When there is a beautiful plate of food set for you, what comes to mind first? Do you wonder how it tastes like or how much work has gone into the preparation and making of that dish?

No matter what your reaction is, there is one thing we have to admit. Food preparation and cooking is an art, and when well-executed, it deserves unlimited praises. Even those who do not cook often or do not cook at all would have also watched famous cooking competitions such as Masterchef (while wishing you possess the skills they have).

There are plenty of cooking classes out in the market, so why not sign yourself up for one? You will definitely be able to find one that caters to your needs and expectations. To start you off, here are 15 Cooking Classes You Can Join To Be A Masterchef.

#1 ABC COOKING STUDIO

With more than 135 cooking studios in major cities such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and even Korea, ABC Cooking Studio is a reliable place to start your cooking journey especially if it is your first time attending a cooking class.

Located at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, glean a skill or two about cooking in their contemporary cooking studio. ABC Cooking Studio also abides by an effective small-group teaching approach which means that you will have maximum support and attention from your teachers.

Trial classes start at S$35 per pax if you register online and each lesson will span over 2 hours.

ABC Cooking Studio has several outlets, check them out here.

#2 BRETTSCHNEIDER’S BAKING & COOKING SCHOOL

Have a fiery passion for baking and cooking? This is your chance to take away some valuable insights from one of the world’s leading global bakers and his excellent team of chefs, pastry chefs, cooks and baristas.

At Brettschneider’s Baking & Cooking School, there are so many different classes that you can try and the classes have also been helpfully categorised according to their difficulty level.

From Baking For Beginners (S$180 per pax) to Advanced Croissant & Danish Pastry (S$260 per pax), it is time to kickstart your culinary career.

1 Greendale Avenue
Singapore 289495
Tel: +65 6463 5508
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Tan Kah Kee

#3 BUONISSIMO CULINARY SCHOOL

Yes, the standard of living in Singapore is rather high but for those who love cooking, this doesn’t mean that you have to clamp down on furthering your cooking skills because, at Buonissimo Culinary School, you get affordable, hands-on gourmet culinary classes and workshops.

Classes conducted at Buonissimo Culinary School are suitable for all experience levels and what could be better than learning about cooking different cuisines in a warm and friendly environment?

Classes start at S$90 per pax.

Buonissimo Culinary School
9 Norris Road #02-01
Singapore 208252
Tel: +65 9830 0231
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Little India

#4 CHANTILLY CULINARY STUDIO

How does cooking in a neat and bright studio setting sound to you? Chantilly Culinary Studio is a lovely cooking studio nestled among the shophouses along Simon Road. Before you step in, do take the time to appreciate the fresh herbs that are growing in their patio garden!

Led by Cecilia Mardianah Hough, cooking classes at Chantilly Culinary Studio focus on keeping food simple, fresh and natural.

Prices for a Basic Bread Course start at S$400 per pax and Festive Cake classes that start at S$95 per pax.

Chantilly Culinary Studio
21 Simon Road
Singapore 545907
Tel: +65 6383 2313
Nearest Station: Kovan

#5 COOKYN INC

A strong advocate of making food fun, Cookyn Inc is all about bringing people closer together through the wonderful thing that is food. Founded in 2009, Cookyn Inc specialises in customising cooking events for both corporate and social objectives.

To give you an idea of what Cookyn Inc can offer, one class that would be suitable for large group sizes (from 14 pax to 90 pax) is The Global Kitchen Challenge – Signature! and prices start at S$120 per pax for this cooking class.

Cookyn Inc
31 Ah Hood Road
#01-04 HTNS-JOM Clubhouse
Singapore 329979
Tel: +65 6748 4848
Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Toa Payoh

#6 COOKERY MAGIC

If attending a cooking class in a cooking studio doesn’t appeal to you, what about an authentic culinary experience in a Singapore home? Founded by Ruqxana, Cookery Magic believes in cooking, sharing and love.

At Cookery Magic, learn how to cook up a range of popular Indian, Malay, Indonesian, Chinese and Singaporean dishes in classes at Ruqxuna’s home or on field trips. Whether you are a novice or if you are comfortable in the kitchen, there will be something for you at Cookery Magic. 

Classes start at S$110 per pax for Daily Home Cooking and Home Cooking Class – Singapore Favourites.

Cookery Magic
117 Fidelio Street
Singapore 458492
Tel: +65 9665 6831
Nearest Station: Kembangan / Bedok

#7 CORIANDER LEAF RESTAURANT

Constantly striving to be at the forefront of innovative culinary experiences, Coriander Leaf Restaurant is a well-established cooking icon in Singapore. There are a variety of different Pan-Asian cuisines taught at their cooking classes which include South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Upcoming classes by Samia Ahad include the Flavours of Vietnam (S$160 per pax) and Streets Of Singapore Demo Class (S$160 per pax).

