Build the Roux Yourself, Then Eat the Gumbo It Becomes
Hands-on Cajun cooking that the operator describes as more like a dinner party with friends.
The Mardi Gras School of Cooking works out of a ground-floor kitchen in the French Quarter. Classes stay small, and the chefs teach them themselves. The format is hands-on for the full session. What comes off the stove at the end is dinner, and the ticket already covers it.
Booking runs through Viator. The class meets at 519 Wilkinson St, Suite 101, on the ground level. Bookings close 24 hours before the start time, and confirmation comes back instantly.
Hands-on Cajun Roux Cooking Class in New OrleansThe Mardi Gras School of Cooking · 180 minutes · Dinner and drinks in the ticket · 5.0 from 401 reviewswww.viator.comThe Roux Comes First
Gumbo and etouffee both begin with a roux, and the operator named the class after that step. Three hours, all of it hands-on. The chefs teach their own classes, which the operator describes as being welcomed into their kitchens.
What Comes Off the Stove
The menu is fixed, and the operator publishes it in advance.
- Chicken and andouille sausage gumbo
- Shrimp etouffee
- Bananas Foster, flamed in the pan
Dinner is in the ticket, and so are the drinks, including the alcoholic ones. Bottled water and carbonated soft drinks sit on the same list. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated, though the operator asks to hear about them before the class.
Who Gets In, and How Many
The operator sets a minimum class size of two. A solo traveler can still come, and gets folded into a class that is already on the schedule. Parties of eight or more are asked to contact the operator directly to book. A single online booking tops out at ten travelers, and every booking needs an adult on it.
The kitchen is wheelchair accessible, and the operator says all areas and surfaces are. Infants ride on an adult's lap, and prams and strollers are fine. Public transport runs nearby. Classes are taught in English.
Before You Book
- Cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time returns the full amount. Inside that window nothing comes back.
- Bookings close 24 hours out, which puts this on the plan-ahead side of a trip.
- Confirmation is instant. One ticket covers the booking, and the operator's note says mobile or paper is accepted.
Three hours is most of an evening. Plan the rest of the night around it.
The class lets out onto Wilkinson Street, in the middle of the French Quarter, and you walk out having already eaten. The operator's own line for the three hours is that the chefs stay friendly, personable and entertaining from the moment you arrive until you roll out the door.