Kitchen Rentals, Special Classes, and General FAQ
Who are the student cooking instructors?
Most of our student cooking instructors are studying Food Science and Human Nutrition at U of I! We utilize a student development model.
What does the setup of a typical cooking class look like?
Our cooking class is structured to empower participants to learn and share the joy of cooking with their peers. A typical class looks like:
- Participants check in as they enter the Instructional Kitchen.
- Instructors begin by introducing the learning objectives of the class. They will provide skill/technique demonstrations and go over kitchen safety and personal hygiene practices.
- Participants can choose or will be assigned to an island for each recipe and work in a group. The instructors will be circling around to answer questions.
- Once everyone has made their dish, participants will enjoy a family-style dining experience where they get to try different dishes and bring home any leftovers from the class.
- At the end of the class, participants will be encouraged to fill out a satisfaction survey to share their experience and/or any theme suggestions!
Can I register for my friend as well?
No. Each Active Illini account can only register for one instance of a specific class. Each participant will need to register through their own account.
Will I be able to bring leftovers home?
Yes! The ingredients usually allow you to make extra to share and take home.
I have a dietary restriction/allergy, can I still attend the class?
Yes, but please contact dcr-nutrition@illinois.edu upon registration.
What is the cancellation policy for the cooking class?
A cancellation request must be submitted 48 hours before the scheduled class to receive a full refund. A 50% partial refund will be issued if it is canceled within 48 hours. A $5 processing fee is deducted from each cancellation request.
Where can I access the online version of the recipes from previous cooking classes?
You can find them on the Recipes page.
How many people can you accommodate in a cooking class?
20 people.
What is the difference between a kitchen rental and a special cooking class? What are the rates?
- The kitchen rental is solely reserving the instructional kitchen space; the group will be responsible for bringing their own groceries, filming equipment (if applicable), and cleaning the space and equipment at the conclusion of the reservation. A kitchen monitor will be on site to help navigate the utensil/equipment locations and cleanup instructions. View the Indoor Rental Rates page for more information.
- For a special cooking class, select a class theme from a list and the Instructional Kitchen Staff will instruct the class and handle the grocery purchase. View the Instructional Kitchen page for more information on the rental rates for special classes.
I have more questions regarding instructional kitchen programming. Who can I reach out to?
Reach out to dcr-nutrition@illinois.edu.