The reason I'm giving this a three stars is because of the lack of vegan/vegetarian options, which is surprising for the PNW. I've taken a few classes here at this point: How to Taste Paella Deep Dish Pizzas The classes have been a great learning experience. There is a lot of thought that goes into how the steps are broken down and explained to all the students. I also appreciate the snacks and drinks they provide us right when we enter the class (this is especially nice if you're going to the class directly after work). The classes are awesome and yes the prices are steep but you are paying for almost 2-3 hours of instruction, the experience of meeting others interested in learning how to cook, and then in most cases a whole meal and dessert at the end (however this last part is only valid if you're not a vegetarian in most of the full meal classes - they do offer classes focused on donuts/pies/breads etc). read more

I took "Palestinian Home Cooking" at the pantry and I loved it! Everyone got to help prep and cook. It was a great environment to learn in and it was a really fun time. My favorite part besides cooking was enjoying a family style meal afterwards. I picked the class specifically because of the chef and her style of cooking. They seem to have a lot of great quality instructors that come through to teach and I hope to come back for another class soon. read more

Recently went here for mother's day for the crepe class, and it was so much fun for the entire family and so much good food. It was a great mix of instructional teach and watch the instructor make and example of so of the home-made nutella sauces and hands on of us make the crepes our selves. We made a 3 different type of crepe and vanilla crepe with Carmel sauce and apples, a whole wheat crepe with nutella, and a buck wheat crepe with cheese and ham. All were amazing and something I feel like you can make at home as well. There was lots of food the entire time so go there hungry. I wanna go back and take another class there. Very fun and earned a lot of great skills! read more

Love. Love. LOVE! LOVE The Pantry. I was lucky enough to have a friend request that I join her in assisting one day over a year ago. Since then I've witnessed countless fantastic classes from Turkish, Belgian, Thai Street Food, Southern Home Cooking, Christmas Gifts, Halloween Candy, Rabbit is the New Chicken, Dim Sum, Malaysian Noodles, South Indian, North Indian, Eggs Benny, French Supper, Food in Jars, Moroccan, Summer Salads, Acid, Gluten Free Baking, Greek Small Plates, Fat, Savory Pies, Ramen, Cassoulet, AND Food Photography. You know, to take awesome pictures of all the fantastic things I can now make. Wow that's a list. The instructors are always fantastic and the ladies running the show have created a fantastic community and conversation around both lost and new arts of cooking. The space is lovely and feels like home no matter what time of year! I strongly recommend attending one of their family style dinners! Not only will you make new friends around the big, wooden table but you'll be spoiled rotten with tasty treats and flowing beverages! I'm grateful to have found The Pantry, treat yourself and a friend to a class or few. You will leave satiated and satisfied! read more

I went with my co-workers to a daytime cooking of Spanish Street foods. This place is a lot of fun. We began this experience and finished it with a lot of good cheer. It definitely does not feel like a lesson as much as a culinary experience with yourself in the front, cooking! Our course with Spanish Street food was informative to say the least. We learned about the use of chilling the filling of pastry so it does not melt the butter in the pastry dough and deep frying churros without splattering oil everywhere. I was also surprised at how laid back the instructor was. And I'll say this again, at no point did it feel like a class, as much as playing and cooking with friends. The instructors at Pantry really know how to bring the fun out of cooking. In the end, the food was pretty good. Since the instructors provided the ingredients, prepping was almost too easy. This is the part where the instructor's knowledge of ingredients makes the difference between good and excellent. Without their choice of delicious ingredients, the food would have been mediocre.The preparation and cooking does factor into the quality. But overall, the skill level of participants does not matter. I think the Pantry deserves a 5 star because of how fun this experience was for me. I would gladly go back again with friends to cook something wonderful! read more

Incredible experience at the Pantry! Our instructors and helpers are 10/10. The classes are relaxed, easy to follow and worth the value. My only feedback is o wish it was easier to book classes! Otherwise, couldn't recommend the pantry more read more

