Chef Ivan’s zeal for cooking began at a very young age, leading him to attend culinary school at the ripe age of just 14. The Italian chef, who has cooked all over Europe, now lives in New York where he runs a catering company and volunteers teaching children kitchen skills. Chef Ivan focuses on Italian, French and sushi courses, and is excited to educate guests on new techniques.
Chef Highlights
35+ years culinary experience
Specializes in Italian, Japanese, French Cuisines; Knife Skills
Award-winning: Best Chef America, 2014–2016; Master Chef in Italian Cuisine, Academia Barilla
Press Mentions: NY times, Daily news, Michelin guide, Esquire, Forbes
Learn how to prepare luscious French dishes in this team building experience with Chef Ivan
Drawing on his vast culinary expertise, Chef Ivan will provide an amazing opportunity to prepare gourmet dishes all while raising team spirit.
Your team will discover a whole new culinary world as Chef Ivan introduces them to flavors and styles of cooking that are drawn from French culinary classics. Working together will bring your team closer together, and when they enjoy their final masterpieces, they will know they did it as a team.
Guests are welcome to bring wine and beer to enjoy during the class.
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments to recipes cannot be made during class.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
No prior cooking experience needed
All ingredients and equipment are provided
Dietary accommodations available upon request
Private classes available for groups and special events
Chef Ivan’s zeal for cooking began at a very young age, leading him to attend culinary school at the ripe age of just 14. The Italian chef, who has cooked all over Europe, now lives in New York where he runs a catering company and volunteers teaching children kitchen skills. Chef Ivan focuses on Italian, French and sushi courses, and is excited to educate guests on new techniques.
Chef Highlights
35+ years culinary experience
Specializes in Italian, Japanese, French Cuisines; Knife Skills
Award-winning: Best Chef America, 2014–2016; Master Chef in Italian Cuisine, Academia Barilla
Press Mentions: NY times, Daily news, Michelin guide, Esquire, Forbes
We had an amazing experience.
Chef Ivan was so professional and engaged with us!
His organization and simple instructions couldn’t have been better. The end result was absolutely delicious!
We’ll be back‼ï¸
Verified guest reviews for other experiences with Chef Ivan or Resident Chef
Chef Ivan was a terrific instructor! Our team is responsible for staff trainings at our company and found him an entertaining, clear, and informative facilitator. We learned not only how to prepare the specific meal on the menu, but fundamentals about knife safety, useful tips about sequencing the preparation of multiple dishes, and how to make a delicious souffle.
Chef Ivan was so much fun, very accommodating with our requests. We made a brilliant meal and really enjoyed the experience - perfect for a team building event (we were 9 people with various skill levels with cooking). Thank you Chef Ivan!!
Taryn L.
Booked
with Chef Ivan
in NYC (test)
We had a wonderful time at our cooking class! The food was amazing and Chef Ivan was the best! Will definitely be coming back.
We had such a wonderful experience! The resident chef split the time wonderfully between explaining the flavor pairings, noting preparation timing tips and showing / teaching us proper techniques in the kitchen. The meal was delicious and the kitchen / dining area were beautiful. Would highly recommend!
We cooked 3 types of pasta and gelato. Ivan was very informative and clear.
He was very organized and covered a lot.
I learned some knife skills and many things about what we were cooking.
This class is great for anyone who loves pasta.
We had a wonderful time cooking Greek food. Both chefs did a great job -- enthusiastic and informative. It is a great space and we really enjoyed our meal. High recommend.
This was by far the best cooking class that I have ever taken. Chef Ivan is an excellent educator who really cares that his students learn about proper strategies for cooking the chosen recipes. I would highly recommend his course to others and will definitely be signing up for another one of his courses.
Chef gave excellent instructions and answered ALL of our questions. I would have appreciated some individual feedback on our/my cutting skills to help me develop my proficiency withe a chef’s knife.
Dona was wonderful!!!!!
My family recently attended a cooking class, and it was an unforgettable experience! Dona, the chef, was absolutely wonderful. Her warm and engaging attitude made it easy for our children to participate and truly enjoy the experience. She had a unique way of making everyone feel comfortable and involved, regardless of their age or cooking skills.
The food we prepared was simply delicious. Each dish was a delightful blend of flavors, and Dona's guidance ensured that even the youngest daughter could contribute meaningfully. It was heartwarming to see our kids so excited and proud of the meals they helped create.
This cooking class was more than just a learning experience; it was a bonding opportunity for our family. We laughed, learned, and created memories that we will cherish. We can't wait to share this wonderful experience with all our friends and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and educational family activity.
It is highly recommended
Chef Ivan hosted our team very well! What a fun and interactive (and very competitive) Iron Chef Cooking Competition for our corporate team-building event! Highly recommend!!
Chef Donna was an amazing host and instructor. She kept the session lively, entertaining, and informative. We also had a blast with the other guests attending as well. A super fun time for all. Will certainly do this again.
Feels like you’re in someone’s kitchen, making a home cooked meal. I love to cook and have attended several cooking classes over the years. This is hands down the best one. I will be booking another class with a new cuisine in the near future.
Chef Ivan was fantastic! Gave us a great intro to ensure safety and set expectations, and then was a very attentive coach. The Bento box was delicious!! My colleagues and I were raving for days after. Thanks Chef!
Ivan was great. The food was phenomenal and we look forward to re-creating at home. in addition to a good meal, We learn some general knife skills and things we had never gotten in other classes.
She was very friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable. She made the class fun and was a good story teller and instructor. We liked the class more than expected.
We had an awesome time making sushi! The class was both informative and fun, even for beginners. Definitely would recommend for a small group or a date night
My friends and I had a great class with Chef Ivan. It was the perfect balance of kitchen work and fun. Highly recommend for a date night or group of friends!
