- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Hipcooks
Category: Education Specialty Schools Cooking Schools Cooking Schools [Edit]
642 Moulton AveUnit E21
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Neighborhood: Lincoln Heights
(323) 222-3663
About This Business:
The Art Institute of California -- Los Angeles prepares students for entry-level positions in creative, challenging careers. An impressive faculty of… read more »
59 reviews for Hipcooks
59 reviews in English
-
Review from Amanda M.
Pasadena, CA
11/18/2011
Looking for a fun date night or celebration location. Definitely check out this place. I went there for a birthday celebration and I have to say it was very memorable and now I can make a few more new dishes. Aside from having to stand during class everything was fun, interactive and I learned a lot about the various vegetables and ingredients that goes into the dishes. Highly recommend it to other.
-
Review from Kelly L.
Temple City, CA
11/16/2011
had a great time here!
our instructor was great with describing all the ingredients and all the complex flavors of Thai food!
its nice that they keep the class sizes small as everyone gets a chance to 'get their hands dirty'
like some reviewers have mentioned, its not a regular hands on cooking class where each person makes their own dish -
Review from Shana B.
Manhattan, NY
9/12/2011
FUN!
"hipcooks" is just that -- totally hip -- what a fun, unique class
i can't wait until they open one in brooklyn
i must admit, the indian food we made lacked some of the intense flavor you expect in indian food, but it was good and it was fun
i'd definitely take another -
Review from Debbie W.
Riverside, CA
1/26/2012
Go with a bunch of friends, date, or even by yourself. Tasty recipes, fun company, reasonable cost. I have gone twice and recommend it to others. We took friends on our second experience and they signed up for another class. Cooking teachers are well prepared for a fun evening.
-
Review from Coco S.
Los Angeles, CA
10/1/2011
I have attended 3-4 cooking classes over the years, and this has been my favorite. I loved, loved, loved this class and teacher, Allison. While some classes are more demonstrational, this one was a perfect blend of watching and doing. Allison (sp?) taught us techniques with knives and other tools, gave us information on different oils and provided basic cooking tips. She let us all participate in the creation of our delicious meal. It was fun, low pressure, and you left feeling like you had a huge gourmet dinner. Hipcooks also gave us wine with our food, which was a lovely bonus! The class is very reasonably priced. I went to the east LA location, which was in a cool, artist area of downtown. Try this class out. You'll have a blast and be inspired!
-
Review from Karin C.
Monterey Park, CA
4/9/2010
Let me just preface this by saying this is NOT a hands-on cooking class. You will not be doing much of the cooking. This is more like a live cooking demo, or watching a live cooking show where you get to try the food at the end.
I was pretty disappointed.The kitchen was tiny, and there was not enough room for the entire class. Aside from cutting a potato and choping some parsley I barely got to do any cooking. Instead I stood at a counter for about two hours watching a lady demonstrate how to make a meal (I can watch cooking shows or cooking demos from the comfort of my living room). The portions were barely enough for the entire class.
Oooo and here's the worst part!!!! The class was called "Elegant Dinner". The main entree of the menu was supposed to be filet mignon. When we got to class the meat was switched to a cheap cut of beef . Classic bait and switch.
I wouldn't go back. It was a rip off. I didnt' really learn anything I didn't already know. I didn't get to cook my food. I didn't get much food. I didn't even get the food I was promised on the menu. -
Review from Michael M.
Hollywood, CA
10/3/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I try to review good stuff. This is good.
Don't be lame. Get out of the house and do it! -
Review from Akiko T.
8/1/2008 ROTD 12/6/2008
My co-worker and I practically almost killed ourselves trying to make it on time to make our Spanish Tapas class we were so excited about! We rarely get out of the office before 6:00p.m. but earlier that morning we made a firm commitment that our butts will be sitting on the 10 Fwy by 5:00p.m. to make a 6:00p.m. class in downtown.
But you know how it is when you want to leave the office at a certain time - one thing pops up after another and all the sudden people want things at the eleventh hour and e-mails & phone calls need responses straight away and 'just can't wait until tomorrow'.
We both arrived about 50 minutes late. Exhausted. Irritated. This is NOT DTLA - it's actually way the hell east. To me, DTLA is 9th & Fig. Grand & 5th. The Library Tower. The artist "lofts" I read in the class description as far as I'm concerned are the new high rise developments popping up near LA Live. I was so wrong... HipCooks is actually located in sort of an urbane bohemian artist commune on the outskirts between industrial warehouses and run down businesses. Very hidden and very cool. We were apprehensive on entering our class so late but seriously, what's the worst that could happen? Tell us to go home? After our trek, going home and jumping into bed sounded pretty good. But we went inside and were pleasantly, warmly greeted by our instructor, Kyrsten.
