Ojai Culinary School

The intimate Lavender Inn is the setting for the innovative Ojai Culinary School. The cooking school offers a wide variety of hands-on and demonstration cooking classes ranging from visiting chefs to local artisanal cooks. The emphasis on the cooking classes is to develop technique and expertise along with a sense of ease in the kitchen.

PRIVATE COOKING CLASSES: Let us cook up a celebration for you - whether it's a birthday, a bridal shower, or just a group getting together. We can tailor your class to your group's cooking skill level and type of desired menu. Chefs will work side by side with your group to create a memorable meal. See below for more on private classes.

UPCOMING CLASSES:

HOMEMADE PASTA   Join Chef Robin in this special Parent/Child class.  Try these new interactive parent participation workshops for two hours you spend with your child creating something together.  This class is geared toward younger kids as the kids will be on hand to help parents and parents will learn ways to have their kids help them in the kitchen at home. Most of our class time will be spent making pasta. The class is $75 which includes (1) parent and (1) child 

Sunday, July 18 @  1:00 

GRILLING AND OUTDOOR COOKING with David Cagnacci.  This class will cover in detail: grill cooking, barbecue and other outdoor cooking techniques:  grill care and preparation, utensils and tools, dry rubs, marinades, seasoning, ceder plank preparation and use.  This is largely a demonstration class, however with the number of foods demonstrated some preparation and interaction is needed by the students. $55

Menu

Cedar Plank Salmon with Honey Balsamic Glaze

Chipotle Grilled Tri Tip with Avocado and Tomato

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Jicama Slaw

Tuesday, July 20th @  1:00   

KIDS MAKING BREAKFAST  with Chef Robin.  Shhh ... don't tell your kids that breakfast is the important meal of the day. Join us in making fun in the morning in this class designed especially for kids.  $50

Sunday July 25 at  1:00 

SALSA. SAUCES, & MARINADES with chef David Cagnacci.  This class will cover a wide vairety of enhancements to meats, seafoods, salads, and no-meat menus.  You will learn to prepare emulsified dressings and marinades, fruit salsas, dry rubs, confit, chutney, and coulis along with a sampling of many dishes served throughout this lesson.  $55.

Sunday August 8 at  1:00 

GLUTEN FREE COOKING your kids will eat & love with Chef Robin.  Raising awareness and learning some options for a gluten free meal your kids can eat and love!  We will learn and make some awesome preparations using alternative ingredients to accommodate gluten allergies, including celiac patients.  Adults $75.  Kids welcome!  

Menu Includes

Start Your Day with A Glorious Gluten Free Breakfast
Oat Pancakes with Blueberry Compote
Scrambled Eggs with Pisto Manchego
Peaches Broiled with Basil Butte

Sunday, August 23   at  1:00 

THE PERFECT SUMMER MENU  with Aparna Khanolkar.  Join us and experience Aparna's Ayurvedic magic in the kitchen.

A special ... Tuscan Sun Dinner. Take your mind and your taste buds on a trip to a Tuscan garden.  Savor the creative dishes of Tuscany and let your imagination take you there.  Using simple, fresh ingredients, this very special dinner will include delicious courses coupled with an introduction to grand Italian wines.  A brief cooking demonstration will entice you to cook like an Italian chef.  Meander into the fragrant garden where dinner is served on a long Tuscan table.  The Italian courses brought to you with grace and style will have you dreaming like a Tuscan. After dinner dancing on the lawn is perfect for digestion! $85

Menu Includes

White Peach Bellinis

Grande Antipasti

Grande Dolci (desserts) Table

More to come ...

Also coming in September:  

SUSHI with David Cagnacci.  Join us to delve into learning about selecting seafood, care and sanitation, types of fish used for sushi, technique demonstration, rice preparation, and knife skills.  Following the demonstration, you will create your own sushi with a variety of ingredients - so fun and so easy to replicate it at home.  Chef will demonstrate different presentation ideas for your finished sushi.  $55

Class size is limited so please reserve your space early.  All ages welcome!

For more information and reservations call the Lavender Inn at 805-646-6635.  A 72 hour cancellation required for a full refund. The Lavender Inn is conveniently located behind the arcade in downtown Ojai at 210 E. Matilija. The Foodie Package is available for those who stay at the Lavender Inn while taking a class with a 10% off your room for one night per class.

MORE ON PRIVATE CLASSES

Create your own private class for 8 - 12 of your friends!

Whether it's a Birthday, Baby shower, Family-get-together, kid's party, company retreat, or time with friends, we can help you design an intimate class and menu around your theme.  These classes are unique way to spend time with friends and enjoy delicious food.

Sweet?  Savory?  We cater to any palate with a long list of chefs including Ellen Sherwood, Aparna Khanolkar, Karen Evenden, Chef Dave Cagnacci, Chef Robin, Patricia Cuenot and many more ... 

Let us help you create the ultimate food experience and leave the work to us!

For more private classes contact The Ojai Culinary School @ The Lavender Inn  805.646.6635,

Or stop by for a tour of our kitchen,  210 east Matilija street , ojai  (across from the Rainbow Bridge)