30 Victoria Street
#02-01 Chijmes
Singapore 187996
Tel: +65 6837 0142
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 6pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Sunday)
Nearest Station: Bras Basah / City Hall

#8 CREATIVE CULINAIRE

Interested in learning about the joys and secrets of cooking and baking? Head on down to Creative Culinaire and participate in one of their culinary courses! Led by Chef Judy Koh, you would be able to find a class for every age and experience level. And if you are looking for a team-building corporate program, you have come to the right place.

Upcoming courses include the Junior Bake-off – Rainbow Cake and Junior! Cook Off -Chicken Rice (Parent-Child) and prices range from S$20 to S$148 per pax.

17 Eng Hoon Street
#01-04 Eng Hoon Mansions
Singapore 169767
Tel: +65 6324 1663
Mon to Fri: 10am – 6pm
Sun: 1pm – 6pm
(Closed on Saturday)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

#9 CULINARYON

Get your chef’s hat on and let yourself have some fun with food at a cooking class with CulinaryOn. Aside from embarking on a rewarding culinary adventure with your the executive chef heading your class, you can also bask in the joy of good company and conversation over good food.

Most importantly, there is no need to worry if you are making a mistake as you can clarify any of your burning questions and concerns with your instructor!

Upcoming classes include the Bread Baking (S$240 per pax) and French Cuisine (S$250 per pax).

1 Raffles Place
#04-63 One Raffles Place Tower 2
Singapore 048616
Tel: +65 3163 4499
Daily: 8am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

#10 EXPAT KITCHEN

Offering a cooking class for people from all walks of life, Expat Kitchen opens its welcoming arms to anyone who has an interest in cooking.

Originally created in 2007 by an Australian expatriate with the purpose of bridging the culinary gap between the meals that helpers prepare and your expectations, you can be assured that all cooking classes are conducted in a comfortable and relaxed setting. This involves hands-on participation, food tasting and Q&A sessions.

Focus classes start at S$150 for a single private class.

9 Norris Road #02-01
Singapore 208252
Tel: +65 6299 4221
Nearest Station: Little India / Rochor

#11 FOOD PLAYGROUND

Food Playground is a hands-on cooking school located within a pre-war heritage shophouse in the heart of Chinatown.

With a focus on empowering flexi-work employment opportunities for stay-at-home mothers and active seniors, this will be a meaningful cause to take part in whilst having tonnes of fun with food!

If you are not sure where to start, the signature Cultural Cooking Class would be a good option. This class would be a good cultural immersion experience for travellers and expatriates alike to learn more about Singapore’s food heritage.

Prices start from S$119 per pax.

24A Sago Street
Singapore 059020
Tel: +65 9452 3669
Nearest Station: Chinatown

#12 LITTLE GREEN KITCHEN

The brainchild of former lawyer Shalu Asani, Little Green Kitchen aims to prove that vegetarian food is not as plain as most would think.

Offering creative cooking classes and delicious recipes of food from different cuisines, this is where you should turn to for a renewed perspective on your greens.

Upcoming classes include Classic Thai Favourites, Authentic Indian Cuisine and 30-minute Meals. Participation will cost you S$85 per pax and a minimum of 3 pax is required per class.

1 Hacienda Grove
Singapore 457908
Tel: +65 9763 1483
Nearest Station: Bedok

#13 PALATE SENSATIONS COOKING SCHOOL

Instead of just imparting you with their recipes, Palate Sensations Cooking School believes in taking your cooking class experience to the next level by teaching their students culinary techniques that they can practice for life.

Whether you are a food enthusiast or a simply curious about what a cooking class is like, rest assured that all cooking classes at Palate Sensations Cooking School are taught by professional chefs.

To get started on your culinary journey, the Chef in Training series is a good place to begin. This 8-day course will cost S$1,400 per pax.

10 Biopolis Road
#01-03 Chromos
Singapore 138670
Tel: +65 6478 9746
Daily: By appointment only
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

#14 THE EUREKA COOKING LAB

Lessons are best learnt when you are in a conducive learning environment. At The Eureka Cooking Lab, this is where you can fully immerse yourself in cooking classes in a peaceful, modern yet sophisticated setting.

As the name of this cooking studio suggests, The Eureka Cooking Lab is where you will see the blend of Art and Science of cooking through discovery, exploration and learning.

