Chef demonstrating sauce-making at The Gourmandise School

Hands-on cooking and baking classes in Santa Monica

Welcome to The Gourmandise School

Since 2011, The Gourmandise School has grown into the Westside’s largest recreational cooking school. Located in downtown Santa Monica, we offer small, hands-on cooking and baking classes for all skill levels, from date nights and knife skills workshops to kids’ camps and multiweek professional-level series. Our professional chef-instructors emphasize seasonal, sustainable cooking and strong foundations in classic culinary technique.

CLASSES

West LA’s largest recreational cooking school with hands-on, technique-driven cooking and baking classes for beginners to professionals.

PRIVATE EVENTS

Celebrations, team building, and fully customizable for your group. Our hands-on events are designed for every skill level.

KIDS & TEENS

We offer cooking & baking classes for kids and teens. During the summer, we offer camps for kids (ages 8-12) and teens (ages 12-16).

FILMING & RENTALS

Our state-of-the-art commercial kitchen is available for filming, photo shoots, demonstrations, teaching, recipe testing, etc.

FULL CLASS CALENDAR

OUR SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES

THE WESTSIDE’S LARGEST RECREATIONAL COOKING SCHOOL

Escape the ordinary and make unforgettable memories together in the kitchen! Our Date Night Classes are hands-on, fun, and designed for couples who want to learn new culinary skills while enjoying a delicious meal with wine pairings. Spend an evening cooking, laughing, and savoring exquisite dishes you and your partner prepare.

Build unshakable confidence in the kitchen with hands-on classes designed to sharpen your foundational culinary skills. Learn essential techniques from knife proficiency to mastering meats and sauces one class at a time. Mix, match, and curate your own custom culinary education around your schedule.

Looking for a fun way to spend quality time with your child? Our 2.5-hour Parent & Child classes are an excellent way to introduce your little chef to the kitchen! Your child (ages 6-12) will learn baking and cooking skills at their level from professional instructors. Parent and Child classes feature a variety of dishes and sweet treats.

'TIS THE SEASON...

EXPLORE OUR SEASONAL CLASSES

PARENT & CHILD CLASSES

SPECIAL HOLIDAY CLASSES

FALL BAKING CLASSES

SERIES COURSES

Whether you’re a beginner looking to build confidence or an experienced home cook eager to refine your skills, our immersive series courses are designed to build technique, creativity, and intuition in the kitchen. Register today and start cooking and baking with confidence!

Our cooking & baking series courses meet once a week, blending guided instruction with hands-on practice so you can master essential skills and elevate your craft. We offer 4-week, 6-week, and 10-week series courses.

Series Courses beginning in January 2027:
Learn to Cook: 10 Weeks
Zero to Hero: 6 Weeks
Cooking 101: 4 Weeks
Meal Prep Series: 4 Weeks
Baking 101: Foundations: 4 Weeks
Baking 201: Pro Techniques: 4 Weeks

BOOK YOUR PRIVATE EVENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

At The Gourmandise School, we create private events that bring people together through the joy of cooking and baking. Guided by our expert chef-instructors, guests work in small groups to prepare their menu entirely from scratch, learning techniques and tips along the way. Our hands-on events are designed for every skill level, making them engaging, interactive, and fun. After the cooking is done, everyone comes together to share the meal they’ve created, which is a delicious and memorable experience from start to finish!

GIFTS, RESOURCES & MORE!

GIFT SHOP

We’ve curated an assortment of baking kits and gifts for the home that will undoubtedly level up your or your gift recipient’s culinary skills and kitchen/hosting game.

STUDENT DISCOUNTS

As a student of The Gourmandise School, you’ll enjoy exclusive savings on premium culinary brands that elevate your cooking experience at home.

BEST KITCHEN TOOLS

After years of student requests, we created a curated collection of tried-and-true kitchen tools and essentials! Our Chef-Instructors handpicked every featured product after rigorous testing.

GIFT CERTIFICATES

Gift certificates are valid for our series courses, classes, and workshops. They never expire, are the perfect gift for any occasion, and can be purchased in any amount.

