Parsati Maji, cooking teacher

Parsati Maji
PARO

PARO

location_on San Jose

local_activity classes: Indian CookingJapanese CookingCooking

5.0 (31)
Instagram followers2k

We are changing the industry by teaching life lessons through culinary arts, bringing community together with diverse culture; making friends through feasts.
These events are not only cooking classes, but we share stories, emotions, create experiences, and explore global cuisines.
I am a culinarian and chef instructor, who loves to create healthy eating habits and cuisine, explore creativity and passionate about cooking. I have worked as an instructor teaching private cooking lessons and after-school programs for an international educational platform that teaches kids math, science, and geography through cooking, and worked for Williams Sonoma in a culinary capacity.






Classes







Reviews

(31)


David Whittaker Mar 2024


I recently had the pleasure of participating in a dumpling making cooking class as part of a team building activity, and I am thrilled to share that it was an absolutely fantastic experience!

From the moment we stepped into the kitchen, we were captivated by the warm and welcoming environment. The class was meticulously organized, with every detail thoughtfully prepared to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience.

One of the standout aspects of the class was the chef. Not only did she display an incredible wealth of knowledge about the culinary arts, having travelled and lived in various countries, but also her jovial and engaging nature immediately put everyone at ease. She was more than just a teacher; she was also a storyteller, sharing cultural tidbits that added depth and context to what we were learning. Her charisma and humor kept us entertained throughout, making the experience as enjoyable as it was educational.

What impressed me particularly was her attentiveness to the diverse dietary needs within our group. She went out of her way to accommodate the allergies in our team, ensuring that everyone could participate fully and safely. This level of care and consideration truly speaks volumes about her dedication to her students.

The food, needless to say, was a highlight of the class. The dumplings we prepared under the chef's expert guidance were nothing short of delicious. We had the opportunity to experiment with different fillings, which led to an array of flavors that were a hit with everyone. Plus, the fact that we could take some home was a delightful bonus!

This dumpling making cooking class was a truly memorable team building activity. It was not just about learning to make dumplings, but also about working together, embracing new experiences, and creating shared memories. I would highly recommend it to any team looking for a unique, fun, and enriching bonding experience.

Gina Guerrero Mar 2024


"This is my second time taking a class with Parsati, and I plan on taking more in the future. She emphasizes cleanliness and offers valuable insights into healthy alternatives, which I appreciate. The first class I attended was in a group setting, but this time, I booked a private session for Valentine's Day with just my partner and me. We learned how to make dumplings, and it was a wonderfully intimate experience. Parsati allowed us to play our own music, adding to the personal touch. Her diverse cooking style, influenced by her travels to various cultures, offers a unique perspective. Additionally, she provides the option for private classes, perfect for those seeking a more intimate activity. I admire her passion for introducing different cooking options, from vegan to meat dishes, and exploring various culinary styles."
-Gina & Dt

Cooking class review by Gina Guerrero - San Jose

Shilpa Patel Mar 2024


We took a dumpling class and it was great! She accommodated our dietary needs and was very focused on eating cleanly. She was also super informative about food, cooking and providing us alternate ideas for how to make the same thing in different ways. I really enjoyed her class.

Ariana Hernandez Feb 2024


She was extremely welcoming, knowledgeable, and supportive. I loved the food we were able to create as a team and how much she stressed the importance of healthy choices without compromising the flavor. I'm excited to try it out soon with family and friends!

Theresa Ngo Feb 2024


Had such a great time learning how to make soup, dumplings, and dipping sauces! Everything was so delicious and Chef Parsati was super knowledgeable and welcoming! Her place is beautiful and she is a wonderful host. Thank you so much for teaching us how to make delicious dumplings!

Curt Fukuda Feb 2024


My wife and I took Chef Parsati's class for our Valentine Day's treat. It was a wonderful event. Chef Parsati was friendly, patient and knowledgeable. My wife and I learned so much and had fun making Indian food. We took home memories and skills that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

Jacqueline Morgan Jan 2024


Bring your friends and really make it fun ! A great deal of thought went into this class! Excellent overview of different styles of Japanese cooking and I appreciated all the details/recommendations on the brands to buy (noodles, spices, pickled ginger etc) …fresh ingredients with advice on how to add extra heat (spices) or remove unwanted salt and sugars. Very tasty informative and fun!