There is currently a 5-day Intensive Ramen Cooking Course by Yamato Ramen School where you will have the opportunity to learn from the masters of Yamato Noodle School and pick up some tips on how to run a successful ramen shop. However, this does not come cheap as the course will cost you S$5,000 per participant.

8 Jalan Kuras
Singapore 577725
Tel: +65 6456 4322
Mon to Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio / Yio Chu Kang

#15 TOTT

Although they are known for offering quality and top-notch kitchenware, did you know that ToTT also has a lovely mix of cooking classes that you can get involved in? There are two different formats of classes available namely hands-on classes and demo classes. Either way, you will benefit from the expertise of the chef in charge of your cooking class.

Upcoming classes that you can look forward to include the Decadent HK Tarts (S$98 per pax), Lana-Inspired Chocolate Fudge Cake (S$118 per pax) and Chiffon Cake: Two Flavours In One! (S$98 per pax).

2 Tampines Central 5
#02-14 Century Square
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 6215 9186 / +65 6219 7077
Sun to Thu: 11am – 9pm
Fri and Sat: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

3 Temasek Boulevard
#02-247 Suntec City
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6215 9186 / +65 6219 7077
Sun to Thu: 11am – 9pm
Fri and Sat: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

About the writer:
A member of the team at ladyironchef, Claire’s mission is to lead a life without regrets – to explore the world and its treasures boldly. When she isn’t pursuing her interests in writing, academia and music, Claire spends her free time with family and her pets. She also hopes to run her own animal shelter in the future.

The holiday mood has arisen as we approach the end of the year! This is the time when Singaporeans are counting down to the days when we can feast on good food every day and soak up the good cheers of ongoing festivities. Now, one major food festival all food enthusiasts must not miss is the AccorHotels Food & Wine Festival from 04 to 12 Nov 2017.

In Singapore, delectable food and excellent wine is not simply just a national pastime but considered an inalienable right and AccorHotels knows that best. This festival will spread across nine days in 40 restaurants and bars of hotels under the group. Organised by the largest and most prestigious hotel operator in Singapore, you can be assured that the festival will be nothing short of grand.

This inaugural gourmet food & wine festival will play host to over 100 chefs across AccorHotels’ massive network of Michelin-starred chefs from multiple award-winning restaurants and chefs such as Michelin-star Chef Kirk Westaway of JAAN, Raffles Singapore’s Amos Ting and Chef Louis Tay of Swissôtel Merchant Court who won the Culinary Olympics 2016.

Starring ‘Super Sunday Brunch’ held at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, the coolest pool parties and masterclasses, treat yourselves to exciting culinary creations and interesting alcoholic beverages by more than 100 highly dedicated chefs from AccorHotels.

Here’s what you can expect from this 9-day Food & Wine Extravaganza. 

WHAT TO EXPECT AT ACCORHOTELS FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2017

The AccorHotels Singapore Food & Wine Festival 2017 is perhaps one of the grandest food festivals Singapore has ever seen and it speaks of the innate passion that we Singaporeans have for food. For nine full days, expect pool party across several different hotels, masterclasses from cocktail shaking to world-class baking, various set lunch and dinner menus, foodie influencer meet-ups and the Biggest Brunch—one that we are totally stoked about.

Guests will be amazed by culinary geniuses who are able to celebrate Singapore’s multi-ethnic influences through delectable food and drinks in beautiful settings. This scale of the event is impressive to say the least, and as Michael Issenberg, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels, Asia Pacific says, “It speaks to the passion Singaporeans have for food.”

THE BIGGEST BRUNCH IN SINGAPORE

Held on 12 Nov 2017 at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, all AccorHotel’s restaurants and bars will showcase their signature dishes and beverages alongside entertainment and fun for everyone in the family. Imagine being surrounded by the finest foods from some of the best restaurants and bars in the city—all at one destination.

One of the star dishes that stole our hearts was Hen’s Egg, Celeriac, Caviar whipped up by Michelin-star Chef Kirk Westaway from JAAN at Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore.

It was a dream dish by Chef Kirk who cleverly tied in nature’s finest produce coupled with precise culinary techniques. The key here is to use simple methods that best enhance the natural flavours of each unique ingredient.

Alternatively, diners can also look forward to Lobster Bisque & Octopus Avocado by Chef Jean-Charles Dubois from the newly-opened Sofitel Singapore City Centre; and the Saute Slipper Lobster with Black Bean Sauce, Mango Salsa & Sesame, a recipe created by Chef Louis Tay of Swissôtel Merchant Court.

