Cooking Class - Taqueria Essentials - Natick

Reviews guests left for other experiences with Chef Patrick or Resident Chef

This class was amazing! The hands on instruction and support was super helpful, and the food was so good!

Patricia

05/10/2025

Class was good. A bit disorganized and chaotic.

Was a lot of fun, and great instructor! Even though it was not the chef pictured, I felt the chef was professional and a great leader. I would like the recipe, which I was told would be sent. I also did not see that chairs or stools were available to me. Chairs or stools should be readily available at this particular location for all people involved. 90 minutes is a long time to stand for both older people and disabled people- we can still do the prep work from a seated position but we need stools or chairs please.

Cherise

10/27/2025

Such a fun and engaging class! The kids had a blast measuring, mixing, and decorating their own cookies. The instructor was patient, upbeat, and made learning about baking super easy and exciting. The cookies turned out delicious â€” weâ€™ll definitely be signing up again!

Lauren Lo

10/02/2025

It was a great class! Wouldâ€™ve given 5 stars if they shared the recipes with us after the class. My friends and I took this class five days ago and we still havenâ€™t received an email with the recipes yet.

Kristine

08/08/2025

We had a lovely evening of learning with the group. The participatory method was great; me & my college aged son got quite a lot out of the experience. It open my sons eyes to the fun of enjoying a really good meal prepared by ones self.

Emeka

07/04/2025

We had chef j and chef Scott. Excellent, 5 star experience. They were fun, educational, food was great. All in all 5 star experience

Tracy

06/28/2025

Chef J was awesome. I canâ€™t wait to take more classes! Thank you!!

Brenna

06/14/2025

The class was great but I wish the food portions were bigger for the money you pay for the class.

We had a fantastic time with Chef Scott! Not only was the food delicious, but he did a fantastic job of explaining the technique behind each step in the recipe, which made for an interesting and fun experience!

Tracy Henry

05/31/2025

Chefs Jhailyn and Scott were awesome! Their tips while preparing the meal were very helpful. The meal and dessert were phenomenal. I look forward to making it again soon! The recipes we received after the event were great! It was a very enjoyable experience. I would highly recommend it and look forward to our next Cozymeal event!

David Gasdia

04/21/2025

Chef Scott did a great job. The evening was a lot of fun, we learned new things and really enjoyed the cooking and eating a great meal.

Karen

04/20/2025

It was a lot of fun and Chef Scott did a great job, however I would limit the size.

Chef Malcolm did a great job! We had a fun and the food came out well.

Great. We left with lots of leftovers!

Andrea

01/16/2025

I like the classes

Jared

01/12/2025

There were too many people in too small a space. It was not truly a hands-on experience. We were lucky to be in the front so we could see, but some people were in the back and/or not facing demo area.

Laurie

12/30/2024

Great time and great cooking tips!

Richard

10/28/2024

Chef Meghan was great - relaxed, energetic and knowledgeable . Wonderful group of folks at our table. The set up was roomy and everyone worked together on our ingredients, kneading dough, mixing etc. I will be back for other sessions for sure. Nice to shop afterwards with a discount as well.

Richard

08/06/2024

Informative, great class.

Drew and Melissa

07/09/2024

Fantastic class!

Melina

07/09/2024

It was a great experience, and we walked away with new recipes.

Juliana

07/09/2024

Thanks for a lovely evening

Joann

05/19/2024

Josh was great. We had a wonderful time!

Kimberly

05/18/2024

Chef Claire very friendly. The disappointment was in how skimpy the ingredients were. 3oz pc of salmon for 4 to share in their sushi rolls. Mostly rice roll. Giant mounds of tempura cooked with all purpose flour vs rice flour to save on their food costs. Disappointing. Tempura ultimately discarded. The experience was ok but totally skimped out on ingredients.

Bianca

05/06/2024

Definitely a fun first time experience, but was a little disappointed with how little cooking experience we a had. I thought it would be more time cooking but because we shared the stove and materials with one other couple we had to basically share everything. Overall good first experience though and food was great!

Mirna Zelic

04/20/2024

It was chef Josh. There were many substitutions and class ended early.

Megan

03/28/2024

We had a great time with Carter and chef Josh!

Joseph

03/20/2024

My Chef was great, however, it was not Chef Josh, it was Chef Regina. She was wonderful!

Meta Millen

03/20/2024

We had a great group and really fun time. Instructor was great! Easy to follow , very personable , recipes were not complicated to Make again and weâ€™re delicious!

Linda

03/20/2024

Chef Regina was amazing! Great teacher, delicious and easy recipes, awesome! Can't wait to take another class! Linda Sternberg

Bevin

03/18/2024

Chef Josh was very friendly and helpful throughout the class. We made delicious food and would definitely take another class with him.

Megan was great!

Barbara

03/04/2024

Awesome!

Chef Claire was great, took the night in stride and did a great job explaining each step of the sushi making process. We got to do everything from cut the vegetables, to frying shrimp, to rolling. Great time!

Angela Marzilli

02/17/2024

Chef Regina was engaging and fun. I learned how to make pasta from scratch and it wasn't as hard as I thought!!

Christopher

01/26/2024

Our chef was terrific. She did a great job. Very personable and gave good instruction and we learned a lot. We really enjoyed the experience. Hoping to get the recipes emailed to us. Thank you!!

Caitlyn

01/21/2024

Very cool experience and such a cool recipes!

Reviews Chef Patrick or Resident Chef received outside of Cozymeal

Amazing class. Chef and her assistant were wonderful! Highly recommend.

Micky

12/13/2023

Great class. I learned a lot and class was very hands on.

Joyce

12/13/2023

This was the first cooking class I have ever taken! It was very informative and I enjoyed the class . I will be taking more classes in the future.

Kathleen

12/13/2023

We thoroughly enjoyed our class. The instructor made our class so much fun. The macarons were delicious. Looking forward to more classes.

Theresa

12/13/2023

This class was great! Very informative and lots of fun, the instructors were very helpful (and the food was delicious!). I highly recommend this class and look forward to taking another class soon.

The Instructor was "world class" with supportive instructions and humorous analogies. Considering taking the class for a second time.

Jenny

12/13/2023

Loved the class! Chef did a great job teaching us these recipes. I can not wait to take more classes.

Excellent class. Chef Michael made it fun and informative.

The class was really fun and informative. My girlfriend and enjoyed it as a birthday gift. We will definitely attend more classes in the future.

Absolutely loved the class. I'm an experienced baker and have wanted to make macarons. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable. I enjoyed the class so much, I'm considering taking the class again as it was so much fun!!!

Beverly

12/13/2023

Fabulous class, food was fantastic and met some great people! This was my second class, I'm signed up for several others!!

Nicole

12/13/2023

Super enjoyable class! Instructor moved at a good pace and food ended up tasting delicious! Will be back for another class for sure!

Kerry

12/13/2023

I walked out with technique and confidence. I enjoyed the setup of the class and the instructor very much. Would take another class!

Aimee

12/13/2023

Great class! So delish!

Sonda

12/13/2023

Loved the class. I was able to make the croissants at home with ease. My family loved them. Looking forward to my next class.

Excellent instructor. Great hands-on experience. I was able to go home and replicate the recipes.

Our instructor was super hands on - taught us some great techniques! Food turned out amazing. We were all impressed!

Kelli

12/13/2023

I loved the class. The ladies I was paired up with were a little chatty so was hard to listen to chef! Before class I was very intimidated but after class I was I got this! Excited to try making fresh pasta my self! Great class over all would definitely take again!

Britten

12/13/2023

Enjoyed the class. Vanessa is really fun! Cheers!

Andrea

12/13/2023

Fun class. A little complicated with the dumpling dough, but we got through it and the food tasted great.

Nancy

12/06/2023

I had the greatest time at my cooking class! The food was so good and the chef was fun and and taught many helpful hints during the class! I will be taking a cooking class again very soon!

Sabrina Hebert

10/02/2025

I had a wonderful time with my friends and we learned so much about cooking and baking! 10/10 I'd LOVE to do it again! The reason I took away two points is we were promised the recipes with measurements via email by EOD that night and its almost been a week now and still no recipes, we learned so much its impossible to remember the exact recipe, so if we never get those recipes its a total waste of time

Veronica

09/22/2025

They told us 20 minutes before the class was starting it was canceled due to â€œunderstaffingâ€ but they were just getting done with a prior class so seems like they double booked and left us in the second class hanging. We drove all the way from Boston and would of appreciated the transparency before going all the way to Natick. Unprofessional to say the least unfortunately.

Shannon

06/28/2025

First, the class is located inside of the Natick Mall. This was very disappointing as Iâ€™d booked the class for myself and two friends as we were in Boston and the website said thatâ€™s where the class was located. Until I paid for our spots and got the exact addressâ€”30 minutes outside of Boston. We were a several minutes late (about 10) because of parking and having to find the store within the mall. The resident chef was fine, but ill prepared for the class. I initially thought we just missed any introduction because we were late. Later found out chef never fully introduced herself to the class. Proper utensils were not provided (no wooden spoon and used the same one knife and rubber spatula to cut and mix everything), chef did not know how to pronounce the names of the pasta we were making and told us she taught herself how to make one of the shapes of pasta we made by watching a YouTube video. She told us she has 10 years experienceâ€¦.as a pastry chefâ€¦.who is now teaching a pasta making class? Used the KitchenAid pasta attachment instead of manual pasta makerâ€¦when my table asked for a manual maker, we were given a broken one, not offered one that worked, and ended up having to use the KitchenAid (I wanted to use the manual one since I have one at home Iâ€™ve never used and was looking forward to learning how to use it). Chef also kept us on break so long (we could walk around the store and get 10% off any purchases since we were taking the class) that by the time she called us back in, sheâ€™d already made 95% of one of the sauces without us. The only thing left to do was stir in the â€œfreshâ€ herbs (basil was browning). Dessert had alcohol in it that wasnâ€™t cooked out and we were provided no disclaimer ahead of the class that you needed to be 21 to legally enjoy dessert. Prosecco in the dessert was grossly overpowering, no one at my table was able to finish as a result. The description I believe stated this was a four-course meal class, we were served only three. There were no paper towels in store (none in the bathroom or the class kitchen) and no napkin was offered for when we were eating. Overall, enjoyed time with friends and the finished product of one of the two pastas, but disappointed in the quality of the class and instructor. I wonâ€™t be returning or recommending the experience.

Terrible. We left after 10 minutes and are seeking a full refund. Itâ€™s not a cooking class for families to learn how to make wings and pizza; itâ€™s a demonstration geared toward young children who participate by taking turns mixing. It was a definite miss for us and very disappointing given the price and the effort we made to travel to be together for Fatherâ€™s Day.

Katelyn

06/02/2025

I was really looking forward to this class, but my partner and I found it fairly disappointing for a few different reasons. An introduction among the guests would have been helpful to create more of the "family" vibe the staff were after. The menu was good (though it never referenced tofu), but the two main dishes were quite salty, and the sorbet, which didn't freeze properly, was too sweet. The timing of the various meal components were not well executed, so dishes were served at different times, and the entire class finished quite early. It was obvious that the staff didn't intend to do that and were therefore trying to find ways to fill the time. The details on the event webpage did not fully align with our experience. Chef Patrick was not there. We didn't work in stations. There was absolutely no "date night" aspect to the class, which was a big disappointment. There were no chairs, which I found annoying when it came time to eat. I used to be a cooking class instructor, so I understand that I likely picked up on more of the pitfalls than the average guest, but even my boyfriend who had never been to a cooking class noticed a number of things that were not great.

The overall experience was fun and educational. We had two groups on opposite sides of the room and the chef always her he back to our side when she was demoing something- even as simple as cutting. dicing- and it was hard to hear and impossible to see what she was doing.

Esther

03/30/2025

The chef Patrick was not the chef. The entire thing was very disorganized and unprofessional.There was not enough dough for everyone and the teacher did not know what she was doing. The croissants did not come out at all like croissants! False advertising!

Directions sucked. Could find the place. Never use cozy meal!

Jared

01/19/2025

We felt that the class was disorganized and 16 is too many people for this space. The class ran late so we were handed our food to go. Would have been nice to enjoy hot.

The class good. I never received the recipe I was told I received

Carolyn

12/20/2024

Overall this was a disappointing class. The chef was good but I did not expect to have to share a Yule log with a partner. Also there seemed to be limited supplies. Not worth the price.

THOMAS

10/13/2024

I was not aware of how the class worked, but having 2 couples at each work station was certainly not what we expected. also, there was not enough info on the location. While we arrived at the mall 15 minutes early, it took us 25 minutes to navigate where to go. First I called Cozy meal, and after 5 minutes on hold, was given the number of . After 5 m9re minutes on hold, we were given directions on where they were located. So, being 10 minutes late, we missed how to make the gelato. The staff was very good, which is why I give 2 stars. All in all, My wife and I were fairly disappointed.

Nick Pellegrini

09/03/2024

Iâ€™m torn on how to review this class. The instructor was good and recipeâ€™s were delicious, but I was a little disappointed in the way it was structured. There were five people total in the class and only two sets of meals cooked. In other words, not everyone cooked their own meal. It seemed odd to me that we are were not able to make our own meal and had to share the food at the end. For the price, I would have expected each person gets to make each item.

Fordy Thermitus

07/14/2024

Great intro class suitable for all

Diane

06/10/2024

We did the pasta cooking class and there were pros and cons. The pros were it was relaxed enough to accommodate our big group straggling in after hitting a huge traffic jam on the pike, since there wasn't all that much to actually do, so starting late you could still catch up. The con is the other side of that coin; not having much to do; basically each table of 4 people was making one dish, so at each step one person could do it. (We all took turns, and during the 2.5 hour class I did 2 tasks myself). For the money, and compared with other cooking classes, I think usually you get to actually *do more* rather than just watch along. There was also a ten minute break to shop in the store and sample the coffee. This might have felt more natural if our dish had used something in particular the store sells. I get that this is probably an arrangement/perk that agrees to hold the classes there in exchange for getting people walking around and maybe shopping. Maybe it could even just be phrased as a 10 minute bathroom break if people need it, and feel free to stretch your legs and browse if you want? Our chef was someone different from Chef Josh- she seemed relatively green as far as instruction, but friendly and nice, which I appreciate. Sometimes just a smidge too friendly(?); most people came to the class in groups and liked talking with each other throughout the class since it's sort of a social activity, and when she would circulate she would stay and start get-to-know-you conversations which kind of impeded our catching up with each other. No regrets though- I wouldn't necessarily recommend this class to someone else, but I also wouldn't tell them to run the other way- it was fine.

Dalena

04/21/2024

chef clare was great. but for the class itself, there was a lack of preparation and supplies. there was not enough eggs, no bowls to eat out of so we used to go containers, the eggs werenâ€™t marinated instead just plain boiled. the pork and pickled mushrooms were the best part. there was no yuzu soda made at all.

Summer

04/08/2024

Was ok. This was my first experience and had a different expectation. Will be more thorough if I plan another cooking class. Would not do another at this location. Staff was friendly, enjoyed the interaction with the other couples. Would have preferred doing the full meal prep between just the two of us. Also would have preferred a more relaxed eating experience, with drinks. We had to stand while we ate and I felt rushed.

