While Philly has a plethora of restaurants and eateries to choose from, sharing a homecooked meal is an opportunity to exchange culture, connect over a dish and conversation, or show off expertise in the kitchen. So whether you’re looking to make a new friend over a favorite dish or sharpen your cooking skills like a knife, here are some places in the area where you can learn how to cook.
American Vegan Center
Whether you’re vegan, know someone who is, or want to try something new, the American Vegan Society can teach you no matter where you are on your journey. The society’s American Vegan Center in Old City regularly hosts cooking demonstrations, with past demos on how to make pizza quesadillas, chopped “liver” paté, and zesty festive dip. Some but not all events are free; students or those experiencing financial hardship can select the student price tier at checkout.
The Cooking Studio
Tuscan pasta, sushi, and vegan Mexican food are some of the dishes you can learn to make through The Cooking Studio. The Telford-based studio often hosts classes in Philadelphia to give attendees a hands-on experience, usually at Citrine in East Kensington.
La Cucina
Right in the heart of Center City, La Cucina at the Market brings together cooks of all skill levels to make Italian cuisine, from traditional Sunday suppers to a six-course seafood feast.
Eat Cetera
Chef Clara Park can help expand your culinary palette at Eat Cetera. A winner of the Food Network’s “Chopped,” Park teaches participants a range of skills from French bistro cooking to perfecting Korean BBQ. The events pop up at varying locations.
Fishtown Pickle Project
We hope you can open a pickle jar, because you’re going to need one. The Fishtown Pickle Project is teaching Philadelphians the old method of food production and preservation with locally sourced pickles. In the 90-minute (and BYOB) class, students learn about fermentation and quick pickling, and get two jars to take home.
Free Library of Philadelphia
Cooking isn’t just about the ingredients in front of you. It also combines art, math, science, and literacy – and the Free Library of Philadelphia is here to guide you through it all. The library system’s Cultural Literacy Center hosts free cooking classes for different age groups throughout its branches. One of its staple programs is Edible Alphabet, which teaches new English learners the language through weekly recipes. During these programs, the Free Library is teaching people how to read and modeling food literacy and healthy habits.
Walnut Hill College
What’s a better place to learn how to cook than at a culinary school? Walnut Hill College, formerly The Restaurant School, invites both amateurs and enthusiasts to learn cooking and hospitality skills through its Community Education Program. Designed to be an entry point for beginners new to the culinary arts world, it also guides seasoned professionals looking to learn a new skill.
Vetri Community Partnership
Vetri Community Partnership is nourishing the mind and body with its its various programs. Medical students and practitioners can learn about food as medicine. For students in grades 3 and up, a weekly out-of-school program teaches lessons like how to read food labels. And for the general public, participants can attend free cooking classes in its teaching kitchen.
