Classes
All of our classes are taught by Chef Dave, and include hands-on instruction in our commercial kitchen.
Cooking classes are held at 2:00pm on Sundays at Ollie’s unless otherwise noted.
Classes last about three hours and also include a three-course meal with the items you have created (except for the knife skills class).
Knife Skills Classes begin at noon on Sundays at Ollie’s and last an hour (meal is not included with Knife Skills class).
Read our FAQs for more details.
Knife Skills Classes
Knife Skills Classes (July 27 and November 9) - $25
Learn basic knife skills, and learn how to sharpen and take care of your knives.
Cooking Classes
Cooking Class - Basic Brunch (August 10)
Learn how to make crepes, hollandaise, egg cookery, and bananas foster pain perdu.
Cooking Class - Farmer’s Market Fall Harvest (September 14)
One of the great things about Wisconsin is the variety of produce available each season. We previously offered a sold-out summer version of this course and are pleased to offer a fall class to feature what is available to cook with in the fall. All three dishes will be made from ingredients Chef Dave selects from the Farmer’s market the day before the class. Learn about seasonality, how to source food locally all year long in Wisconsin, and how to eat affordably while still supporting local farmers and producers.
Cooking Class - Cajun Cooking (October 5)
Cajun…Creole.. What’s the difference? Come find out with Chef Dave as you get a tour of New Orleans in history and cuisine. Learn to make New Orleans classics like Jambalaya, Gumbo, and Étouffée. And finish it off right with a Creole favorite, Banana’s Foster! Learn to cook like a Cajun! We will also be discussing roux, Mardi Gras, and make your own Cajun seasoning!
Cooking Class - Soups, Stocks, and Sauces (October 26)
The definition of an amazing dish isn’t always on the technique upon which the protein is seared, or the vegetables prepared, but in the sauce that brings the whole dish together. Learn how to make amazing French onion, and mulligatawny soups, Hollandaise, and learn about the traditional French mother sauces. This is the course that will make you a better chef. One of our biggest focuses in this class is how to season a dish
Cooking Class - Holiday Hosting (November 16)
Hosting for holidays can be intimidating! Let us take some of the stress away. Come gain confidence in preparing some holiday favorites. Impress them with made from scratch dishes! Learn Chef Dave's favorite way to cook a turkey (spatchcock), a green bean casserole everyone WANTS to eat, fresh cranberry sauce, buttery mashed potatoes and a gravy you'll feel proud of!
Cooking Class - Holiday Drinks and Desserts (December 7)
Come and bake a classic sugar cookie, a gingerbread cookie, learn to make extra yummy chocolate fudge and enjoy a tutorial on homemade eggnog and hot grog.
FAQs
+ Do you ever offer private classes?
Absolutely! We can do a private class on any topic. From team building classes, to a group of people who LOVE cheese and want to know how to cook with it, to birthday celebrations and corporate events. We can teach any topic. Minimum group size is 4 people, and maximum is 12 for hands-on. We can do group demo cooking classes for up to 100 people on site, or any size off site. Contact Chef Dave if you are interested and he will get back to you promptly to discuss.
+ Why do you offer cooking classes?
Chef Dave loves working one-on-one with people who are passionate about food, so he teaches the classes right in the commercial kitchen to provide real hands-on experiences. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, throw on an apron, and have a wonderfully fun afternoon with Chef Dave.
+ What are the classes like?
Each class is taught by Chef Dave . We spend the first 30 minutes relaxing in the restaurant talking about the key concepts in the class, and then we go into our commercial kitchen where you will get to work hands-on at multiple stations.
+ When do the classes start?
All cooking classes at Ollie’s are held at 2:00pm. This is the only time that the kitchen does not have a large amount of food being prepped or cooked.
+ What day of the week are classes held?
All of our scheduled cooking and knife skills classes are held on Sundays. Special classes can be scheduled at other times – please Contact Chef Dave for details.
+ How many people in a class?
As few as 4 and as many as 10.
+ What happens if I have to cancel?
There are no refunds for cooking classes that you can’t attend. If you have to miss a class, find a friend that you can surprise with an unexpected gift. If you do not show up for a cooking class, you will forfeit your fees. If you cancel 2 weeks or more before the class, you can receive a gift card for the amount spent on the missed class.
+ Are classes ever cancelled?
Classes are cancelled for extreme weather or if fewer than 4 people are signed up for the class.
+ What happens if a class is cancelled?
If we have to cancel a cooking class, you can either sign up for a future cooking class, or you will receive a refund for the full amount.