. The Chef is fun, knowledgeable, and a master of greatness. You get broken up into teams to help construct a masterfully delicious meal. We had a chance to make New a Orleans brunch. The brunch included Crawfish Cake Benedicts with homemade Hollandaise Sauce, BBQ Shrimp & Cheddar Grits, Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread, Andouille Sausage Potato Hash, and Bananas Foster French Toast ahhh it smelt like heaven in there as we were cooking . And the best part? There's so much food and you even take home leftovers! You can go directly to their website to buy tickets or on Eventbrite. I'm telling you this is better than any cooking show or how to YouTube video. We're looking forward to our next class! Bring your friends and your own bottles. This will also be a fun birthday idea. read more

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To say this is a cooking school is a misnomer. More like a social supper club. As another person said "Organized Chaos". No emphasis on cleanliness or safety. Dull knives which have the potential to cause more harm than good. Number of students to number of tasks imbalanced. You were kind of left on your own to find a "station" to work at and may have ended up there the whole time when multiple recipes needed to be cooked. No recipes to take home to try to recreate at home. read more

We had the most fun! We learned how to make pasta, garlic confit, and bechamel sauce...then had the most delicious meal! I can't recommend it highly enough! read more

What a wonderful experience to have. I saw an event posted on Yelp for Parents/kids pizza making class. I signed my son and I up. The school is located downtown Baltimore on Charles St. Very impressive looking cooking school. The instructors were awesome. Everyone in attendance appeared tinbe having a great time. The youngest child was probably 4 years old and the oldest was probably 17. Really great family time making pizzas and eating them. The course is about $50 per person but worth every dollar. You can make as many pizzas as you want and take them to go. Expect 1-2h. Between the two of us, we probably made 6, personal size pizzas and we are looking forward to enjoying everyone of them. Nice way to unplug from TV and internet and spend quality family time. Looking forward to the sushi, pasta making, and chinese cooking courses. Bon Apetit. read more

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SO MUCH FUN!!! We were in town for a few nights and I found Schola looking for local cooking classes. This class hit all the marks as we did Oysterfeast and my husband is really into then these days. Chef Amy was the best from our pre-class emails (she got cupcakes for his birthday for me) to our initial greeting to the class vibe and very tasty good...the best!! Book a class ASAP...you wont be sorry!!! read more

So our group went thinking that Jose Andres was going to be teaching his cooking (never mind that the pricing wouldn't have made sense), and while Jose Andres didn't show up while his recipes were being taught, we had the wonderful occasion to meet food and wine enthusiasts that knew and loved their craft with aplomb. Perhaps the most impressive bit about the Schola experience is that Amy shows you the backstory for a well functioning kitchen serving quality food. Have you ever considered how a professional kitchen actually works? With new hires coming in and out, how does an executive chef, managing chef and the sous chef manage the line chefs in order to consistently produce quality meals to order and to taste? Amy gives you a glimpse, given that the participant takes on the role of a line chef, preparing and cooking parts of the meal to come, while Amy moves about Schola checking and re-checking the critical steps to make sure that the food stays on course to become a delicious meal. Our particular meal of Jose Andres foods included chorizo, cod, eggplant, mushrooms, pork loin and toasted baguettes that came out delightfully. We have no illusions who made the magic happen, but we were certainly part of the magic (kind of like the volunteers at a magic show). Highly recommended way to eat some new foods, learn some new recipes and meet some great people. read more

I really wish that I could give Schola a top rating. Although my experience there was pleasant, it wasn't what signed up for and didn't meet my expectations. Everyone introduces themselves at the beginning, but nothing was done. In terms of icebreakers to build camaraderie, we were all kind of just thrown in to make five different meals, with very little instruction. The first thing that popped up was about my food allergies. We emailed twice ahead of time to share that I'm allergic to gluten and to see if that would be an issue. We were told that it was "fine" and I'd be accommodated. Then, when I showed up, I once again told the chef. He was like "I don't check my emails." OK that's a nice luxury that doesn't exist for most of us in the modern world. He told me that we could make some things differently or set aside ingredients so that I would be able to eat the food we were making. But, he did not pay attention, and I repeatedly had to speak up so that the food that was being made would be safe for me to eat. This was even though he had told me repeatedly that he had a daughter who was gluten-free, so he "understood." I had to ask for different ingredients to be set aside for me by my classmates, and he really didn't help with it. I felt like I had to really manage that all by myself, which added a layer of stress to the evening that I really did not want or anticipate. The other issue is that you really don't get to see how every dish is being made, it seems like this is how the school is set up. So you basically only learn how to make one thing, and the chef sort of ran around and oversaw things. If you didn't actually know what you were doing, or have some knowledge to start out with, you were screwed. He was not there to guide you. The whole experience felt chaotic and in the end, we didn't really learn much. Lastly, he said that they would email out the recipes to class participants. We sent emails 3 different times to the school trying to get that recipes that we "learned" so that we can make them at home and try to make the most of the experience. I guess that the trend of not answering emails has continued. I'm disappointed - for $90 they can't answer a damn email they said they would. Basically, Schola is great looking to learn a new recipe and already have some solid skills and don't have food allergies. If you expect responsiveness and attention, this isn't the place for you. read more