If you are there for the drinks, we highly recommend Anti:dote’s mixologist Bannie Kang’s Hwa Chae and the original Singapore Sling prepared by Amos Ting from Raffles Hotel. Both make stunning cocktails at extremely fast speed. And, we can always do with an extra glass of good cocktail, right?

HAVE A SPLASHIN’ GOOD TIME AT POOL PARTIES

A festival is just incomplete without pool parties so gather all your friends and have a wild time together! Since this is a food festival, partygoers will be treated to freshly made dishes and local BBQ items. What’s more, there will also be a fully-stocked bar serving stylish cocktails, bubbly champagne and a range of local and imported beer on tap!

Your night will be made memorable with DJs spinning the latest hit songs and live performances from solo musicians and bands, depending on which hotel you choose to go to.

There are five hotels in total for you to pick from—Fairmont Singapore, Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore, ibis Styles Singapore On MacPherson, Mercure Singapore Bugis and SO Sofitel Singapore.

SIGN UP FOR THE MASTERCLASSES

Pick up some culinary skills along the way when you join in the masterclasses. From cocktail shaking and world-class baking to making latte art and chocolate demonstration workshops, surely there is something that will interest you.

Parents would also be pleased to know that they can sign their young ones up for kids cooking classes, ice cream making lessons and even a pasta necklace crafting session. These are perfect bonding activities for families, ain’t it?

SPECIAL SET MENUS CURATED BY RESTAURANTS OF PARTICIPATING HOTELS

Just for this festival alone, there will be special 3-course set menus at participating restaurants under AccorHotels. Prices range from S$15++ to S$47++ for lunch and S$27++ to S$67++ (including a glass of red or white wine) for dinner.

In particular, you have to try the Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Morel Crust at Royale Restaurant, Mercure Singapore Bugis. Executive Chef Nicholas Sia uses the freshest seafood that are all locally farmed from Ah Hua Kelong.

WIN PRIZES WHILE ENJOYING SPECIAL PROMOTIONS

The AccorHotels Singapore Food & Wine Festival is proudly sponsored by Mastercard and British Airways.

Throughout the course of the nine days, attendees can also collect stamps using a special “Foodie Passport” and lucky winners will stand a chance to win a trip to Sydney or Paris courtesy of British Airways—one of the event’s sponsors—as well as hotel stays at the various hotels under the AccorHotels group.

All participating restaurants and bars are listed in the passport and dining at any one of them will award you 1 stamp*(terms and conditions apply).

Le Club AccorHotels’ members will receive a 2nd stamp upon verification, and the 3rd stamp will be awarded when you pay via MasterCard.  Diners must have at least 3 stamps before 12 November in order to qualify for the F&B voucher.

If all these talks about good food have gotten you on the edge of your seat, then what are you waiting for? Book your tickets now at accorhotelsfoodfestival.com.

Tickets for the pool party on 04 November start at S$22 and tickets for the festival lunch and dinner set menu from 04 to 12 November start at S$15.

This post is brought to you by AccorHotels Asia Pacific.

Chef Sam Leong needs no introduction. He is one of the most famous local chefs in Singapore, and he has an impressive list of accolades which includes being named the Chef of the Year at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Award in 2006 and 2007, and Asian Cuisine Chef of the Year (2009) by the World Gourmet Summit. After leaving Tung Lok Group, he has joined Resorts World Sentosa to open Forest Restaurant, which serves Chinese cuisine with a Western approach (in terms of food presentation).

The restaurant’s interior design is inspired by the lush tropical rain forests, and it is definitely one of the most stunning Chinese restaurants in Singapore.

At Forest, Chef Leong acts as a consultant, and besides providing guidance for the cuisine and menu planning of the restaurant, he also conducts cooking classes with his wife, Forest. He has launched a special culinary class combined with a four-course set lunch. This means to say you can have a nice lunch at the restaurant, and then move on to the culinary class in the beautiful state-of-the-art show kitchen to learn some tips from Chef Leong.

If you just want to enjoy a leisure lunch, Forest’s four course Winter Set Lunch Menu is $48++. For those who are keen to have the full experience, the cooking class with four course lunch is $160 nett per person.

Our luncheon started with a simple, but delicious Steamed Egg Chawanmushi with Hokkaido Scallop.

Next, we had the Deep-fried Seabass with Nyonya chilli sauce. The fish is steamed, then deep-fried in 360 degree Celsius hot oil. The seabass had the perfect crisp, and it was paired flawlessly with the spicy and flavourful Nyonya chilli sauce.