The Flan dessert they had already prepared prior to our arrival was appropriately already baking in the oven so we missed that presentation... The class method was a bit different than what I'd expected. I completely thought that there would be individual stations where you made your own creations, with your instructor guiding you, but it was actually a lot more interactive with the rest of the class participants partaking with simple cooking tasks as slicing, chopping and stirring ingredients. It was a bit too slow and fundamental at first, as we made some snacks to graze throughout the class:
* Candied Walnuts, Cashews and Almonds
* Marinated Olives
* Manchego con Membrillo (which is a quince paste, but they substituted guava paste from Trader Joe's)
Then we moved onto the more interesting items:
* Tortilla Espanola (this is not a Mexican tortilla by any means, but looks like a Frittata with Italian Parsley, Sliced Red Potato and Onions) This was awesome and I could see myself making this for a brunch or light dinner
* Argentinian Empanadas (fun - love empanadas and they were so easy to make)
* Sauteed Garlic & Saffron Shrimp (this was just okay - not too impressed)
* Homemade Hummus (after this class, you will never buy store bought hummus again!)
Oh and of course, they taught us how to make some Sangria that was not over sweetened but just right. And made with Two Buck Chuck Syrah.
HipCooks is great for beginner cooks - they do a fantastic job in creating an energy that's so conducive to bringing out creativity out of those who aren't that seasoned in the kitchen. No pun intended. If you're already a sophisticated cook at home, this class may bore you a little but the environment and experience is very entertaining and enjoyable. For someone who cooks 4-5 days out of the week, I still took away a few things I would apply in my own kitchen.
PS - they sell the most adorable Kitsch n Glam aprons in their studio at a fraction of what they sell on their website... http://www.kitschnglam... Look good while you're doing the pan flip.Listed in: I'm special
-
Review from Lilani E.
2/21/2008
My "dahhh-link" took me here for our anniversary this past weekend. The class he signed us up for was "Romantic Dinner for Two", of course, coming from the Conejo we were running late. The class was at 7pm and we showed up at 730pm, and the creme brulee was already on its way.
We washed up and got our aprons on and joined the other 7 couples. We made, 3 types of risotto that night. It was a lot of fun, although the other couples were kind of, quiet-esque, the teacher, Bonnie was great. She taught a couple of cutting techniques and dropped little culinary trivial facts here and there.
Half way through the class I started getting really faint, I'm not used to eating at 10pm, so I had to sit down and watched K and the rest of the gang do the rest. Everything was really good, it would've been nice to either go with one other couple we knew or by the luck of the draw, end up in a class with more social people.
The facility is very neat, hip, modern, shabby chic. Erica the assistant teacher, was a life saver! When my blood sugar got low she pulled out some candied nuts for me, which brought me back to life!
We DEFINITELY want to take more classes, on a weekend night so we aren't running late. There is a "Brown Bagging It" class offered on Sundays, where you cook pretty much the WHOLE time and prepare packed lunches for the whole week. A brilliant idea indeed!
All in all, it was a wonderful experience and a very thoughtful gift to receive. LOVED IT! -
Review from Nanette M.
Portland, OR
2/19/2007 3 photos
I can bake, but I can't cook. Sad, but true. I'm working on it, though. I have an ever-increasing collection of cookbooks.
To combat our lack of kitchen abilities, last night a dozen of my gal pals and I met at a fun loft in the Brewery District near downtown to take a Hipcooks cooking class. We chose to take the Elegant Dinner Party class. The idea was to learn a "gorgeous meal that you can effortlessly serve without spending all your time in the kitchen." Sounds good to me!
Bonny, our instructor, was a spunky gal who was informative and entertaining without being a cheeseball. She started with some basic knife skills, increasing our appreciation of fine cutlery.
Throughout the night we took turns preparing the various ingredients. We started with the salad. I'm not a fan of beets, but I found myself peeling fresh beets with ease. Those were tossed in olive oil and roasted in the oven while we caramelized some cashews and prepared the ginger-chile dressing. We combined all those ingredients with bags of organic, bagged arugula from Trader Joe's.
Our entree was steak with a red wine demiglaze and mashed potatoes. We learned a fun technique to determine the "doneness" of our steaks by comparing the muscles in our hand. It's hard to explain, but believe me, it's a cool trick to impress your friends with.
The demiglaze was drizzled over the steak and mashed potatoes, which was delicious, and finished with a sprinkling of fresh chopped parsley.
The meat itself turned out great, but most of my friends ended up with steaks that weren't quite cooked to their likings, but I think that's because the cuts of beef were much thicker than your average cut. Also, when we sat down to eat, we were given your typical butter knife as opposed to regular steak knives, which would made it a little less frustrating to eat the meat. I won't dock them a star, though, because everything else made up for that oversight.
We finished the meal with an orange almond cake with marscapone cream. The cake was so easy to make and turned out beautifully! (And amazingly delicious!)
We were also able to bring our own bottles of wine to enjoy during the preparation and meal, although not until after the knife skills portion of the night. ;)
The entire night lasted about three hours and cost $55 for each of the 12 of us. I believe you can sign up for a class without a huge group like we did, but this was a great way to get to hang out with a bunch of your friends.
I look forward to taking more Hipcooks classes and highly recommend them to all So Cal residents! I'm excited to impress my friends and family with this fabulous meal!
PS. Check out the photos of the meal we created! -
Review from Jennifer J.
Ventura, CA
2/10/2008
I AM A CULINARY GENIUS!!!
Ok. So maybe the word "genius" is a tad strong. But after taking a class with Monika at Hipcooks, I walked away feeling like my cooking IQ was at least bumped up a few notches. Not to mention I had a fantastic time.