Schola is a cooking school that offers hands-on class experiences. They offer technique classes that can help you master a variety of different culinary techniques like knife skills, sushi, sauces, pizza, cheese and butter, bread, etc. They also offer Menu driven classes that focus on regional cuisines, classic chefs, date night, brunch, farmer's market, winemaker, Sunday suppers, etc. All classes beside the Winemaker Series and Wine Tastings are BYOB! At Schola they have something for everyone. My husband and I have attended 20+ cooking classes plus several private event classes. The recipes they teach you are something you can totally recreate at home and I've used the new techniques I learned a lot. Prices range from $49.99-$79.99 depending on the class. We love love love the Winemaker Cooking Series offered by Schola. In the Winemaker classes you get to cook regional cuisine alongside wine makers from around the world while listening to stories about the origins of their wines. We've met some really interesting people, drank exceptional wine, and tasted new foods. Getting to know the people who make the wines you are drinking is really cool. Everyone is so friendly and we've acquired quite a few business cards so that we can reach out and visit during our worldly travels. Plus you get to order the wines you tasted at the end of the night. We've amassed quite the collection. Wine and wine tastings are Chef Jerry's expertise and you feel that with every winemaker Schola brings in. The best part about going to classes at Schola is Chef Jerry and Chef Amy. They are great teachers and fun people. Learning to cook can be stressful but that is not the case there. The chefs both make you feel comfortable while cooking in the kitchen. When we visit Schola we feel like family. read more

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Schola Cooks was an absolute amazing experience. From the communication with Amy, to the food, the experience and hospitality. I chose this place from a recommendation of a friend; therefore, I held my husband's birthday dinner here last night. We had a total of 20 people. I chose the Steakhouse menu. We had ribeye, salmon, lobster stuff twice baked potato, creamed spinach and brownies. My husband, our friends and I are still talking about the experience. We really enjoyed ourselves cooking, having fun and interacting with one another. We will be back read more

Schola - Ribeye, lobster twice baked potato, creamed spinach. - Cooking Schools Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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My boyfriend treated me with a Date Night class for my Birthday. We have previously been to Baltimore Chef Shop in Hampden, and had a great experience. I wish I could say the same for Schola. There doesn't seem to be a cap for the number of participants. It's a big space, but 11 couples (22 people) was entirely too many people. There were more people than tasks to complete, so many ended up just standing around much of the evening. My boyfriend and I were given one task to do together (make a sauce), and that was it for 45 minutes. At Baltimore Chef Shop, in a class of about 12-14 people, I had done 3 different tasks on my own in about 1.5 hours. The food was very good, and the one chef there was friendly, but for $80 per person I expected to learn/cook a whole lot more. Perhaps the classes that aren't specified as "date nights" are less popular, and would make for a more hands-on experience. We made the best of the evening, but will not be returning. read more

I've been here twice now. The first was for a private event for a bridal shower brunch and the second was for their Cuban cuisine night. Both times, Chef Amy was the hostess. She is very friendly and accommodating. The place is BYOB and glassware is provided. We didn't bring one so Amy let us know that there is a liquor store on the corner and said we could go grab something before she started. This isn't a cooking class where everyone does the same thing and makes the same dish. Rather, tasks for the entire menu is divided up among the group to create a family style meal at the end. Both times, Amy had started a few things that would take longer to make and would bounce around station to station to provide directions and check in on things. Although some recipes didn't come out as planned, she was still able to save them go have a delicious meal! I learned a new skill in making caramel from scratch! read more

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Jerry Pellegrino and Amy von Lange have created a wine and fun-filled experience in Mount Vernon. They have a cooking class schedule that covers making pasta, wine tasting and regional menus. Generally, there are 20 or so folks gathered around a common theme. I have had the pleasure of attending two different classes; an a whole lot of wine. Most of these classes are BYOB, so grab some friends pick a night/course and head to Mount Vernon. After Jerry welcomes the group, Amy divvies up the jobs and the groups are off to races - grating cheese, rolling beignet dough, slicing onions, and breaking down octopus. The octopus was fun, we watched her take out the beak, and saw the ink sac. It's actually a lot less intimidating than you think. There are stations all over the Schola Cooking space; everyone can kind of spread out and work on different dishes. The students do most of the prep work and the Chefs mostly direct the operation. The prep and the cooking takes about an hour or so. I like these guys. The whole night is entertaining. There is a large communal table in the middle of the kitchen, so once your task(s) are finished, grab a seat and refill your glass of wine. It gives you the chance to chat with your neighbors about what they do and the dish they prepared. Once everything is plated, dinner is served family style. Remember though, the food is made by your comrades - not all of them experienced chefs, so be nice! read more

