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Welcome to The Chef Upstairs USA
The Most Unique Interactive Cooking and Private Dining Experiences in St. Petersburg, Florida!
In the News
The Chef Upstairs on Daytime!
Chef Julian whips up Moroccan Beef and & Vegetable Cigars, served with a Spiced Date Sauce.
The Chef Upstairs on Dinner DeeAs
Chef Julian makes Cavatelli Pasta entirely from scratch, using just three simple ingredients and a fork.
The Chef Upstairs on Bay News 9
Chef Julian makes Thai Green Coconut Curry
Thursday, November 12th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Mangiare! Nonna's Favorites
Price: $95
Cozy Italian comfort food takes centre stage in this fall-inspired cooking class. Start with earthy wild mushroom bruschetta, then roll up your sleeves to make fresh pappardelle pasta from scratch and pair it with a rich, slow-cooked chicken ragù. For dessert, we're frying up warm Italian apple fritters—the perfect sweet ending to a cozy fall feast.
What's Cooking:
- Wild Mushroom Bruschetta
- Handmade Pappardelle Pasta with Slow-Cooked Chicken Ragù
- Frittelle Di Mele (Apple Fritters)
Saturday, November 14th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Vietnamese Street Food Tour
Price: $95
Take your taste buds on a trip through the vibrant street-food flavours of Vietnam. You'll work with fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, aromatic broths and classic sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavours while creating everything from Vietnamese chicken wings and fresh shrimp rolls to a steaming bowl of pho. Finish with a cool and creamy avocado-coconut treat.
What's Cooking:
- Vietnamese Chicken Wings
- Vietnamese Rice Paper Spring Rolls with Shrimp and Vegetables
- Pho Bo – Beef Noodle Soup
- Green Papaya Salad
- Kem Bơ (Avocado-Coconut Ice Cream Parfait)
Thursday, November 19th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Streetside Spanish Tapas
Price: $95
Bring the energy of a Spanish tapas bar into the kitchen! This colourful, hands-on menu is all about bold Mediterranean flavours, shareable dishes and a little bit of everything. Grill eggplant with Manchego and saffron honey, stuff tender calamari with ratatouille, build a flavour-packed Spanish rice and finish with silky Catalan cream.
What's Cooking:
- Tapas Salad with Grilled Peppers, Olives and Capers
- Berenjenas Parrillas – Grilled Eggplant with Melted Manchego, Capers and Saffron Honey
- Grilled Calamari Stuffed with Ratatouille
- Spanish Rice with Tomatoes, Garlic & Chorizo Sausage
- Catalan Cream
Friday, November 20th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Mangiare! Nonna's Favorites
Price: $95
Cozy Italian comfort food takes centre stage in this fall-inspired cooking class. Start with earthy wild mushroom bruschetta, then roll up your sleeves to make fresh pappardelle pasta from scratch and pair it with a rich, slow-cooked chicken ragù. For dessert, we're frying up warm Italian apple fritters—the perfect sweet ending to a cozy fall feast.
What's Cooking:
- Wild Mushroom Bruschetta
- Handmade Pappardelle Pasta with Slow-Cooked Chicken Ragù
- Frittelle Di Mele (Apple Fritters)
Saturday, November 21st, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Streetside Spanish Tapas
Price: $95
Bring the energy of a Spanish tapas bar into the kitchen! This colourful, hands-on menu is all about bold Mediterranean flavours, shareable dishes and a little bit of everything. Grill eggplant with Manchego and saffron honey, stuff tender calamari with ratatouille, build a flavour-packed Spanish rice and finish with silky Catalan cream.
What's Cooking:
- Tapas Salad with Grilled Peppers, Olives and Capers
- Berenjenas Parrillas – Grilled Eggplant with Melted Manchego, Capers and Saffron Honey
- Grilled Calamari Stuffed with Ratatouille
- Spanish Rice with Tomatoes, Garlic & Chorizo Sausage
- Catalan Cream
SOLD OUT!
Friday, November 27th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Italian Seafood Table
Price: $95
Transport yourself to the Italian coast for an evening of fresh seafood, handmade pasta and classic Italian flavours. Grill tender calamari, learn to make fresh tagliatelle from scratch and toss it with clams, white wine and all the good things that make a bowl of pasta worth lingering over. Finish with creamy homemade apple cinnamon gelato.
What's Cooking:
- Grilled Calamari with Tomato Bruschetta, Olives and Fresh Greens
- Handmade Tagliatelle Pasta alle Vongole
- Creamy Apple Cinnamon Gelato
SOLD OUT!
