Your next date night may be the most unusual one yet. Why? It’s located inside your local grocery store. That’s right, Harmon’s School of Cooking is the perfect outing this winter. Date nights, girl’s night out, or simply wanting to learn how to create a professional dish. Harmon’s has seven cooking class locations, with seven professional chefs available up and down the Wasatch front that all specialize in various dishes that offer the Utah foodie scene a different outlook on fine dining. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss out on.

The idea behind the class is for these professional chefs to set up the ingredients for each attendee, for them to come in and learn the techniques to get the ultimate experience of what it’s like to prepare excellent dishes from scratch for you to recreate at home. It's a perfect concept for those who have always wanted to try a recipe, without the trouble of trying out a recipe at home and possibly having difficulties in the process. These fine-tuned chefs give each customer the ins and outs of each recipe with thorough instructions throughout. They give the proper tools to get the best insight, bases, and techniques to then take those dishes learned and make at home to try out yourself.

When entering class, there is an ID check followed by the service of welcoming drinks. All of Harmon’s cooking classes carry both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages for your pleasure. At each seat, a complete packet is provided of what you will be making. It includes ingredients, measurements, full directions, and instructions to be able to follow along with their live demonstration that will happen first. There are cameras that show the chef and video monitors that project what he is doing with a better look for those seated further back. Show up early to be one of the first in the door, to get a close spot near the chefs table for a better outlook. During the chef’s cooking demonstration, participants can ask questions they may have while watching. 

Chef Jake Driffill, head chef at Harmon’s Cooking School in Station Park, shares his culinary knowledge with such finesse. “We want to give you the why,” he said. Any chef can give instructions, but Driffill goes above and beyond sharing the science behind cooking during his presentations. “If somebody wants to know why we are putting baking powder on meat, I’m happy to answer them with the fact that it tenderizes the meat and makes it a little softer,” he said. Giving not only the knowledge of cooking, but the science behind it as well. Once taught and the chef is finished, you’re then able to break off into groups and create the recipe yourself in the kitchen. All ingredients are previously measured to make preparing your dish much simpler, they can also be found inside any Harmon’s. They prep, cook, and use all their own fresh produce and products for all recipes in house. These classes are completely set up toward beginners to gain confidence but do offer more advanced courses for those who are comfortable in the kitchen. 

Driffill grew up in the Bay area where he also went to culinary school in San Francisco, he specialized in Asian foods and is well known for Harmon’s sushi and saki class that sells out every time. Teaching sushi is Driffill’s favorite.

“It’s one of those things that is so intimidating to most people, getting them past that intimidation and showing them it’s just food is so rewarding,” he said. “If you have the technique, everything is possible.” 

Harmon’s class options vary from a simple evening of street tacos to an extravagant three-day course for holidays. They offer themed and seasonal courses such as Harry Potter themed dinner and Valentine’s love banquets. Their kitchen can host company parties, social events and have options to reserve a VIP private dinner with one of Harmon’s top chefs. Harmon’s Cooking School Coordinator, Ian Cameron, loves to see so many of their returning customers come back for multiple classes. “It shows they have a good time and want to keep coming back to learn more from our team,” he said. Harmon’s presents a fun environment and incredible learning experience you can’t find anywhere else. For future class schedules, visit www.harmonsgrocery.com/cook-with-us. To book a private event, call 801-928-2635 or email [email protected].