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Top-rated cooking classes and team building

Hungry to learn, hungry to eat? Satisfy both in a hands-on experience!

Featured in New York

Unique culinary experience at 16 Beaver St, Manhattan

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Andrew Ringel
May 9, 2025
Awesome experience! Great hosts!
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John Ferrier
May 7, 2025
I can't speak to all events, but the Romantic Italian Date Night with Chef Gary was remarkable. Chef Gary is not only a great cook and instructor, he's also very personable and generally fun to have run the class. The food we prepared was very tasty and filling (even with to-go boxes). If I could change one thing, it would be for Chef Gary to join us at the table at the end for some food. Thanks again for the great night!
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Sean Sullivan
May 4, 2025
5 stars! Food was amazing, loved getting hands on with the cooking and learned a ton. We did pasta making and the fresh pasta with the cream sauce was to die for. The chef was fantastic, he clearly was an expert with many years of experience in the industry, which really gave the experience an authentic feel. Would highly recommend!
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C S
April 25, 2025
He was great funny and has some great lore
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Caitlin DiCorcia
April 18, 2025
I recently took a cooking class with Chef John Peredina through Self Up, and it was nothing short of amazing! I had been searching for a fun, hands-on cooking class in the Boston area for a while and happened to stumble across Self Up. At first, I was a little hesitant since I hadn’t heard of it before, but after reading all the glowing reviews, I decided to give it a shot—and I’m so glad I did! I kept seeing rave reviews about Chef John, and as luck would have it, he was our chef that night. This class was a birthday gift for my dad and me, so I really wanted it to be something special—and it absolutely was. From the moment we arrived, the staff were warm and welcoming (even after we accidentally went to the wrong floor!). Once we found our room, we were greeted with wine, cheese, and a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The group started off a bit quiet and reserved, but Chef John’s incredible energy, humor, singing, and dancing quickly brought everyone out of their shells. As my dad said afterward, it was truly beautiful to see a group of strangers come together, share a home-cooked meal, and genuinely enjoy each other's company. That’s something the world could definitely use more of. If you’re wondering about the quality of the food, it is absolutely delicious. The portions were generous, and everything was thoughtfully prepared by US:) . I left with a full belly, a happy heart, and memories I’ll cherish with my dad. I’ll definitely be coming back to try other classes—and next time, I’m bringing more people with me!
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Alex
April 17, 2025
Wonderful experience all the way around. My large group had the delightful chef John Peredina. He was extremely lively and fun making jokes constantly while teaching lots of great information. We had the Italian dinner with tiramisu for dessert.
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M
April 15, 2025
Chef John and his crew were AWESOME! We had the best time full of dancing, laughter, and amazing food!
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Nikki Victory
April 15, 2025
Chef John Peredina made this such an amazing experience. He ensured our entire group was included. He was hilarious and upbeat. Our food turned out amazing but cooking it was the best part. This was such an amazing experience. I would come back here a million times.
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Philemon Emmanuel
April 15, 2025
Chef John and the team were absolutely fantastic!! I can’t imagine doing anything more fun in Boston then spending a few hours with Chef John and his team! They’re all amazing and I can’t recommend them enough!!!
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Edgar S.
April 15, 2025
Chef John was amazing, the vibe during the cooking class was always upbeat and everyone on the team was having a blast cooking. Amazing food while having an amazing time.
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Jake Kochiss
April 15, 2025
We did a big class with Chef John and team. It was a BLAST!!! He and his team kept us laughing the entire time and the food was great!
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Corri Patenaude
April 8, 2025
We hosted a client event at Selfup and did the Italian cooking class. The owner helped us to customize the class for our group and it turned out amazing, the perfect amount of hands on cooking and networking. Chef Gary was so much fun and had the whole group engaged, the entire Selfup team was so accommodating and kind. I would absolutely host another event here in the future!
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Alexander Cromwell
April 8, 2025
Chef John taught the Italian class he was the best! Must go!
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Zackary
April 7, 2025
