[singer4660]

Before anyone gets nervous, I'm not selling anything. I have noticed however that there are a number of threads on here (see "Practical Knife Skills", "I want to learn to cook" etc) where people are looking for DVDs, books and other learning materials. If they're like me, they would prefer to learn from a person rather than a book, but don't have access to formal culinary instruction. My question is...if it were possible to find local individuals who could teach you the specific things you wanted to learn in the kitchen, would that be a better solution? If it is a better solution, what's it worth to you?

Again, not selling anything. I'm just curious to see if I'm only the one that has wished I could find someone to teach me that one thing I really want to know without having to travel 4 hours to the nearest culinary school or pay for a lot of other instruction I don't need. Your thoughts?

[ED BUCHANAN]

Yes when I lived in NY, I gave courses in their homes to young -gonna- be brides on how to cook. Plain or fancy depending on what they wanted.

[DC Sunshine]

I think people are hungry for this type of instruction. As to how you price it - no idea. Small groups, say up to 5 or so, could work, so each can get personal tuition. Then again it depends on what sort of facility would be available for this venture. It may be restrictive cost wise to hire a facility, and then there are various local laws which may prove prohibitive.

I'm sure others here would be willing to give further help.

[amazingrace]

I volunteer at the local community center. In the not too distant future, I will be giving some basic pressure cooker [yes, that again--yawn ] instructions. If the folks like it, there will be more of the same.

[Jock]

A friend of mine was laid off about a year and a half ago from his job as a chef instructor at a cooking school. He set up shop in his house teaching small groups. It was an almost instant success. The class sizes (6-8) are just right as is the price point which varies depending on the class being taught. Basic knife skill classes for example, are priced lower than, say, a Mediterranean menu.

[Pete]

Private cooking classes are pretty popular right now. A number of chefs I know supplement their incomes doing this kind of thing. The other thing a friend of mine did was advertise cooking class "parties." It was a big hit with bored upper middle class wives. Not only did he make money on the classes but he gained valuable contacts for private catering jobs.

[Schuster]

I never thought about private parties like this, and I haven't heard of any in my area. I just had a "eureka!" moment. Anyone have any suggestions for getting into teaching these sort of private cooking classes? I'm very good at explaining cooking function to absolute novices, and I really enjoy it. It's almost silly to say, but I hadn't thought of this.

[amazingrace]

If the local work-out centers have bulletin boards, you might stick up some "fringe ads"... you know, announcements with a series of tear-offs with your phone # and what you do on each one. Also grocery stores, schools, work environments, beauty shops, etc...any place that will let you put one.
I enjoy that sort of teaching and demonstrating. Years ago, I had a lovely job working for Oster [until Sunbeam bought them out ], demonstrating their kitchen appliances in high end stores. Not only was it a fun job for me, but I also learned a lot too. Well, anyway, I think it's a fantastic idea, especially if you have good people skills. [I have known some chefs who do not play well with others...]