Cooking Class - Pad Thai and Beyond - Chicago

Bistro Bites Review Photo from Cooking Class in Chicago

Shawn H. 07/07/2025

Booked the class Beloved Bistro Meal with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Exceptional! My wife and really enjoyed the entire evening. I especially did, given the fact that I am not good at cooking AT ALL. Chef Rakhi was accommodating, patient, and a wonderful teacher. I have now graduated from being the WORST CHEF. The Bistro experience was fabulous, but what truly made the experience exceptional, was simply the time we spent getting to know Chef Rakhi. She is and amazing woman with an amazing story. Can't wait to read the book.

Grant L. 08/22/2026

Booked the class A Study in Classic Indian Cuisine with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi went above and beyond for our experience. My date and I not only loved the food, but from start to finish Chef Rakhi brought the heat. The food was all prepped ready to cook. She walked us through every step of the way. 5 stars isn’t enough!

Akanksha V. 08/03/2026

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Vegetarian Indian cooking class This was a fantastic class from start to finish! Chef Rakhi is extremely skilled and talented, and it shows through the way she discusses cooking techniques and recipes. She knows food very well, and made it a great experience for us by walking us through the steps of the recipe, having us each try something different, and encouraging a warm environment filled with lovely conversation. The menu she created was amazing, and the food was incredible. This was my first-ever cooking class, and I will be going back to Chef Rakhi from now on. 1000/10 experience!

Rachel L. 07/27/2026

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi showed us how to make some delicious vegan Indian food. Her home is lovely and dinner with the group was so nice!

William Carroll . 06/16/2026

Booked the class Private Event - William Carroll & Guests - A French Culinary Experience with Chef Rakhi

Thank you. It was a great class.

Khristian J. 06/13/2026

Booked the class Dough to Dinner Pasta Making with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi was fantastic! We shared so many laughs and she made me feel comfortable to be open to learning. I learned how to make pasta from scratch which was on my bucket list of things to do for a long time. The Caesar salad made me decide to never buy Caesar salad dressing from the store ever again! Bolognese was fantastic! Dessert was also wonderful! I highly recommend Chef Rakhi!

aileen g. 04/03/2026

Booked the class Hearty Ravioli From Scratch with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

This class was amazing! I loved the food and ravioli and cookies. Her knowledge of cooking and Italian cuisine was awesome. I learned a bunch of cool tricks for making pasta, including vodka pasta sauce which was so creamy and delicious! Definitely would take again

Kristen C. 12/16/2025

Booked the class Beloved Bistro Meal with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

I hosted a team holiday gathering with Chef Rakhi, and she was an amazing host and chef!! We enjoyed learning, eating delicious cuisine - and most importantly her company. Highly recommend!

Julia S. 10/12/2025

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

This was a great experience! We love that it was fully vegan!

Jacob D. 06/20/2025

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

I booked a class with Chef Rakhi for my girlfriend's birthday and it was a fantastic experience! Chef Rakhi was so welcoming and fun to talk with, she was great at explaining what we were going to make and walking us through the process. My girlfriend and I loved the experience, the food, and getting to work with Chef Rakhi. We did the vegetarian Indian menu and everything was delicious. Definitely recommend taking her classes.

Jeremy A. 05/19/2025

Booked the class Plant-Based Bites for Vegans with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is a very talented chef with lots of great stories and a good sense of humor. I learned a lot during the lesson while having fun. Thank you, Chef!

patrick s. 05/07/2025

Booked the class Plant-Based Bites for Vegans with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Food was phenomenal and I felt very much at home. Will definitely come back.

Julia F. 05/05/2025

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We had a great time with Chef Rakhi! She did a great job teaching us the proper steps and techniques, and educating us about the dishes. It was a pleasure to cook in her beautiful kitchen and the food turned out delicious!

Emily H. 11/04/2024

Booked the class A Study in Classic Indian Cuisine with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We had a great time! Chef Rakhi is fun and interesting. We learned about spices and the food was delicious!

Shawn S. 09/28/2024

Booked the class Beloved Bistro Meal with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

She is patient and sweet.. Food was amazing!!

Joshua K. 09/07/2024

Booked the class Beloved Bistro Meal with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Great class and fantastic food. Chef Rakhi was a great host as well.

Igor R. 09/07/2024

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi did an amazing job making various recipes. The food was great and her home is lovely. Highly recommending to anyone to take one of classes with her!

Micah D. 08/22/2024

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi did an excellent job making the recipes very approachable and absolutely delicious. Definitely adding these to my cooking rotation. Highly recommend taking one of her classes.

Tylar Williams . 08/10/2024

Booked the class Beloved Bistro Meal with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi was wonderful! We booked the Bistro Bites experience for my sister’s bachelorette weekend. The food was great and her home is lovely. Would totally recommend you taking a class with her!

Harla H. 07/23/2024

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

This is my second cooking experience with Chef Rakhi and it was just as wonderful as the first. I learned so much and the food was delicious! I highly recommend.

