Join us!
Our cooking classes and events are fun, social events perfect for a date or a girls' night out! Our chefs provide you with all the knowledge and hands-on experience you need to master delicious fare. We look forward to hosting you in our kitchen!
We offer private classes for groups of 8 - 12 people, too! Email Jill Means at jillmeans1@gmail.com for details.
Because we plan our class experience based on attendance, our classes are non-refundable. However, participants may send someone in their place if unable to attend.
Sunday Book Club!
This isn’t your ordinary book club but it is certainly Kitchen Collage’s take on one that is for sure. We pick out our favorite book each month and you get to learn how to make 2 to 3 recipes, plus a book to take home.
Hands on + Tasting
Location: Kitchen Collage, 430 E. Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
Sharpen your knife skills with Clark Stone, our knife expert. He will teach classic cuts, fundamentals, mechanics, maintenance, and knife safety. If you want to take your cooking to the next level, we highly recommend this class. Don’t wait, it will sell out fast! Class participants will receive a paring knife that's valued at $30 .
Hands On + Tasting
Location: Kitchen Collage, 430 E. Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
Join us for our hands-on bartending class, Backporch Bartending 101! Get ready to shake, stir, and pour your way through the basics of mixology as we craft three delicious cocktails together.
First up, we'll dive into the world of gin with our Fuego Botanical Gin "Bee" cocktail. Infused with floral and citrus notes, this refreshing concoction is sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Next, we'll transport ourselves to the sun-drenched beaches of Mexico with a Tequila Paloma featuring a spicy maple twist. Sip on the perfect blend of tequila, grapefruit soda, and spicy maple syrup for a sweet and tangy delight with a kick.
Finally, we'll indulge in the timeless classic, the Smokey Whiskey Sour. This cocktail balances the smoky richness of whiskey with the zing of fresh lemon juice and a touch of sweetness, creating a perfectly balanced libation.
But that's not all! Throughout the class, we'll also be serving up nibbles to complement your creations, ensuring a truly immersive and delicious experience.
Whether you're a seasoned bartender or a complete novice, Backporch Bartending 101 is the perfect opportunity to hone your skills, learn new techniques, and most importantly, have a whole lot of fun! Cheers!
MUST be 21 years of age to sign-up for class.
Demonstration + Tasting
Location: Kitchen Collage, 430 E. Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
Step into Chef Haley Scarpino's Brunch Class for a whirlwind of flavor and fun! Discover the magic of brunch with Chef Haley as she unveils the secrets behind crafting Shakshuka and roasted potatoes—a mouthwatering twist on a classic favorite. But wait, what's Shakshuka? It's a sizzling dish of poached eggs nestled in a rich tomato and pepper sauce, perfect for brunchtime indulgence.
But that's not all! Quench your thirst with a vibrant rainbow planters punch that's as refreshing as it is Instagram-worthy. As Chef Haley shares her expert tips and tricks, you'll not only taste the finished creations but also take home the skills to recreate them with flair. Don't miss this chance to brunch like a pro and wow your friends with your newfound culinary prowess!
Class taught by Chef Haley Scarpino
MUST be 21 years of age to sign-up for class.
Demonstration + Tasting
Location: Kitchen Collage, 430 east Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Picnic like a pro with Chef Katie Porter. We’re keeping it simple with perfect food pairings . With epic savory curried meatball pitas and carrot pistachio salad along with delightful tomato peach relish over quark cheese. These treats will feature local purveyors. As we create these flavorful dishes that are perfectly packed into a basket and easily transported. And to top it all off, you'll indulge in a creamy berry Panna Cotta leaving your taste buds singing for an encore. Bring a 1/2 pint jar to take home their own portion of this delectable treat.
Demonstration + Tasting
Location: Kitchen Collage, 430 E. Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
Calling all food and beer enthusiasts (Dads too) Join us for a special Cooking with Beer class. It's the perfect opportunity to explore the delicious world of beer-infused cuisine. Using local craft beer, Cherry will help you better understand how to integrate beer with food and how it changes the profile of the recipes. See you at Beer Thirty…In this case 3:00
Menu:
- Beer Braised BBQ Pork Butt: Master the art of creating tender, flavorful pork infused with the richness of beer and barbecue sauce.
- Warm Potato Salad with Beer and Mustard Dressing: Elevate a classic side dish with a zesty beer and mustard dressing that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans): Discover the secret to preparing hearty beans simmered to perfection in a savory beer broth, packed with aromatic spices.
- Chocolate Guinness Milkshakes: Indulge in decadent milkshakes blending rich chocolate ice cream with creamy Guinness stout for the ultimate sweet treat.
Class taught by: Chef Cherry Madole
Demonstration + Tasting
Location: Kitchen Collage, 430 E. Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
To help you celebrate this year’s 4th of July, Lana Shope with be here to show you how to make her award winning pies. She will be showing you her tricks to making her famous Red & Blue Berry Pie and As American as Apple Pie just in time for our favorite summer holiday!
Class taught by Pies and Pastries, Lana Shope.
Demo + Tasting
Location: Kitchen Collage, 430 E. Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
This isn’t your ordinary book club but it is certainly Kitchen Collage’s take on one that is for sure.
For anyone who loves Cajun food or is interested in American cooking or wants to discover a distinct and engaging new female voice—or just wants to make the very best duck gumbo, shrimp jambalaya, she-crab soup, crawfish étouffée, smothered chicken, fried okra, oyster bisque, and sweet potato pie—comes Mosquito Supper Club.
Named after her restaurant in New Orleans, chef Melissa M. Martin’s debut cookbook shares her inspired and reverent interpretations of the traditional Cajun recipes she grew up eating on the Louisiana bayou, with a generous helping of stories about her community and its cooking. Every hour, Louisiana loses a football field’s worth of land to the Gulf of Mexico. Too soon, Martin’s hometown of Chauvin will be gone, along with the way of life it sustained. Before it disappears, Martin wants to document and share the recipes, ingredients, and customs of the Cajun people.
Reipes: Shrimp Boulettes, Louisiana Lump Crab Cakes, and Blakberry Dumplings
Class taught by Jill Means