I attended a class at their new Westside facility, which was comfortable and inviting. Our peppy leader Monika (also the school's owner) was the antithesis of a stuffy Le Cordon Bleu instructor. Not only will you not be scolded for failing to chop your leeks to an exact, uniform one centimeter dice, but at most classes, you won't even see a measuring cup or a recipe. Their cooking philosophy is to follow your instincts (does it look right?) and your taste buds (does it taste right?).
You will learn a lot of useful things at Hipcooks. But most importantly, these classes are FUN FUN FUN! I will never again flip the contents of my skillet without thinking of Monika's parallel of a fencing match (complete with shouting in a really bad French accent "EN GUARD!!"). Grab your friends and plan a night out at Hipcooks! -
Review from Irene C.
Los Angeles, CA
6/13/2010
I came here with the best friend to learn how to cook up a yummy Sunday brunch and it was great! We were a bit late since we didn't think we'd actually get lost. The food was great, the people were awesome, and the instructor, Amanda, was charming. After reading the negative reviews I was a bit nervous but we didn't feel rushed and even though we didn't get to do everything ourselves it was nice to just watch.
I think this class is great for beginners :). -
Review from Caroline Y.
Los Angeles, CA
9/13/2007
Made and ate Sunday brunch at hip cooks. Champagne and all. I actually got up early on a Sunday to go to this special brunch making experience...kekeke...
Our chef and teacher Bonnie was the most delightful woman. She was a wonderful instructor. She started the class by teaching us how to hone our knives. She then taught us the proper way to use our knives. It was very useful information. Something you can use throughout your lifetime, ya know?? Look at all the stuff we made:
Bellinis
Tri-colored Pepper and Basil Frittata
Leek and Goat Cheese Tartlets
Beet, Rosemary and Walnut Muffins
Beet, Carrot, Basil and Pine Nut Salad
Orange and almond cake with marscapone
Hipcooks Granola Recipe
Everything was so delicious. Of course because it was made by yours truly, MOI~! Oh and 5 other people...kekeke...And you know what?? The teacher emails you the recipe and instructions the next day so you can make the stuff at home~!!
If y'all want the recipe PM me and I'll email them to you. -
Review from Genie S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2009 2 photos
I LOVE HIPCOOKS!
Just came back from "Thai One On", thanks to my lovely roommate who bought me a gift certificate. If you're ever in a pickle over what to get a friend or sig. other, HIPCOOKS.
Liza was leading the class, and from the start I loved her energy, humor, and knowledge about food. The Thai class was definitely more of a workshop style as I thought we'd all have our own ingredients and cooking stations, but the way the loft is set up, it calls for family-style cooking, eating, and dining.
It was interactive, fun, and easy... I can't wait to try some of the dishes we made!! Oh, and can't forget the beeeer :)
I just need to get a cuisinart mixer now... -
Review from Megan K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/4/2010
I was really pleased with my experience at Hipcooks. I took the cocktail party class. We made about 6 different drinks and TONS of yummy appetizers. We learned how to make martinis, lemon drops, caipirinhas, spicy tuna rolls, warm crab dips, our own sugared nuts, and much more.
What I liked about this class is that they did not skimp on the food or the humor. I left feeling full, a little tipsy, and really excited about my newly acquired skills. We even learned the proper technique for flipping food in a large frying pan (we made our own nuts glazed in butter and sugar). I liked that the dishes were simple and we didn't have to measure anything.
One of the other ladies had had her bachelorette party there, which seems like a great idea. Of course, I had signed up for the class on the off-chance that Mr. Right was there (he wasn't), but I still had a fabulous time! -
Review from Melody V.
11/26/2006
Monika is the teacher, chef, and owner of Hip Cooks who was inspired by fun cooking for friends. Upon walking into the studio she looked at me with familiarity. I told her this was my first-time in the Hip Cooks kitchen and we joked about how my imaginary twin gets the more exciting life. But I wouldn't be surprised if she had a few familiar faces because in the class that I took, My Big Fat Greek Cooking Class, she had two returning students who spoke highly of her other classes.
The class was small, less than fifteen people, and her enthusiasm behind the counter helped ease those who were nervous about crumbling the Haloumi. Even I, who never touched a food processor, helped process the Smoked Eggplant Dip (Baba Ganoush).
Her ingredients were simple and no measuring cups were necessary. It was all clean fun in Monika's kitchen and that's where all the cooking was at its best, in the spirit of fun. I love Dolmas and learned to make it from my Lebanese friend, but apparently there is more than one way and Hip Cooks taught me that.
Monika says that a good dish doesn't need measuring cups or recipes. Simply taste and add, that's it..
Hip Cooks is definitely a great place to have fun food and drinks, and no one person is in charge of making a dish so no one gets blamed if the dish is not up to par. And everyone gets a duty at something, whether its stirring or cutting. But she doesn't let anyone get away with doing nothing. I made a smart-ass comment and I ended up grating rough grinds of Parmesan cheese.
Still, the food was excellent, the experience was fun, and Monika is a great teacher whose classes I'd visit again. She has been published in LA WEEKLY and has been featured in classes with celebrities.
Hip Cooks may cost you, but it is definitely a great inspiration to put on (or in my case buy) and apron. -
Review from sara l.
