FAQs

Browse below to find more information about our Cooking Classes.

General Questions

  • No experience is required! Our classes are casual and meant to be fun, relaxing, and instructive, not hardcore. These classes are designed to be just as fun for the cooking enthusiast who wants to be a part of every step as it is for the first-timer who’s happier observing and assisting.

  • Classes take place in Chef Diego’s space in the Upper East Side. The location is conveniently located near the 86th Street 4, 5, and 6 trains and 86th Street Q train. Full directions and details will be provided after booking.

    Private and Corporate Classes have the option of choosing to host their experience in their own spaces.

  • You do not need to bring anything at all! We provide students with all of the equipment and ingredients that you will need. If you are over the age of 21, you are welcome to BYOB. Please drink responsibly!

  • All of our classes include all equipment and ingredients necessary to prepare your meal. Chef Diego also provides complimentary water selection, soft drinks, and snacks.

    Private and Corporate Classes include a few extra bonuses that are detailed on each offering.

    For all classes, we will also provide you a copy of the recipe upon completion so that you can recreate the dish at home.

    *Gratuity is not included in the price of Public Classes, but is always appreciated.

  • We recommend to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. There is seating available, but you will mostly be standing while you’re preparing your recipe.

  • Yes, there is seating available. You will mostly be standing while preparing your recipe and sitting while enjoying it at the end of class.

  • Absolutely! You will be enjoying your own dishes at the end of each class. Water and soft drinks will be provided, but feel free to BYOB if you are over the age of 21. Please drink responsibly.

  • While we love our little ones, our classes are meant for adults 21+. If you have further questions, please contact us directly.

  • In some cases, we are able to make accommodations for specific ingredients. We take allergies and restrictions very seriously. If you have a specific concern, please email us directly.

  • While the building is accessible, the space can be tight with a full class. If you have a specific concern or question, please email us directly.

  • Public classes are usually about 2.5 hours. Private classes can run around 3 hours. Corporate classes have the option of having a standard duration or a condensed version of 1-3 hours.

  • If you’re looking for a Public Class, check out our partner platform, CocuSocial, for more dates and time options.

    If none of your preferred dates or times are available, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your requests or add you to our waitlist.

  • If you have a class in mind that you would like to experience and you do not see it currently listed on website calendar, contact us and we can discuss opening up a special group or private class for you.

  • If you are 21+, you are welcome to BYOB. Please drink responsibly.

  • In addition to the food you eat at the end of class, we also provide guests with a small snack so that you can enjoy while prepping your meals.

  • We kindly ask that all guests pay prior to arriving. We check in each guest and will only accept those with purchased tickets.

  • Yes, you may absolutely bring your own desserts!

    If you would like to arrange any sort of surprise prior to your reservation, Chef Diego also offers the add-on option of preparing a special dessert or side dish for you, or even assisting in event decor. Please get in touch with us immediately so that we may assist you with this.

  • We recommend arriving about 10-15 minutes early so that you can get checked in and prepared for class.

  • Not a problem! You can either email us directly or text us at the number provided in our email.

  • Gratuity is only included for our Private and Corporate Classes.

    Gratuity is not included for our Public Classes. While it is not required, it is always appreciated!

  • Absolutely! Upon check-in, we will ask for your information in order to send you the recipe after class.

  • Please get in touch with us via email right away and we can arrange for a pickup time for you to come and collect whatever you may have left behind.

  • Yes! If you’d like to gift a class or gift card to somebody, we sell them on each class page. Simply scroll to the bottom to purchase. Gift cards have no expiration date.

Unique corporate cooking activity for teams in NYC.. A cooking class with a chef demonstrating culinary techniques to a group of students seated around a long table in a modern kitchen or conference room.
Chef Diego Cerdan teaching corporaA smiling man standing behind a counter with black bowls and kitchen tools, in front of a large window with a green outdoor view, trade show banner with a woman's face, text 'diego a la carta' and social media icons.
Chef Diego Cerdan preparing traditional Peruvian Ceviche recipes during a private class in New York
Couple smiling while holding a long strip of homemade pasta in a kitchen. The woman wears an apron that says 'diego a la carta,' and there is a pasta machine on the white countertop. Cooking class in NYC

Cancellations, Refunds, & Reschedules

  • For our Public Classes, we offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before class. Anything less than that will not be eligible for a refund.