Following which, we had the Wok-fried Pearl Rice with Minced Beef. The wok-hei of the fried pearl rice and the aroma of the homemade XO chilli sauce combine effortlessly. Our only grouse was the excessive use of rice crisp.

The four course menu ends with a simple and refreshing Chilled Lemon Grass Jello with Thai sweet mango, young coconut and wolfberries.

After finishing lunch, head over to the beautiful kitchen showroom and learn culinary tips from Chef Leong and his wife, who will be demonstrating some of their signature dishes.

The cooking Class (capped to maximum of ten guests) with four-course set lunch at Forest costs S$160 nett per person and is available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (depending on demand, please call the restaurant to check the schedule). Lunch will be served from 1pm-2pm and the culinary masterclass is conducted between 2pm to 4pm.

Forest Restaurant
8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 1 Equarius Hotel
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: +65 6577 7788
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sunday Brunch: 11.30am – 4pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

If you truly love someone, every day should be like Valentine’s Day.

It’s great to be in love, there are so many sweet things that you can do with your partner: surprise her with a candlelight dinner during a weekend; snuggle in bed on a cold rainy day; send silly messages to each other throughout the day; buy a flower for her even though there’s no special occasion.

Guys, you do not need a reason to be romantic. You should always do things to make her feel special; she is, after-all the most important person in your life. Everyone likes list posts, so here are some romantic ideas/things to do with your partner.

There are many things in this world which I do not understand, but there is one thing I am sure of – love always wins.

Short getaway

Budget airlines like Jetstar, Tiger, AiaAsia have completely redefined the travel experience. With prices of air-tickets falling faster than a soufflé, there’s really no excuse for not going on a holiday. Plan for a 3D2N getaway to nearby cities like Phuket, Bangkok, Bali and surprise him/her. It is the best Valentine’s Day Gift for your partner.

Staycation

‘Staycations’ have become very popular in recent years, and it is a good alternative if you want to avoid the hassle of planning for a holiday.

Resorts World Sentosa (8 Sentosa Gateway Resorts World Sentosa Tel: +65 6577 8888) has a 3D2N Tropical Special at $788 which includes two nights stay at Hotel Michael Deluxe Room, Hard Rock Hotel Deluxe Room or Festive Hotel Deluxe Family Room; and one day pass to Universal Studios Singapore for Two.

Hotel Fort Canning (11 Canning Walk Tel: +65 6559 6770) is the perfect setting for couples to escape from the busy world and go a romantic rendezvous over the weekend. They are currently offering a Valentine’s Day promotion for S$380++ per room per night. The package is also inclusive of breakfast for two at The Glass House and complimentary champagne, wine and juices plus canapés at the Lobby Lounge from 6-8pm.

Be it anniversary, birthday, Christmas, or Valentine’s day, going for staycation is a romantic idea for all occasions.

Take a cooking class together

AFC Studio (181 Orchard Road #07-02 Orchard Central Tel: + 65 6834 4829) is the place to go for good and relatively affordable cooking classes. They offer different cooking classes (two hour class is $45/pax) ranging from baking French cakes; to learning how to prepare authentic Indonesian dishes. I think it is a romantic idea to take cooking classes, and it is a great way for you and your partner to have fun and enjoy quality time together.

Cook candle light dinner

There’s nothing more romantic than preparing a candlelight dinner for your partner. It doesn’t have to be fanciful dishes, it just has to be prepared by you.

Go for a romantic Picnic

A romantic picnic is a wonderful way to spend a lazy day with your boyfriend/girlfriend, and best of all, it’s a romantic gesture which doesn’t have to cost a lot. You can pack sandwiches, and your partner’s favourite snacks.

And of course, you can always “cheat” by buying from gourmet shops. Head to Jones the Grocer (12 Dempsey Road Tel: +65 6476 1512) or Da Paolo Gastronomia (290 Orchard Road, #B1-20 The Paragon Tel: +65 6738 1462) to get some food, before heading to Botanic Gardens or Marina Barrage for a picnic.

For those of you who are planning to do a picnic at Botanic Gardens, you can get pizzas from Casa Verde (1 Cluny road Singapore Botanic Gardens Tel: +65 6467 7326); they have an ongoing 1-for-1 pizza promotion (Monday to Thursday, 11am – 9.30pm) for takeaway.

(To the guys reading this: I would suggest bringing along a bottle of champagne too – it’s perfect for a simple and romantic picnic.)

For more recommendations, please read my Guide to Valentine’s Day Dinner 2012

Do share with us what are some of the romantic things that you do with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Remember, it’s not about what you do, but who you do it with. Have fun with your partner!