The Gourmandise School

4.9
(56 reviews)
Last updated: May 23, 2025
Website
310-656-8800
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About The Business

The Gourmandise School is a cooking school located in Santa Monica, California. The school offers hands-on cooking and baking classes for individuals of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced home cooks. Their approach focuses on teaching fundamental techniques using fresh, local ingredients sourced from the Santa Monica Farmers Market.

The curriculum includes a wide array of classes covering various global cuisines such as Italian, French, Mexican, and Asian, alongside specialized topics like baking, pastry, bread making, pasta making, and sushi. They also offer classes focused on specific dietary needs like vegan and gluten-free cooking, as well as practical skills like knife techniques and meal preparation.

Beyond public classes for adults, the school provides programs tailored for kids and teens, couples, and private events. They are also a popular venue for corporate team-building activities. The classes are designed to be interactive and engaging, providing students with practical experience and confidence in the kitchen.

Location & Hours

The Gourmandise School

395 Santa Monica Pl #323, Santa Monica, 90401

310-656-8800

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Hours
Mon
9AM-5PM
Tue
10AM-7PM
Wed
10AM-7PM
Thu
10AM-7PM
Fri
10AM-8PM
Sat
10AM-8PM
Sun
11AM-6PM

Additional Information

Class types:

Date night, Couples, Corporate events, Team-building, Kids’ classes, Multi-session course

Age groups:

Kids, Teens, Adults

Skill level:

All levels

Class themes:

Italian, French, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Baking, Pastry, Bread Making, Pasta Making, Sushi Making, Knife Skills, Healthy Cooking, Holiday Cooking, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Seafood, BBQ/Grilling

Class sizes:

4–6 people

Participation types:

Hands-on

Teacher credentials:

Professional Chef

Class types:

Cooking school

Class duration:

Single-sessions, Multi-week series

BYOB allowed?

Allowed

The Gourmandise School 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