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6 Cooking Classes That Will Make You a Culinary Genius

When it comes to eating, we’ve practically made it to the big leagues. We know all about Miami’s star chefs and restaurants and where to find the best doughnuts and pasta. But when it comes to re-creating our favorite dishes at home, we could use a little some major help. Cue these six cooking classes that will turn you into the next Michelle Bernstein. 

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The Culinary Academy At The Biltmore

Put those daydreams of quitting your job and enrolling in culinary school to rest—just spend a night at the Biltmore’s Culinary Academy. From French bistro-inspired fare to pasta and sauces, grilling and barbecuing, and even a surf-and-turf workshop, the Biltmore covers it all. Each class, which runs about three hours, is led by the property’s executive chef and includes hands-on instruction and tastings (in the kitchen of our dreams, we might add).

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La Cucina At La Centrale

We’ve already told you all about La Centrale and why we can’t get enough of it. (Prosecco e gelato, anyone?) So you may remember that this massive, three-story Italian paradise includes a demo kitchen and cooking studio. Sign up for an Italian cooking technique class, like an intro to Neapolitan pizza or cannoli-making or even an aperitivo cocktail workshop. Out of all of Miami’s cooking schools, La Cucina has the most robust schedule—which means you can sign up for a class almost any day of the week.

Miami Pizza School

Just off North Miami Avenue, pizza spot Mister 01 hosts boozy pie-tossing classes next door to the restaurant. You and your friends will gather in a private dining room for a lesson and, under expert guidance, learn how to toss pizza dough—while snacking on pizza and sipping complimentary wine and beer. It doesn’t get much better.  

In The Kitchen With Norman Van Aken

We’ve frequented Norman Van Aken’s Wynwood restaurant and rooftop bar Three so much we could practically run the place. (Just kidding—we’re much happier on the receiving end of the food.) But did you know the acclaimed chef also runs an adjacent cooking school? Van Aken, who hosts a number of the classes himself, will teach you everything you need to know about chicken, barbecue and Latin flavor. Classes take place a few times a month and include discussion, hands-on work and a fair share of eating and drinking. Trust us, it’s a good time.

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The Wynwood Yard

Once a month, the Wynwood Yard invites one of Miami’s best chefs to host an interactive cooking class for a couple dozen attendees. Past events have include burrata-making with Michael Schwartz (Michael’s Genuine, Amara at Paraiso), pastries with Max Santiago (former Salty Donut chef) and desserts with Soraya Kilgore (MadLab Creamery). Next month, Romina Naparstek of La Romi Bakery will stop by to teach us how to make churros with pastry cream filling, rice pudding and raspberry panna cotta verrine. You in?

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Abaco Wines & Wine Bar

OK, you caught us: This isn’t exactly a cooking class. It’s more like an opportunity to learn a ton about wine while sipping rosé and snacking on doughnuts. Every few months, the Design District’s Abaco Wines hosts an event with our favorite treat purveyor, the Salty Donut. You’ll learn about various wine varietals (sparkling, sweet, dry, red, rosé and white) and what pairs best with each doughnut (a combo we can definitely get behind). The next event is onSeptember 20 and tickets are known to sell out fast.



clarissa buch

Miami Editor

Clarissa Buch Zilberman is a writer and editor based in Miami. Focused on food, lifestyle, and travel, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit, and...