The Wooden Spoon
Categories: Cooking Schools, Kitchen & Bath [Edit]
Neighborhood: Ravenswood5047 N Clark St
(between Carmen Ave & Winnemac Ave)
Chicago, IL 60640 (773) 293-3190
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
23 reviews
Neighborhood: Near West Side
"This is the Pleasure Chest for all things culinary. But sexier. And sharper. And we know what they have on under those kitchen whites.…" read more »
16 Reviews for The Wooden Spoon
I like cooking so I can appreciate places like this. They have a great set-up here. You can actually purchase all kinds of kitchenware and diningware. It can be a bit pricey, but some of the items seem pretty unique. They also have a kitchen area. They've bar stools set up on the opposite side where you can watch them cook. They also have an outdoor courtyard and an entertaining room as well. This place makes you feel like you are being entertained at someone's home. I thought that we'd get to experience some on-hands cooking as well, but we didn't. I'm not sure if I'd be able to if I had been more proactive about it. The food was pretty good, and it was nice to be able to take a couple of recipes back. It's a nice thing to do in a group or as a romantic event with your significant other. I'm not sure of the costs to do it, but I'm sure it'd be memorable.
Took a cooking class with the Mrs. there on Sat. Tried to do something different than the Chopping Block, but ended up regretting it. For starters, the class was 20 mins late. Even worse, the instructor spoke non-stop (while walking around the room, which made me nauseous) for the first hour. We made too many dishes and had too many people - so I was relegated to just cutting pears. Won't be making this mistake again.
Great place to buy almost anything you would need in the kitchen. I got one of my Shun knives there and the price was actually pretty reasonable. Very friendly staff.
Haven't taken a class there yet, but plan to.
My husband and I took a hands-on cooking class here one cold winter weekend, and we had a great time. Chef Alekka taught our class-- she was a lot of fun and not intimidating at all, even to a novice cook like myself. She really tried to make sure everyone got to be hands-on at as many of the recipes as possible. We appreciated the discount on future classes and on merchandise offered at the conclusion of the class. Great place to pick up a utensil or cookware as well.
I took the knife skills class with my girlfriend. It was extremely basic, and didn't really add anything to what you could learn in ten minutes on Google. It was also pretty annoying that the class started at 6:30, yet there was no food or anything available until the class was over around 9pm, by which time everyone was starving. Speaking of which, all that was served was a chicken sandwich, fruit salad, and some chips, salsa and guacamole. I realize that it was a knife skills class, but still, you'd expect something a little more inspired from a cooking class. Also, I don't think they washed the lettuce that was on the sandwich.
Charming cooking gadget and supply store - they also offer cooking classes in the small demo kitchen at the back of the store. They have a pretty good selection of items, more specific and niche-related than you will find at Bed Bath and Beyond, or the ilk. If you just need everyday cookware items, you needn't come here.
But, if you want a specific baking gadget, or a more high-end choice of utensil, this is your place! And if you are lucky, you will be around when they have treats and samples to munch on - last time I went (yesterday), they had some lovely chicken quesadillas - simple, warm, and savory!
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My bf took me to my first hands-on cooking class experience here on Saturday - 5 Stars for Wooden Spoon!! I felt like I was on the Food Network (my favorite!)!!! We were in the Seafood cooking class with Chef Alekka, who is awesome! Fun, instructive, and very outgoing. She really entertained us with her many culinary school stories! 14 of us made up a full class, which was fun yet intimate at the same time. We all took turns cooking various things and helping to prepare each recipe - I was the okra "fry master" and loved every minute! We learned how to slice fresh seafood, grill salmon, steam sea bass, chop veggies, make shrimp & sausage gumbo, and a fellow classmate mastered bananas foster for dessert! We all shared and enjoyed the dishes together, which was a great treat!! Great for a date or with a friend.
Bonus: they have a sale table of discounted kitchen supply items, just for class participants! Lovely store...can't wait to go back for another class! Thanks Alekka!!!
Cute place. But, a cooking store where the employee did not know what Herbs Provenance was? Bad form! Nice selection though, of things you did not know you needed. A bit overpriced.
I have taken 3 cooking classes there. It is a nice evening, fun, not necessarily the most practical recipes are given, but it does make for a very entertaining evening., A bit like dinner theatre. My suggestion to them is ,because it is BYOB for cooking classes, perhaps they can add wine suggestions to those attending.
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quaint store, with cookies by the register. That gets a plus already. Good selection of gadgets and cookware. I took a candy making class and we learned to make lollipops, toffee, turtles, and truffles. It was hands on, I enjoyed the instructor, and there was a good comaraderie. I will most likely take more classes there in the future.
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I know my mom meant well when she gave me a gift certificate for cooking classes at The Wooden Spoon. She knows I am not the type to spend time in the kitchen....in fact, I have never used my stove! I am sure she wanted to exand my horizons into the world of cooking/baking.
Although I was not particulary looking forward to it, I headed up north to the Wooden Spoon. I was immediately impressed by the cute store filled with gourmet cookware and accessories, something a person like me would have no use for. But, if I did cook, I would definitely come here to shop!
The hands-on class turned out to be lots of fun. However, if asked the question if I would cook what I prepared in class again (such as the bisque or salmon) I would definitely say no. The recipes and techniques in this class were a little too complicated for me. Next time, I would definitely sign up fo a more basic cooking class.
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This is what you want in a cooking supply store. The place is clean, airy, and open, the people are very friendly and knowledgeable, and sometimes there are fresh baked cookies. Since the store offers cooking classes, there's a kitchen built right in, so you can test items. Once I was interested in a canister which wasn't marked with a size, and the owner took the canister and a measuring cup back to the sink to find out the volume. The store is small, and the selection is limited, which is why I can't give them 5 stars. Also, it can be expensive, but that's often the case with an independent retailer. But while this store may not have the selection of the old Chef's Catalog store (now closed), the people are so much nicer and more helpful that it's a better shopping experience.
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How can there be so many simultaneously unnecessary and necessary objects when it comes to cooking? For a small, specialty shop, they get four stars for having a variety of cookware and a pretty decent range of prices.
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Less pots and pans and more kitchen accessories. Juicers, zesters, measuring spoons, coasters, pot holders, etc. And they have classes that look like a hoot. I need to make more time to come here.
The Wooden Spoon has a good selection of cooking and baking materials, not to mention other general household goods, such as aprons, clocks, towels, and cookbooks. The staff is very friendly and their cooking classes are awesome! Sometimes, if you're there on the right day, you can sneak a sample of freshly baked goodies from the kitchen!
electic, upscale kitchen items. very cute. on one particular visit i walked in when there was a cooking class going on. it smelled AMAZING. god i wanted to stay. i'd like to try one of their classes, but they are too pricey for my budget right now (I don't see any that are less than $65/person) =( boo.
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Neat little kitchen supply store, and what looks like a great lineup of classes. The prices are on par with larger stores, and the staff knows their stuff, which you cannot generally say about the chain stores. I would definitely return.
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