Technique explanations were thoughtful and thorough, making them easy to apply. Chef Ivan is professional and kind. Loved the environment. He was accommodating to early arrivals like myself, we got their first. Chef Ivan is extremely diligent about cleanliness which was fantastic. He was welcoming to our videos and photos. My 16 year old cousin and I loved the experience! We'll be back.
Chef Katie was incredible! We had such a great time and the food was delicious. Chef Katie is passionate about Georgian food and created such a fun atmosphere to learn, eat and enjoy! Highly recommend!
Chef Francesco and Chef Madonna did a fabulous job. We had a group of 13 and they kept everything running smoothly, and the meal was absolutely delicious! The group raved and said they would do this again.
We had Chef Stefano and he was fantastic! He is very funny and took his time teaching us to make pasta. The whole experience was perfect. We will spread the word to our friends and will soon book another cooking class. Many thanks!!! We did tip as w were leaving.
Our group of 13 were divided in 2 groups and we both created a 3-course meal that we shared amongst all of us. Although we received minimal instructions, the Chef was there to guide us along, if needed. It was fun for all of us.
5 Star class! Ivan made it very educational, but also fun and delicious! They were able to separate our group into 2 kitchens, so it was more hands on. We even got leftovers! Will definitely attend another one of his classes!
Our team had a wonderful time with Chef Donna! Everybody was able to join in and have a good amount of hands-on time, yet also had time to chat as well. It was a great balance and the meal turned out great! Definitely recommend!
Chef Ivan provided a great experience from start to finish. He had a beautiful set up that was clean and spacious. I appreciated his attention to hygiene, he was very knowledgeable and helpful during the courses. It was a super fun way to spend a Saturday morning! I would definitely recommend his classes and am looking forward to checking out others.
Chef Feancesco and Chef Dona were PERFECT! We spent most of our time with Chef Francesco and he was a complete joy. Very knowledgeable about everything we cooked and was also very friendly.
This was a work event, a team bonding meeting. Chef Ivan was attentive and showed us a some new skills in the kitchen. Everyone wanted the recipes at the end of the event.
This was an amazing class! We had a bigger group and Chef Ivan was very accommodating when we had to change the number of people last minute. The chef was very thorough in his instruction and it was so fun to use the various pasta making contraptions. We also learned some knife skills and how to make a great pesto (genovese!) loved the dining atmosphere as well. Highly recommend!
Stefano and Donna provided great instruction and the class was entertaining. We had a great time making our own pasta and enjoying it with the rest of the group.
Madona was great!
Very knowledgeable and approachable.
She was a great instructor that provided real insight to the rationale for technique and the recipes.
We did a lot in 3 hour and made for any of us can transfer to our home kitchen.
This was a wonderful cooking class- my friends and I had the best time. The food that we learned to make turned out incredible and I picked up some helpful tips and tricks for working in the kitchen! Would absolutely recommend!
We did this class around 2 years ago so this review is a long time coming but it was an amazing experience! One of the best pastas we've eaten in the city and there was so much we took some home for another full meal. The chef really involves everyone in the class to help - highly recommend.
We enjoyed our Sushi class with Ivan. He was engaging and made the process accessable for all skill levels. Our final creations were delicious as well.
We had a really great time with Dona and Ivan. The class was informative and fun and we ate super well! 10/10 Would recommend again! Took our mom here for mothers day and it was such a great choice.
Such a fun experience. Dona was the best chefs, she explained and demonstrated everything so well. Great activity for couples, friend groups and team building exercises.
We had a wonderful time at the Elevated Bento Box class. Chef Dona made the experience enriching and fun - she is a delight! Our meal was delicious! We would definitely try another class.
We loved the class and chef Ivan was patient, informative, and warm. We would have loved to learn more about selecting the fish and preparing it (proper sourcing, slicing
technique, etc.) but recognize time is limited. Perhaps this information can be included in the information provided after the class?
We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Two small suggestions - a smile or two from the chef and perhaps some Italian music to accompany our Italian dinner rather than the rock and pop mix.
The food was delicious and chef Ivan did a great job teaching a large group and making it fun for everyone. The space was cute and warm and felt like a home. I would definitely recommend doing a group class with all your friends! Well worth the money.
Chef Ivan is a great teacher, very kind, informative, and funny. You can tell he is passionate about all things cooking. 20/10 recommend taking a class by him. He is fabulous.
Chef Ivan and Mattias were incredibly gracious hosts- amazing chefs and made our team building event feel extra special – if you are looking for a fun and interesting night with fabulous food – this is it! Highly recommend- 10 stars for the Chefs!!
Chef Ivan,
Thank you for reaching out to me. I was going to write you because The Chef was amazing and we had a great time learning how to make Sushi. We learned 4 different types of sushi and after we create our own sushi. We made miso soup and finally we made Macha ice cream. It was a top experience for us not only we learned how to make sushi we had sake and met wonderful people that we shared laughs throughout the night. If I could give stars I will give 5 star
âï¸ âï¸ âï¸ âï¸ âï¸.
I already recommended this cooking lesson to friends and family and I will continue doing it.
Please tell the Chef to continue sharing his pasión and kindness.
You are an Exceptional Chef.
Thank you again for unforgettable night in your kitchen!
Best,
Leslie Vaculin
My roommate and I had the best time during the Elevated Bento Box cooking class with Chef Nori. She Chef Nori is extremely knowledgable in her craft and left us with easy tips&tricks to use in the kitchen. The menu was divine and quality was unmatched. I definitely recommend attending this workshop.
We had a great experience. Our chef was knowledgeable and friendly – we learned a lot and the food was amazing! Would definitely recommend to friends and colleagues.
We had our semi annual company wide event with Chef Iva and his team, and we chose the Chopped Cooking Challenge! Chef Ivan and his team did such a great job in setting this event up, and our team had so much fun.
Chef Ivan took all of our dietary preferences and allergies into account and created a super tasty and easy to use ingredients table. Their feedback when judging our dishes was also accurate and hilarious - one group undercooked their chicken, and the Chefs made it known haha! We'll definitely book another team event.
The team had a fantastic time! Chef Ivan was amazing. It was an awesome team activity with great final results. There was a lot of competition between the teams and a lot of anxiety & adrenaline in the process! We had fun, the place was wonderful and we couldn't be happier with the experience! We will definitely recommend it to our friends.
We had a great time learning how to make fresh pasta. Chef Ivan and Chef Nora were great teachers. The class had 16 people in it, but it didn't feel like that many as we were split into different rooms. We all got a chance to make everything, from the doughs to the different shaped pastas, even some improved knife skills! Everything was super clean and the food we made was delicious. It was also great that they sent us home with the leftovers. I had a fantastic time, and would highly recommend this class.
Chef Ivan was awesome!!! Our family enjoyed our experience immensely!!! He showed us many tips about cooking and our kids learned so much about the techniques. Thank you Chef Ivan!!! We can’t wait for our next event!!!
Fantastic experience, awesome value, warm, communal feeling. Learned a lot about how to make pasta. Highly recommend for date night or family or party event.We will definitely do it again and try different cuisines.
This was an amazing and fun experience. The chefs, Ivan and Nora, were so helpful and made everyone feel comfortable. I really cannot say enough good things about them or the experience - we did the Iron Chef Challenge theme and had the best time, even the team members who were a bit skeptical of the event loved it in the end. You will have to sign up and do a class with Chef Ivan and team to experience to understand all the good things said here and by others.
Chef Nora was great! Unlike other cooking classes I've done, this one wasn't stressful & overly fast paced. Instead, everyone cooked together, doing a part of the preparation. The Bento box class was awesome, I learned skills that I'll be able to transfer over.
Chef Ivan is amazing! He taught us so much: starting from preparation & how to properly hold a knife to all the cooking tricks. I will definitely take another class with him. Highly recommend!!
This was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. It made me have a newfound respect for that art of sushi. It’s very meticulous yet so rewarding. Our chef was absolutely incredible & patient. I would definitely book again.
My boyfriend and i did a date night here and had an amazing time! Chef Ivan was a great instructor—he described the steps in a super clear and easy to follow manner and worked in a bit of humor as well. This class would be suitable to all levels. As average cooks, we learned a lot, had a blast, and really enjoyed the food! Looking forward to trying another class in the future.
Chef Ivan taught me how to use the 8†knife. How to Julianne scallions. Organization of meal with preparing and thinking of timing, prior to cooking.
Thank you so much for your culinary education.
My sister and I had a great time. We learned great tips such as how to best use a knife and to make basic rice. The settings to learn and eat our meal were clean and beautiful. Chef Ivan was patient and pleasant. He managed our time well. We all got a chance to try all of the skills and preps. At the end, he even packed up our leftovers for us. We left very full and happy.
Great class! It's a good balance of time spent doing each part of the meal prep and actually practicing some knife skills. Don't expect a bootcamp on knife cutting, but you get 15-25 or so minutes to practice, can ask for assistance, and get some quality advice/tips/tricks to take home and hone in your knife skills. If you have a good group, it's a great time. The instructor was super friendly/helpful and I'd definitely recommend the class.
It was a great experience! I took the sushi class and it was amazing! Had plenty of sushi to take home and I feel quite prepared to do it at alone at home! Love that it is a 3-course meal I learned and ate rather than just rolling sushi as well ^___^
Chef Ivan and Niko were wonderful! The food was amazing. I totally forgot that someone in our group was a vegetarian but Chef Ivan improvised to perfection.
My wife and I had a terrific time thanks to Chefs Ivan and Stefano. The pastas were delicious and even as a somewhat experienced pasta chef I learned a few new things! A fun social experience.
This was one of the best pasta making classes I have attended. Chef Ivan is a great instructor, his venue is superb and the food we prepared was delicious!! I hope to book another class with Chef Ivan soon.
It was an excellent cooking lesson, most enjoyable and concluded with an excellent meal appealing to the taste and eyes prepared by all.
Thank you for such a wonderful experience.
Chef Ivan more than surpassed our expectations, he was SO wonderful. My boyfriend and I decided to take this class since we both had never taken a cooking class. Not only did we learn a lot, we also had a remarkable dining experience in his cozy kitchen. We had the best time and definitely plan on booking another class/experience with him! Such a perfect date night idea.
My wife and I could not possibly have enjoyed this any more than we did. Chef Ivan was welcoming, patient and we genuinely learned a lot. Prepping and cooking was a blast, the food was delicious and the dining room was exquisite. We highly recommend this class and any class hosted by Chef Ivan.
Such a nice experience! The chef was super cool! Very patient lol and obviously an amazing chef. Whole experience was great! Will definitely go back and try a different menu!
Chef Ivan more than surpassed our expectations. Not only did we learn a lot, we also had a remarkable dining experience in his cozy kitchen. We had the best time and definitely plan on booking another class/experience with him!
Intimate and elevated home style experience. 13-10 would recommend for couples and small groups of 6 or less. We’ve been twice and Ivan has been thoughtfully attentive with each experience.
AMAZING CLASS!!! This is how you have fun during a pandemic! My boyfriend and I were the only ones in this pasta class, and it was extremely clean. Chef Ivan taught us how to prep, cut and cook like a pro! He was also very welcoming and funny. I can't wait to take his other classes in the future!
The experience was amazing. Chef Stefano was pleasant and a pleasure to cook with. Providing cooking tips along the way; laughter and great fun. This was my first time and I didn’t know what to expect, I was immediately put at ease, both Chefs are super friendly and very informative. I would go experience this again. By the way the food turned out delicious and your take away is knowing how to make whatever you make in the kitchen that day!! Hope this was helpful in you making a decision to go and create awesome food with help from two awesome Chefs.
Wonderful experience! Extremely clean and felt very safe. A lot of good tips for cooking in general, especially pasta. The three pastas were delicious...had enough to take home and eat for the next couple days. Definitely recommend to others!
This was an excellent experience. I loved the food and chef Stefano was very personable and funny. My daughters and I were comfortable from the start and received a lot of good tips. Both chef Ivan and Stefano made sure the area was cleaned after each prep and we all wore masks and gloves. They were changed after each prep too. This was a truly enjoyable experience and I highly recommend it.
Chef Ivan was a great host and teacher. The space was really comfortable to cook in and the techniques shown were helpful for our group as we produced a great meal!
Really enjoyed this class. Chef Ivan was informative, the class was well structured, and the food was delicious. He emailed us the recipes after class, and I'm excited to try these again at home.
Great experience! Ivan and his team were great. The people who participated in the class were all also great and we had a fun time. We learned a lot and ate everything we prepared. I would definitely recommend Ivan and I will be taking another class soon!
Wonderful time with Chef Ivan. His setup is perfect and intimate enough for 10-14 people. We split into two groups which really helped to make sure that you get enough attention. Hope to take another class soon
Another wildly successful evening with Chef Ivan and his crew! This was my second time throwing an event with Ivan and he managed to exceed my expectations. We had a crew of 15 people and everyone and I mean everyone LOVED the experience. The updates to the room made it easier to cook in and more aesthetically pleasing. The table was set beautifully. The pasta making was so fun and informative and the food was out of this world. What a wonderful night! Thank you Thank you!
I am just in WOW of how amazing this experience was! Ivan not only is a wonderful chef but he thought us SO much! The Menu turned out delicious and everything exceeded my expectations, it made me enjoy cooking even more. I took my friend with me and she had no clue what exactly we were doing, she loved it! and wants to do it all over again. Thank you Chef Ivan for a wonderful experience and for wanted to share your knowledge with all of us : ) I can’t wait to come back!
Chef Ivan was a great experience. Our group made 3 different pastas and sauces that were all equally delicious. He imparts enough knowledge to make the student confident but not overwhelmed, while also sharing recipes that are are full of flavor and easily modified. It was a fun and educational afternoon. Making my own fresh pasta and incredible sauces is now much less intimidating. Great NYC experience by a knowledgeable, creative, experienced chef! Will definitely be back for another class in the future!
Chef Ivan’s class was amazing! There were 5 of us on a girls trip from Oregon and it was the perfect class. It was a so fun that is was just the five of us and we learned so much. Loved learning to make fresh pasta and three sauces. They were all
Delicious! And so enjoyable to get to sit and enjoy our meal together after cooking. Would love to come back for another class.
Chef Ivan was wonderful and was flexible to accommodate my party. We all had an amazing time as this was our first cooking class experience. The dishes had simple ingredients that you could replicate at home and the flavors were amazing. I look forward to attending again in the future!
Chef Ivan lead a fun experience for us in a great space. It was an awesome way to kick off a girlfriends weekend. We all had a great time and learned new cooking techniques, new knife skills and new recipes . He worked with us on a completely vegetarian meal and was flexible about the start time. He was careful about allergies. The recipes were all doable at home. The salad with avacado dressing was especially phenomenal. The only reason I am giving four stars instead of five is that despite a couple follow-ups, I am STILL waiting for one of the recipes (the portobello mushrooms - which were my favorite!) over a week later. I’ve done several cooking classes and this is the first one I’ve done where hard copies were not handed to me there, and where I did not get electronic copies right away. Otherwise I would have given five stars.
Chef Ivan is very knowledgable and was able to relay all the steps very clearly. We enjoyed our time, and would love to take another class with Chef Ivan.
Our family had the best time. Ivan was fun, informative and engaging. We'd love to take another class with him sometime and his--our--food was delicious. Definitely an awesome experience.
Chef Ivan was great! He was super knowledgeable and took the time to give us recommendations on how we could improve the recipes at home. Ended the evening with a TON of great delicious food. Would recommend!
Our team had such a fun time at Chef Ivan's. He is conveniently located in Greenwich Village, right off the West 4th street station. Our team did the Fresh Pasta 101 class, and we were impressed from start to finish. Delicious pastas, delicious dessert, and we all walked away having learned something. It was a fun event to do with my team, as we got to bond while making food, and bond while enjoying our dinner at the very end. I also like how Chef Ivan was very courteous the entire time, and even though we stayed past the 3 hour mark, he showed no signs of trying to kick us out (we were taking our time enjoying the BYOB with the food). Thank you, Chef Ivan, for a very fun team experience!
Our experience with Chef Ivan was excellent. He was extremely accommodating and knowledgeable. We accidentally double booked ourselves and he was flexible with our schedule. Our cooking experience with him was our favorite experience of the entire trip!! We learned so much and the food was amazing! We highly recommend Chef Ivan for a fun and unique experience in NYC!
Had an amazing time! Great instructions - very hands on class which I loved. Very cozy atmosphere, and of course the food was excellent. Would highly recommend to anyone
Chef Ivan and the team did a great job hosting our team event! It was so fun, informative and delicious. I would HIGHLY recommend for any fun night out or group activity.
Chef Ivan was magnificent! In addition to learning how to cook delicious homemade pasta, he also taught the class many kitchen skills that we'll take with us for the rest of our lives/cooking! From the welcoming atmosphere and engaging chef to the friendly strangers (who felt more like family by the end of the class)...everything was better than we could have ever imagined. Thank you for a great night. This was the best gift for my husband and I to treat his mom and sister!! Thank you!!!
Ivan and his co-chef Dennis were great. We had a blast, and spent some really good family time together (5 of us). Great setting in Greenwich Village, and the food was delicious. The two chefs really deserved kudos for their skills, presentation and personalities. Highly recommend.
The instruction was excellent. Chef Ivan gave very clear and concise instructions that made it easy to prepare the dishes. He also provided insights into why certain ingredients are used to make the different pastas and how that affects the taste and/or texture.
It was a totally enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend to colleagues, friends and family.
Chef ivan takes your ordinary cooking class and gives you the knowledge behind the techniques. You dont only walk away knowing how to make extremely tasty dishes, but you leave knowing the secrets of making these dishes become the masterpieces they are. Chef ivan hosts the best classes available which is why we will always keep returning.
Chef Ivan was fantastic. I never made homemade pasta before so it was really interesting to learn how it's done. Also, the recipes were great and could definitely be replicated at home with the right equipment. I would definitely recommend this class.
Wonderful experience. Our first cooking class and it was a great experience. Can't wait todo it again / try the same or similar meals in our kitchen! Really gave me the confidence to be more adventuresome!
We just held our team building event with Chef Ivan last night and it was one of our best dinner events. All our corporate leaders and executives had a great time. I would advise to remember to bring your bottle of wines.
Great experience - everyone had a blast making the pasta and sauces and they were delicious. Thanks to Chef Ivan for
keeping us entertained and educated.
Chef Ivan was an amazing host and teacher. The space was intimate but fully equipped. It was the perfect combination of instruction and enjoyment. It was the perfect team building experience and the food was delicious!
The meal was wonderful! They were able to accommodate both vegan and gluten-free dietary restrictions with delicious alternatives. The only recommendation I can offer is to have something for guests to eat or snack as they arrive. Our class started at noon and the meal was ready at 2 pm, which made a few guests quite hungry by lunchtime. But we left having had plenty to eat!
We had a small group of colleagues and everyone loved learning to cook with Chef Ivan and his team. The food was delicious and the chefs were great teachers.
Thank you!
Amazing experience! We learned a TON about prepping food and were able to make a delicious dish. I highly recommend booking this with friends or co-worker - truly worth it!
This class is amazing! The food was great and so was Chef Ivan. All the food was delicious and chef Ivan explained step by step how everything should be done. All the pastas were very very tasty.
It was a great experience ! Chef Ivan taught us every detail during the process right from kneading the dough and knife skills to using the pasta machine and presenting the plates.
Chef Ivan was fantastic. A clear expert in all thing Italian food, he taught us valuable skills from how to Julianne an onion to the proper way to knead gnocchi dough. In addition, he took an educational approach to the whole process, carefully explaining each step throughout cooking.
I'd highly recommend Chef Ivan for any cooking class (although we took clients as a thank you for their business). His energy and enthusiasm made for a lively, fun class that we won't soon forget. And maybe most importantly, the clients we brought were still raving about the class and the food we cooked the next day!
Chef Ivan was amazing! From start to finish, he kept the entire class interactive, engaging, and super fun! We would recommended to anyone that loves or wants to learn more about cooking. He’s your guy! Keep up the awesome work, Chef!
We took our after school program to Chef Ivan's kitchen and had a wonderful time. The food was amazing and the students enjoyed learning how to make new dishes. The space was gorgeous and the staff was really accommodating to our large group size.
Our team had an amazing time at Chef Ivan's home. Will definitely recommend to anyone for a team building experience! Thank you so much for a lovely night!
Chef Ivan was great. He not only walked us through the step by step of a lovely meal, he also explained why steps were in the order they were and why certain things cooked the way they did. He was also very cognizant of the needs of the group. He would speak passionately about the cooking when the group was attentive but when the group started showing signs of tire, he seemed to also be happy to take over. It was all around a homey and wonderful cooking class.
We had a great experience with Chef Ivan. He was incredibly knowledgeable and took us step by step throughout our multi course meal. Thanks for a great time!
My fiance and I had a wonderful evening. Chef Ivan is very knowledgeable and does a great job explaining everything. He answered all of our questions and taught the dishes in a way that we could easily see ourselves doing at home. We got to make three different types of pasta and sauces. Everything was delicious and the other guests were lovely company!
Chef Ivan provided us with an excellent experience. From teaching us proper technique for using a chef's knife, to how to best set the oven, to basic cooking tips like which oil to use. Chef Ivan was very pleasant and knowledgeable, and he helped us have a fantastic evening.
Thanks!
This was our first time taking a cooking class, and the experience and food were both excellent from start to finish. Chef Ivan has the talent and personality to make the the 3-hour class useful and relatable from novice to experienced cooks. We really couldn't think of any way in which Ivan could have made this experience more enjoyable and delicious. We are planning on signing up for another class with him soon. Trust us, this is well worth your time and money!
It was a very intimate yet professionally executed experience with 23 guests! Chef Ivan really made the evening fun, relaxed and informative all at the same time!
I've done several cooking courses in various places around the world. I particularly enjoyed Chef Ivan's style, and the amount of useful information he imparted during the class. The setting was small group intimate, and Ivan was well prepared. An excellent experience.
Ivan was fantastic! He was very patient and thoughtful, even stopping to pause for photos throughout the lesson. You learn through his stories and with a hands on approach, so you get the best of both worlds. Highly recommended!
Chef Ivan and Chef Brie were welcoming from the start. We had fun preparing all the food, took videos, and ate to our heart’s content. Highly recommend!!
This was one of the best cooking classes I ever experienced. The food was absolutely amazing and probably because the ingredients were fresh. I loved that Ivan gave us an overview of the night and how we all worked together to create the meal. I also loved that he allowed us to mingle and drink at the end of it all and finished up with the meals. This was a great dining experience!
Chef Ivan was incredible to learn from. He was very informative and it really shows how much he loves his art. We went for a birthday cooking class but we all left with some cooking knowledge and a REALLY fun time! The food was also UNREAL. Thank you Chef!
I've been to many cooking classes, and Chef Ivan's was by far the best I've ever been to. He combines learning, hands-on experience, and down-time to enjoy the company you're with exceptionally well. The food was also amazing. 5 star experience all around! Thanks, Chef Ivan!
We all enjoyed a wonderful Brunch with Chef Ivan.
The menu was amazing & we all participated in the preparation, learning some new knife skills, food info., and all with fresh ingredients. Chef Ivan’s instructions were very helpful for us to utilize in our everyday meals. Would highly recommend a class with Chef Ivan *****
Chef Ivan’s class was great, he’s knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about cooking! He makes learning pasta making easy and fun. Highly recommended!
Ivan was patient, informative, and very fun to learn from. We had a great time and walked away like we really learned a lot about knife handling, pasta making and more. Definitely would recommend! Everything was delicious, too!
We had a wonderful experience with Chef Ivan. His class is not only a lot of fun but also very informative. He explained to us why we need to do something in a particular way, and also gave us detailed instructions. We'd definitely recommend him to other people!
Ivan was knowledgeable, personable and a great teacher. We really enjoyed the dishes he chose for us, the way he kept us included in decision making and his style of instruction. We would definitely recommend the class!
It was a fantastic experience. It was fun and informative. Chef Ivan is very professional and knowledgable about the subject. You learn so much about things we take for granted in the kitchen. For example, what oils to use and how they change the flavor of food. We all felt a great sense of accomplishment after making the different pastas and then sat down to a delicious meal. Molto buono!
My employees liked the class and said the chef was great! The main feedback I got was that because of the menu, only a few people had things to do at a time, so the rest of the group was just sitting around. They enjoyed it though.
We had the most amazing time in Chef Ivan’s pasta 101 class. Chef Ivan was engaging, informative, and very fun. My sister and I learned so much and had a really fantastic night. The food was excellent and I will definitely be making those recipes again. Such an incredible experience, we will be back!
Absolutely the best evening !! Not only did chef Ivan teach us how to prepare the best pasta he gave us such a memorable evening enjoying food & family ! Can’t say enough about this chef ! Absolutely fantastic experience - come experience a truly terrific time !
Chef Ivan was very knowledgeable and hosted a perfect evening! The food was amazing and the instruction was suitable for all levels. We would definitely do another class!
We had SO much fun at Chef Ivan's Fresh Pasta 101 class. It was a great mix of learning basic cooking skills like cutting techniques and learning specific tips to the dishes we were making.
There was so much hands-on fun! We had a great time eating and chatting with the other couples there for Valentine's day as well!
GREAT experience!
Pasta 101 with Chef Ivan was amazing! I went with my wife, for a Valentine’s Day date. The work space was clean. Chef Ivan was so patient with all us beginners. He really enjoys what he does and it reflects in how much he cares about the students experience. The intimate class size allowed maximum hands on experience and allowed us to make friends with the other couples. We are DEFINITELY going back for his other classes. I HIGHLY recommend Chef Ivan!
AMAZING EXPERIENCE. Loved the whole class. The set up, the atmosphere, the quaint private setting, etc etc. Everything was perfect. The food was DELICIOUS as well. Thank you for an amazing night. I would definitely recommend this to friends. :)
Chef Ivan is one of a kind! He is super personable and explains everything in such a creative eye-opening way. My husband and I have been cooking for years and we still learned something new! Not only was Chef Ivan a wonderful instructor, he is such a great host! He laughed, joked and just was in the moment with us. Before I knew it, the night was over! I will definitely be back! We did the seafood evening and didn't regret it at all. Chef Ivan is the best!
Chef Ivan was amazing! He is super knowledgeable and super friendly. He explained everything step we took and why we did things the way we did it. The food was DELISH!!!! I cannot rave enough about the food. Such a quaint location and atmosphere. I'll definitely be coming back with more friends.
Chef Ivan turned cooking into a fun group activity! He’s extremely patient, and breaks down directions into simple easy steps which is fantastic because I needed that. He made cooking easy and fun! My wife who is an expert chef was not bored and myself who is a novice was still able to learn. Thanks to Ivan’s hell, I’m looking forward to repeating one of his recipe’s for my wife for Valentine’s Day.
I would highly recommend this for a friend, family or stranger. 100% worth it! It’s like a dinner, a workshop and a movie all in the same location. You have to check it out!
Chef Ivan was an absolute pleasure- super friendly, knowledgeable and funny!! He made us laugh the whole class and made myself and my 5 other family members very comfortable and excited. The pasta came out delicious. Ivan helps to guide you but let’s you take ownership of tasks. Highly recommend to anyone!!
Everything was great! Chef Ivan was pleasant and welcoming as well were his teaching skills. He has a great sense of humor to lighten up the mood and the nervousness of cooking as a beginner. I had a great time even though I was struggling to do anything right considering I never cook! However, this experience definitely makes me see cooking in a different light and makes me want to learn to cook.
Chef Ivan is very knowledgeable and welcoming. His instructions were thorough and promoted understanding of WHY rather than just WHAT we were doing. We left with new skills that are applicable to not only the meal we made there, but a host of other recipes -- from basics we thought we knew to advanced techniques. The atmosphere was exciting, and the experience was incredibly enjoyable.
This was a great experience and it was due to Chef Ivan. The food was great and his staff was superb. Will definitely recommend to friends and family as well as return for more fun classes.
We had a 9-person private cooking class with Chef Ivan and it was fantastic! We split up into two groups and learned different techniques to create a delicious 3-course meal. We had a couple of folks who had dietary restrictions, which were seamlessly accommodated. Chef Ivan was knowledgable and handled our questions with ease. I'd recommend this class to groups and anyone who wants to learn authentic cooking techniques from an experienced chef.
chef ivan and this class are a MUST for anyone who aspires to master the kitchen or at least a few dishes. chef ivan was incredibly patient with everyone in our class. he first gave an overview of each dish and then we all dove in, hands-on, and made an incredible three course meal. i can't wait to take another one of his classes. oh, and after he sent us the recipes from the class, i had a dozen questions for him, which i sent via email. in less than 24 hours he responded and answered every one of them. enjoy!
I purchased this experience as a gift for my husband after returning from a honeymoon in Italy and could not have been more satisfied! Chef Ivan is an absolutely wonderful teacher and an even nicer person! My husband and I feel prepared to try any of the three pasta dishes (and 5 sauces) we learned to prepare during class and were ecstatic with the delicious RESULTS! This is perfect for an intimate date with your special someone amongst new friends. The environment is warm, friendly, and fun! I would do this class (or any other offered by Chef Ivan) again!
This experience was very much worth it. It was truly hands on and engaging. Everyone got their aprons on and hands in the mix, literally! I went with my partner, and we had a class with 2 other couples, and 2 solo individuals, making the class size 8, which is perfect--I wouldn't recommend any more than that. Chef Ivan was very patient with each of us, he gave an excellent overview of what we'd be doing for the session, and explained cooking terms and tips expertly. The dining experience was also nice and cozy. We ran a bit out of time at the end, only because our group was so chatty! The only thing I wished for was to see how the salmon was prepared at the end, although he had walked us through the process already. Great experience, and I highly recommend to anyone, whether for a couple's bonding, friend's gathering, or team building. Excellent experience, and excellent food. The best part is, we could sit down eating at the table and proudly say that we created that!
Quaint, well-explained, hands-on class (Italian Cuisine). While I expected the cooking class to be very “commercial and or school-like†because of what I watch on tv, this was the opposite. The class of 6, at his studio, made it feel like you were cooking at home amongst friends. Everything was well explained and variations were discussed so that we could personalize the entrees if we wanted to. Chef Ivan was great and would recommend to others most definitely.
Chef Ivan was great! The class was engaging and exciting for both of us despite having very different skill levels. Chef Ivan is very articulate and patient and a natural teacher. We will be signing up for more classes with him. All the food was delicious and we can't wait to make the recipes ourselves at home.
We went as a family for my moms Christmas gift and She couldn’t have loved It more. It was hands on, so fun and everything tasted amazing I couldn’t believe we had made It! We’ve recommended chef Ivan’s class to many people It was an unreal experience
Incredible experience today with Chef Ivan. He is such a knowledgeable chef, who answered every question we asked and is also an amazing instructor. He explained every step in a clear and precise manner and made cooking such a fun time!! We enjoyed every minute and the food was outstanding!! Highly recommend!!
Loved our Italian dinner experience with Chef Ivan. Highky recommend. Absolutely exceeded my expectations. Chef Ivan was so knowledgeable and it was a lot of fun. Definitely would do this again!!
Chef Ivan taught me and my team how to make pasta, and it was AWESOME! We learned a lot about the process, got some hands-on experience, got to enjoy some great food. Chef Ivan was very accommodating s and took extra care to include everyone at the pace they were each comfortable with. Would absolutely recommend!
Chef Ivan was fantastic, the perfect host, chef and teacher. So knowledgeable and professional on the cuisine and techniques, can't wait to do another class with him sometime soon. We all had a great time and learned alot. Thank you!
Fun experience, trying a lot of different dishes. Learned a number of techniques throughout the course, although it would have been fun to be a little more hands on, including plating instructions.
Chef Ivan was wonderful! We had a great time making three sorts of pasta with him and he was a great instructor. I 100% recommend this class to anyone!! The pasta a the end was also delicious to eat :) thank you so much for everything.
Chef Ivan was awesome. The class was very hands on, educational and fun. The food was delicious with a creative use of ingredients. The octopus with gnocchi and arugula pesto was delicious. Will definitely look to do another class with Ivan soon!
Chef Ivan was extremely nice, knowledgeable, and accommodating. My only complaint is that the venue was small and did not accommodate for our group size. The cooking quarters were tight.
fabulous charming prepared and excellent with his teaching skill Mywude is a graduate kid Julia and Josques program at Boston
University she cooked with both of the and she gave Chef a AAA
rating. ...wanted to take him home!
There was a lot of pressure on me to pick a team building, fun event while my team was in town this week. I kept it a surprise and on the way there the suspense drove them nuts. They used the time to tell me about every bad team building experience they had done in the past, and then my manager said "I just hope its not another escape room." The team was really surprised when we arrived. The event was engaging, unique, we learned a ton and most of all, we had fun. Chef Ivan was a tremendous host, teacher and chef. We prepared a delicious modern Italian feast and stuffed ourselves. We brought bottles of wine and had an amazing time. My team was unanimous in declaring the night with Chef Ivan as the best team building event they had ever attended.
My girlfriend and I enjoyed the pasta 101 class with chef Ivan. He was very informative throughout the whole class. We both really enjoyed making the pasta. It was definitely a very hands on class. I w0uld love to try another class at some point. The gnohcii was absolutely amazing!
Loved the entire session. I was thrown back didn't expect such learning being that I cook a lot but he showed me how to really take time and have grace in the kitchen. We tend to rush everything these days but not this meal prep. It was great and the meal was authentic and flawless! I tagged cozymeal n the chef all day @empresstonome
Chef Ivan wsa a great instructor for our class! He took the time to show us tricks of the trade, improved our technical skills, and told some great stories about his career... I'd highly recommend Ivan to anyone looking improve their cooking skills!
Chef Ivan was an engaging instructor and made us feel right at home in his kitchen. Not only was his modern Italian cuisine class a perfect date night activity, but we learned lots of culinary lessons that we plan on applying to our daily lives.
We decided to do this as a team building event for a group of 7. Chef Ivan was an absolute pleasure to work with. A few of us have allergies and he was able to create a custom menu that worked for us all. We found the class to be very fun and informative. We appreciated the hands on experience and the little scientific tidbits regarding food preparation and storage. We enjoyed sitting and relaxing together over our finished meal and wine (BYOB)! Also, the location in Manhattan was very clean and cozy. We plan to do this again and have already recommended this to some of our fellow colleagues. Thank you!
Chef Ivan was amazing! He was friendly, diligent and passionate about cooking and teaching. Truly enjoyed the experience and the delicious pasta! Will strongly recommend
We had a great time, nice place and food.
We would have liked to participate more to prepare and to have some wine while eating the meals.
But overall, very nice experience!
Great food, great chef. Relaxing, inviting, and Chef Ivan is extremely personable. I was afraid that my wife and I might be intimidated, but Chef explained everything so well without any pretension whatsoever! If you're unsure that it might be too much, no worries! Book this and go enjoy! You also can take a wonderful walk around Little Italy when you're done as a bonus (to work off the, ahem, caloric intake.) 10/10 would book again.
I purchased the 4 course Mexican meal for my girlfriend and I who both enjoy cooking and love to learn how we can get better, especially when it comes to Mexican cuisine. Chef Ivan was fantastic explaining each step and letting us be hands on in the process. My girlfriend and I will absolutely will be booking another class in the future it was such an amazing experience.
For someone who doesn't normally cook, I must say this was a fun and delightful experience! Our chef for the night was knowledgeable and entertaining. Italian was on the menu, and the line up for the night was mouth watering. It was fun and simple, all while I enjoyed a glass of wine while whipping up a cuisine that even my mother would be proud of. We had tons of food left, so I gladly took them to go.
For someone who doesn't normally cook, I must say this was a fun and delightful experience!
Our chef for the night was knowledgeable and entertaining. Italian was on the menu, and the line up for the night was mouth watering. We rolled up our sleeves to prep the food, and I learned a few things I could take back to my own kitchen. It was fun and simple, all while I enjoyed a glass of wine while whipping up a cuisine that even my mother would be proud of. We had tons of food left, so I gladly took them to go.
In addition, the set up was fantastic. The kitchen was quite large (bigger than my manhattan apartment for sure), and equipped to cook everything you ever dreamed of. The other attendees there were extremely friendly, and made the night even more fun.
Looking forward to the next session!
It was a really great experience. Chef Ivan showed how to cook really tasty and beautiful dishes. Lots of interesting culinary "hacks" too! I would definitely recommend him.
What a great experience! The food was delicious and Chef Ivan was friendly, warm and very helpful. Can't wait to try the recipes at home. We hope to return soon!
Chef Ivan was awesome. Super knowledgeable, friendly, and thorough. Took time explaining in detail what he was doing, and patiently answered all of our group's questions. The meal turned out great!
My wife and I attended this cooking class in NYC on a date night and we had a blast. Chef Ivan is an excellent chef. The food was delicious, we learnt a lot and the venue was fantastic! I will definitely book this again.
What a fun, interactive experience! The small group allowed us to move freely and ask a ton of questions, and get hands on with cooking. Ivan was patient and informative as he demoed and educated us. 3 hours flew by and we were stuffed to the brim and happily enjoyed leftovers the next day.
I always say, "Dessert is part of the meal." So I was happy to find out as one of the courses we would be making in Chef Ivan's class, was Tortino al Cioccolato. Better known as Molten Chocolate Cake, and always a crowd pleaser, I have had this dessert many times, at numerous places, as it is a must order when I see it on the menu.Â
Now I have a guaranteed crowd pleaser of a dessert in my arsenal, that will be sure to please even the most pickiest of guests.
Chef Ivan may be great and the classes fun, but our family of 5 had an unexpected event with our old dog the morning we were to attend our class and Cozymeal wouldn't even give us a credit for the five of us ($449) to use for another class. Chef Ivan also never responded, which the company indicated chefs can do and make their own arrangements. We will never book with this company again. And, this is probably only my 5th review ever in my life which says a lot about me taking time to write it.
The class was very enjoyable. The woman teacher was friendly and knowledgeable. I think she put a bit too much salt in the eggplant dish and the spinach balls were too dry for me. My wife liked the spinach balls.
Overall the experience was very disappointing for my team.
We only get to do team events once every two months, and had saved up two events worth of budget to do this.
The chef didn’t seem to have much patience for people to learn, which we think is a big part of the experience. Sometimes the way she communicated directions or feedback was quite passive-aggressive (good directions but phrased in a slightly negative way).
A lot of people felt like it wasn’t as much of a cooking class, but more of a cutting/chopping class. We would have loved to be more hands-on but instead the chef did a bunch of the work.
There was also a helper there who cleaned everything and prepped some of the kitchen, who the chef never acknowledged, which we thought was strange/rude.
The food tasted good though.
Disappointing end to a great class. Chef Ivan was very informative and an excellent teacher during the class. We enjoyed the class and meal very much. Our disappointment came a week after when we realized we had not been emailed the recipes we were promised.
The ched was very knowledgeable and the facility was top knotch. My problem was that the menu was all adapted by a non vegan. The appetizer was great but the other courses fell flat. Pasta was mediocre, “meat†balls were dry and I have had much better vegan cheesecake.
I will not be booking through Cosymeal again. If I ate meat, I am sure I would appreciate everything the chef has to offer but there are much better vegan cooking classes in nyc
did not get to make it to my reservation. My review is on cozy meal and not Ivan but I don’t want to mess up his ratings, so I didn’t want to give him a 1. But I would give the company a 1 and would not reccomend cozy meal to anyone. Find another cooking class!
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