New Orleans Cooking Class: Learn Gumbo, Jambalaya & Pralines

Watch a chef cook Louisiana classics, then eat what they made

A two-hour cooking demonstration class at the New Orleans School of Cooking in the French Quarter where you watch a chef prepare gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish étouffée, bread pudding, bananas foster, pralines and other Louisiana specialties. You'll hear the history and techniques behind each dish, then enjoy a generous lunch of all the items made in class, served with beer, iced tea and coffee. Take home the recipes to recreate the dishes yourself.

The experience

The class happens in a renovated molasses warehouse built in the early 1800s, steps into the heart of the French Quarter. A professional chef leads the demonstration for two hours, keeping the pace entertaining while walking through the spices, techniques and stories that define Louisiana cooking. This is a demonstration class, not hands-on. You watch and listen rather than cook alongside the chef, which means the focus stays on the food and the history without the logistics of a full kitchen class.

The menu rotates through nine dishes: corn and crab bisque, gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp or chicken Creole, crawfish étouffée, bread pudding, bananas foster, pralines and pecan pie. The chef discusses the vegan and gluten-free alternatives (gumbo z'herbes and creole z'herbes) available for an additional $5 at check-in, though these are not demonstrated. After the demonstration ends, you move to the dining area for a generous lunch featuring all the dishes prepared in class, with complimentary beer, iced tea, coffee and water. You'll leave with a printed copy of every recipe demonstrated.

Classes run at 10am or 2pm on various days throughout the week. The space is fully wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby. If you have dietary restrictions beyond the vegan and gluten-free options, call the reservations line after booking to discuss what can be arranged. You can also submit photos of yourself cooking the recipes at home to receive a diploma recognizing your participation.

What’s included

• A two-hour cooking demonstration led by a professional chef.
• a full meal of all nine dishes prepared in class.
• one local beer, iced tea, coffee and water.
• printed recipes for every dish demonstrated.
• a diploma upon submission of photos cooking the recipes at home.

Options for this experience

14 options

2pm Demo FridayGuide in English · 14:00Friday at 2 pm: Gumbo, Jambalaya and Pralines

2pm Demo SaturdayGuide in English · 14:00Saturday demo at 2 pm: Crawfish Etouffee, Shrimp and Artichoke Soup and Pralines

2pm Demo SundayGuide in English · 14:00Sunday demo at 2 pm: Corn & Crab Bisque, Chicken Etouffee and Pralines

See 11 more options

2pm Demo MondayGuide in English · 14:00Monday demo at 2 pm: Gumbo, Jambalaya and Pralines

2pm Demo TuesdayGuide in English · 14:00Tuesday demo at 2 pm: Corn & Crab Bisque, Chicken Etouffee and Pralines

2pm Demo WednesdayGuide in English · 14:00Wednesday demo at 2 pm: Gumbo, Chicken Creole, Pralines

2pm Demo ThursdayGuide in English · 14:00Thursday at 2 pm: Gumbo, Pasta William (Pasta with a Creamy Crawfish Sauce), and Pralines

10am Demo WednesdayGuide in English · 10:00Wednesday brunch at 10 am: Jambalaya, Gumbo, Bread Pudding and Pralines

10am Demo TuesdayGuide in English · 10:00Tuesday demo at 10 am: Gumbo, Jambalaya, Bananas Foster and Pralines

10am Demo SundayGuide in English · 10:00Sunday demo at 10 am: Gumbo, Jambalaya, Bread Pudding and Pralines

10am Demo ThursdayGuide in English · 10:00Thursday demo at 10 am: Corn & Crab Bisque, Shrimp Creole, Bananas Foster & Pralines

10am Demo MondayGuide in English · 10:00Monday demo at 10 am: Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, Pecan Pie and Pralines

10am Demo SaturdayGuide in English · 10:00Saturday at 10 am: Gumbo, Jambalaya, Bread Pudding, Pralines

10am Demo FridayGuide in English · 10:00Friday at 10 am: Crawfish Etoufee, Shrimp and Artichoke Soup, Bread Pudding, Pralines

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

Book up toStart time

GroupUp to 68 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearby

Operated by New Orleans School of Cooking

Is this one for you?Book this class if you want to understand Louisiana cooking through its signature dishes without spending the day in a kitchen. The demonstration format means you get the stories, techniques and flavors in two hours, then sit down to eat instead of cook.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What dishes do you learn about in the New Orleans cooking class?

The chef demonstrates nine dishes: corn and crab bisque, gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp or chicken Creole, crawfish étouffée, bread pudding, bananas foster, pralines and pecan pie. Each one comes with the history and techniques that make Louisiana cooking distinctive.

Is this a hands-on cooking class or a demonstration?

This is a demonstration class only. You watch the chef prepare the dishes and learn the techniques, but you don't cook yourself. After the demonstration, you sit down to eat everything that was made.

What's included with the New Orleans cooking class?

The class includes a full meal of all the dishes demonstrated, served with one local beer, iced tea, coffee and water; a printed copy of all the recipes; and a diploma if you submit photos of yourself cooking the recipes at home later.

Can the New Orleans cooking class accommodate dietary restrictions?

Vegan and gluten-free options (gumbo z'herbes and creole z'herbes) are available for an additional $5 at check-in. For other dietary restrictions, call the reservations line after booking to discuss what can be arranged.

What time does the cooking class meet, and where is it located?

Classes meet at 10am or 2pm on various days throughout the week at the New Orleans School of Cooking, located in a renovated molasses warehouse in the French Quarter. The space is fully wheelchair accessible and public transportation is nearby.