I LOVE the idea of the Pantry -- a local space dedicated to teaching food craft and exposing folks to all the local, organic goodness that the region has to offer -- and in theory it has surpassed all of my expectations. The Pantry plays several different roles to further its basic mission. They teach awesome, yet genuinely unique cooking classes (Homemade Halloween candy? Cure your own sausage?). They have all-evening family-style dinners that show off various local foods. I heard they are even planning to source some homemade ingredients for Delancey's amazing pizza! My wife and I went to the Apple Harvest family-style dinner last week and had a wonderful time. The food was amazing, and it was great meeting and talking to the other guests. I loved the soup (apple & celery, with some sort of pesto garnish -- I never would have guessed that it would make a good combination, but it was delicious!). We also volunteered to assist the pizza class (taught by Brandon of Delancey fame). My experience was nothing like j. m.'s. Everyone who worked there was courteous and generous with their time. That said, teaching a cooking class is hard and a lot needs to happen behind-the-scenes to make things feel easy and seamless for the guests. If you want to learn the material, you should just take the class. Assisting is a nice way to see how the Pantry works, pick up some of the content, and build up credits to use for other classes or family-style dinners. But I definitely wouldn't recommend it as your first introduction to the Pantry. If you really want to see what the Pantry is about, actually take a class or go to a dinner. read more

I love everything about the pantry, I can't recommend it enough. It is worth fighting to steal a coveted spot within hours of a class being released (before they sell out) and booking your schedule months in advance. I have always known my way around the kitchen but I am so much more confident now. My family is always excited whenever I reach for my recipe pile I brought back from The Pantry. read more

I love the Pantry! I've taken classes here for over two years now and truly believe they deliver the highest quality cooking classes. They are aware that it's hard to get into classes, and they're working on it! The best thing I've found is to follow them on Facebook, where they announce when classes will be released - so you can quickly sign up through their online scheduling system. The wait list also works, so if you really want to get into a class it doesn't hurt to put yourself on it. People may balk at the price of the classes, but you're getting about 3 hours of instruction with carefully vetted instructors (some are involved in the Seattle food industry and can give you great insight), a delicious meal that you just cooked and two alcoholic beverages. All the classes are hands-on and interactive. The classes are also very diverse, some are heavily technique-based and some aren't. The results are always the same - I go home with a satisfied belly and confidence to recreate the things I've learned in class. read more

I took the Winter Greens class with my mom last Saturday. I got her this as a Christmas gift. I'll start out by saying the food was DELICIOUS and I'm overall glad I took the class. I learned a lot of helpful tips and also was able to learn new recipes using greens I don't normally cook with. The teacher was great - I liked him a lot and he was super encouraging and knowledgeable. The setting is adorable - would have loved to be there on a nice sunny warm day to sit outside and enjoy the food. The only downside to it was that you don't really get that much hands-on work throughout the class. Our class made several dishes - risotto, collard greens, biscuits, bean & escarole dish, and panzanella salad - but all I really ever did was cut a few onions and rip a couple greens' leaves up into bite size pieces. For the most part, I just watched other more aggressive classmates & the teacher cook. I really do wish the class was structured so that you each personally make your own dishes. I feel like I'd learn better that way and it would be more fun. Not sure if I'd take another class again - considering it was $80/person, but I am definitely glad I tried it. read more

Been twice with the good friend who introduced me. Pricey, but really worth it both times. Fun chefs, top notch ingredients, lots of learning on offer, and a warm, congenial atmosphere. read more

Chop, Saute, Eat. A variety of hands-on cooking classes from cheese-making, jam-making, pies, thai-street food and more. Sign up early or get yourself on a waiting list. These classes are hard to get-into, and rightfully so. They are chock-full of tips and are extremely interactive. In my class, Thai Street Food, we learned techniques to clean/grill squid, prepared fried chicken wings, a red curry, sticky rice, and betal leaf appetizer. Becky, our teacher, was meticulous, knowledgeable, and energetic. There were 12 of us that worked together to prepare this extensive meal from scratch. At the end, we savored the bites that we worked so hard to make. It was a 3-3.5 hour and very reasonably priced. These clases make great gifts for both the amature and curious chefs. read more

