Let’s be honest: You’d rather order out for the holidays, but who has that kind of dough? Instead, most of us wind up stuck in the kitchen, rolling out our own dough and cooking turkeys or whatever else we’re scrambling to serve for a million friends and family.
You can handle it, but if you’re really worried about your skills, there are ways to get better. Chicago has a ton of food and drink classes throughout the city, many of which are aimed toward helping those who need help in the kitchen for the holidays. We’ve rounded up some of both the seasonal and standard options below, so you can impress your guests this year.
Baaa-School at Little Goat and Duck Duck Goat
820 W. Randolph St., 312-888-3455, and 857 W. Fulton Market, 312-902-3825
5:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at Little Goat, 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at Duck Duck Goat
Tickets: littlegoatchicago.com, duckduckgoatchicago.com
This pair of Stephanie Izard establishments offers weekly cocktail classes, giving you the chance to brush up on your spirits and make some cocktails that will impress your fellow holiday revelers. The price is right ($25), and the classes focus on a single cocktail ingredient and how to utilize it effectively. You might actually remember what you learn too, as it includes a tidy trio of mini-cocktails and dim sum bites.
Gingerbread House Making Workshop at Foodlife
835 N. Michigan Ave., 312-335-3663
Sunday, Dec. 17, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Email [email protected], or call to reserve.
Nothing is more festive—and, ideally, impressive—for the holidays than a decked out gingerbread house, but that can also make for a painful DIY endeavor. Foodlife can help with a gingerbread house building workshop ($25). The food hall’s executive pastry Chef Yasmin Gutierrez will lead a class full of frosting, candy and spices and help you construct a soundly sweet structure.
Chopping Block
4747 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-472-6700
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Check website for complete calendar and tickets, thechoppingblock.com
Chopping Block is one of Chicago’s most prolific places to learn how to cook, with a pair of locations and classes offered seven days a week. So, of course, the Block offers special classes for the holiday that run quite a range. For the holiday season, you’ll find classes on holiday pies and tarts ($85), a holiday dinner workshop including drinks ($90), holiday appetizer and entertaining workshops ($80-$95) and holiday cookies ($80). In each class, you’ll have to chance to practice skills and create a variety of different items before taking that newfound prowess back to your own kitchen.
Wooden Spoon
5047 N. Clark St., 773-293-3190
Check website for complete calendar and tickets, woodenspoonchicago.com
The Spoon conducts most of its classes on weekend, but the Andersonville shop has plenty of options to choose from. Unless otherwise specified, most of the classes until the New Year are imbued with the holiday spirit, with traditionally cozy, seasonal menus in the upcoming Couples’ Cooking ($80), Cooking with Booze or Beer classes ($80) and the post-Thanksgiving “Whew, It’s Wednesday!” workshop ($75). The Spoon also dips into drink-related classes as well, mostly wine and cocktails, if you’re more interested in bolstering your hand at beverage making instead.
Give Me Some Sugar
2205 W. Belmont Ave., 773-281-3154
Check website for complete calendar and tickets, givesugar.com
Baking is more precise (read: peskier) than cooking, so you aren’t alone if you’re looking to up your holiday baking game. Thankfully, Roscoe Village cake and cupcake studio Give Me Some Sugar will help you avoid soggy bottoms and over-bakes this holiday season. Sugar offers a pair of cookie workshops (both $65), a holiday cake pops class ($60), a holiday brunch course ($60) and a weekly BYOB cupcakes and cocktails class ($50). Each class offers hands-on chances to learn and includes a little something to take home when you’re done.
@lucheezy | [email protected]