From Pasta Making in Italy to Chef Training in Japan: 9 World Cooking Classes That’ll Make You the Most Fascinating Person in the Room

Are you a home cook looking to level up your skills in the kitchen? In addition to the online guides and video tutorials you’re poring over, you may be interested in something more robust – like an intensive class.

Let’s talk about taking that one step further for a truly immersive experience through travel programs that let you build new cooking skills and hone your existing ones!

Italy: La Vecchia Scuola Bolognese

Italy doesn’t mess around when it comes to food education. La Vecchia Scuola Bolognese in Bologna is an excellent venue for learning the art of pasta making. Founded by Alessandra Spisni in 1993, this is the world’s only school dedicated to training sfoglini (traditional pasta makers). Their courses, which range from beginner to advanced, teach you to create handmade dough as well as shapes like tortellini, tagliatelle, and more, all from scratch.

Italy: Anna Tasca Lanza

For a completely different Italian experience, head to Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School in Sicily. Their weeklong, immersive programs happen on a gorgeous wine estate where you’ll stay in a 19th-century farmhouse. Here, you’ll live the farm-to-table experience with workshops teaching baking skills, tomato paste and other pantry product creation, olive oil tasting, and much more.

Italy: Carpigiani Gelato University

Want to master gelato? Carpigiani Gelato University near Bologna operates the world’s largest gelato laboratory. They offer everything from basic introductions to advanced technical courses, with certification programs for people who want to get seriously nerdy about frozen desserts.

France: Le Cordon Bleu Paris

Le Cordon Bleu might be the one cooking school everyone has heard of, even if they’re not into cuisine! French cooking programs manage to be both intimidatingly professional and surprisingly accessible – and this one is a perfect example of that. Le Cordon Bleu Paris not only offers prestigious diplomas (and even a BS degree in Culinary Design Management), but you can start right at the beginning with a massive range of courses ranging from introductory workshops to masterclasses. Workshops cover classics such as croissants, macarons, and mother sauces, taught by master chefs who have worked at Michelin-starred establishments.

France: La Cuisine Paris

La Cuisine Paris combines market tours with hands-on cooking in their Seine-side location. Their signature Market Tour and Cooking Class takes you through authentic Parisian markets, then back to hone knife skills, learn about produce pairing, and create a complete meal that you’ll enjoy with your classmates in a gorgeous dining room with a view of Notre Dame. The English-speaking school keeps groups small, so you get more intimate instruction instead of watching someone else cook and struggling to keep up.

Thailand: Blue Elephant Cooking School

Thailand’s cooking schools offer incredible value and authenticity that’ll ruin restaurant Thai food for you forever. Blue Elephant Cooking School Bangkok features top-notch kitchens in both Bangkok and Phuket, offering classes taught by world-class chefs. Depending on the class you sign up for, you’ll learn how to make pad Thai, green curry, mango sticky rice, and more. You can take private or group classes, and courses range from beginner training to honing skills in Thai cuisine preparation.

Thailand: Thai Farm Cooking School

In Chiang Mai, Thai Farm Cooking School provides full- and half-day programs at their beautiful organic farm. The full-day class includes a visit to a local Thai market, exploring herbs and other ingredients at the organic farm, learning to cook different types of rice, creating curry paste from scratch, and other lessons that all culminate in you making a perfect Thai dish of your own.

Japan: Japan Culinary Institute

Japan offers specialized training that goes way beyond sushi rolls. The Japan Culinary Institute offers programs ranging from short courses to 22-week chef training, covering washoku, sushi, ramen, yakitori, and much more, all taught in English by restaurant owners and active chefs who possess in-depth knowledge of their craft.

Vietnam: Taste Vietnam

Vietnamese cooking shines in Hoi An, where schools like Taste Vietnam provide programs that include morning market visits by boat, traditional candy tasting, and creating multiple dishes using techniques passed down through generations. From beginner skills to masterclasses, there’s something valuable for every home cook here!

About the Author

Originally from Indiana, Heather believes every destination has a story worth telling and a reason to visit. With a deep love of adventure, history, and psychology, she shares travel trivia, tips, and inspiration to encourage you to explore the world with curiosity and optimism. Read her other articles on Frayed Passport here.

Featured image by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash