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If you are looking for recreational cooking classes at a reasonable rate, look no further. Home Cooking New York has just what the doctor ordered.

 

For one hundred dollars, a curious person can come to this school at 158 Grand Street in Soho to learn about, say, Korean or Persian cooking, knife skills or seafood.  These classes also have a maximum of 10 students to give more personalized attention.

 

Home Cooking New York's reasonable rates are due to low overhead, according to owner and chef instructor, Jennifer Clair. They don't have to pay the prices for rent like the Institute of Culinary Education does in Brookfield Place.

 

When asked what else made HCNY unique, Clair said she believes it's their school's personality.

 

"There is a good vibe in this school and it's a lifestyle where we love what we do," she said.

 

One of the perks of HCNY is a grocery shopping class that Clair teaches both in-person and virtually.  It's $20 per person and is 1-2 hours long. She covers topics like understanding the labels on foods, organic vs. non-organic, what grass-fed beef is, and what GMO and gluten-free mean.

 

She can come to your business and give talks to the employees or teach virtually.

 

She also has written her own cookbook that she's calls a "manual." It's not only recipes, but it makes the how-to easier, she said. She suggests to students that want to go to culinary school to choose what area of food work you want to be in.

 

"Some people want to cook, some want to farm, some want to sell," Clair said. It's good to narrow it down, according to Clair. She also believes in using recipes to teach students.

 

Her classes are available for kids, teens and adults. There is a summer kids boot camp for young people only. The menus change every week so the children can go all summer if they'd like. Teens 13 and older can take a class with their parents and those 16 and older can sign up for classes for themselves. Classes are becoming less virtual and more in-person, according to Clair.

 

"We used to have four virtual classes a day. Now we have about four a week," she said.

 

Clair is an inspiration to her students; but who is her inspiration? 

 

"Lydia Bastianich is one of my favorites," she said. "I like what she has done and what she creates."

 

She added Rachael Ray is another one of her favorites.

 

"She is interested in sharing and caring about what she cooks," she added.

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