    For our Private and Corporate Classes, we offer free cancellation within 48 hours of your class date. After that, only 50% will be refunded.

  • We do not offer refunds of classes that have been completed. All completed class sales are final.

    For our Public Classes, we offer refunds if you have cancelled your reservation at least 24 hours in advance.

    For our Private or Corporate Classes, we offer refunds if you have cancelled your reservation at least 48 hours in advance. Anything after that is only eligible for a 50% refund.

  • For our Public Classes, you may reschedule if you reach out to us at least 24 hours prior to class.

    For our Private and Corporate Classes, you may reschedule if you reach out to us at least 48 hours prior to your class date.

  • If you contact us within 24 hours of class start time, we can work with you to initiate a transfer to another person.

Group cooking event with coworkers – led by a private chef.. People participating in a sushi making class, slicing fish at a dining table with bowls, cutting boards, and ingredients on it.
A kitchen counter set up for a cooking class, with black bowls, stainless steel mixing bowls, cutting boards, knives, and black napkins, arranged near a window with plants and string lights in the background.
Close-up of hands preparing gnocchi dough, using a floured fork to shape the dough, with pieces of gnocchi on a dusted surface.
Intimate cooking lesson for couples or friends in your own kitchen.

Public Cooking Classes

  • Public Classes start at 2pm or 7pm.

  • Public Classes can fit up to 10 guests.

  • We recommend first checking our partner platform, CocuSocial, to see if there are any additional dates or time slots for the specific class you’re looking for.

    If there is still no availability, please contact us directly and we can look to adding you to our waitlist or discussing other options.

  • We take allergies and dietary restrictions very seriously. We will do our best to accommodate each request as much as we can; however, there are some recipes that cannot be altered in order to maintain the integrity of the dish. If you have specific questions or concerns, please email us directly prior to class.

  • Yes, we require at least 2 guests in order to host class. If you have signed up for a class that does not meet the minimum guest count, we will offer a complimentary reschedule or refund.

  • Item description

  • Item description
Chef Diego Cerdan and a group of people preparing sushi on a long table with cutting boards, sushi rolls, seaweed, and other ingredients.
Employee engagement event with food – NYC corporate cooking class with Chef Diego, celebrating Latin Heritage, Latino Heritage, Latin Heritage
Plate of steamed dumplings garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, held in a person's hand in a kitchen or cooking class setting. Chef Diego Cerdan best cooking classes in NYC
People cooking with chopped ingredients and a pan of cooked rice on a kitchen counter. Chef Diego Cerdan's cooking classes

Private Cooking Classes

  • The biggest perk of having a Private Class is the exclusivity to have the space all to your own party. In addition to everything that a standard class includes, Private Classes include a complimentary apron or shopping bag of your choice, welcome beverages, water selection, snacks, and all necessary items for your meal. Classes also include all fees, taxes, and gratuity. Guests 21+ can BYOB.

    Couples Private Classes also include an additional complimentary welcome beverage of your choice.

    For Private Classes in Your Space, we include transportation fees if your location is within the five boroughs of New York City.

  • Please visit our Private Class page to see our offerings.

  • Private Classes are extremely customizable and allow for flexible scheduling. We typically offer these events from 12pm to 9pm. Classes are approximately 3 hours.

    If you’re booking a Private Class in Your Space, Chef Diego will need additional time to setup and break down before and after class.

  • We offer Private Classes 7 days a week.

  • In the event that a date or time you’d like to book is unavailable, please email us directly so that we can work together to accommodate your request.

  • In Chef’s Space, we can host up to 10 guests for a Private Class (minimum of 4 guests required).

    For Private Classes in Your Space, we can host up to 20 guests (minimum of 6 guests required).

  • Absolutely! If you need to arrive early to decorate, please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can accommodate this request.

    Chef Diego also offers a variety of add-on options in assisting with your celebration.

  • Absolutely! Please contact us directly with this request.

  • Yes, we can. We are able to accommodate for 20 guests in your space.

