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Culinary Connect

Issue 3

The latest updates, insights, and tips tailored for entrepreneurs like you who continue to deliver exceptional culinary experiences every day. 

Whether you're guiding a tasting tour, leading a cooking class, or hosting a unique event, Culinary Connect is your source for staying informed and inspired. 

We’ll dive into industry trends, and share practical advice to help you continue delivering exceptional food- and beverage-related experiences.

Plan for a bit of fun too because, hey, it's us! 

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SPECIAL SEASONAL EDITION

Ultimate Guide to Planning Fall and Winter Holiday Cooking Classes, Workshops and Promotions

Welcome to your go-to guide for Cooking Class Instructors to make the most of the holiday season! Whether you’re an experienced culinary instructor or just starting out, the holidays bring a unique opportunity to fill classes, engage new students, and boost revenue.

Here are some straightforward tips to help you maximize every opportunity, even during a busy time of year.

Build Seasonal and Holiday-Themed Offerings

Attract guests looking for fun, festive cooking classes and, of course, delicious food!

1. Identify Trends and Seasonal Themes

  • Holiday Favorites: Go the traditional route and create classes around popular holiday foods and flavors, like gingerbread cookies, holiday pies, or even seasonal cocktails.
  • Festive Twist on Classic Classes: Turn standard classes into holiday specials! For example, a pasta-making class becomes “Harvest Pasta Party,” or a cake decorating class becomes “Holiday Cake Art.” Keep to the theme with your materials and ingredients.
  • Limited Edition Classes: Try for seasonal exclusives like “Thanksgiving Sides Workshop” or “Festive Holiday Brunch.”

 

2. Brainstorm Unique Class Concepts

  • Think Beyond the Kitchen: Could you add a cultural element or storytelling around holiday dishes? A class could explore the history of holiday meals, traditions, or favorite ingredients from around the world.
  • Hands-on Gift Ideas: We love to give and receive gifts from the kitchen. Everyone knows they’re from the heart. Lead a series of workshops on making homemade gifts, like holiday spice blends, edible cookie dough, or hot chocolate jars.

 

3. Plan Pairings for Culinary Tours

  • Collaborate with Local Experts: If you run tours, consider festive pairings like “Holiday Wine and Cheese Pairings” or “Seasonal Beer and Food Tour.” People love holiday experiences that feel tailored and exclusive!

These ideas might inspire your own creativity

Try unique Thanksgiving dishes like curried pumpkin soup shooters, cranberry-ginger chutney, or rosemary-parmesan mashed cauliflower for a fresh take on the classics that adds unexpected flavors to the holiday table. As an added extra, include a “Thanksgiving Reinvented” cheat sheet with ingredient swaps and flavor enhancers, giving participants inspiration to reimagine new dishes. 

Use base spirits like spiced rum, whiskey, or herbal liqueurs, and infuse them with seasonal flavors like cinnamon, clove, and citrus. Go above and beyond by providing participants with a DIY spice blend for creating their own signature hot toddy mixes at home.

Teach dishes like roasted root vegetable quinoa salad, creamy cauliflower soup, and spiced apple crisp, or, our favorite, apple and butternut squash soup. As an added extra, offer participants a guide on sourcing plant-based ingredients.

Teach how to make homemade flavored oils, spice blends, or maybe a chocolate bark are easy to package and share. Provide customizable label templates and packaging ideas to help participants present their gifts beautifully for friends and family. Show how to tie a unique bow that makes them feel crafty.

Focus on dishes like casseroles, pies, and desserts that can be made in advance to streamline holiday cooking and reduce stress. Provide a printable meal prep calendar to help participants manage their cooking schedule effectively.

Teach how to incorporate cinnamon into savory dishes like roasted vegetables, curries, or marinades for meats, enhancing flavor profiles with warmth and depth. As an added extra, teach how to make a cocktail that has a cinnamon-stir-stick and offer a guide on pairing cinnamon with other spices and ingredients to elevate cooking year-round.

Teach roasting with herbs and spices, mashing with unexpected ingredients like tahini, or creating root vegetable chips. Go the extra miles and provide a recipe booklet featuring various dips and sauces to accompany the dishes.

Teach how to create Instagram-worthy mocktails using fresh herbs, vibrant fruits, and unique flavor combinations that provide a festive experience without alcohol. For more WOW, offer participants a guide to garnishing techniques and serving suggestions to ensure they’re ready to go viral.

