Have you ever encountered a situation where you wanted to cook something special for your friends, family or your loved one? I certainly have.
You generally know how to cook to get by with daily meals, but when it comes to preparing something special, the recipes you've learned were shown to you by someone? Sure, written or online cookbooks are great, but if you want to add that special touch that makes your food memorable and different, someone should show you how to do it. Besides that, cooking classes might also be a fun social activity; you might discover an actual chef in yourself. 

From the idea to the table

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Over the years Zagreb has become a food center in the full meaning of the word. The number of different world kitchens opened for business is so vast it's getting hard for me to choose, let alone try all of them. If you want to bring all kind of different flavors from all over the world in your kitchen, cooking classes might be a good idea for you. Personally, I love experimenting with all kinds of recipes in the kitchen. When it comes to cooking classes in Zagreb, they are usually on a one - day basis, lasting just for a couple of hours. They generally follow one theme per one sitting. For instance, one in one day, everything you will learn will be about cake baking, and the next time, you will be taught to handle steaks or maybe salads. If, on the other hand, you're up to something more serious, or you're even thinking about a career in cooking, the school created by a gastronomic community called Gastronomadi might be something for you. I'm thinking of applying myself. Besides being a bit more expensive than the others, their class lasts up to five weeks. Except cooking, they will also teach you about fridge organization, food decorating, and food and wine pairing. I find the fridge organization part especially useful, given the look of my fridge (haha).

A fun social event

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"You are doing it wrong" is the sentence you might not want to hear in the kitchen. I know I don't. "But this is how my mother taught me, and she's fantastic at cooking," you might reply. Believe it or not, there are some reasons why some things in the kitchen are done the way they are. The good thing is...you're going to be left with a certain amount of knowledge which will help you with your cooking in the long run. From what I hear, the atmosphere at these gatherings is also phenomenal, and having fun while learning something is always a plus. Besides all that, you get to eat what you've prepared, so you don't have to hurry home after to make a meal. That's the best part if you ask me.  

Select the best for yourself

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Before you choose the cooking class for yourself, it's crucial that you're aware of your skill(et) level. If you want to learn something about traditional Croatian cuisine in a maybe different and fun way, try Kuhaona, which also offers a couple of discounts so it might be an excellent alternative to a date. I don't know if my girlfriend would appreciate this kind of date, but I know I'll certainly ask her. This kind of cooking group usually consists of one teacher and 8-10 attendants. One thing you should be aware though is that after you're done with the cooking class, you should bear in mind that cooking is mainly a matter of practice. So if someone shows you how to carve correctly, the knowledge won't stick if you don't continue practicing at home. After all, that's where the majority of your cooking should happen. I would love to get more practice in the kitchen, but unfortunately, I don't often have the time.
If you can't decide between traditional and modern cuisine, and you kind of like to know a bit about everything, Food Culture center might be a suitable place for you. Besides learning to prepare some traditional cuisine dishes such as fish and learning about wine, you can take a bite of Japanese culture, and learn about some recipes from the far east. How cool is that? 

Different food philosophy

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If on the other hand, meat is not your thing, and you prefer vegetarian, vegan or macrobiotic diet, you should turn to Maja Kefček and follow her on her Facebook Page where you can also book a cooking class. Although I love meat, I've experienced the charms of vegetarian and macrobiotic food, and I think one should at least try everything when it comes to food.
In addition to that, another "healthy food" concept that shouldn't go without mentioning is the Raw food philosophy by the raw food masters that go by the name "Art of Raw." Although they don't have any current classes in Zagreb right now, their lectures and events are something a real food lover shouldn't miss. 

After a couple of classes, keep in mind that cooking is a skill, and practice is what makes it perfect which is the case with any skill, and it very much goes as far as cooking's concerned. After you've mastered a cooking skill, invite some friends over, impress them or organize a cook-off, and smite them down with your cooking mastery. 

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Author: Tibor Trupec