Wednesday, December 2nd, 7:00 PM
Celebrate the Holidays with the Dizzy Desserts – A Dalí-Inspired Culinary Competition
Price: $77 per guest
The Chef Upstairs, in collaboration with The Dalí Museum, invites you to Dizzy Desserts: an interactive holiday dessert competition inspired by the legendary Dizzy Dalí Dinner. No advanced baking experience necessary—just bring your imagination and willingness to get a little surreal.
What's Happening:
- The evening begins with the reveal of a spectacular chef-created dessert—look closely, because soon it disappears
- Work in teams to recreate what you saw from memory, using provided recipes, ingredients and dessert components
- Halfway through: a Dalí-inspired curveball! A surprise surrealist challenge must be incorporated into your final creation
- Teams present their creations and are judged on taste, execution, visual impact, creativity and surrealist flair
- One team crowned the Dizzy Desserts Champion!
Registration is individual — compete with friends or sign up solo and we'll match you with a team. Space is limited.
Think sweet. Think strange. Think Dalí.
Thursday, December 3rd, 6:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Soulful Cooking: Korean Favorites
Price: $95
Step into the vibrant world of Korean cuisine and discover the secrets behind creating authentic, mouthwatering dishes.
What's Cooking:
- Jap Chae – Stir-Fried Glass Noodles with Colourful Vegetables and Savoury Flavours
- Gamja Jorim – Soy-Braised Potatoes
- Oi Muchim – Spicy Cucumber Salad
- Kalbi – Korean Short Ribs Marinated to Perfection
- Multigrain Purple Rice
- Hotteok – Sweet Brown Sugar Pancake (crispy outside, gooey inside)
Friday, December 4th, 6:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Modern Greek Mezze
Price: $95
An Aegean Escape through Vibrant Plates. Take a trip to the Mediterranean with this lively Greek mezze experience. Learn how to balance fresh herbs, zesty cheeses, and bold spices to create a stunning spread perfect for entertaining.
What's Cooking:
- Flaming Saganaki with Homemade Pita
- Golden Spanakopita with Herbed Feta
- Lamb Koftas with Green Garlic Yoghurt Sauce and Greek Potato Salad with Lemon, Olives, and Herbs
- Nut-Free Baklava
Thursday, December 10th, 6:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Indian Delights
Price: $95
Take a delicious journey through the bold spices and comforting flavours of India in this hands-on cooking experience. A cozy, flavor-packed evening full of authentic techniques and unforgettable aromas.
What's Cooking:
- Samosas – Homemade Samosas with Seasonal Chutney
- Indian Feast – Butter Chicken, Saag Paneer, Basmati Rice & Homemade Naan
- Chai Custard – Creamy, Indian-Spiced Custard
Friday, December 11th, 6:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Italian Elegance
Price: $95
Experience modern Italian elegance with an evening of fresh flavours and handmade pasta. Create a vibrant Bruschetta Trio, learn to make fresh homemade cavatelli pasta from scratch, and pair it with Gulf shrimp in a rich white wine-mascarpone sauce finished with fresh herbs. End on a sweet note with a beautiful Deconstructed Tiramisu layered with espresso mascarpone mousse, savoiardi cookies, fresh berries, and dark chocolate. An elegant, hands-on culinary experience filled with fresh pasta, beautiful ingredients, and modern Italian charm.
What's Cooking:
- Bruschetta Trio – Traditional Tomato, Wild Mushroom, and Sweet-Pea-Mint
- Shrimp Cavatelli – Homemade Cavatelli Pasta, Gulf Shrimp, White Wine-Mascarpone Sauce, Fresh Herbs
- Deconstructed Tiramisu – Espresso and Mascarpone Mousse, Savoiardi Cookies, Fresh Berries, Dark Chocolate Garnish
Sunday, December 13th, 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Sourdough & Spreads: From Starter to Table – A Hands-On Bread Making & Culinary Experience
Presented by Sourdough for the People with Kelsey Yates & The Chef Upstairs
Sourdough & The Perfect Pairings
Discover the art of sourdough with Kelsey Yates of Sourdough for the People and the culinary team at The Chef Upstairs!
In this fun, interactive experience, learn the secrets to creating and maintaining a sourdough starter, mastering essential bread-making techniques and baking beautiful sourdough at home.
Then, roll up your sleeves with our chefs to create three delicious accompaniments:
- Mediterranean Olive & Roasted Garlic Tapenade
- Whipped Honey & Herb Butter
- Warm Baked Brie with Caramelized Onions & Fig
Finish by enjoying freshly baked sourdough with your delicious creations!
