Are you passionate about food and want to find a way to share your culinary expertise with others? You’ve come to the right place!

Hosting a cooking class is a fantastic way to engage with fellow foodies, showcase your skills, and teach others about your local culinary culture. As culinary tourism is on the rise, cooking classes are one of the most sought after activities for travelers.

Read on to find out how you can grow your eatwith profile by hosting a cooking class in just four steps.

Why host a cooking class?

  • Teach others how to cook your favorite regional/national dishes
  • Teach others about your culture through food
  • Impart your cooking skills and knowledge
  • Add to your repertoire/improve your teaching skills

Where are cooking classes held?

  • In the chef’s/host’s own home
  • In the chef’s/host’s own restaurant
  • In a  private event space or venue

If you don’t have a suitable place, consider collaborating with a friend, neighbor, or venue.

Why do people go to cooking classes?

  • To understand local culture and explore new cuisines
  • To learn new culinary skills and techniques
  • To do something fun and different with friends or partners (couples cooking classes are very romantic!)

Our research shows that guests who attend eatwith cooking classes look for authentic, hands-on culinary experiences. They generally want to learn from locals and gain a deeper understanding of the food traditions and flavors unique to the region.

So, how to host a cooking class?

1. Craft an irresistible menu

The foundation of any successful cooking class lies in the menu. However, it’s first important to think about whether you’re designing a family-friendly class, or one for adults. Think about how many people you expect to host and then consider your menu depending on your utensils and space. 

Inspiration for what to include in your menu: your favorite dishes, what you know to cook well, or any recipes that showcase local food. For example, travelers in Paris like to learn to cook typical French dishes such as soufflé or macarons,  while pasta cooking classes in Rome are very popular. You can teach your guests to cook one main dish, or several smaller dishes.

2. Share your expertise, passion, and the story behind your dishes

Whether you’re a professional chef or talented homecook, one of the most rewarding aspects of hosting a cooking class is the opportunity to share your expertise and passion for food with others. 

What to teach during a cooking class? Be prepared to guide your guests through each step of the cooking process, offering helpful tips, insights, and advice along the way. Share stories behind the recipes, tell your guests why you love the dish or why it’s so famous in your country, discuss sourcing ingredients, and preparation techniques. Try to share useful tips that your guests can apply at home.

3. Set the price of your cooking class

Set a price that covers the ingredients and your time, but one that is attractive enough to your first guests. We recommend starting with a lower price to attract guests and start generating reviews. Once you know the concept works and you’re generating bookings, you can gradually increase the price, but it is always best to start low and sell tickets, rather than block people from booking with a high price point.

4. Promote your cooking class and make it stand out

Once you’ve decided the menu, structure, and have everything in place, it’s time to create your event on eatwith. It’s key to make your cooking class stand out on the eatwith website with a catchy title, high quality and fun photos, and a detailed description of what your guests can expect. 

Once your cooking class is live on eatwith, make sure to update your calendar and promote it across your social media to reach a wider audience. Include the link of your experience in your IG bio or embed the widget into your website (see more in your Marketing Toolkit).

So roll up your sleeves and get ready to bring people together in your kitchen!

Check out some of our favorite eatwith cooking classes below:

For more information on becoming an eatwith host, click here. Our community team would be very happy to welcome you to the eatwith family!