Aliyah F. 07/14/2024

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi was amazing! She shared her wealth of knowledge & love for cooking in every recipe we brought to life. Her teaching style is very detailed & hands on. We learned so much & are excited about integrating the authentic Indian recipes we learned into our regular cooking schedule. Can’t wait to take another cooking class when we’re visiting Chicago again! Highly recommended!!

Andrew Z. 06/27/2024

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is wonderful and kind. Super friendly and warm! Felt more like I was having dinner at a friend’s house, a friend who really knows how to cook. Will definitely book again!!

Becca W. 06/20/2024

Booked the class Beloved Bistro Meal with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We did the bistro class with Chef Rakhi and really enjoyed the whole experience! She was very thorough in her explanations and in answering all of our questions. We also enjoyed talking with her and sharing stories while our food was cooking. The chicken pot pie was delicious and very flavorful, and the salad seemed so simple but showed us new ways to combine ingredients. We would definitely book this and other experiences again!

Maddie H. 04/30/2024

Booked the class Creative Chinese Cuisine with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

My friend and I had the BEST time with Chef Rahki! We made delicious Chinese food and learned so much about how to cook vegetables and chicken the best. We even got to make our own dough for the dessert. Chef Rahki was warm, welcoming, and funny! We loved hanging out with her. Here is a video from our experience! https://teams.microsoft.com/l/message/48:notes/1713229706760?context=%7B%22contextType%22%3A%22chat%22%7D

Hayden Wiest . 04/22/2024

Booked the class A Study in Classic Indian Cuisine with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

I highly highly recommend a class with Chef Rakhi. She was a great host, a great chef, and a great time overall. She is my first choice for my next cooking class as well.

Barbara L. 04/18/2024

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

A very informative and enjoyable experience. Chef was engaging and fun. Loved the environment

Theisen S. 03/30/2024

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We really enjoyed Rakhi’s cooking class! She was funny and had tons of good advice. Food was delicious!

Hudson B. 02/28/2024

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi's class was excellent and engaging, and she creates a very welcoming and comfortable environment. We cook a decent amount at home and learned quite a lot from her vegetarian Indian cooking class. Highly recommend her class for folks at all skill levels

Lisa C. 02/25/2024

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

What an amazing time my daughter and I had. The food along with delightful stories from Chef Rakhi made the night complete!

David F. 02/13/2024

Booked the class A Taste of Anglo-Indian Fare with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Rakhi was a wonderful host. She involved everyone and took genuine interest in all of us. It was delightful to cook with her and we will absolutely book another class with her.

Julianna M. 02/10/2024

Booked the class A Taste of Anglo-Indian Fare with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We LOVED Chef Rakhi's Anglo-Indian class! She is so kind and informative- very talented chef! She is so welcoming and her kitchen is beautiful. The class was very collaborative and fun! She shared so many helpful tips and tricks that we will be able to use while cooking! Highly recommend taking any of her classes!

Arhant S. 12/07/2023

Booked the class A Study in Classic Indian Cuisine with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is such a great teacher. It is a great, hands-on, and fun experience. Her home is very welcoming and you'll be blown away by the spices in the kitchen. She is very knowledgeable about cooking and has a wide range of experience, being able to answer any questions the group had. If you want to book a cooking class from her I recommend booking from her website spicegirlontour.com for an even more personal experience. Either way, I wholly recommend Chef Rakhi!

Abeni M. 12/07/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

My husband and I had such a great time! We were able to be hands on so we learned a lot and the environment was warm and friendly. We definitely intend to take another class with Chef Rakhi soon.

Stephanie S. 12/06/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi’s cooking class was fantastic! Her home is beautiful and cozy, and the size of the group is intimate where you can really learn about the meal and cooking skills in a comfortable environment. It was very casual and relaxing and the food was fantastic, would highly recommend!

Conner B. 10/31/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi led us through a really interesting and insightful cooking class and we were so happy we came. She made it a really great experience and was as much of an entertainer as she was a chef. Good luck with finklestein.

Bill G. 10/31/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We had a great time at the vegetarian Indian cooking class. Rahki was so much fun and an awesome host, and her cooking instruction and food were wonderful! It was a perfect gift for my wife's birthday as she loves to cook. 5 stars!

Karina V. 09/22/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Took the vegetarian Indian classics cooking class with my brother and sister and it was a blast. The chef made sure to include everyone in the cooking process, which I really liked. The food was absolutely amazing and so simple!

Yuvraj D. 09/18/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

It was a great experience. Chef Rakhi was an awesome host and made us feel very comfortable. She taught us the recipes very well. It was quite an interactive session. Will highly recommend as an experience.

Megan D. 09/15/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Tex-Mex with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Nothing short of amazing. When you enter the warm inviting home of Chef Rakhi, you are enveloped into a warm comforting fairytale. The bright, cheerfully decorated kitchen dances in front of your eyes, you feel nothing short of love and joy bouncing off the walls to greet you. Her entire space is decorated with such eclectic purpose, you can feel the precise care and thoughtfulness from floor to ceiling. Chef was so well prepared for us, everything was ready to go upon arrival. Ambient music played in the background while she explained the menu to us and discussed the important ingredients as well as where to source them for ourselves. We learned how to make fresh caramel sauce for the most AMAZING flan I have ever tasted. Her homemade vanilla extract was to die for. Everything was so fresh, simple to follow along, yet elegant and absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to come back. It is so obvious that Chef absolutely loves what she does, what a wonderful experience.