I enjoyed my cooking class here and learned the basics of braising as well as some great tips. I would recommend for people to come, as you will certainly have fun. My main suggestion, though, would be to modify the recipes so that they are healthier. For instance, all of our recipes were extremely heavy on the salt, butter, cream, and fat, and their excessive use actually detracted from the essential flavor of some of the main ingredients, such as the brussel sprout and lamb, for instance. It is really easy to make a dish taste good with fat, but in this day of promoting healthy eating (think Michelle Obama!), it would really be great to have a cooking class that teaches you to make delicious meals that are also healthy. And it can be done. Regardless, I learned the basics of braising and modified the recipes they gave us to suit my own tastes. Thanks! read more

The family-style dinners at the Pantry make for such a memorable evening! The food is artful, plentiful, delicious and wonderfully unpretentious. The space is perfectly designed and decorated for the dinner-party feel. The hosts are gracious, engaged, and take a lot of pride in their food. This is such a great concept and the Pantry team pulls it off in a warm and genuine way. A must for Seattle food experiences. read more

THIS PLACE IS A GEM!!! I have taken a cooking class and attended two dinners at The Pantry and all have been fantastic. The owners go to great lengths to make you feel at home and are both excellent teachers and accommodating hosts. The space itself is cozy and beautifully done and the food is extraordinary...whimsical, creative, and all out delicious (especially the desserts). In a city with a plentiful supply of locally oriented, community based kitchens, The Pantry stands out head and shoulders above the pack. I can't wait for the next release of classes and dinners for the new year! read more

I went to The Pantry for a Family-Style dinner and was blown away. The walkway highlighted by lanterns, DIY garden and patio set the tone before entering. A lovely elderflower cocktail met me at the door along with savory aromas, and other excited guests. The interior is simple, modern and cozy. (Not in the 'cozy studio apartment' kind of cozy, but the harvest dinner at the farm with all your family and friends style of cozy.) Each dish was creatively simple and the pairings unforgettable. The Beet Infused Ravioli was easily my favorite. I left full, happy and inspired to go work some magic in my own kitchen. Worth every penny. read more

I just got take out from the pantry and to say I was disappointed was an understatement. The food was bland and lackluster. We got the Indian comfort food. I don't know if they just had an off night but it isn't something I will be getting again. Save your $55 and go somewhere else.... read more

I'm wavering between a 3.5 and a 4 so I rounded up. I think once I have taken a couple more classes (It's definitely good enough to take more classes!) I will be better able to properly give this place an even more accurate review. I came for a pork bun cooking class and had fun. It is family style, you get to know each other pretty well by the end of the night. They start with recipes printed and pencils for you to take your own notes. They do a lot of the prep work for you and then we work together to get the dishes out on time. The pace seemed a bit rushed, but I suppose that is to be expected with so many dishes. We made everything for the dinner, the pickled veggies, the meat, the bread, the fresh pepper spicy sauce, and the tea eggs. Everything tasted great, but a little too sweet for my taste. I think I would have preferred if they gave options for altering the recipes for different tastes. Signing up for classes can be tricky as they fill up really really quickly, but I managed to sign up for a couple more classes (this time with some friends). I'm hoping to have more information so I can update my review once I have taken those classes. read more

I need five more stars to make this review correct. I went to The Pantry's pizza making class (taught by Laura). I'm a huge pizza lover and conneseur, as well as a fan of Delancey's, the partner pizzeria of The Pantry. This was one of the best nights I have had in a long time. I made delicious pizza, had incredible instructions from the lovely Laura and her sidekick Megan, had a great time, and learned so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you read more

