The Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles runs “hands-on” wine education, mixology and culinary classes led by expert instructors. Courses are offered on weekdays and weekends at 521 E. Green Street in Pasadena. We offer classes for everyone - beginners to culinary professionals. Our recreational classes are immersive and intimate: the average class runs three hours per session and hosts 16 to 20 students.
Students are equipped with recipe and instruction packs (where applicable) and always get to enjoy the food, mixed drinks and wines covered in the class. All classes are led by an expert sommelier, mixologist or Chef, depending on the topic.
This six-session course, taught by ICE's Lead Instructor of Wine Studies and Advanced Sommelier, Paul Sherman, uses grape varieties, as well as winemaking regions, as the keys to understanding the full wine spectrum. You will receive a thorough introduction to winemaking, tasting, laws and labeling as you learn about wine components and taste some of the world’s most celebrated wines.
In this class, an experienced ICE professional will lead you through the bartending basics.
From flawlessly executing a Manhattan at home to creating a margarita your guests can't stop talking about, this class will show you how to make drinks like the ones you would find at a craft bar! Using the same equipment and methods, we will teach you bartending fundamentals, starting with using simple syrup, moving into garnishes and the methods behind stirring and shaking — all while sipping the cocktails you’ve learned to make yourself.
France’s Bordeaux region produces some of the world’s most long-lived and collectable wines. It is the role-model to the world for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines.
In this four-session class series, we will explore the history of the Bordeaux region's development and discover its diversity of styles. Throughout this series of classes, students will taste approximately 24 wines exemplary of the Bordeaux region.
France’s Burgundy wine region can be the most elusive to understand and the most fickle for quality. In spite of the fact that its wines are the product of just two grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the sub-regions where they grow have a strong impact on the aromas and flavors they present. In this 5-session course, we will begin to scratch the surface of this region and see how its wines can get under your skin.
Playtime in the daytime! Whether it be brunch, Mother’s Day, graduation, there are a lot of festivities happening right now. In this class, we will be enjoying all manner of pick-me-ups. Mimosas and the omnipresent Bloody Mary may take the spotlight, but there are a myriad of drinks made for daytime enjoyment!
The gin and tonic elixir has come a long way from being used to stave off malaria (yes, that's true!). The drink is now enjoyed around the world everywhere liquor is served. Your introduction to this famous cocktail starts with the discovery of tonic water by the British Navy in the 1850s. You'll sample tonic varieties available today that still harken back to this period and you'll learn how to make tonic water yourself. From there, you'll taste different styles of gin, from floral and botanical to stronger and more assertive. Then comes the magic: You'll be taught how to mix the two using different styles of gin and tonics available around the world today. Cheers!
Tiki drinks are considered the most fun category of drinks, and if you’ve ever stepped into a bustling tiki bar (there’s no other kind), you know what we mean! Come dip your toes in the water and see exactly what that person in the Hawaiian shirt is mixing behind the bar. We'll discuss (and try!) the different kinds of rums and cordials that go into the drinks of this storied category. Then you'll be taught how to make and enjoy a few of the classics. Along the way, we'll suggest a few riffs, just in case you're interested in making this crazy category of drinks even crazier!
ICE LA is launching a new alternative for plant-based and plant-forward home cooks who want to take their skills to the next level. Introducing: the "personal enrichment” version of our popular Plant-Based Culinary Arts program.
The new offerings include two multi-session courses:
1. Introduction to Plant-Based Cooking
2. Advanced Plant-Based Cooking
These courses are designed for health-conscious individuals looking for in-depth knowledge of plant-based culinary skills and techniques. The curriculum offers a holistic approach to nutrition-minded, plant-based cooking, with a focus on whole foods, wellness and sustainability. With a vegetable-forward curriculum, the program appeals to students living a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.
ICE's Introduction to Plant-Based Cooking and Advanced Plant-Based Cooking courses are taught on the Los Angeles campus by expert Chef-Instructors in our professionally-equipped teaching classrooms. Through hands-on training, students are taught foundational skills and knowledge about the art and practice of plant-based cooking.
The in-depth curriculum emphasizes the health-supportive qualities of ingredients and the science surrounding cooking with one's health in mind. Expert Chef-Instructors discuss the links between diet, lifestyle and well-being through the lens of body systems (cardiovascular, digestive, microbial, endocrine, etc.) and the ethos that “food is medicine.”
The courses range from teaching basic cooking techniques to advanced preparations and technical skills. We also explore evidence-based dietary patterns for long-term health, as well as special diets such as paleo, keto, Ayurveda, macrobiotics and more).
This four-part introductory course covers core topics in the field of plant-based culinary arts.
This four-party course builds on the fundamentals taught in Introduction to Plant-Based Cooking and covers advanced techniques and skills.
The duration and cost of Introduction to Plant-Based Cooking and Advanced Plant-Based Cooking varies slightly according to the schedule option selected. Students may attend class three or five days per week.
Intro to Plant-Based Cooking Dates
Advanced Plant-Based Cooking Dates
Call (888) 718-CHEF or email our Admissions team at LAadmissions@ice.edu to learn more about our plant-based cooking courses. We'll find a course that aligns with your goals and a schedule that works with your lifestyle.