    If you live within the five boroughs of NYC, your transportation fee is included in the price of your booking.

    If you live outside of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, or Staten Island, you will have an additional transportation fee that will be confirmed shortly after booking, or with advance inquiry.

  • Yes, we do! We have been to The Hamptons, Upstate New York, and even New Jersey. There is an additional add-on transportation fee that will be charged to your reservation, but we will certainly make it work.

  • We do our absolute best to accommodate all dietary restrictions and allergies. Please let us know immediately upon booking if there are any modification requests.

  • When you are going through the booking process to reserve your Private Class, you will be able to make your selection of which class you’d like to take with us.

  • Yes. Besides our Couples Private Class (exclusive for 2 guests), we require a minimum payment for 4 guests for our Private Classes in Chef’s Space and 6 guests for our Private Classes in Your Space.

  • We still cover the same minimum fee for that guest threshold, but you are welcome to still book the event even if you are less than 4 people for an in-house event, or 6 people for an out-of-house event.

  • Yes, gratuity is included in your reservation. If you feel that your service went above and beyond, additional gratuity is always welcomed and appreciated!

Chef Diego Cerdan, wearing a black shirt and apron, is cutting fresh pasta into strips on a wooden cutting board. Their hands are holding the pasta, and a potted plant is visible in the background.
Close-up of a sushi roll held with chopsticks showing rice, fish and avocado, with a sushi platter in the background.

Corporate Cooking Classes

  • The biggest perk of having a Private Corporate Class is the exclusivity to have the space all to your own party. The second perk with our Corporate Classes is that we offer time flexibility where you are able to select if you would like to take the class at a standard duration (3 hours) or condensed version (1-3 hours) to accommodate for any time constraints your team may have.

    In addition to everything that a standard class includes, Corporate Classes include a complimentary apron or shopping bag of your choice, welcome beverages, water selection, snacks, and all necessary items for your meal. Classes also include all fees, taxes, and gratuity. Guests 21+ can BYOB.

    For Corporate Classes in Your Space, we include transportation fees if your location is within the five boroughs of New York City.

  • Please visit our Corporate Class page to see our offerings.

  • Corporate Classes are extremely customizable and allow for flexible scheduling. We typically offer these events from 12pm to 9pm. Classes are approximately 3 hours, but Corporate Classes have the option to condense their class to 1-3 hours if necessary.

    If you’re booking a Corporate Class in Your Space, Chef Diego will need additional time to setup and break down before and after class.

  • We offer Corporate Classes 7 days a week.

  • In the event that a date or time you’d like to book is unavailable, please email us directly so that we can work together to accommodate your request.

  • In Chef’s Space, we can host up to 10 guests for a Corporate Class (minimum of 4 guests required).

    For Corporate Classes in Your Space, we can host up to 20 guests (minimum of 6 guests required).

  • Absolutely! If you need to arrive early to decorate, please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can accommodate this request.

    Chef Diego also offers a variety of add-on options in assisting with your celebration.

  • Absolutely! Please contact us directly with this request.

  • Yes, we can. We are able to accommodate for 20 guests in your space.

    If you live within the five boroughs of NYC, your transportation fee is included in the price of your booking.

    If you live outside of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, or Staten Island, you will have an additional transportation fee that will be confirmed shortly after booking, or with advance inquiry.

  • Yes, we do! We have been to The Hamptons, Upstate New York, and even New Jersey. There is an additional add-on transportation fee that will be charged to your reservation, but we will certainly make it work.

  • We do our absolute best to accommodate all dietary restrictions and allergies. Please let us know immediately upon booking if there are any modification requests.

  • When you are going through the booking process to reserve your Corporate Class, you will be able to make your selection of which class you’d like to take with us.

  • Yes. We require a minimum payment for 4 guests for our Corporate Classes in Chef’s Space and 6 guests for our Corporate Classes in Your Space.

  • We still cover the same minimum fee for that guest threshold, but you are welcome to still book the event even if you are less than 4 people for an in-house event, or 6 people for an out-of-house event.

  • Yes, gratuity is included in your reservation. If you feel that your service went above and beyond, additional gratuity is always welcomed and appreciated!

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