The Pantry - My creation - Specialty Food Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I volunteer at the Pantry on a regular basis, and I look forward to every class. Olaiya, Brandi and Paige are all super friendly and knowledgeable. The space is amazing, I always wish my own kitchen was as lovely as theirs. I learn something every time I go, from learning where the best place to buy a chicken (local farmer's market), how to brine and roast....or one of my all time favorites was the Knife Skills class. Learning how to dice an onion in a quick way without tears - a useful skill that I use all the time. The food is amazing - roasted beets and arugula salad (with homemade mustard vinaigrette) or braised short ribs over creamy polenta. I also love that they bring in guests to teach various classes (usually following a recently released cook book). It's a wonderful concept, an inviting space filled with friendly people who love food as much as I do! read more

I really, really wanted to like this place, since I have a quasi-love affair with Delancey. The pantry's got almost everything-- homey decor, an amazing side garden, a great list of events and classes-- but I couldn't get over the bad vibe from those teaching the class. Disclaimer: I came as a volunteer, wanting to learn while taking a more active role in helping others... so my experience might be quite different from someone taking an actual class or enjoying a dinner there. That said, I could never imagine volunteering here again after this first experience. I'm pretty handy in the kitchen and pretty low-drama, but found the instructors condescending, ungracious, awkward and very pretentious. Pretty miserable 5 hours-- but those actually taking the class were fun, engaging and interesting so when I wasn't being scolded for not knowing where everything was, I did have a few good conversations. Bottom line: I'll still enjoy copious visits to Delacey, but not to the Pantry. Being more accommodating and welcoming goes a long way, especially if one wants to cultivate good volunteers and start making a name for a local business with great potential. read more

I've now taken quite a few classes at The Pantry, and I'm starting to get a better understanding of which instructors offer true hands-on learning experiences and which are more about cooking while you watch. I think Brandi is the best instructor. I took my first class with her--a pie and tart class--and learned so much. It completely changed my techniques, reset my muscle memory, and added to my baking confidence. On the other end of the spectrum, Becky is funny, but her teaching approach is strict and sometimes scold-y. She runs a tight ship--too tight. I haven't walked away from her classes with much new knowledge or ability. I will avoid classes with her in the future, because her style and my preferences just don't line up. The Pantry is wonderful source to have access to. I will continue to take classes there (my finger is ALWAYS on the trigger when I find out classes are coming out), but it's been interesting to see which classes change my life (for real) and which leave me feeling like I could have spent my money more wisely elsewhere. read more

Update: 1.28.2016 The class was fun and the setting was really classy. I went to a Badass Bartending: Winter Craft Cocktails class and Anna is a great teacher. The drinks were really interesting, tasted great, the lesson was fun, I liked the recommendations of types of booze. The reason why it's not 5 stars is because you're paired into groups of two. I went with someone I knew, so it was ok, but if you go alone or in an odd group, you'll be paired with a either a teacher or a stranger. Again ok, if you're cool with strangers. The problem with the paring is, if you're with someone who wants to do all the mixing and shaking, you won't get to. The class was 80+ and for that amount, I'd like it to be more hands-on experience. Also, the introduction took forever. Asking everyone their name, and why they're interested in drinking a cocktail is a huge stalling technique. And there's always that one person who loves to talk about themselves. To be honest, I don't care about anyone else's name, I just wanted to learn how to make something cool/tasty. I would have a hard time selling this class to the C-level people I work with. I'd suggest it, with these details. To my Gluten Free Peeps: The last bit of information, I am gluten free, it sucks, and I knew going into it, the I wouldn't be able to taste all the drinks. No problem I get that. However, I had emailed ahead of time to ask about the snacks they said they'd provide. Great, they had gluten free snacks. Major problem, cross contamination. If you're not first in line, then everyone is touching their bread spoon/fork to the cheese and back and fourth. A GF person cannot eat anything that is gluten free if this happens. I asked if they could separate snacks on the side for me, which they did, after a discussion about cross contamination. Which is honestly, annoying. The person that was helping me, was very nice too, I have no issues with her, but having to explain the details of an allergy, is beyond time consuming. FYI - It's impossible to get a class. Have fun trying. I've been trying for 2 years now. I'll change my review when I actually get in and take something. The wait-list sucks too. Maybe, if you're online at the moment the class comes open, maybe you'll get lucky enough to get the class. read more