This was my first time booking with Selfup, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We did the pasta and tiramisu class with Chef Gary, and it was such an incredible experience from start to finish! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with wine, sodas, and delicious bites — fresh bread, meats, and cheese that immediately set the mood for a fun night. The class itself was small, which made the whole evening feel more personal. Chef Gary and his assistant Olga were warm, funny, and made everyone feel at ease. He was an amazing instructor — super knowledgeable, clear with his guidance, and brought such great energy. The highlight for me was making fresh pasta for the first time! It was hands-on, interactive, and surprisingly educational, but never felt too serious or intimidating. We got to chat with other members, share laughs, and enjoy an absolutely delicious meal together. Whether you’re planning a date night, team bonding, or just want to do something different, this is such a unique Boston experience. I’ll definitely be back to try another class — can’t recommend it enough!
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Madeline Thompson
April 5, 2025
Chef Dana Love and his assistant provided an exceptional experience that surpassed all expectations! Their skill and efficiency were remarkable, delivering prompt, precise service without compromising warmth and approachability. A perfect balance of professionalism and genuine hospitality. plus my group happened to be extremely friendly and fun- 10/10 would do it again and recommend to anyone interested
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Mary Helm
April 5, 2025
Amazing class! Can’t recommend these enough. We did one of the Italian classes and Gary was so nice and friendly, taught us so many extra cooking tips, and we had amazing pasta.
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kyle kinzie
April 2, 2025
Hosted a large event for clients and was blown away by the energy and excitement created by Gary and Erin. Our guests not only had a great cooking experience, but also broke an “unofficial” pasta making record! We will definitely be back next time in town. Thanks for a great evening - Kyle & Team
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Tomás Gutierrez
April 1, 2025
Had such a great time at Selfup! Chef John was amazing — super fun, energetic, and made everything easy to follow. Learned a lot, laughed a ton, and the food turned out delicious. Definitely coming back!
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Maceo Mahaffey
March 31, 2025
My wife planned a mini staycation for us in the Seaport and surprised me with this couples cooking class. This was the perfect date night- an interactive and a fun way to have dinner. Chef Gary was great and made sure each couple got to be hands on throughout the process. They served complementary wine and refreshments; the music was great, overall great experience! 10/10! I also got the opportunity to act as a real chef & judge another classes tiramisu which was the highlight of the night !! Thank you Selfup Boston, we will be back.
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Meredith Bertoni
March 30, 2025
We had a great time during the Italian cooking class with Chef John in Boston! It was the perfect mix of educational and fun, plus yummy!!
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ashley heino
March 30, 2025
Self up was great! Very entertaining and enjoyable!! Chef John and Valentino were amazing. Highly recommend!
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Lila Sullivan
March 30, 2025
Chef John and Valentino were wonderful! We loved Italian cooking class. The energy was electric the entire time. Highly recommend!!
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Jennifer White
March 29, 2025
Thank you chef John and his son ! We had an amazing night with lots of laughs and phenomenal food !! We learned how to make homemade pasta and ravioli . We will definitely be back for another class in the future .
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Jason White
March 29, 2025
Chef John and Valentino were amazing. Wife and I had a great date night, met amazing people, and created a great meal! Highly recommended!
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jason arndt
March 26, 2025
Chef Gary and Erin were great and patient with our rambunctious group. Fun, good food, and we learned some things. Great team building experience.
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Idalys Calderon
March 26, 2025
Gary the chef and Erin were awesome and personable - the food tasted amazing at the end 10/10 would recommend !! The MUSIC - omg the music was amazing that he played !!!!
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K.Z.
March 21, 2025
Chef Ed was great! I really enjoyed learning how to make pasta.
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Mark Chen
March 20, 2025
Awesome team building event! Lots of fun and you get to go home with the recipes.
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Berna Ebru Sevgi
March 17, 2025
From flour to flavor…. What a night! 🍝✨ We rolled, stretched, and crafted our way through an unforgettable Italian cooking experience at @selfup with amazing Chef Gary Gianchetti! 🔥 Fresh pasta, hand-pulled mozzarella, and a feast made from scratch—every step was hands-on (and super clean! 🧼). Loved how meticulous and professional the team was, making sure everything was top-notch from hygiene to technique. Huge thanks to @selfup Boston team for an evening of great food, great company, and unforgettable culinary magic! We are so ready for round two 🍷🍽🧑‍🍳🇮🇹
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Anthony Sabbio
March 16, 2025
The entire class was amazing chef Val was very charismatic, helpful and professional. My partner and I took his sushi class and absolutely loved it!