Micaela Wise Jan 2024


This is my second class with chef. Chef created a wonderful custom class for my family and I. We learned several vegetarian dishes that were delicious.

Yvette Lee Jan 2024


Chef Parsati created a fun event that fit our group's needs. Will be back!

Elisa Hickey Jan 2024


Chef Paro was a lovely teacher. My daughter and I enjoyed a private lesson in her home, learned to cook dumplings in two ways, made soup and dipping sauce. She had great tips and techniques. She is also warm, friendly and hospitable. We’ll be looking up another class with Chef Paro in the future.

Robin Brauburger Jan 2024


Great class all around. The teacher was great and we cooked some amazing food. 10/10 would book another class with Parsati! She was also very accommodating about our request to reschedule during the holidays.

Lindsay C. Walker Jan 2024


Our teacher was amazing She was fast paced, got a lot of information in a short amount of time and had some INCREDIBLE extra "no food waste" tips. We had always been a bit intimidated to make dumplings but she made it so approachable and we're excited to give a try at home. She has a very diverse background with many different cuisines and was able to help us realize how many different combinations of flavors you could do way beyond the time allotted for the class. We feel like we got 50 recipes with just this class. Thank you for making it such a great date night!

Shannie Kadouri Jan 2024


We did a team fun event for 4 people. It was amazing! We made soup, 2 stuffings and learned multiple shapes to make the dumplings. Parasti was extremely nice and hosted beautifully the evening.
We started with some spring rolls while chopping vegetables and mixing the chicken and spices. Then, we made the sauce and a delicious and easy to make soup. We combined steamed and fried dumplings and ended with a great dinner and chatting.
Highly recommend!

Angelique Zuluaga Dec 2023


This was an awesome experience Chef Parsati led the class beautifully, patiently, the food was delicious and the process very well explained. My son absolutely loved it, we’re definitely returning for more classes with her!

Arabela Espinoza Dec 2023


I had such an awesome experience with Chef Parsati! She provided such a welcoming space and although I happened to be running a little late, it was so kind of her to make sure I didn’t miss out on seeing/learning how the main cooking dishes were made. She was animated, informative and just overall fun. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone wanting to learn more about the importance of adding spices to your dishes to create such flavorful foods! :)

Wasim Wadhwani Oct 2023


I found this class while searching for a fun corporate event to plan for our team. From the get go, Chef Parsati was extremely friendly and helpful during the planning process. I had some concerns about the menu options, along with some dietary restrictions for our team members and Chef Parsati stepped up and supported all of my requests and was able to accommodate all dietary restrictions! The team had a blast, we had so much fun learning from Chef Parsasti, making the dumplings together, and being able to enjoy the food that we made. Such a fun experience, great atmosphere, and wonderful course with Chef Parsati. 10/10 would recommend any groups of friends or corporate groups that are looking for a super fun team activity!

Dumpling Making Workshop: Vegan and Chicken review by Wasim Wadhwani - San Jose

Tara Oct 2023


This experience was so great. We had a great time, learned so much, ate great food, and were inspired to start making dumplings a norm in our family. It was so helpful to learn about substitutions that we could try or use.

Lujain Hammadi Aug 2023


Chef was great! She did everything she can to make the cooking class and experience memorable and useful. Her spirit and passion is contagious. We enjoyed the classed, loved the food, and look forward for future classes!

Vibhor Aug 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended


It was a great, comprehensive experience from start to finish. All the necessary ingredients/cutlery were readily available. The teacher was able to take a very complex dish break it down to a level that beginners can navigate. There were great explanations behind the effects of different ingredients, their portions, their methods, and how they factor into aesthetics and taste.

As expected the dishes turned out great!

