Cooking school · San Francisco
Hands On Gourmet
Dogpatch team building kitchen with Bay views, plus public classes and kids' camps
4.9on Google, 59 reviewsKnife skills & basics
- Private & groups
- Team events
- Kids & teens
- Gift cards
Chef’s studio · San Francisco
First Class Cooking
Chef Emily's SoMa loft: seasonal hands-on menus built on kitchen chemistry and technique
5.019 Google reviewsRanked #7 of 20 cooking schools in San Francisco
Beginners
No experience needed
Date night
Evening classes for two, and it’s BYOB
Birthdays & groups
Birthdays and private parties
Team events
Team building with a chef running the room
About First Class Cooking
First Class Cooking is Emily's school. She founded it in 2004 to make everyone a better home chef. Classes run in a remodeled live/work loft at 1 Bluxome Street in SoMa. It's around the corner from the 4th & King Caltrain station, and a wall of windows looks north toward downtown.
Public classes are hands-on. The group cooks a three to four course meal over about two hours, then sits down to eat it together. Menus are seasonal and change every month. The teaching covers knife skills, kitchen chemistry and how flavors fit together, so you can cook without a recipe at home. You're welcome to bring beer or wine. Several times a month there are Premium classes with a cocktail course or special ingredients like Dungeness crab.
Private events take 8 to 25 people for three hours. They suit team building, showers and birthdays, and Emily can also travel to your office. Virtual classes are currently private only, with optional ingredient kits shipped anywhere in the US. Google reviewers rate the school 5 out of 5 across 19 reviews.
Good to know
- You can bring beer or wine to enjoy during class and the meal.
- The loft is around the corner from the 4th & King Caltrain station.
- The private event venue is ADA accessible.
- Small adjustments for allergies and dietary concerns are often possible.
- Gift certificates can be redeemed in any class for one year from purchase.
Written from First Class Cooking’s own site and class listings, October 2026. How we write these
Classes
Read from their own listings and checked weekly. Prices are per person.
We can’t read First Class Cooking’s schedule automatically yet. See their classes on their own site.
What people say
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First Class Cooking: common questions
What happens in a public class?
The group cooks a three to four course seasonal meal together for about two hours, then sits down to eat it. Questions are encouraged throughout.
How much does a class cost?
Classes run $109 to $150 per person. The price covers all ingredients, equipment, copies of the recipes and the full meal.
Can I bring wine?
Yes. You're welcome to bring beer or wine to enjoy with the class and meal.
Where are classes held?
In a live/work loft at 1 Bluxome Street in SoMa, around the corner from the 4th & King Caltrain station.
Can I book a private group?
Yes. Private events take 8 to 25 people and run three hours: two hours of cooking and one hour of eating. Email for pricing.
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