Teach how to prepare a selection of easy and elegant brunch dishes, such as frittatas, overnight oats, and refreshing fruit salads, that require minimal last-minute effort on New Year’s Day. As an added extra, provide a printable timeline for prepping and serving so participants can sleep in and still entertain.

Teach how to select the best apple varieties such as Granny Smith and Golden Delicious for pies, sweet Fuji for snacking, and Honeycrisps for salads, ensuring the right flavor and texture for each recipe. As an added extra, have an apple tasting activity and provide a tasting chart that compares the taste, texture, and best uses for various apple types, as well as a place for notes.

Teach how to prepare a variety of unique pumpkin dishes, such as pumpkin risotto, savory pumpkin and curry soup, pumpkin dip, and spiced pumpkin hummus, showcasing the versatility of this seasonal ingredient. As an added extra, provide participants with tips on selecting and preparing fresh pumpkins, right from the farmer’s market.

You could feature hands-on recipes with premium ingredients like infused syrups, flavored whipped creams, and chocolate pairings—perfect for attracting holiday parties and corporate events. Uplevel the experience with serving suggestions that look good on camera.

A great way to bring this to life would be to include a tasting flight of small bites paired with stories about their cultural significance. Provide tips on presentation and serving to enhance the festive atmosphere for holiday gatherings. As an added layer that “wows”, create a Spotify playlist of songs that complement the menu and share it with your guests.

Design a class that focuses on preparing large, shareable dishes ideal for gatherings, teaching participants how to shop for and create a variety of family-style meals. As a bonus, show your participants how to make an easy, yet beautiful table centerpiece with ingredients from the market.

Teach how to create a flexible cocktail station that will leave an impression. Show your participants the “must haves” and the “nice-to-haves” for different mixers and garnishes, while learning about flavor profiles and presentation tips. 
Show participants how to create themed cookie sets, such as winter wonderland or gingerbread houses, and include hands-on demonstrations for techniques like piping and layering flavors, along with tips for organizing a cookie exchange or gifting cookies.  

Guide participants in creating fall-inspired baked goods, such as pumpkin spice muffins, apple crisp, and pecan pie bars, while emphasizing techniques like roasting fruits and incorporating herbs and spices for depth of flavor. As an added extra, offer a mini-lesson on making homemade pumpkin purée to use in the muffins, or apple butter that participants can take home to use in their baking or give as gifts.

Create a variety of cookies infused with warm spices like cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves, showcasing techniques like brown butter and spice toasting to deepen flavor. As an added extra, provide participants with a guide to pairing these cookies with seasonal teas or coffees, or give them a cookie cutter so they can get started immediately when they get home.

Teach participants how to craft gluten-free versions of classic Thanksgiving sides like stuffing, green bean casserole, and cornbread, focusing on ingredient substitutions that preserve texture and flavor. As an added extra, provide a gluten-free flour blend recipe that participants can use for holiday cooking, along with tips for adapting other family-favorite dishes.

Show participants creative ways to transform holiday leftovers into new dishes, like turning roasted vegetables into hearty soups or stuffing into savory breakfast casseroles, while highlighting storage tips to maximize freshness. As an added extra, provide a recipe card for a “leftovers makeover” meal plan that helps them use up every last bite.

Teach participants modern twists on mashed potatoes by incorporating ingredients like roasted garlic, herbs, and root vegetables for added flavor and color, or experimenting with textures by adding crispy toppings and mix-ins. As an added extra, offer a mini-guide on pairing different types of potatoes with specific dishes, helping students create the perfect mash every time.

Guide participants in making budget-friendly soups like roasted butternut squash bisque and hearty lentil stew, portioned perfectly for two, while sharing tips on layering flavors with seasonal ingredients. Include a freezer-friendly storage guide so participants can batch-cook and enjoy soups throughout the season.

Teach participants a versatile icing recipe that adapts to any dessert—from cookies to cakes. Show them how to adjust consistency and flavor as well as the difference that different types of colorings make to the icing (gel, powder, etc.)

Select here to download a copy of these ideas.

Holiday Promotions That Work

Ok, now that you have some classes scheduled using the ideas above, it’s time to bundle up the experience. Promotions are a great way to get your holiday classes noticed, but you don’t need to create deep discounts. Create demand while keeping it profitable.

