Reviews
Educational, historical, super fun and a full belly are the words I would use to describe Chef Karen's cooking class. We were entranced!! So delightful! Just such a treat to learn how to cook proper Cajun and Creole meals then get to eat them! She's also a sommelier so the wine pairing was perfect. We are already signing up for our next class. Enjoy!
We visited Nola with our boys to sample the magic of food and music. Our cooking class at Casa Pelican proved to be a highlight of our trip. Chef Karen welcomed us into her kitchen and into her passion for cooking and the science behind it. She is patient, fun and extremely knowledgeable of her craft. My boys ages 19,17,12 and 7 didn’t just leave with recipes but with a deep appreciation for creole and cajun meals. Thank you Karen for a memorable experience. We will be back!
We had an absolute blast cooking with Chef Karen. Truly a highlight of our trip. High praise since we've been enjoying Lionel Richie and The Who at Jazz Fest too! My husband is an avid at-home cook so we enjoy taking cooking classes while traveling. We learned a lot of great tips and techniques. I especially loved the science behind why foods layer, bloom, and pair well together. Of course, the food was pretty incredible too. We took the Monday night fresh catch class. Some of the absolute best food we've had in NOLA! Bonus, Karen is a sommelier so paired wines with the meal as well all included with the class. We travel to New Orleans 1-2x per year but had never been to Algiers before. We found it a charming walk from the ferry. An overall lovely night!
This was, without a doubt, our best experience in New Orleans! The class was full of great information, and we were hands-on for all of the preparation of the meal. Sitting down in her dining room to share the prepared food and wonderful conversation was the perfect way to end the evening. You will not regret taking this class!
This was by far the best part of my daughter 13 and my vacation to NOLA! It was an extremely informative- Chef Karen explains the science behind cooking the perfect Cajun and Creole dishes, and the setting is fun and intimate. On booking this experience, I wasn't certain if my teenage daughter would feel welcome or part of the group, but Karen went above and beyond to make her feel welcome and included. We will cherish the memories as well as the recipes.
It was an absolutely amazing experience. Chef Karen is very thorough and provides great background history on all the dishes prepared. It is an awesome experience for budding chefs or the curious. Fun for kids and adults. Love it!!! Thanks Chef Karen for making my birthday wonderful.
If I could give Karen more than 5 stars I would. We did a personalized cooking class for our bachelorette party and it was incredible! She is extremely knowledgeable, answered all of our questions and made us feel right at home. We learned a ton while having fun. Don't hesitate to book a class, she is a phenomenal chef, but an even better person. I would absolutely book at the B and B just to hang out, that's how cool her and her husband are. Can't say enough about them. Genuine people. Also the recipes were so good, all of us left stuffed to the brim. Best food I had in Nola.
Wow, what a fantastic class! We learned a lot about the Cajun and Creole dishes we made and the end result was truly delicious. Karen is a great teacher and chef and made us feel confident in the kitchen. Her cooking school is truly a gem.
Such an overall great experience with a great meal at the end! Karen was an encouraging and very knowledgeable teacher. A great intimate setting to learn some new cooking skills. Thanks for welcoming us into your home!
This class was beyond fun. It was informative and structured without being rushed. It had a natural and comfortable flow. For me, it was very nastolgic; like being at grandma's house; cooking with her. And this is in no way a reference to age, but to the overall feeling of comfort. Chef Karen, like most grandparents, had a patient and caring way of answering all of our "But why?" questions, while still keeping us engaged and on track. At one point we were all in the backyard visiting her pet chickens, and picking Meyer Lemons. For a city girl, that was HUGE. I had never picked a lemon or even seen a live chicken. I didn't even know chickens could have eggs WITHOUT a rooster. So, if you're thinking, why would I pay that much money to cook my own food? DON'T....just take the class. The food alone was worth every cent. But the experience was priceless. We prepared, Broiled Oysters, Shrimp Stuffed Mirliton, Crawfish Monica and Bananas Foster; while sipping on our very first Sazerac Cocktails; which I learned should be swirled- not shaken. The end result was restaurant quality food that was decadent and downright delicious. In addition to that, you got a comfortable, caring, feeling of belonging that you could never get at a restaurant. We placed the dishes we prepared at the dining room table. And Kelly, her husband, who by the way is also awesome, sat at the head of the table to eat with us. Like, seriously, I literally, never, sit at the table to eat. Doing so, instantly sent me back to dinners with my grandparents. But...this time...I didn't have to sit at the kids table. LOL!!! I've been to New Orleans more times than I can count and THIS was my ALL TIME FAVORITE NOLA experience. From the walk through the neighborhood to sitting on the porch with leftovers in hand waiting on our Lyft. I would give this 100 stars if I could! We've started a tradition of spending every Thanksgiving in New Orleans. Chef Karen and Casa Pelican B&B Cooking School is officially part of that tradition. Thank you so much for being effortlessly caring and amazing. P.S. That's not the Sazerac talking!