8/25/2007
Hip cooks is so f-in awesome! My girlfriend gave me a gift certificate here for my birthday last year, so then I gave one to my mom for her birthday, and off we went together to the "elegant, intimate dinner party" class. Why that class (since I'm known among my friends to already throw a wonderful, delicious dinner party, if not super-elegant)? Because apparently hipcooks is so awesome and popular it was the only one left available the week we decided we wanted to go.
Anyway, we cooked a petit filet with a red wine demi-glaze, mascarpone mashed potatoes, and this orange almond cake that's awesome and easy and I've made many times since (also great for a passover recipe, as there's no flour in it). As an added bonus they taught us some knife skills that were really priceless, as well as how to make an emulsion. The food was good, the class was super fun, and it was these added little details (knife skills, emulsifying) that really made me feel like I came away with some great knowledge I hadn't had walking in. Can't wait for the tapas class and the "persian immersian"! -
Review from Kosmonaut K.
4/3/2007
I know how to cook quite well; I've worked as a line chef and a sous chef and a kitchen manager at several restaurants in the past. However, just because you know how to cook doesn't mean you can't learn new tricks.
I decided to take a Hipcooks class because the menu description for "Romantic Dinner for Two" sounded delicious, and also, I wanted to learn how to make creme brulee.
When I arrived, Monika was friendly and courteous. I explained to her that I was deaf, but that I could lip read, and she suggested that I station myself close to her and that she would be sure to face me so that I could see her lips.
She observed that I already knew basic chopping skills and didn't need any instruction there, so I finished my chopping quickly and washed the dishes while she gave her attention to the more beginner students. To make sure I wasn't standing around bored, she had me assist some of the other students with their chopping skills. You'll never stand around bored in Monika's kitchen; if she's not entertaining you with her olive-pouring skills or having you clean something, she'll definitely find something for you to do.
The meal was very easy to prepare and I felt I had learned something new. I'd made risotto before, but her method for risotto was a little different and quicker than the one I knew. And I enjoyed learning to make the creme brulee. It's quite simple and using a blowtorch on sugar is fun. And the best part of the class? Sitting down to eat the food you just made and chatting with the new friends you've made in the class. Everything was tasty and definitely worth the price I paid for it.
I liked her style of instruction and her menu choices so much that I decided to go back for two more classes - "Turning Japanese" and "Thrill of the Grill."
I feel Monika's classes have a lot to offer to cooks of all levels, from professionals to beginners. There are no prerequisites to take this class; if you've never cooked anything in your life, you can take Monika's class and she'll teach you to make a great meal. If you've cooked a lot but want to learn something new, such as how to roll sushi or how to make pastries, Monika will teach you something new and inspire your menu-planning skills. -
Review from Ryan H.
Pasadena, CA
1/2/2008
Went there for a private bday party.
FIVE stars for the following:
1. Venue: Trendy place in the art district. Follow internet directions and not mapquest.
2. Chef: Bonnie - articulate and pretty good instructor. She provided useful tips and was very funny.
FOUR Stars for the following:
1. Food: Delicious (mussles in garlic soup, breaded chicken on veggies, and some french dessert I couldn't name)
2. I don't cook. So I learned how to use a knife. But now i have forgotten how to do it.
3. Good wine.
THREE Stars:
1. If you expect hands on cooking, this is NOT the place.
20% hands on cooking.
40% eating and socializing
40% watching the chef cook. (kinda like watching the food channel live)
2. Pricey
Overall - experience was good (mainly because of instructor and this was something different). Hence the 3.5 stars (rounded up). -
Review from Lissa H.
Los Angeles, CA
6/7/2011 6 photos
This is the best class I have taken! I had so much fun! The best part is you get to eat it all together at the end of class! Come with an appetite! Everything is so tasty!
-
Review from Vikas T.
Simi Valley, CA
3/5/2007
I hate to cook - but I loved this class.
I never thought I would enjoy cooking classes, since I hate to cook. Cooking for me was typically figuring out if I wanted microwave or delivery. If I ever got adventurous, I might make some mac and cheese or top ramen. My wife, on the other hand, loves to cook. She could feed an army on what she cooks for just two people. She's also always watching cooking shows on TV and really enjoys the experience.
Valentine's day was approaching, so I forewent the usual jewelry, flowers or candy and decided to sign us up for cooking class at Hipcooks instead.
There were 10 people in the class in all - 2 married couples, 2 sisters, 2 friends and a couple of singles. The students were a lot of fun and represented a number of age ranges (20 - 50) and walks of life (students, homemakers, consultants, doctors, TV production). The sisters were repeat visitors - they attend a class about every month. The rest of us were at the class for the first time. Our Hipcook chef / instructor / Battlestar Galactica fan was Bonny - a former pastry chef from Luce on Melrose.
The menu - we made a warm beet salad with candied cashews for the first course, fillet of beef in a wine reduction sauce and rosemary mashed potatoes for the second course and an almond and orange cake with marscapone cheese for dessert. The dishes sound much more complicated to make than they actually were. They were so easy even I could do it.
The instruction is not what I expected - it was much more hands on and fun. When I think of cooking classes, I thought it would be demonstrations. In this instance, we all get our hands oily, pasty, grainy sharing in the preparation for each dish. Along with the basic preparation instructions, Bonny spent some time providing great tips that one won't get out of a book - like why air is the most important ingredient in baking, how to use the base of your thumb to tell how well your meet is cooked and proper knife techniques. Recipes are e-mailed after the class, so we don't get hung up on measurements and actually enjoy the experience. The class is encouraged to dip their fingers into the dishes to taste the concoctions and make alterations to taste.
