Farmer's Market Tour and Cook Seasonal Lunch

Learn about fresh, seasonal ingredients and cook a four course meal



4 hours Class size 1 to 15     label $175

Have you been on the search for fun SF activities that satisfy your inner foodie? Join Chef James for this hands-on cooking class and farmers' market tour, where you will learn all about selecting and using fresh, seasonal ingredients in your cooking.

Are you curious to learn how a chef chooses their ingredients? Tour with Chef James through the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market and see for yourself! You'll accompany Chef James, planning your meal based on the seasonality and availability of ingredients based on your own specific food preferences.

Once your ingredients are have been purchased, we'll head back to the chef's home kitchen to prepare and cook a delicious four-course lunch.

At the end of this interactive cooking class, sit down and enjoy your meal. Chef James welcomes you to bring wine to accompany your meal and will be happy to make recommendations for pairings.

Please note: Meeting points and location details will be provided after booking.


Knowledge required
Beginner-friendly.
 
What you'll get
  • Your seasonal four-course meal.
  • Meal recommendations from a professional chef based on your favorite ingredients and flavors.
  • A farmers' market walking tour with Chef James.
What to bring
  • Please wear comfortable, closed-in shoes.
  • You are invited to bring your own wine to enjoy with your meal.
Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a team building activity, birthday or bachelorette party.

This would also be a lovely gift for her, gift for mom, anniversary gift or birthday gift.

Location

1373 Masonic Ave San Francisco, CA 94117

Farmer's Market Tour and Cook Seasonal Lunch location
Your teacher
Cook With James
Cook With James

5.0 (61)
19k

James grew up on a 50 acre horse farm near the Salinas Valley. His great grandfather emigrated from Yugoslavia into the Central Valley and started an apple farm. His grandfather later moved to the very fertile Salinas Valley and started one of the first produce companies. It was called Sun Harvest. My mother raised us mostly on local fruits and vegetables though there was still the occasional cooking “out of a can” given the generation. Canned beets! The one thing we always had was a bowl of fresh fruit, cut up and put into a bowl for us before we went to bed.

James earned a masters in Spanish literature and linguistics through Middlebury College and lived in Spain for two years. He later entered into the technology business and worked at various advertising agencies in San Francisco over a 12 year period. Along the way he started cooking as "therapy" for his corporate day job. CookWithJames was created 15 years ago as an underground supper club. James would prepare multiple course regional Italian and Spanish dinners in his home for guests and friends. James staged at Quince restaurant after they opened in 2004, and has also lived and cooked in both Italy and Spain. After leaving his day job in advertising in 2009 James launched CookWithJames as a full-time business, offering private sit-down dinners as well as cooking class parties for all occasions.

Verified reviews

We only show reviews from customers who have paid for and attended this class


Stephanie Gillen Sep 2023


We had a great meal and wonderful experience cooking with James! It was the perfect teambuilding event to do with my team. We look forward to the next event we can do with James.

Junior Poloka Jul 2023


The market tour was really fun and James was an excellent host and teacher. I am looking forward to taking another class of his.

Cascasilda Puente May 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


We loved it! It was special to be in his home. My Spanish exchange student thought it was amazing. It was so welcoming like having lunch at a friends house in San Francisco!. I wish he would have enjoyed the meal with us. He just seemed to be part of our time and he was busy cleaning and not enjoying the meal that he helped us create.

we will be back!

Luanne Andreotti Jan 2023


Cooking with James was a gift. I loved the farmers market scavenging to meet vendors since I own a place nearby and now can navigate better! We returned to his home - a respite from the rain with an inviting charcuterie plate to greet us. It was a new experience making pasta and the results were delightful. Next time I’d like to actually cook the noodles as well and the sauce. I will sign up again. Overall James was an ideal teacher and host and I really enjoyed the young couples in our group. I was solo to connected with a single gal to form another couple. I’m spreading the word now great this is on my social media!

Farmer's Market Tour and Cook Seasonal Lunch review by Luanne Andreotti - San Francisco

Dan Markosky Jan 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended


James was a great host, and we loved meeting several of his favorite vendors at the farmers market. He then welcomed us into his beautiful home where we spent time learning pasta making while enjoying company with the group. Amazing day and we will definitely be booking another event with James!

Libby Palomeque Dec 2022


Warm, funny, and welcoming, James made every guest feel instantly at ease. And the food was magnificent Highly recomended!

Amanda Jones Dec 2022


Excellent experience all around. James is the real deal. He knows his way around the Farmer’s Market and the cooking experience was warm and informative. We are already planning our next adventure with him. Such a fun experience!

Cooking class review by Amanda Jones - San Francisco

4FHB8OR140 b96a490f1dd90bcefdba5812d2d1076a production San Francisco CA US san-francisco