Hello Check Josh- I am writing to request a refund for the class I took on Monday March 4 at 7:00 pm at the Natick Mall with Claire. I did careful research to find the class and ready many reviews. I picked yours because of the ambiance that clients raved about, and the cooking tips that you give. Claire was very efficient, but appeared in a rush to leave and made it feel that the entire experience was an inconvenience to her. Instead of being informative and engaging, she seemed eager to leave and annoyed by the concept of a one-off cooking class. She first started by saying that we should get started because it was a school night for her. Imagine a cooking class starting and you already feel that the instructor wants to go home. There were many comments along the way that were sarcastic towards the class. For example, she said she left the broccolini leaves on the stems because â€œyou all need something to do". She also made comments that were judgemental towards past students such as " let me know if you have any dietary restrictions before we start cooking because sometimes people tell me they are allergic to (some ingredient I forget), when the name of the class has (that ingredient) in it" . Or "sometimes people will tell me they are gluten free but what can I do when we are making hand rolled pasta?" There were no tips except had to hold a knife. I felt I was following instructions like a child without any bigger context. At one point I did ask what the bigger picture and objective was of each step and she said I would see what it all comes together. I told her that is not how I learn. She then gave a very quick and hasty explanation of why we fry when we braise but she said it so fast that I retained nothing. When we asked what the parsley is for she said its there because this is supposedly an 'Italian' meal. The meal did taste good and it was efficient, but I was really paying for learning cooking, and I learned nothing, and the entire time felt I was inconveniencing Claire. I have no judgements on her character as a person, but I am extremely clear that the way she fulfilled the role as a cooking instructor last night was incredibly inappropriate and frustrating. Please let me know how I can receive my full reimbursement. I had bought two tickets, one for me, and one for my friend. It was her birthday. I am a teacher in Boston public schools and told my colleagues I was attending the class last night. They were excited about the notion and then shocked by what I experienced. I hope to rectify my report back to them by letting them know that you promptly and fully addressed my concerns. Many thanks, Aida asadr@gmail.com

Thaddeus

02/25/2024

I'm deeply disappointed by the anniversary gift I arranged for my girlfriendâ€”a cooking class that didn't live up to its promise. Despite spending $190 on tickets, the experience fell short in several ways. We received a mere cooking demonstration from the chef and were tasked with menial chores like chopping vegetables and dumping pre-prepped ingredients, all while sharing our meal with strangers. The entire session felt like a blatant sales pitch for products, leaving us underwhelmed and disheartened. Even worse, the break in the middle seemed designed solely for shopping, rather than enhancing our culinary skills. Upon examining the recipe booklet left on the counter, it became evident that the ingredients cost a fraction of what we paid, indicating a significant upcharge. In hindsight, I'd advise others to skip this overpriced experience and opt for a cozy evening at home with Thai takeout and a cooking show on TV instead.

Hayley

02/16/2024

Not chef Josh. Large class with no chance to actually do any of the cooking. We kneaded the dough and each chopped one vegetable, then had 6 people take turns rolling out their dough on a single pasta maker. Meanwhile, the "resident chefs" cooked all the sauce and pasta while we were encouraged to go "shop around the adjacent store." We did get to watch them make the dessert though, maybe it should be called a "watch someone else cook" class. Definitely not worth the $180 we spent (didn't even have any drinks for us), will look for a different place to take a class.

Jenna

02/09/2024

I almost feel bad leaving this review, because it should not reflect Chef Josh but the Cozymeal team. Terrible experience using this site from start to finish and wish I had not booked this experience. When booking this event for a Teambuiliding with my employees, I selected "Boston Proper", and was surprised after booking when the location was Natick, MA which is very much a suburb of Boston. I went ahead with the event anyway, and when I received the event information I was given the event location name of "Cooking Creations" which I passed along to my team with the directions. We assumed this was an independent company as these events are advertised to be with private chefs, and were very disappointed when we arrived at the Mall. We started looking for "Cooking Creations" which could not be found. Some of the members of my team did some Google searching to figure it out as I called the coordinator who booked our event, Lauren. She had no idea where to send me and transferred my call to Customer Service. Some of the folks from my team who were able to navigate their way there before the rest of us informed me the staff was not happy we were late and were quite rude to them about it. I can understand their frustration, but better directions were necessary from Cozymeal. We did not get to enjoy the class due to a work situation that required immediate assistance. However, it would not have been worth it at that point considering how late we were. False advertising and poor instructions made this a very uncomfortable experience.

Frank

01/20/2024

N/a