6 NYC Cooking Classes That Make Back to School Fun

While eating Latin cuisine is fun, nothing compares to a meal you’ve actually made yourself. Latin cooking classes allow you to gain a deeper knowledge of a culture through food as you understand why and how certain ingredients are used and how this relates to the history and land — not to mention you’ll impress your friends at your next dinner party. Whether you’re craving homemade tortillas, guacamole, ceviche or some sweet dulce de leche, you can find a class with the flavors you’re looking for in the Big Apple. To help you plan a delicious and educational day, check out our roundup of the best Latin cooking classes in New York.

Home Cooking New York, SoHo

In New York City’s SoHo neighborhood you’ll find Home Cooking New York, where you can take a delicious Handmade Mexican Tacos class. No longer will you have to grab the cheapest bag of shells off the grocery store shelf, now you’ll be able to make delectable corn tortillas and corn chips yourself! Moreover, the class includes whipping up made-from-scratch guacamole with a mortar and pestle as well as cooking three types of tacos — fried fish, poblano zucchini mushroom, and spice-rubbed skirt steak — with your choice of traditional fillings. This class two and a half hours and is $100 per person.

The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park

While not directly in NYC, The Culinary Institute of America is the country’s most prestigious institution for the culinary arts (just ask alumni Anthony Bourdain). Located less than two hours outside of NYC and accessible via Amtrak or Metro-North Commuter Railroad, it’s worth the trip. The school offers a number of Latin-focused cooking classes, including one of our favorites, South of the Border: Mexican Favorites. In this course, you’ll travel through Oaxaca, the Yucatán, and the Gulf of Mexico cooking enchiladas, Veracruz-style fish made with a tomato-based sauce, olives and garlic, Oaxacan almond and chicken stew, stone-ground red salsa, and pollo pibil

If you're looking to sharpen your European cooking skills, opt for Spain and the World Table, where you'll learn to create traditional Spanish tapas: garlic shrimp, chorizo-stuffed mushrooms, and lamb meatballs in almond sherry sauce. Both of these classes are $250 and five hours long, with students breaking up into small groups to prepare two or three items from the menu. Class fee also includes a CIA logo apron and a CIA Masters Collection kitchen utensil.

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Institute of Culinary Education, Flatiron

Whether you’re gluten free, love to grill, or just want to travel the Latin wourd through your palate without leaving New York, the Institute of Culinary Education has a class for you. Located in Manhattan’s Flatiron neighborhood, the school offers 21 different Latin cooking classes focused on cooking from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Spain. Try a Gluten-Free Tapas class where you’ll learn to make delicious tapas, bread included. Or opt for The Art of Ceviche, where you'll learn the ins and outs of curing different types of fish in citrus: a sweet and sour ceviche, a salmon ceviche infused with tomato and scallion, and a spicy shellfish ceviche with habanero and avocado.

And if you want to take on multiple countries at once, The South American Steakhouse takes you through Brazil and Argentina to learn what goes into making classic dishes like beef empanadas, churrasco with chimichurri sauce, and sinful alfajores. Prices range from $75 to $130 depending on the course, although there is a $360 Techniques And Flavors Of Spanish Cooking that’s three lessons long.

Chef Leticia, Varies

For those wanting an intimate Latin cooking experience, Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz — who graduated from the French Culinary Institute and has worked in famous NYC kitchens like Le Cirque 2000 and Payard Patisserie — offers private Latin cooking classes for singles and groups up to 12 people. Classes can take place at her space in Connecticut or she’s happy to come to you and cook at your place for a truly homemade meal.

Typically the focus is Brazilian fare though she accommodates all Latin cooking requests. Cooking classes are offered in two formats: Demos, where you can watch Chef Leticia at work, tasting the dishes and taking notes, and Hands-On, where you'll be prepping, cooking, and eating your own dishes. With each style class, students can customize menus to cook the dishes that interest them. And while Chef Leticia encourages people to BYOB, she’ll also have complimentary caipirinhas — the national cocktail of Brazil. Pricing varies depending on group size and location of the class.

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Lezama’s Catering, Hell’s Kitchen

Interested in immersing yourself in Spanish culture through the palate? Along with private classes, Lezama’s Catering offers a hands-on Spanish cooking class you’ll be able to replicate at home. Led by Chef Juan Suarez de Lezo, a Spain native who has cooked at top restaurants like Per Se in New York City and El Bulli in Spain, students are guided through the creation of homemade gazpacho, paella, decadent chocolate cake and, of course, sangria, which you’ll sip throughout as flamenco music plays in the background.

Students don chef hats and aprons and prepare all their own ingredients — chopping, slicing, peeling and sautéing — to help them truly understand the process of these quintessential Spanish dishes. Classes are two hours long plus time for dinner, and are limited to 8-15 people at $130 per person. 

Sur La Table, Hell’s Kitchen

Sur La Table has one of America’s largest cooking schools, offering hundreds of classes nationwide, many of which are Latin influenced. Couples (and individuals) looking for a sultry and satisfying evening should opt for their Date Night: Havana Nights class ($85.00 per person), where they’ll learn the skills necessary to prepare delicious Chicken and Mango Skewers, Garlic-Rubbed Flank Steak with Chorizo Aioli, Sofrito Rice with Cilantro, and a sweet Caramel Flan.

Love Mexican cuisine but want a lighter spin? A Fresh and Healthy Mexican Cooking course ($79 per person) takes a lighter approach to Mexican cooking while still using traditional and flavorful ingredients. During this class, students prepare Chipotle Chicken with Mango-Tomato Salsa, Grilled Fish Tacos with Pico de Gallo and Avocado, Jicama and Melon Salad, and sorbet with a tangy pineapple-tequila flavor. All classes are two and half hours long including tasting and are limited to 16 students. Each class includes a 10% coupon toward Sur La Table products and services to be used the week following the class.