1. Design Special Offers with a Purpose

  • Bundle Deals: Combine classes or offer a “buy one, gift one” promotion for holiday shoppers. This will keep them coming back.
  • Early-Bird Specials: Reward those who book early by offering a small discount, encouraging a steady flow of sign-ups before the holiday rush.
  • Friends and Family Discounts: Holidays are for sharing, so why not create a “Bring a Friend” discount?

2. Create Urgency to Drive Bookings

  • Flash Sales: Short, time-bound sales (like a weekend discount) can drive a quick burst of bookings.
  • Countdowns: FOMO really is a motivator. People are more likely to book when they feel like they might miss out!

Seasonal Social Media Marketing

Reach holiday clients when you fill your feed with festive and engaging content.

1. . Develop Your Seasonal Social Media Strategy

  • Plan Posts in Advance: Create a holiday content calendar that showcases your offerings, client testimonials, and any specials. Pre-scheduling posts can reduce stress during busy times. Now, we understand the Instagram algorithm doesn’t favor scheduled posts, but you can certainly queue them up in advance so everything is ready to copy-paste into the platform. 
  • Show Behind-the-Scenes: Everyone loves a BTS! Share photos or videos of class prep, ingredients, or putting up the holiday decor. Let followers see the magic and planning that goes into your classes. 

2. Holiday Posting Tips

  • Visuals Matter: Use photos with a festive touch—think twinkling lights, warm colors, and cozy settings.
  • Engaging Captions: Share the story behind a dish. Ask followers to comment on their favorite holiday dishes or cooking memories to drive engagement.
  • Use Testimonials: Showcase student testimonials to build trust and credibility. After asking permission, cut-and-paste the comment directly from the email for that “extra-genuine” look. You can use these everywhere, from your landing pages to your email campaigns.

Create Effective Holiday Email Campaigns

Emails are a powerful way to keep clients in the loop and excited about your upcoming classes, workshops and events. A well-planned email series can boost your bookings significantly.

1. Plan a Festive Email Series

  • Early Announcements: Let your email list know about holiday classes early with a “Don’t Miss It!” or “Coming Soon” email.
  • Countdown to the Holidays: Send a series of reminder emails as dates approach, highlighting classes that still have availability or offering last-minute discounts.
  • Seasonal Greetings: Add a touch of holiday cheer by including a “Happy Holidays” or “Thank You” email to show appreciation.

 

2. Use Subject Lines that Hook

  • “Only 3 Spots Left for Our Gingerbread Class!” Urgency and FOMO are strong motivators that drive action.
  • “Give the Gift of Experiences – Holiday Gift Certificates Available!”
  • “Countdown to [Holiday]: Last-Minute Cooking Class Deals”

 

3. Compelling Call-to-Actions

  • Make CTAs easy to spot and enticing: “Reserve Your Spot Here,” “Gift a Class Now,” or “Select Here for Our Holiday Schedule.” Add that verb first.

Leverage Partnerships

Here’s how to build partnerships this season that will help you expand your reach.

1. Collaborating with Local Businesses: Local partnerships can create mutually beneficial promotions and attract a wider audience:

  • Gift Shops and Bakeries: Team up with local gift shops or bakeries for cross-promotions. Offer a “Cooking Class & Sweet Treat” package where customers receive a discount at the bakery when they book a class with you. Decorate their take-home container with holiday stickers and, to encourage repeat business, be sure to add a coupon for a future class with you.
  • Restaurants: Collaborate with a local restaurant for a “Dine and Learn” event where participants enjoy a meal before or after your class. This is an excellent way to create an immersive culinary experience.
  • Wineries or Breweries: Offer tasting events paired with cooking classes. For example, teach students to prepare a dish that complements the flavors of specific wines or beers. (We’re dreaming of an evening where every dish is made with the seasonal ales produced by a local brewery.)
 

 

2. Joining Online Holiday Guides and Listings: Maximize visibility by featuring your classes in local and online holiday round-ups. Here’s how:

  • Holiday Event Listings: Research local event guides that list holiday happenings. Submit your classes to be featured in these guides, especially those focused on culinary events.
  • SkilletLearning.com: Don’t forget to list your classes on Skillet! Skillet is designed to help instructors like you reach a broader audience. Share your unique offerings and watch your visibility grow!

 

A Final Word

By implementing these strategies, you’re not simply preparing for a successful holiday season—you’re building relationships that can last throughout the year. Remember that every class is an opportunity to create lasting memories and connections.

Here’s to a festive and successful holiday season ahead.

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