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I have probably done 10 cooking experiences now, at Schola & always have an amazing time! This Christmas, we gifted our family a private class, where we picked the menu beforehand, and then my family came together to prep, make and EAT what we had created. It was a great experience, much more interactive than a just meal out together. Chefs Amy+Jerry are always easy-going and fun-spirited and really make for a great experience! You can't go wrong with BYOB! Uber is the way to go...and take more wine than you think you will drink...it goes down easy while cooking & conversing. read more

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I don't feel I learned much from the cooking class. The setup was that each person or small group worked on various parts of the dinner throughout the night. My wife and I mostly worked on the broth and received very little guidance on how to prepare it. I was hoping to get tips on preparation and overall cooking. Like - cut it this way instead with the knife, don't cook it this way because it leads to this instead do it this way. We got none of that. Class was $50 per person. We showed up, made a dish that was barely explained to the group with no guidance and had dinner at the end. Other guests were friendly and welcoming. Would not recommend. read more

Short version: GO THERE NOW! Longer version: The most fun you'll have being "put to work" in the kitchen! Chefs Amy and Jerry are wonderful hosts. Their space is cozy and beautiful and they are generous with their knowledge and their senses of humor. The food rocks, you get to meet new people, and you don't have to clean up after yourself. What could be better? Answer: not much! The winemaker dinners are a treat. The regularly scheduled classes are a blast. The flexibility with private team-building events is awesome. read more

Schola - Korean BBQ lunch - Cooking Schools Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I scheduled a session for my husband's birthday event and received a message the night before at 9pm about the class being cancelled due to the lack of participants. I wish I would've known sooner of the cancellation so I could've planned something else in it's place. Schola should honor their commitment to teaching the class, regardless of how many participants they have. Needless to say, I won't be returning here. Not worth it. read more

I went here for a date night! I had no idea what to expect but i have to say the night was pretty fun! My husband who loves to cook absolutely loved this place and was highly impressed with Schola! Chef Amy was very fun and easy going ! It is BYOB another plus! Be prepared to get your hands dirty and by the end of the night enjoy many delicious dishes! Our group was very friendly and everyone was awesome to cook with! We will definitely be back! read more

Schola - Salmon at Schola....yummmm - Cooking Schools Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

My boyfriend and I participated in the Southern Brunch cooking class and we had an amazing time! I can't wait to try more classes. Chef Jerry is very personable and made everyone feel at home. He gave everyone a task and we all pitched in and cooked together. The end resulted in a very delicious meal served family style. I love how food brings people together! read more

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Chef Jerry was so kind and funny! I surprised my boyfriend with the "Art of Making Bacon and Sausage" cooking class and we had a fabulous time. At first, I thought the class would be too full, but once you break out in stations there is plenty for everyone to do and assist with. The bacon was hands down some of the best bacon I've ever had in my life and something I'm glad we can now recreate for friends. There was plenty of food for everyone and the facilities were very nice. We met some pretty interesting people in our class. We would definitely go back to try another class :P. Tip - Do NOT forget to BYOB, but if you do... Spirits of Mt Vernon is down the street and offers a 10% discount to students. read more

The cooking classes are fun and informative and take place in an adorable room, and are taught by two instructors who are very kind and enthusiastic about food, cooking, and baking. I've learned a lot about food there and will keep attending myself. Usually the classes start with ~30 minutes of explanation/history, ~1.5 hours of cooking and prep, and finish with ~30 minutes of eating and drinking, but that varies a little based on the complexity of what's made. read more

After our first trip we were really impressed. Then we saw that you serve octopus rather than squid. Octopus killing and consumption is a no-no for many who understand that species. Even though we loved your other food, we won't be back and won't recommend unless you stop using octopus and note that somewhere on your site. Please substitute squid because we'd love to be able in good conscience to make Schola one of our favorites. BJG in Annapolis read more