Lara M. 08/13/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi was an amazing host. She allowed us to be educated in the kitchen and empowered in the process. We can’t stop talking about how incredible and easy the food was to make. Highly recommend!!!

Michael M. 08/11/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is one of a kind! We had an awesome experience learning how to make vegetarian Indian dishes with her. She made us feel like family and made cooking straightforward, fun, and simple. Highly recommended.

Wynee I. 07/24/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

This was a fun evening. Our family with a high schooler were hands on.Chef Rakhi showed us what to do and then we tried it. We don't know anything about Indian cooking, so she patiently explained all of the spices and where to buy them. It ended up being just our family which let us ask all kinds of basic cooking questions about cookware, knives, cutting techniques, etc. She joked with us and was very encouraging. The food was delicious!

Amanda S. 07/06/2023

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is great! Food was amazing and recipes were easy to catch on to. Wonderful experience, highly recommended

Bart M. 12/18/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Tex-Mex with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi was fantastic! We went on a date to veggie Tex Mex cooking class. She was welcoming and engaging from the start, well prepared with the ingredients and recipes and immediately made us feel like we were a part of her team. She was knowledgeable and willing to share her expertise, but also made us feel like a part of the cooking process. She is a true professional, and the food was delicious! Highly recommend for a date, a family or a group of friends!

Amy R. 12/18/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Tex-Mex with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is personable, knowledgeable, and professional. Her house is beautiful and very welcoming. Chef Rakhi provided us with a fun evening and an incredible meal. We absolutely loved everything on the menu. Best of all, everyone in our group feels confident that we can recreate the meals in our own homes due to Chef Rakhi's excellent instructions and recipes.

Liz D. 12/05/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Rakhi was so sweet, wonderful, and informative. Her space is absolutely stunning and she’s a wonderfully engaging teacher. Absolutely cannot recommend her enough. She made our night very special. Thanks Rakhi!

Nicole M. 11/19/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi was delightful and informative and the food was delicious! We gave 4/5 starts because we thought there could have been more food. The quantity was not enough for the 8 people in our class. And, the class was not quite as hands-on as we were expecting. But, we still had a great time and would recommend!

Molly G. 11/19/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rahki was kind, welcoming, funny and importantly a great instructor! Really fun event.

Neha D. 11/15/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Rakhi was an incredible host! She walked us through all the dishes, but more importantly made us feel comfortable and at home. We had great conversation, food, and flow. She is so skilled and also has an incredibly warm home, unique recipes, and great stories. Highly recommend!!

Julia C. 11/15/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Tex-Mex with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We had such a great class with Chef Rakhi! She gave us really clear step by step instructions, and the food turned out amazing. Her home is adorable and we had a great time chatting and getting to know her story as well. Super informative, would love to take another one of her classes!

Ravi P. 11/15/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Tex-Mex with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Had an amazing time and learned so much from Chef Rakhi! She gave a lot of tips and explained the ingredient choices throughout. Can’t stop thinking about the soup and elote we had. Would definitely recommend!

Adam B. 10/26/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We just returned from our date night dinner with Chef Rakhi. What an incredibly enjoyable evening. Rakhi was such a friendly, interesting and gracious host, and she did a phenomenal job answering questions as she showed us how to prepare the meal in her beautiful kitchen. Her food tasted amazing and her teaching skills were second to none. We'll definitely be scheduling another evening for dinner with Rakhi in the near future. Very satisfied with our whole experience!

Lisa H. 10/26/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is incredibly talented, welcoming, and approachable. She crafted a menu with food that has delightful flavor complexity, yet is easy enough to make on an average night. Her style makes it easy to feel at ease and to learn. Although she’s trained around the world, like a good friend inviting you over, you can ask any question, and she will answer with kindness and a maybe a story. Along with being a highly capable chef and teacher, she is also a skilled hostess, who makes it feel surprisingly comfortable to spend the evening with classmates we just met. I would highly recommend booking an experience with her!

Alisa C. 10/07/2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

I had a great experience with Chef Rhaki! She was very knowledgeable about all of the ingredients and their histories. Her kitchen is beautiful and she encouraged us to ask questions and help prepare the dishes. She explained why she did each step in their order and even the best places to buy ingredients. The meal was absolutely delicious and im excited to try making the pakora with other types of vegetables!

Tonya S. 10/02/2022

Booked the class A Taste of Anglo-Indian Fare with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (The Loop)

Rakhi was an absolute joy! Wonderfully flexible to last minute changes and working to accommodate our VBRO environment. She was warm, funny, knowledgeable, and the whole crew had a great time. The resulting food was fabulous! We are hoping to take the provided recipes and recreate some magic at home. We learned a lot. 100% recommend!