Cooking Classes in Wellington
We bring people together for hands-on cooking classes, no prior experience necessary!
Photo: Head Chef Max Gordy of Hillside Restaurant teaching a Wild food class
Our cooking classes are fun, relaxed, and the groups are small. You'll learn tips and techniques plus some entertaining culinary history from cuisines around the world, including Middle Eastern, Italian, French and Persian. We use homegrown, organic greens and herbs straight from our very own vegetable garden - giving you access to the freshest possible ingredients!
One popular course, Cooking with the Impressionists, combines Art History with a cooking lesson based on the recipes of the French impressionists. You'll enjoy a short visual presentation of relevant art and then recreate dishes inspired by the artists.
From time to time we're honoured to be joined by special guests from around New Zealand, who host great one-off courses for those interested in practicing a particular culinary style whilst enjoying the opportunity to learn from a top chef. Keep an eye out for who's joining us next.
Our cooking classes are run all around Wellington, New Zealand. Most are currently held at Kitchen Things in Ngauranga or Canape company on Thorndon Quay in conjunction with the Wellington-based Meetup group, Savour Wellington. We have other pop-up locations too so make sure you know where your class is being held!
Click below to see 2024 cooking classes. We add new classes throughout the year.
Our cooking workshops cover a wide range of styles and techniques, whether it's learning how to make pasta, understanding fermentation, or how to sharpen your chef's knives. They are fun, social occasions that end with a shared meal, giving you an opportunity to meet new people while you learn new recipes and skills.
Anyone with an interest in learning more about a particular cuisine is welcome, even beginners. Certain classes require a more intermediate/advanced level of cooking knowledge which is specified in the class description. The majority of our classes feature recipes that are largely plant-based or vegetarian, and if meat or fish are used, we source sustainable, humanely raised or wild catch & game.
Cooking with the Impressionists
If you love French cooking and Impressionist painting, you’ll love our series of half-day workshops, with a different artist featured in each session.
Recreate dishes straight from the recipe collections of the French Impressionist painters and, while you cook, learn more about their life and works. Price includes a 45-minute visual presentation by Dr. Wendy Joyce who holds a PhD in French and 19th-century art history from Princeton University, a cooking lesson and shared meal at the end, all ingredients and recipes.
You’ll explore French Impressionism, and celebrate the good life so joyously captured by the Impressionists, with hands-on cooking classes led by a professional chef and an art historian. Join one workshop or all five over the course of the year – once you’ve done one, you’ll be sure to want to do more!
"If you love art history and you love cooking and you love eating then you'll love these art/cooking classes run by the extremely knowledgeable, interesting and entertaining Wendy. I have experienced two (Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec) and planning third already. Learn about the greatest artists of our time, look at their artworks, cook a couple of dishes relevant to them, then sit down with the group to eat, korero, and enjoy. Highly recommend - and a great birthday present too!"
Vicki B-C, November 2022
"The wellness/poke bowls workshop was really nice experience, learning some new cooking skills and techniques, time saving tips in the kitchen, some tips on nutrition, delicious and vibrant looking lunch. Throughly enjoyed it!"
Saipriya Krishna
"We attended a recent Ottolenghi-inspired Middle Eastern Vegetarian class and had an awesome time. Great vibe, Wendy is super knowledgable on food, and shares little cooking tips and hacks to make you more efficient in the kitchen along the way. Finished off with a group dinner of all the food we made - there was a tonne! And it all tasted delicious."
Joe Butler
Not sure what gift to give that foodie friend? Looking to offer them a fun experience where they’ll learn valuable skills in the kitchen? Savour Cooking School Gift Vouchers sound like the perfect gift.
wendy@savour.org.nz | (64) 022 077 4651
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Cooking classes are run from various Wellington locations including, but not limited to:
Kitchen Things
1 Glover St, Ngauranga, Wellington 6035
Canape Co
141 Thorndon Quay, Pipitea, Wellington, 6011
Vogelmorn Bowling Club Cafe
93 Mornington Rd. Brooklyn, Wellington, 6023
We proudly support Mary Potter Hospice, NZ Red Cross, Women’s Refuge, and Seeds to Feeds.