Favorite Indian Dishes Cooking Class review by Vibhor - San Jose

Bar Garburg Jul 2023


We had a girls night gathering, learning how to cook Indian food, which is something we all wanted to do individually for awhile.
Parsati was incredibly patient and accommodating in every way. She provided all of the materials, including the kitchen space, dinner table for dinning and an appetizer at the beginning as she was reviewing what we plan to cook and how to cook everything.
We all had a wonderful time, great conversation with her and with each other, the food making was a great learning experience and absolutely delicious. I would definitely recommend it to others!

Indian Cooking Class: Vegetarian Delight review by Bar Garburg - San Jose

Bar Garburg Jul 2023


Had a great time in this cooking class, with six friends. The instructor was very knowledgeable and shared many tips and ideas with us. The atmosphere was also great. Highly recommend!

Chitralekha Dasgupta Jul 2023


Fun experience with the family. Took my mother and my children and all three generations had a good time and then enjoyed eating the dumplings. Venue was very clean and welcoming

Jim Chan Jul 2023


Chef Parsati was the best! She was very personable, kind, fun and is an expert at her craft. We made a delicious 3 course meal together: including delicious chicken biriani, spiced potatoes, and dessert (halwa)! She was very knowledgeable about the spices, the importance of each step of the cooking process and even shared alternatives to make it easier/faster for our lifestyle (healthy, modern day, faster pace). By the end we were able to enjoy a home cooked delicious meal and loved her hospitality and gratiousness! Would recommend to anyone interested in making Indian food- it demystified what was seemingly very daunting for us!

Katrina Apr 2023


This class was very informative and a lot of fun! It was intimidating as an idea, but once we begun it wasn't so scary. I would definitely do it again.

Cooking class review by Katrina  - San Jose

Roy Bracamonte Apr 2023


Parasati was a great teacher! Simple to follow in a nice warm environment. Loved the experience and I’m excited for the next class!

Cooking class review by Roy Bracamonte - San Jose

Anjanette Javellana Mar 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended


The venue was very welcoming. the chef was very thorough in explaining all the basic ingredient that comes with the meal. She was also very intuitive, on how to combine ingredients that could be available locally in the local market.

Abhinav Jasthi Mar 2023


Chef Parsati was an incredible host and was accommodating with all our requests. We were a large team traveling from all around the country and she made sure all of felt comfortable, had a great time and actually learnt something. She runs a very clean and hygienic kitchen and ensures no parameters are compromised upon. All in all, it was a fun filled and knowledgeable experience that will be cherished for a long time. Will be back for sure

Cooking class review by Abhinav Jasthi - San Jose

Julie Ngo Mar 2023


Great for team building. Highly suggest for larger groups to book 3 hours. The venue was easy to find, spacious and clean and all the supplies were provided for the cooking class. The food turned out fantastic!

Ninik Porta Feb 2023


Chef Parsati is the best! She used analogies I would understand to explain (I’m Mexican so she would say: “this is like making tortillas or this is like your salsa”

As always, she is friendly, knowledgeable, encouraging and enthusiastic about teaching.

She’s my go to Chef instructor.

Song Vo Jan 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews


My girlfriend and I took this class last weekend and we really enjoyed it! Chef Parsati turned Indian food, which is intimidating and complicated, and made learning how to cook it seem simple and streamlined. We enjoyed her extensive knowledge on the topic and countless tip we learned from her. Super clean working environment and she makes sure to involve you in every step. Would love to see a fusion pizza class from her!

Favorite Indian Dishes Cooking Class review by Song Vo - San Jose

Felicia Sanborn Nov 2022


Our team building event with Chef Parsati was terrific! Food was delicious and made with fresh ingredients and everyone enjoyed themselves. There were no reviews yet when I booked this event so I didn’t know what to expect. Chef Parsati was very welcoming and made us feel very comfortable. She did a great job teaching us how to cook a vegetarian Indian meal but keeping the work very manageable so we could still socialize and have fun. One thing to know is that the event is held in a home that is set up for corporate events and not a commercial building. This made it feel like going to a friend’s house but it was very professional and clean like you’d expect from a business. I would definitely recommend doing your team building event with Chef Parsati.

4FHB8OR140 b96a490f1dd90bcefdba5812d2d1076a production San Jose CA US san-jose