Took a class here. The content of the class itself was okay but slim. Around what you'd expect to learn from watching a good half hour cooking show. Five recipes, two of which were interesting and unusual, two of which were very pedestrian, and one of which was copied near-verbatim from a cookbook. Very modest amount of knowledge transfer for a three-hour class. The cooking tasks were half done ahead of time, and half distributed among the ~15 people in attendance, so there wasn't much hands-on work, either. For the cost and nuisance of getting a spot in the classes, I'd expect something with more concrete value: practice with specific ingredients, techniques, or tools rather than just chopping a few common vegetables. There were also quite a few people who looked like they'd never been in a kitchen before, enthusiastically but haplessly making a mess of food that would eventually be on your plate. There was zero feedback or quality-control by the instructor, so people who mangled their tasks will go right on thinking they did things correctly. The prepared food at the end was nice, but eating food we didn't make for the last 20% of the time drove home that these classes are much more about being in the Delancey cooking class scene than they are about actually learning to be a fundamentally better cook. This felt like dropping the cost of a very nice dinner to watch a cooking show, spend 10 minutes actively cooking, and then attend a spartan party with a bunch of self-absorbed strangers. read more

I have been a student and a class assistant for over a year now. I find Olaiya's teaching style informative, without being preachy or elitist, and her warm personality and love of food shines through. I was thrilled when Olaiya teamed up with Brandi to open the Pantry at Delancey. The space is gorgeous, welcoming and homey. The Pantry is something that Seattle needed: a community space where food lovers could learn about food, gather around a table for family style dinners, and be part of a community. The classes offered are diverse and unique, and as an avid home cook who's pretty confident in the kitchen, I always learn something new. I like how the classes are hands on, so you're always participating, instead of just listening to someone talk. As as assistant for many classes, I've found them enthusiastic, generous and appreciative- and REAL. There are no chef-y airs here. I look forward to assisting, and taking, more classes at the Pantry- and it's my top recommendation when a friend is looking for a good cooking class. read more

The Pantry is an amazing space & experience. Being a class assistant is a fun and educational experience. Yes, you may be washing dishes and helping behind the scenes during the class, and therefore might not get to see everything that happens during the entire class. But overall it is a fun experience with great people & wonderful food! If you only want to learn to cook, then just pay to take one of their awesome classes. read more

for anyone interested in cooking, eating, and learning about food, the pantry is the place to be. i was thrilled when i heard olaiya land was going to be opening her own space, having participated in and volunteered at many successful classes she taught at delancey. olaiya and partner brandi henderson have leveraged their culinary expertise and design aesthetic to create a space which fosters community, one of food enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. i enjoy their classes, but i relish the opportunity to volunteer with olaiya, brandi and the group of culinary professionals with whom they work. i get to learn from and interact with a great group of people who are passionate about their craft and help to foster their love of food. in addition to the cooking classes, i've taken a great photography class from chef and photographer ashley rodriguez (not without salt). if nothing else, please attend a family style dinner where you can sit at their gorgeous, custom-made table and enjoy a fantastic, comforting meal and some excellent conversation. if you're anything like me, after each visit you'll be checking their website, planning your next trip. read more

Have I not yet written a review for this wonderful place? We first found it from taking classes from one of the chefs at Pantry at our local PCC. She was an amazing chef and instructor and mentioned the dinners at Pantry. Since then we've been to several. All have been FABULOUS and we have met so many kind and wonderful people attending. We hope to get to more in the future. Pantry at Delancey, you have a wonderful staff! Your dinners make such a great date night out. Everything is so good. We just attended their spring dinner, amazing! read more

