New Orleans Cooking Experience

My English niece loves the class and the food. Fun activity on a rainy day or for a change of scenery.

Just finished a magnificent dining/​learning experience with Alex Harrell chef-​owner of Angeline. He was charming and informative. For example, we know how hoecakes got their name. The menu was as fresh and delicious as you would expect from such a skilled chef. The setting was historic and we met new people who shared our interest in good food. This was a really fun evening! I highly recommend!!!

Superb food, service, and atmosphere. The best dining experience anywhere. Joined eleven other people sitting at a counter watching one of New Orleans, finest chefs prepare a multiple course meal, pulling us in periodically to help. Frank Brigtsen’s shared his experience selecting, getting, and preparing ingredients as well as techniques. He was entertaining and engaging. There are few, if any restaurants that provide this access. NOCE provides copies of the receipts as you sit, allows you to take pictures and notes. The final result was magnificent for flavor and presentation. Held in a gracious mid-​19^th century house. Prior to dinner we were regaled with the colorful history of New Orleans at the time the house was built. An eclectic story combining Napoleon, Andrew Jackson, governor Claibourne, and the pirate Jean LaFitte. The dining room setting was elegant, as was the wine cellar. Easy access to downtown via taxi (recommended), or streetcar and walking (sporty). Off street parking if you have your own vehicle. This is an excellent value as a gift, but pricey as a standalone dining experience. Treat this as dining and entertainment, and it’s a superb value. This is not the place to include if you plan to see a show or music later, it would rush the whole evening, as we were here for nearly
3 hours. I highly recommend this place for visitors, as you will get the full historical/​cultural/​hospitable New Orleans treatment!

What an amazing 3 and ½ hours! My husband and I try to visit NOLA several times a year. We both enjoy delicious food and wanted to try something different to wine and dine as well as have a cooking experience.
We had a total of 6 people in our class and Chiqui Collier was our chef. Our first course was an Oyster Pan Roast that did not disappoint. Our second Course was Chicken and Sausage Gumbo. I know everyone walked away with a few NOLA secrets on this one. Our third course was a fantastic Gulf Fish Imperial. The fish was SO fresh and yummy! The Crab imperial on top was perfection.
For Dessert (which was my husband’s favorite) was a Praline Parfait.
Chiqui did a fantastic job of including students in her class as little or as much as you wanted to participate.
We are still talking about what an amazing time we had during this New Orleans Cooking Experience. And we will definitely be back again.
Thanks for a wonderful Saturday morning/​afternoon!

One of the true gems in New Orleans for a Foodie or anyone that wants to see great chefs share their secrets. Have taken multiple classes from different chefs. Do not miss Frank Brigtsen. He can make a roux in five (5) minutes! The appetizer he prepared was a Cesar Salad that he used to serve as an entrée at his Charlie’s Seafood. What makes this Cesar special? The chef makes his own dressing from scratch. Even the croutons are unusual, twice baked with a coating of butter before the second baking. And they there is the toppings of crispy baked bacon and fried oysters. Hungry yet?

Had a fantastic time with Chef Gerard Maras. Loved his stories about cooking in New Orleans since the early 1980s and not only learned how to make an amazing meal, but he taught us a lot of techniques for cooking in general. Definitely kicked our game up a notch.
Our menu was BBQ shrimp (a classic New Orleans dish that Maras himself helped pioneer at Mr. B’s Bistro), crab and corn bisque, trout meunière with crab, and a killer homemade strawberry shortcake. All four items were absolutely spectacular.
Our class was small, only 7 people around the kitchen island. The opportunity to pick a culinary mind like Maras is really worth taking advantage of. He was happy to chat about techniques for things only tangentially related to the day’s menu. We jumped in with lots of questions and learned a ton.
We felt like we got an incredibly fun and informative cooking lesson AND one of the best meals of our entire trip to New Orleans. Will definitely return to NOCE next time we are in New Orleans.