We really enjoyed in this class - it's fun, informative and a great sharing experience. My wife also loved the class - I may never have to buy jewelry again :) -
Review from Steve L.
San Gabriel, CA
6/3/2010
We tried hipcooks as our corporate event. In a nutshell, you can't expect to learn much in this class. For close to a grand in "tuition", we got three hours of hipcook session, preparing Indian dishes that include chicken, fried potatoes, some desert, and a indian drink. We spent an incredible amount of time preparing indian sauce which i can probably buy it off the shelves. Food is ok, not great, since we only had fried potato and chicken as main courses... All six of us left sort of hungry.
Maybe I was expecting too much.... I was expecting at least a stewed lamb or some jumble shrimp. I am heading down to oldtown Pasadena for a nicer Indian meal, for a lot less money. -
Review from Mari B.
2/23/2010
I HEART HIPCOOKS!!! Love taking cooking classes here! Not your traditional cooking class and great to go either solo, on a date or with friends! I've been coming here for a few years & have taken a few classes - most recently their Soup class. The Soup class was soo much fun, and you actually learn some great knife cooking techniques.
What I love about this place, is that it's hands on cooking, however no measuring. A lot of it is based on preference and taste. It's a group setting that is completely informal. Plus you all sit together as a family to taste the food, and usually most courses include an alcoholic beverage either that you create in the class or compliments the meal.
Recently had Bonnie as an instructor for the Soup course and it was a lot of fun! It's really hard to get into their classes, so as soon as you see a free space, make sure to grab it. They also have location on the Westside, which I haven't been to. Love the one on the Eastside because it's very relaxing and in a funky location. Also recommend their Thai class. -
Review from Sherrie G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2008
If you are looking to really get your own hands dirty, oily, salty or sweet, this may not quite be the place for you. As someone stated earlier, classes at HIPCOOKS are 1/3 socializing, 1/3 watching the teacher cook, and 1/3 learning some new techniques, tips, or pairing suggestions.
Frankly, I'm a little too intimidated and too poor to take a cooking class at a local Sur La Table, so this is the PERFECT PLACE FOR ME!
I have taken 3 classes here, each time with Bonnie - a tapas class, a pasta-making class (the best one out of the three so far!) and a Christmas baking class. I am returning for the Hot Soup Focus Group because Bonnie said it's a great class in which to learn KNIFE TECHNIQUES.
I am definitely going to return. Take your friends who love to eat but maybe aren't the best cooks - they will be inspired and it really is a great way to just spend some time with them AND eat some tasty food AND gain confidence in the kitchen.Listed in: 5 Stars, Northeast LA
-
Review from Fara A.
6/16/2008
So, so cool! We did the "Thrill of the Grill" class. Class size is limited to 12 (perfect)! We were arranged in a semi-circle with our own stations and the instructor in the "middle". The class is set up in a community type of format, that is, we were assigned different duties for each dish and then brought it all together. The instructor was super cool and laid back. She never made me feel silly that I'm hella scared of knives.
It's been awhile since I took a class with them but not out of not wanting to, I've just been too busy. Most of their items are from Trader Joe's - it actually felt like they've got stock with them. Seriously, almost every part of the meal included a Trader Joe's product (from the sangria to the chicken to the grilled peaches). I didn't have a problem with this because (a) I'm a huge Trader Joe's fan (who isn't)? and (b) it just made it easier to know where to buy everything.
By the way, we still make the sangria and get rave reviews each time! (Yeah, yeah our friends are drunk when they rave but who cares? JK).
Also, you can purchase gift certificates for classes which is a nifty idea.
Minus one star for the location. Too far from the Westside! (I know, I know, they now have a West LA location on Robertson. I just haven't had a chance to check it out yet)! -
Review from lynn k.
Manhattan Beach, CA
12/22/2008
I have taken three classes with Hipcooks because friends had signed me up. In the first class, the instructor did not know how to carmelize sugar without burning it. It's not necessarily a skill that anyone would know, but this young woman was TEACHING the class. Taste of the final product (flan with carmelized sugar) was ruined - it was inedible.
Hipcooks classes are geared to beginners; if you have any experience in the kitchen at all, you're way ahead of these classes. And the focus on 'creativity' -- adding different ingredients or spices without a recipe, or not measuring ingredients -- are great if you have enough experience to know what you're doing. Adding too much cayenne to a crab dip isn't creative - it ruins the taste! If they are teaching beginners, then the instruction should be basic -- explain why you add certain spices and what flavors you might get; why butter and flour are used in the same amounts for a white sauce, etc. If you turn a beginner lose without some parameters, you're creating a disaster and a cook who is afraid to continue cooking.
Pass on these if you have any experience; go if you just want to hang around and watch beginners cook. -
Review from Caroline C.
