Sydney restaurants offer cooking classes to combat cost of living crisis

Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. And those who are clever, combine the two.

Roti-making at Ultimo's Kafe Kooks.

Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. And those who are clever, combine the two.

The cost of living crisis has forced business owners to get creative to encourage people to dine out, even though it’s the first thing people cut back on when trying to save money.

One way that’s worked is to offer cooking classes. Ultimo’s Kafe Kooks is a restaurant that specialises in roti and showcasing the different ways it can be used.

They’ve launched a weekly roti master class and dinner, which has become so popular it’s booked out till November. Costing $60pp, the class sees the venue’s Roti Master share his techniques to perfect the perfect dough, flip the roti for stretching and the different ways to work it into shapes. Afterwards, guests are treated to a five-course dinner with beverages.

“We have been blown away by the response and requests to partake,” said owner Andrew Ray.

Sarah Dixon and Stuart Rowan learning the art of Roti making by Kafe Kooks Roti Master, Suresh Rajandran. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“We went from doing it on the first Thursday of the month to now doing it every Tuesday and are sold out until November, with a waitlist exceeding any expectations.”

“It is also priced that works for the current financial situation most people find themselves in, so they can have a fun night out with great food and drinks without burning a hole in their wallet,” said Ray.

Barangaroo Italian restaurant Bottega Coco also offers a pasta making class on Sundays, which costs $118 and includes a glass of sparkling on arrival as well as banquet afterwards.

Barangaroo's Bottega Coco offers pasta making classes.

Marketing manager Natalie Hughes saying it’s popularity is due to “customers increasingly prioritise experiential dining over conventional meals.”

“We’ve observed a notable uptick in bookings for these masterclasses over the past six months, particularly from corporates and birthday celebrations seeking something distinctive and interactive. This surge has had a positive impact on our business, not only by offering a unique proposition in a competitive market but also by providing a valuable revenue stream during challenging times.”

Popular Paddington Italian restaurant Barbetta offers a range of classes, from learning Italian to kids cooking classes.

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