Maybe its because Im a local but I wasnt impressed. My husband and I used a gift certificate when we went but if we paid I think I would have rather spend it– let me think– anywhere else. We love to cook so I picked a menu that we hadnt cooked ourselves so we could learn something new. There were 2 other couples participating that night. We all sat around the kitchen island and watched as the chef (Boo Macomber) prepared our food. Then we took a guided tour of the house which was the most interesting part of the evening. Then it was time to eat. We sat in the dining room and were served 3 courses (we ate an app in the kitchen) Most of the food was just ok. Then the chef offered to sell her cookbook to us. I really want to be mistaken but I think the price is $ 250 per person. For $ 500, you can do so many other great things in the city. I think I just found the best kept secret rip off in the city.

My husband and I celebrated our 23 wedding anniversary with Poppy Tooker and 3 new friends around a cooking island. This was a Saturday morning class (10−1PM) in a beautiful Creole home. Because the group was small it was up close and personal and Poppy shared her great grandmother’s secrets and lots of great stories about growing up in New Orleans. Food was amazing but more importantly Poppy made it look easy enough to replicate at home. It is $ 150 a person but well worth the splurge for people who really love to cook and want to bring Creole and Cajun cooking techniques home with them. Our menu included seafood gumbo, oysters Rockefeller, oyster dressing, creole chicken, and bread pudding. C’mon doesn’t that all sound divine?

This was an excellent experience. It’s worth every penny. I learned a lot and replicated the recipes at home. If you can go with Frank as an instructor. He’s so interesting and the food was beyond good. Ohhh. the unlimited wine doesn’t hurt either :)

5 stars all the way!
I can’t say enough good things about this experience, and it is an experience — not a restaurant.
Here’s the deal.
You are treated to an evening with a local chef where you get to sit in the kitchen with them as they cook you a wonderful 3 – 4 course meal (go with Frank Brigtsen — usually Thursday evenings).
I must warn you that it is not cheap, $ 150 per person. But for this price you get a once in a lifetime event — in my opinion.
The evening starts early, about 5:30, at the plantation on Bayou road. Judy greets all of her guests at the door and then the fun
starts. Enjoy some complimentary wine (included in the price) and relax and get to know your new dinner companions — usually a meal is for 10 people or so. Tour the plantation or simply kick back and enjoy. Judy is a wonderful hostess and does a great job of keeping the wine flowing. ;)
Then everyone moves into the kitchen where you sit around the chef while they cook your meal for you. You have the opportunity to interact and ask questions or simply listen to their stories (Frank is a great storyteller) while chatting with your new friends.
Added bonus:
Judy provides everyone copies of the recipes included in the menu so you can take notes if you’d like while the chef is preparing your meal.
Once dinner is ready you adjourn to the dining room and the feasting begins!
Definitely a special occasion venue but oh so
worth the price — at least once!
I’ve recommended it to friends, co-​workers and family over the years and I have yet to hear that anyone was disappointed in their evening.
Definitely start with one of Frank’s meals though. He is a local celebrity and started his training under the famous Paul Prudhomme of K-Paul’s.

This place is awesome. This is our third year doing the NOCE. Evening classes start at 5:30. The house is gorgeous. You’re seated around a large cooking island where one of the local chefs takes you through a complete meal. Last night, we had Chef Gerard Maras. He started with BBQ Shrimp that were exceptional – tons of pepper and butter… the Worcestershire really comes out in the sauce. While you’re sopping that up, two of us took turns making another batch because the head on shrimp were huge and we didn’t want to waste them. He took us through seafood gumbo and making a dark roux. The main entrée was Drum and a very light, simple but flavorful sauce. Now, on top of this, it’s all the wine you can drink!!! What’s not to love?! After the chef finishes the demo, Babs takes you on a historical tour of the Bed and Breakfast. She is phenomenal! After the tour, you sit down and have dinner together in the dining room. A wonderful evening and a great way to start a trip to the Quarter!