Natural Gourmet Institute, 10281, New York

About The Business

The Natural Gourmet Center operates as part of the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City. It specializes in health-supportive culinary education, focusing on plant-based, vegan, and vegetarian cooking, as well as nutrition and wellness principles. This center offers professional career programs aimed at training individuals for careers in health-focused food industries.

Beyond the career programs offered through the Natural Gourmet Center, the broader Institute of Culinary Education provides a wide array of cooking and baking classes for the public. These recreational classes cover diverse cuisines and techniques, catering to various interests and skill levels, from foundational cooking skills to specific global foods and pastry arts.

The institution is situated in lower Manhattan and serves as a significant center for culinary learning, offering both intensive professional training and accessible workshops and courses for home cooks looking to expand their abilities in the kitchen. The curriculum is designed to provide comprehensive knowledge and practical experience in a professional setting.

Location & Hours

Natural Gourmet Institute

225 Liberty St, New York, 10281

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Hours

Mon

9AM-9:30PM

Tue

9AM-9:30PM

Wed

9AM-9:30PM

Thu

9AM-5PM

Fri

9AM-9:30PM

Sat

9AM-4PM

Sun

9AM-4PM

Additional Information

Class types:

Date night, Couples, Corporate events, Team-building, Multi-session course, Professional culinary program

Age groups:

Kids, Teens, Adults

Skill level:

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Class themes:

Vegan, Vegetarian, Healthy Cooking, Italian, French, Japanese, Baking, Pastry, Knife Skills, Seafood, Grilling, Holiday Cooking, Bread Making, Pasta Making, Sushi Making, Chocolate Making, Sauces & Stocks, Meal Prep, Farm-to-Table, Street Food, Mediterranean, American Southern

Class sizes:

Unspecified

Participation types:

Hands-on

Teacher credentials:

Professional Chef, Certified Culinary Instructor

Class types:

Culinary institute

Class duration:

Single-sessions, Multi-week series, Extended program

BYOB allowed?

Not allowed

Natural Gourmet Institute Reviews

4.4 14 reviews

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Avoid Gather & Forge – My Experience with Their Private Chef Services

September 12, 2025

I don’t usually write negative reviews, but I wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone else avoid the same mistake.

I hired Gather & Forge well in advance to provide a great private dining experience for guests I had flown in from across the country—two nights in a row. Both nights were a letdown.

The chef showed up 45 minutes to an hour late each night.

The food wasn’t hot. It came out lukewarm or even cool.

The quality of the meal didn’t justify the price. Honestly, I’d say the value was maybe 60% of what we paid.

I gave them plenty of chances to make it right, but they had no interest in doing so. As much as I think Brandon (the chef) worked hard, the overall service just didn’t live up to the cost or the expectations.

Bottom line: Gather & Forge is overpriced, underdelivers, and doesn’t seem to care about customer satisfaction. I really wanted this to be a great experience, but I would never use them again and highly discourage anyone from booking them for private chef services.

Clay

Fabulous venue for events & Italian cooking classes!

August 25, 2025

Our BYOB wine group had an amazing experience Saturday night at A Taste of Milan in the Southside with Chef Sidney and Katie! We learned how to make home made pasta and enjoyed her family recipes handed down from generations! Truly beyond 5 stars and it was a magical evening! Thank you Sidney and Katie –

Kim Marie Angiulli