6 of us signed up for the recent Moroccan Family-style dinner; what a wonderful treat! Not only was the food plentiful, it was divine. The wine pairings were well matched and the pours incredibly generous. What an special, special space with great hosts who are making the idea of dining as a community come to life. Thank you for bringing The Pantry to the coolest neighborhood in Ballard. Excited to sign up for another evening of epicurean delight. read more

LOVE the Pantry! Love it. At present I am signed up for three classes and have several more I would love to take. Ah, to be made of time and money. Today's tough choice is between Cooking with Salt and Deconstructed Lasagna. I have already taken a handful of classes - all fantastic - too difficult to name a favorite. However, one the parts of the evening that i like the best is when everyone comes together around the table to share a meal at the end of class. The students, the volunteer assistants and the instructors all gathered around the gorgeous table debating which is the best dish of the evening. One of the most memorable nights I have had in 2011 was a Moroccan family dinner at the Pantry. The food was delicious. Amazing. I'd like to tell you my favorite dish but I keep tittering between the salad with insanely good roasted carrots with cumin and the crazy delicious shrimp with pistachios. I went to the dinner alone and with a little trepidation, but quickly found everyone to be very friendly and committed to the idea of sharing a family style meal. I'll will definetly be back in 2012 for more classes and family dinners!! read more

Five of us were lucky to score reservations for one of The Pantry's recent crab dinners this month. The dining room was beautifully decorated, table was cleverly covered in newspaper for the crab feasting, and the stage was set for a delightful evening. We were first greeted by wonderful appetizers such as sautéed greens on Johnny cakes, fresh oysters, etc., then served amazingly fresh Dungeness crab with 3 sauces and roasted potatoes. Rounding out the meal was a butter head salad with fabulous cheese dressing, concluding with the grand finale - a lemon curd mousse almond cake trifle with caramel brickle garnish. Service was warm and professional. Score another 5-star evening for Olaiya and Brandi at The Pantry. BTW, new cooking class schedule is now available on its website. read more

I attended one of the Pantry's dinners very early on and it left me wishing we had something comparable here in the Bay Area. We're lacking in the awesomeness that is The Pantry. The hosts were gracious and welcoming, the food was thoughtfully prepared, and the folks in attendance were excited about Seattle and food-- sure. But even more than that there was an air of enthusiasm about what they're doing at the Pantry: good conversation, a stunning atmosphere, and lovely food...I'll be back next time I'm in town. It's at the top of my list. read more

I recently had a chance to attend the Spring Roast class. We made herb stuffed lamb, turnips with malt aioli, asparagus with white beans and preserved lemons and a strawberry and rhubarb claufoutis. I loved the setting and it was great meeting new people who were there. The size is small enough that you actually get to know the other people in your group. I also love how there are local items you can purchase. The food was great. I had never had turnips before and I loved them. I will try and make them at home. I like that the class is a good mix of learning and participating. There were people who refused to participate but that left more opportunities for those of us who like to jump in. Why not 5 starts? There are a few suggested improvements. Given that the lamb needed to be cut, they could have provided steak knives, I had an issue cutting my meat. I am sure I missed delicious pieces because I could not cut off some of the fat. I would also be more generous with the wine. The teacher did not want people to drink too much during the class which I get, but for $90 a ticket, the participant should make that decision or allow us to bring our own bottle. Overall, I loved it and will be back. read more

Love - love -love this place. I have taken 3 classes so far at the Pantry. Jam making with Blue Chair fruit - amazing class. My canning partner of 20 years and I went together and learned so much. Wine tasting WA wines. Really fun and informative evening took my husband- he loved it. Last week I went to the Acids class and played with all kinds of vinegars and acids. Pickled and marinated for 3 hours and had a lovely lunch with wine at the end. Totally awesome space. A real gem in Seattle. read more

Great stuff. I took a rabbit butchery and cooking class. Sarah Wong was super knowledgeable, engaging, and helpful; and Jess and the crew were supportive and friendly. I hope to go again. read more