Cooking Classes to Impress Your Friends With

Aside from needing it to survive, food is a huge part of our everyday lives: we socialize around it, bribe people with it and we're constantly looking for ways to make it better. One of the best parts of food is being able to cook it yourself! Cooking at home can be a fun, therapeutic experience, with an instant reward and it's an essential skill to have.

Do you love food, but cooking isn't quite your forte? Or perhaps you're a dinner party hosting extraordinaire and want to add new dishes to your repertoire. No matter what your skill set or level of expertise, these cooking classes will help put you on the track to being the next culinary genius...well, at least at home anyway.* This list has got you covered on everything from canning to pasta making and everything in between.

*Culinary genius not guaranteed

What cooking classes have you taken in Philadelphia? Tell us all about it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @Phillyfunguide!

Spring Cooking & Tasting Demo

Who doesn't love a free class? Join the Fumo Family Branch of the Free Library on Saturday, March 21, for a free cooking demonstration. Shake off the winter blues and stews and welcome fresh veggies and seasonal vegetarian dishes with Chef Dolores! Perfect for Spring!

18th Century Bread and Brewing Class

Party like it's 1770 with this bread and brewing class from Thornberry Farms and Battlefield Brewing. On Saturday, March 28, guests of Thornberry Farms can learn how to make bread in a beehive oven and brew beer over an open fire just like our revolutionary ancestors. This is a hands-on class where you'll get to make and taste a (delicious) slice of the past - easily the coolest history lesson we've ever heard of!

Tasting Through Time: A Historic Dining Experience

Expand your palette through the confines of time with the Newlin Grist Mill this spring! Experience a five course meal with a side of history lesson; on May 16, Newlin will host this fundraising dinner where guests will enjoy a dinner with accompanying drink pairings while learning about the culinary traditions of days past. Proceeds from this event will support the restoration of the 1739 Trimble House Kitchen & Pantry at Newlin Grist Mill.

Young Chefs: Basic Culinary Arts

It's never too early to foster culinary genius in the future of dinner party hosts. The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College is hosting a series of summer camp classes for young aspiring chefs teaching everything from basic culinary arts to international cuisine, for children between the ages of 7-14. If your little line cook is already taking over in the kitchen, then consider sending them to culinary school this summer! You can view a full list of summer camp classes offered right here on the Phillyfunguide.

Frances Ellison is the Digital Content Manager for the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and handles all things Phillyfunguide, including all digital content, social media and of course, the weekly Funsavers email. Was most likely a cat in a past life. Read her portfolio, which was definitely not created by a cat (we think).