Los Angeles, CA
9/28/2006
For this class we learned how to make butternut squash risotto and mushroom risotto as well as lemon raspberry creme brulee and orange ginger creme brulee --- dishes that seem too hard to make for someone with limited experience. Fortunately, Bonny, our instructor, was fun and very informative. She explained things in easy-to-understand terms and made sure the learning process was anything but boring or intimidating. We didn't follow any recipes but did a dash of this-n-that and taste-tested a lot. For those who really need to work with a recipe, the instructors email you the recipes you learned about days after the class.
Because of the small number of students, everyone was able to participate and work hands-on with the cooking tools and food provided for us. The only minor complaint I have is that while I was busy stirring this or grating that, I didn't get to pay attention to what Bonny was saying so felt like I missed some important instructions.
After learning some basic knife skills from Bonny, i.e. how to hold a knife properly and the different ways to slice things, she presented us with a tray of appetizers and some wine. She seemed to be a big proponent of Trader Joe's as a majority of the ingredients from the meals came from there. Her apps were very simple and easy to make and still oh-so yummy. There was buffalo mozzarella doused in olive oil with a sprinkling of parsley as well as goat cheese with parsley and oven-toasted baguette slices rubbed with garlic clove.
The risottos employed two different broths: vegetarian and chicken and surprisingly veggie tasted way better. The creme brulees were easy to make, and I have to say that torching the sugar was my favorite part of the class. Heh heh. Fire.
In the end after we finished putting together our meals, we were instructed to do one last thing: enjoy the food. So we grabbed some plates and piled them with our creations and all sat down together at the dinner table.
At dinner we found out that it was everyone's first time at hipcooks. Apparently that's a rare thing since usually there is at least one or two repeat students taking a class. But, here, everyone had found out about the class from other friends who have taken it before and really enjoyed it. -
Review from Courtney L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/4/2009
I recently went to Hipcooks for a Wusthoff knife demonstrations/skills class and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The knife skills class is not taught on a regular basis, but is subject to availability of the Wusthoff knife specialist. He went through and talked about how knives are made, maintenance, and a few tips on how to slice and dice correctly. I found out that I am much more knowledgable than I though regarding knives, but overall it was a really great experience.
I would highly recommend Hipcooks for their laid back atmosphere and enthusiasm. I can't wait to come back for a proper cooking class. The Cocktail Party class sounds amazing.Listed in: DTLA
-
Review from Patrick H.
North Hills, CA
11/11/2007
really great food. I loved my hipcooks session today. Our culinary expert was the owner herself Monika, who was very nice, very funny, and very.......hip. Shes a woman of many accents, makes you ponder while cooking, and has some great ideas!
Although I wouldn't venture to say this is the ideal way to learn how to cook (it IS pricey), its the best for experienced cooks, moms, etc. to get new ideas.
She gives GREATTTT useful tips, the food comes out delicious, and you constantly think about great ways to change the meal while you cook the food.
She even starts off the class by teaching you how to chop, mince, whatever. I was chopping away with my knife, which makes Monika ever so happy, which makes you happy. In a way, you're just her bitch, but her happy bitch.
Not a habitual thing for me as I'm po, but a definite treat. -
Review from Christine P.
Los Angeles, CA
6/9/2007
I took the Thai One On class a few days ago and had a blast! The instructor that night was Alyson, along with Lisa (who was training to become an instructor), and both girls were full of energy, very upbeat, and helpful. Alyson explained that usually the prep work is done during class, but since we had so many dishes, everything was cut up and placed into bowls before we got there. I was a little disappointed because I wanted to work on my knife skills (or lack thereof), but hey, more food for me!
We made the following:
Veggie spring rolls with tamarind dipping sauce - these were so fast to prepare, and absolutely delicious
Chicken satay with peanut sauce - I'll never look at a jar of peanut butter the same way again
Coconut rice with shrimp and cilantro - My personal favorite of the night. Balls of delicious sticky rice, dipped in sesame seeds and topped with shrimp. I must make these again!
Pad Thai - Unfortunately, the sauce was a little too spicy, but that can be fixed.
Papaya Salad - Another winner! It must have been all the garlic that Rollence P. dropped in there, to everyone's amazement/horror (depending on how they feel about garlic).
Green curry with eggplant-I'm not a big curry fan, but everyone else seemed to like it
Red curry with chicken
Black rice with coconut cream-So, so good!
Since the class size is limited to 12 people, we all got a chance to participate. It was great to meet some new people, all who are interested in trying to cook something new. I definitely want to try another class. If you see a class you like, make sure to sign up for it early because they do get filled up very, very quickly, and now I know why!
Oh yeah, Singha was served with the meal. Food and good beer? It's like I died and went to heaven. -
Review from Kevin K.
Studio City, CA
3/25/2007
Since I never really learned to cook, and given the fact that I'm a guy, my fridge normally has beer, mustard, and water in it. Sometimes salad dressing, too. Although I totally believe that Monika from Hipcooks could whip that into some delicious and weird dish that everyone would love.
I took Monika's class "Healthy, Fresh, and Zingy" (I think) a couple of years ago at Hipcooks, and she taught me a ton of stuff. Especially how to handle a knife correctly. I was the only genius in the entire class to slice their thumb open. Go me.
She's funny, a great teacher, and the food she teaches you to make is delicious and easy. Now I just need to take another one so I can remember everything, and then go shopping somewhere that isn't serving takeout. -
Review from susan j.