A kitchen hangout, not a school: I was pretty disappointed in the class I attended last week - Italian Happy Hour. I am a relatively experienced cook who makes a lot of Italian food and would always like to learn something new. We started a half an hour after the start time. I popped out to add money to my meter and missed names/intros - it's possible there was also some overview of what we were doing and why, but it couldn't have been long. We were all given a simple prep task to start with: I was asked to cut one onion into slices. People then drifted towards whatever task they desired and stirred, etc. I helped roll and stuff some arancini (pre-made risotto, pre-made flour mix to roll them in - didn't see ingredients, proportions, etc) then wandered around hoping to learn something. Unfortunately, *there were no tips or recipes shared.* In general, people were drinking wine, chatting about life, and quasi- participating. I asked the couple who was stirring the eggplant caponata what they were looking for/when they'd know they were done - the response was "we don't know, we keep stirring and she comes by and adds things." I asked people who were grinding meat for meatballs what type of meat it was. They didn't know. When we 'finished', there was a table full of food, one of the dishes of which had been prepared entirely by the chef before we'd arrived. I wound up with a heavy-snack of a few different types of Italian food I couldn't precisely recreate at home. I'd enjoyed myself meeting people and chatting about cooking/life, but I'd come to the $50+ session at the "cooking school" with the hope of learning, and I did not. I felt like they didn't live up to their advertising (calling themselves a school, referring to these as classes), and it seemed a high price tag for the hangout it was. This was not made up for by alcohol - it's BYOB, folks, the wine was not included. read more

I took the Chesapeake cuisine class! We absolutely loved every minute of it! Its BOYOB so bring your favorite wine or beer! The instructors were phenomenal and made sure we all got to be involved in the cooking process. We loved sitting down and enjoying our meal with the others in our class! This is the perfect gift for any occasion! read more

My fiancé and I just participated in Schola's date night cooking class and had a blast! Great food, atmosphere, and people! I can't wait to take my next class! Highly recommend! read more

Schola - Cooking Schools Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Went to an event here that was wonderful! Learning from Chef Jerry Pellegrino was easy and fun. He made the class enjoyable and really knows his stuff. I look forward to going back again! read more

i seriously love this place! Chefs Jerry and Amy have developed a really fun and unique experience with Schola that keeps me coming back for more. If you enjoy cooking and time with friends, as well as the opportunity to meet some new friends who share the same interest- it's definitely worth giving Schola a shot. They have classes ranging from knife techniques to the farmers market classes and wine dinners, and they are always working on offering new and different types of classes too. You might not make every component of the meal (understandable as some things take much longer to cook than a class might allow), but you get recipes after each class and I always leave having picked up at least one new piece of information. It can be a little busy in some of the more crowded classes (but they do try to limit them to 16 people or less I believe), which may be intimidating to some. But if you've ever worked in a restaurant or hotel you may recognize the "controlled chaos" that can happen in a kitchen...almost like a dance when done well. and then you get to eat all the fruits of your labor, family style, with all of your new friends. I've taken like 5 classes now i think? The food has been really good to excellent, keeping in mind it's mostly us home chefs working under the guidance of the pros, not everything turns out perfect- but i wouldn't expect it to, and the fun of the social experience more than makes up for any inconsistencies. Definitely a great alternative to the regular meal out on the town. read more

Thank you Jerry and Amy for an amazing, tasty and FUN birthday dinner! A couple of weeks ago I had a birthday party and invited 15 friends and family members to cook with me at Schola. Jerry and Amy were very flexible with meal planning and everything was delicious. We are looking forward to doing more classes with them soon. read more

We too experienced tonight's rollercoaster evening. At this point I feel generous giving even 2 stars..we were so surprised by the lack of professionalism, the lack of any kind of welcoming, direction, enthusiasm, anything. It just progressively got worse as the night went on. We were yelled at several times. We worked on making one of the three pastas for most of the night, but we never even got to eat it since it was the dish that was never taken off the burner. We are the "students" that we bring blamed I'm guessing..we were ordered four times to put this pasta into water that wasn't even boiling yet and it never did. I think she ended up throwing away much of the food which was terrible. The other two pasta dishes could have been amazing, but the pasta had been left to cook too long so it became mush and the other was unevenly cooked. This should have been a fun, no-brainer evening but it was horrible. We ended up having to go somewhere else for dinner. Just a very weird and disappointing experience..we were sure this had to be an isolated experience but sadly it sounds like others have had similar experiences. There was a couple who left before dinner was "served." Not sure how a business can run like this, but I can't imagine coming back. read more

Attended the fondue class. It was not a class, but rather an experience. I did not learn how to make fondue and was given no recipes to take home. We each participated in one chore of fondue making, i.e. cheese grating or chopping, then waited for the others to finish their station. Then at some point it was put together into a fondue. There was plenty of food to go around, 3 types of cheese fondue (one wasn't very good) and one chocolate fondue, but it was overpriced for what you got, we could've gone to the Melting Pot and had a better, and less costly meal. read more

I've been to Schola a couple times now. A really fun alternative to your normal dinner plans. You will surely meet a bunch of new people due to how process works, moving around the kitchen/space mingling and working at the prep stations. Be sure to ask for any recipes that you might want and they will email them to you afterwards. The BYOB is a great idea as it actually saves you money. read more

Did the taste of India last night with a friend and it was fantastic. The food was great. The group was fun. Chef Amy was helpful and made the whole evening fun. Makes me want to sign up for a class every month. read more