A Shared Table for Our Community

Not only do we love good food, we love sharing it with our community. With that spirit in mind, Fennel is partnering with Operation Food Search to offer a brand new class that'll leave your heart just as full as your belly. Pay It Forward is a hands-on cooking class with a purpose: a feel-good team building activity, group volunteer event, and community service opportunity all rolled into one.

When you book the Pay It Forward class, you get to connect with your people over food while preparing a generous batch of it, enough to enjoy together in class and to donate to a local shelter in Operation Food Search's network. It's a meaningful way to give back in St. Louis, whether you're planning a corporate team building outing, a philanthropy event for your group, or simply want a cooking class for a cause.

Our Pay It Forward class is a delicious way to enjoy our signature hands-on cooking experience, while giving the gift of a warm, nourishing meal to those who need it most.

The Details

 

Cook a Meal Together

10-20 people, 3 hours

A hands-on cooking class with a purpose. Your group cooks and shares a meal together, then prepares enough to donate to a local shelter through our partnership with Operation Food Search.

Choose a menu and a Fennel chef will guide your group through every step, from prep to plating, for both your meal and the meals you're donating. You'll leave with new skills, full stomachs, and the good feeling of having fed a few more people than just yourselves. Perfect for team building outings, volunteer groups, and any crew looking to give back together.

Reach out for menu options

$145 per person, $1450 minimum
10 person minimum: many hands make light (and generous) work

 

Fennel is BYOB! All drinks we make in class are non-alcoholic, but you're welcome to bring your own wine, beer, or spirits to add to the mix.

Just a heads up that all private events booked November through January have a minimum of $1,600.

Ready to Book? Inquire Below

See what people are saying

“The cooking studio is spacious and well designed. Chef Jackie and her team had everything set up and well organized so that we cooking novices could create a fantastic meal from start to finish. Love that we broke the work spaces down to a communal table to enjoy the fruits of our labor.”

— Susan D.

“This was such a fun event! I enjoyed everything about it. It was very well organized, instructions and recipes were clear and easy to follow. The space was open, bright, and easy to maneuver. The food was SO delicious! My favorite part was the community table and enjoying the meal at the end with everyone. I will definitely be making these recipes again this summer!”

— Jazmin M

“I couldn't believe I was making homemade pasta, but Jackie guided us every step of the way. What was so remarkable about the experience was how incredibly APPROACHABLE she made the entire process. I get overwhelmed easily in the kitchen, but she took care of me and coached me through it, and never once did I feel out of my element.”

— Sean M.

Private Group Cooking Classes in St. Louis: Everything You Need to Know

Planning a bachelorette party, birthday celebration, family reunion, or friend group outing? Fennel's private events turn any occasion into a hands-on culinary experience in our Midtown St. Louis kitchen studio. Here's what to expect:

  • We have three formats: Kitchen Showdown, Cook a Meal Together, and Happy Hour. Kitchen Showdown is an Iron Chef-style cooking competition where teams face off and eat together at the end. Cook a Meal Together is a guided class where your whole group cooks a full meal from start to finish. Happy Hour is a more relaxed two-hour format focused on heavy appetizers and seasonal mocktails, perfect when you want the Fennel experience without the full meal commitment. All formats are led by a Fennel chef and fully customizable.

  • Not at all. Every event is guided by a Fennel chef who walks your group through everything. The focus is on having a great time together, and complete beginners are very welcome.

  • We typically book two or more months out, so the earlier you reach out the better, especially for fall and holiday dates. November through January fills up fast, and events during that window have a minimum spend of $1,600.

  • All three formats are designed for groups of 10 to 20 people. If your group is smaller or larger, reach out and we'll let you know what's possible.

  • Kitchen Showdown and Cook a Meal Together both start at $1,200 at $120 per person. Happy Hour starts at $1,000 at $100 per person. All events booked November through January have a minimum spend of $1,600. Everything is included: ingredients, equipment, and instruction.

  • Yes. All menus can be tailored to your group's preferences and any dietary needs. Popular options include Homemade Pasta, Cooking with St. Louis Favorites, and Seasonal Dinner Party for Cook a Meal Together, and seasonal happy hour menus for the Happy Hour format. If you have something specific in mind, we're happy to build something custom.

  • We’re so happy you asked! You can add gift bags and non-alcoholic drink packages to make your event extra special. A custom mocktail station is $10/person and gift bags start at $40/person.

  • It's one of our most popular bachelorette formats. Kitchen Showdown works especially well for competitive groups who want energy and laughs. Cook a Meal Together is a great fit if the group wants something a little more celebratory and connected. Happy Hour is perfect when the vibe matters as much as the food and you want a two-hour experience with built-in socializing.

  • All three formats work well for birthdays. Cook a Meal Together tends to be the most popular for family groups and milestone birthdays since you end the night sitting down to a meal everyone made together. We can also accommodate add-ons like gift bags or prizes if you want to make it feel extra special.

  • All ingredients, cooking equipment, station setup, and instruction from a Fennel chef are included. You just bring your people and whatever drinks you'd like. Fennel is BYOB, and all beverages prepared on-site during the event are non-alcoholic.

  • Yes, Fennel is BYOB. All beverages we make during the event are non-alcoholic, but you're welcome to bring wine, beer, spirits, or whatever you'd like. The Happy Hour format in particular is designed with this in mind since the mocktails we make are great on their own or with a splash of something.

  • Fennel Cooking Studio is located in Midtown St. Louis at 3043 Olive Street. Paid street parking is available nearby, and the studio is accessible from most parts of the city in under 20 minutes.

  • Submit a request through this page and we'll follow up to talk through your group size, format, date, and any customizations. The earlier you reach out, the better your chances of landing your preferred date.