Oakland, CA
8/8/2007 3 photos
HIPCOOKS
Just like in the name, this class is definitely for the hip and the cooker in all of us. This cooking class is not your typical cooking class, but more like a fun dinner party that you happened to stumble upon.
Monika (the genius behind Hipcooks) conducts the classes in her very food-friendly loft in the Brewery Arts Complex, downtown LA. The three and so hours I spent during my class (Turning Japanese) was probably the happiest three hours I spent. We covered the fundamentals of sake, sashimi, and sushi rolls. Not only, do you get to eat and make your own food, but you learn how simple it is to cook! So brilliant!
Monika offers various classes from Healthy, Fresh and Zingy to The Thrill of the Grill. Each class is unique and all equally interesting. Hipcooks is a fun alternative to the eating out and a good place to check out some fun things LA has to offer.
FYI- Monika's classes do fill-up quickly, so make rezzie's in advance! -
Review from Gary R.
Whittier, CA
4/23/2011
Last night, I was pleasantly surprised by my wife. I had no clue what she had in mind until we arrived at this cool place located in an artsy district near the San Antonio Winery. We took the "Shortcut to Nirvana" class, which featured some delicious Indian cuisine. We had a small group of about 11 people and led by our instructor, Lisa, who was super cool and well informed about her various entrees. We started off by guessing all the various spices for the night, followed by introductions, then dove right into to participating in our meal preparation. Everything was very flavorful and very educational for the novice cook. Our menu included the following dishes.
-Mango Lassi: Combination of chopped mango, greek yogurt, milk, mineral water, and topped with mango powder and garam masala spices. Wow, this was absolutely Delicious.
-Raita: Mixture of grated cucumber without the seeds, mixed with Greek yogurt, and various spices. Excellent side dish.
-Green sauce (Green Machine): This was a simple blend of cilantro, mint, green onions, grape oil, and salt. Very, very refreshing!!!
-Fish Curry: This entree included Tilapia, grilled onions, ginger, garlic, and various spices. This was ok. The base was very tasty, but not absorbed well by the fish.
-Mango Chutney: Breathtaking, flavorful sauce, which raised everyone's eyebrows. This was a simple mixture of chopped, mashed Mango, which was heated in a heart shaped dutch oven mixed with cinnamon, cloves, ginger (yes ginger) and brown sugar.
-Chicken Tikka Masala: Ohhhh my all time "Indian" favorite, which was pre-marinated and mixed with grilled onions, diced tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and various spices. This was very tasty, but I've made better at home.
-Basmati Rice: Traditional and basic served under your main entree. Perfectly prepared in a small dutch oven.
-Veggie Samosas: Amazingly good and fairly easy to prepare. These are essentially Won Tons. They were filled with chopped red potatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and plenty of Indian spices.
-Mojitos: Simple mint+rum cocktail served in sugar rimmed glass, which very refreshing.....yummy.
FINAL VERDICT:
Food-5/5 amazing, intriguing, unique, informative...enough said. Get up off your couch and go try it! If you love good food, you'll love this experience.
Service 5/5-very nice, patient, and good sense of humor. Great job Lisa!!! We hope to have another class with you in the future.
Ambiance 5/5-very cool two story studio filled with various cooking accessories and a unique wall in the restroom covered with artificial grass. I loved, loved, loved, super loved this experience. I'll be good and hopefully my wife will surprise me with another cool experience sometime soon :) -
Review from miss k.
Los Angeles, CA
4/10/2008
I just took the Una Noche en Espaa- a Tapas Class at the Hip Cooks east and I really enjoyed it! Just remember to wear comfy shoes as we were standing about 99% of the time.
The food was really simple to make and put together. No fussing over where to find Madagaskar Chocolate or something exotic. It was mostly from Trader Joe's. Also they had a few things to sell, such as vanilla bean syrup, or this really great lemon zester, and some knives and sea salt. Pretty inexpensive.
The Sangria was very nice as well as the Hummus and the garlic shrimp with saffron (super easy to make). The Empanadillas Argentinas was pretty good, but the Tortilla Espanola was a bit bland, but I am sure you could add more things to it besides the potatos and onions.
I loved how Bonnie explained everything, all the cooking tips and lingo, as I am not a professional, but I like to cook. She had a very upbeat and happy personality. All in all, it was fun and I would take another one of their classes.
Parking was ok. I got there 5 or 10 min before class and i had a hard time finding a parking spot. Get there early. It was easy to find though. I wish there were more classes so I don't have to wait a few weeks to take it. -
Review from Courtney M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/25/2009
Boyfriend took me here as a surprise the other night for my birthday--gotta say, one of the best birthday surprises I've ever received! Our instructor, Liza was lively and cheery and happily explained each step of the meal. Went for the Healthy, Fresh and Zingy night. Other reviewers have noted this and I experienced it too--it's a class for beginners but they don't keep to a set recipe--if you want more Tabasco, Liza adds more Tabasco! It was a fun dynamic, but when you have 12 people and one loud guy urging her to pour on the hot sauce...well, I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to hear that the soup was pretty spicy. (At first I gave this place 4 stars but then realized it was only because of a downer in the crowd, so I upped it to 5, which it deserves!)