MEET OUR PARTNERS

We partner with these brands because we love and trust their products in our kitchen! When you use our promo codes to make a purchase, The Gourmandise School may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

LA's HUB FOR CHOCOLATE

Indulge your chocolate cravings and elevate your skills with our array of specialized chocolate classes. Whether you’re eager to learn the delicate art of chocolate tempering, embark on the journey of crafting your own artisanal chocolate from bean to bar, or create homemade bonbons that rival those of a chocolatier, we have the perfect class for you.

Even if you simply want to refine your palate and appreciate the nuances of fine chocolate, we’ve got you covered. Discover our upcoming specialty chocolate classes and treat yourself to a world of sweeter possibilities!

WHISKING UP SMILES

Hear what our past students have to say about their time in the kitchens!

    
 
 
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   Anita S  
 October 11, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such a fun and delicious experience!! Great chefs that teach, beautiful kitchen set up, top notch utensils and ingredients, wonderful experience! The best part is you only prep, touch, and cook your own food. There is no commingling of others food or items, so clean and sanitary! The chef is so patient, teaches you useful techniques and m makes it a really fun overall experience! Thank you to May for making our first cooking class such a memorable experience!
  
 
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   Chris  
 October 6, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Have taken a few classes here, most recently a 4 week cooking 101 and a 4 week baking 101. Both were fantastic. Instructors are amazing and for a person who barely cooks the recipes were easy to follow along with. Definitely recommend.
  
 
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   Linda Fermoyle Rice  
 September 7, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Just attended my third class - in fermentation.  We made sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi, and curtido.  Fermentation takes time, so I'm eagerly awaiting the results of my efforts, but the class was great.
  
 
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   John  
 September 6, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great cooking class. The whole family enjoyed it. Steak, potatoes, Caesar Salad, chocolate soufflé and a wonderful chef. Who could ask for anything more?
  
 
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   Niamh Anderson  
 September 6, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We so love the classes at the Gourmandaise Last night was the first class we did with our two adult kids. The chef Rose was amazing wonderful energy. I’ve learned so much. Food was delicious and I’m so great to get the recipes afterwards . We also did some shopping in the wonderful store there. It is expensive so we definitely wait for their 20% off offers.
  
 
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   Grace Production  
 August 31, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Gourmandise School is truly the best cooking school in town! I took a class where we started by visiting the farmers market, learning about the ingredients and choosing what was fresh and in season, and then brought everything back to the kitchen to create delicious meals. It was such a fun, hands-on experience and a wonderful way to learn how to cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and generous with their expertise. I learned so much while having a genuinely great time. Whether you’re an experienced cook or just looking to build your confidence in the kitchen, I can’t recommend Gourmandise highly enough.
  
 
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   Daniel Cox  
 August 30, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. First time taking a class at The Gourmandise School and it exceeded expectations!  We did a tour of the famous Santa Monica's Farmer's Market and made three exceptional dishes.  Our chef was incredibly knowledgeable, and the class packed a ton of information about fresh produce, preparation, and plating.  Would definitely come back again!
  
 
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   Riva knapp  
 August 10, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Instructor was great! And the class was informative and fun!
  
 
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   Claudia Manna  
 June 29, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What an incredible experience I had this Saturday at the Gourmandise School!

Melanie and her entire staff were absolutely amazing. Their knowledge and passion for food truly shine through. Melanie's culinary expertise spans from American to European cuisine, and I have to say that even when she talked about Italian cooking, she really knew what she was talking about...coming from an Italian Italian, that's a big compliment! 😊🇮🇹

I live in the Bay Area, but I already can't wait to come back. It was such a fun, inspiring, and delicious experience, and every detail made the day special.

Thank you for such a fantastic experience. See you again soon!
  
 
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   Prudence Stein-Greene  
 June 28, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Gourmandise School teaches scratch cooking and what feels like high level skills, especially compared to other classes we have taken in the past at other places. My 10 yr old just attended their summer camp and not only did learn so much, but he also developed the confidence to bake on his own. We previously have enjoyed the parent/child classes and use what we learn at home. The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and also attentive and fantastic with children. We will definitely keep coming back to learn more.

WE'RE SOCIAL... ARE YOU?

We love it when students tag us in posts, stories, and reels. Show us what you’re cooking up in the kitchens by tagging @GourmandiseLA!

Follow our Instagram for the latest updates on classes, tips & tricks, recipe videos, and more! PS: We love it when students tag us in posts, stories, and reels. Show us what you’re cooking up in the kitchens by tagging @GourmandiseLA!