Every guest takes home a live sourdough starter and a downloadable sourdough guide, along with new skills and plenty of inspiration!
Tuesday, December 15th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Secret Florida: A Hands-On Culinary Adventure with JoAnn Hill & Alexia Gonzalez
Price: $145 per guest
Discover Florida's weird, wonderful and delicious side! Join The Chef Upstairs and authors JoAnn Hill and Alexia Gonzalez for a unique hands-on cooking experience inspired by their new book, Secret Florida.
Explore fascinating stories and hidden Florida gems while creating a delicious menu inspired by the Sunshine State!
On the Menu:
- Welcome Treat: Mini Florida Citrus Doughnuts with Guava Glaze
- Fresh Gulf Oysters with Florida Citrus Mignonette
- Greek Shrimp Saganaki with Grilled Pita
- Blackened Gulf Mullet Tacos with Key Lime Crema
- Cuban Mojo Pork Tenderloin with Black Beans and Crispy Plantains
- Florida Citrus Zabaglione with Fresh Berries and Buttery Shortbread
Meet the authors, enjoy your culinary creations and take home a signed copy of Secret Florida, just in time for holiday gifting!
An unforgettable evening of food, fascinating stories and Florida's best-kept secrets!
Thursday, December 17th, 6:30 PM
A Guided Cheese & Beer Pairing Experience
Love great cheese and craft beer? Discover the perfect pairings with Chef Julian Pancer of The Chef Upstairs and Joanne Mumbey of BeyLoved Pairings at Grand Central Brewhouse.
Enjoy a fun, interactive evening exploring how different cheeses, charcuterie and craft beers complement and enhance one another, while creating your own delicious cheese board!
Your Experience Includes:
- Five 6 oz pours: Four craft beers and one cider
- Five artisan cheeses and three charcuterie selections with delicious accompaniments
- Guided tasting and pairing tips from Chef Julian and Joanne
- Hands-on cheese board creation, including presentation tips and techniques
Only 30 tickets available! Join us for an intimate evening of delicious discoveries, great company and perfectly paired flavours!
Friday, December 18th, 6:00 PM
Night Out Cooking Class – Italian Comfort Foods
Price: $95
Experience the warmth and flavors of Italy in this hands-on cooking class! Prepare a beautiful selection of fresh seafood, master the art of homemade potato gnocchi with vibrant spinach-basil pesto, and finish on a sweet note with traditional Italian apple fritters and vanilla ice cream. A delicious celebration of Italian comfort food!
What's Cooking:
- Frutti di Mare – A Gorgeous Selection of Fresh Seafood Grilled, Fried, and Steamed to Delicious Perfection. Served with a Seasonal Salad
- Gnocchi & Pesto – Homemade Potato Gnocchi, Spinach-Basil Pesto, Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
- Frittelle di Mele – Traditional Apple Fritters Served with Vanilla Ice Cream
Private Events & Corporate Team Building
Transform your next gathering into a memorable culinary adventure with our customizable cooking events. Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, corporate team building, and holiday parties.
- In-person interactive cooking experiences
- Team Building activities woven into cooking challenges
- The most memorable birthday party (ages 3 and up!)
- Girls night out/night out with friends
- Your night out, full meal and entertainment are all in one place.
- *Virtual cooking events are also available, nationwide
- We create delicious memories, for all occasions!
About The Chef Upstairs USA
Inspired by our original Toronto locations, The Chef Upstairs brings a celebrated culinary experience to St. Pete where cooking is inspiring, approachable, and always fun. Every class feels like a kitchen party with friends, designed to turn curiosity into confidence and ingredients into unforgettable experiences.
From beginners to seasoned home cooks, our hands-on classes blend bold flavors, expert guidance, and just the right amount of fun. Whether it’s a date night, celebration, team event, or skill-building session, The Chef Upstairs is where great food, great people, and great memories come together.
We care deeply about the environment and the impact of our food choices. Through mindful preparation, smart portioning, and creative approaches to reducing food waste, we teach more sustainable cooking practices. By partnering with local farmers and vendors, we showcase the area’s best seasonal ingredients, lower our carbon footprint, and inspire responsible, community-driven cooking.
Contact & Booking Information
Visit Us
The Foodie Labs
515 22nd St S, Suite 130
St. Petersburg, FL 33712, United States
Contact Us
Phone: 727-870-9221
Email: hello@thechefupstairs.com