Anywho, all the food (bell pepper soup, seared ahi with mango salsa) was absolutely delicious and pretty easy to make, definitely not too intimidating. It's a group-cook situation, so everyone has a few little tasks that contribute to the meal as a whole, and then everyone sits down together and eats after each course is ready. I wouldn't say I'm an absolute beginner in the kitchen, but it was really fun to get these new recipes (they email them out to you after the class) and get a few new culinary facts thrown into my knowledge base as well. I'm sure you'll walk away full, happy, anxious to try cooking that meal on your own and thinking about possible return trips to Hipcooks! -
Review from uottt t.
Pacific Palisades, CA
11/7/2008
My friend and I had a great time in the Greek cooking class. It was so casual, and not expected that it took me for bit of a surprise initially.
It was great interacting with everyone and enjoying the fruits of our labor at the end of the night. The ouzo didn't hurt either.
Anyway, they send you an email with reminders on the recipe following the class, and I did get ambitious one night and made practically everything that we made in class. It was totally successful, and my family was super impressed with my Greek cooking...especially since I'm Vietnamese. All good though, everyone can appreciate great homemade food.
I am excited to take another class, and hopefully can find some time to take the French one!
This is fun to do by yourself or with a group, but know that space is very limited, so sign up early. -
Review from Russel M.
5/8/2007
If you want to have a Great time and Learn how to cook and have fun doing it this the best Cooking Class you can sign up for.
Monika the Owner is amazing in the kitchen and really makes the working part fun. Very reasonable also, 55- pp -
Review from Leslie W.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2008
Hipcooks! I loved my experience here and could go on and on about the details but I'll *try* to restrain.
I went to Healthy, Fresh and Zingy and Romantic Dinner for 2 (check out the menus on their website), both were at Hipcooks East and both were with Bonnie. She's a great teacher, knows what she's doing and really good at explaining things. She also cared a lot about getting to know everyone and recognized me when I came back for my 2nd class. Attention to detail is good!
The only thing I didn't like about dinner was.. not enough wine. I think we only had 1-2 bottles for our 10 person group (counting teacher and helper). Also, the location is of East is a little strange, in some kind of warehouse maze. It can be hard to find and they close one of the gates at night so you have to go a different way out. Allow for a little extra time to find this place if you've never been here. However, I do like the look and feel of the kitchen once you get there.
I've never met Monika but I bet I'd like her. You can tell she has it together. She has done a great job with Hipcooks and I love how everything is so organized. The classes are constantly filling up because it is so popular but they keep adding more to try and meet demand. They send frequent newsletters out. They are constantly adding new and interesting classes. I love to cook so for Christmas, my mom did some research online and found hip cooks. Their website is so great.... organized and detailed, even my mom could use it. I can see why business is doing so well!
Some tips I have:
Try not to be late because everyone will have to wait for you or you'll be coming in after everyone's started and feel like you're playing catch up.
Be open minded and friendly. You are thrown in with a group of strangers for 3 hours of cooking side by side and eating dinner together. Most of them are couples or friends. I went by myself and I didn't feel too uncomfortable because most people were pretty friendly.
Overall, this is a fun experience and a good way to pick up some new techniques and recipes. Remember, it's not culinary school but it sure is a fun way to spend an evening. -
Review from Ricky F.
Anaheim, CA
6/7/2009 1 photo
Hipcooks is a pretty cool place to get a group of friends or co-workers together and learn how to cook different foods! Hipcooks offers many different classes just about every day of the week and sometimes multiple times on the weekends!
Tonight's class was cooking Spanish Tapas. We had the following items:
-Spanish-style hummus with pita toasts
-Candied Walnuts, Cashews and Pecans
-Marinated olives
-Manchego con Membrillo
-Tortilla Espanola
-Camarones Bravas - garlicky saffron shrimp
-Empanadillas Argentinas
-Flan
-Sangria
...ALL OF WHICH WE COOKED OURSELVES! It all turned out really good! Our instructor was Lisa and she was great! Extremely patient, energetic, and had a great time with all of us!
Everything here is homemade, just about. So, you really, cook your own food and learn how to cook it.
This was a pretty cool experience, the entire thing lasts about 3-hours, and you have a ton of different food. This is somewhere I would return to again and learn to cook different things! -
Review from Rob R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/1/2009
This was a fun experience and I would recommend it. It's about sharing with your friends and you might learn something new too. Just be prepared to be there for a while, sit through more of a demonstration than a lab (not by much), bring your own wine (or flask), don't be afraid to open it, and let loose. The instructors were great and mildly funny. But, and speaking only for myself, all I wanted was a drink. I noticed a cabinet full of alcohol (Ketel One, Kahlua, etc) but was offered nada. I mean I'll pay for it. The wine they did pour was insubstantial.
In post, we all left very hungry. It just wasn't that much food. I would have rather, for my money, gone to a nice restaurant. After our class, we all went to the Standard downtown (blech!), and within a half hour of being there, a partial group of us slipped out the back door to find something to eat. We trudged on until we found Wokano (which brought me to very brink of orgasm). Those we left behind to keep the party going for the birthday girl must have texted us for an hour with all manner of mother insults, threats to our private parts, and general venom for our treason. When we returned to the Standard the effects of drinking while hungry were so evident that we found a few in our group (a few being girls who weigh less than poodles) blacked out in the valet as we re-entered. Literally, blacked out. One pair even wrestling.
