Bespoke Cuisine

We had a 40 person training event that led to a cooking party and brunch. The food was incredible. The chefs are all so fun and talented. Leslie and Clay were so accommodating and easy to work with. My guests can't stop raving about the whole experience. Being able to have your alcohol delivered days before was a huge bonus. They truly think of everything to make your experience easy and fun. Highly recommend for corporate events as well as private parties. We will definitely be going back.

I attended the Italian Dinner Party with a couple friends as a Friday night outing. I'll preface my review by saying that I had certain expectations given that I'd been to a couple cooking classes at the Chopping Block. The class/party was three hours long (6:30 - 9:30). The first portion of the event is time to just drink and socialize (Bespoke is BYOB) while indulging in the fruit and cheese that's provided.

The actual cooking started around 7:15. We were split into four groups with one group working on salad, one on appetizers, one on entree and one on dessert. Because of my experience with other cooking classes, I was definitely under the impression that we'd be given the opportunity to learn and cook all items on the menu so being the wanna-be chef that I am, I was a little off put when I realized that I'd only get to cook one course.

I think the verbiage on the website is a bit misleading because it is presented as though each group is preparing a multi-course meal, not that each group is preparing a portion of a multi-course meal. Also, i thought the groups were a bit large. There were seven people in our group which I felt made it even harder to truly get the experience cooking the one course we were assigned since responsibilities had to be spread out amongst more people.

Now for the good stuff. I thought the menu was awesome. I actually was more impressed with the Bespoke menu than many of the menus at The Chopping Block. Our menu consisted of arancini stuffed with panchetta, white bean and rosemary bruschetta with cured egg yolk, chicken saltimbocca with creamy polenta and sicilian broccoli, and almond cake with chocolate sauce.

The arancini and almond cake were out of this world good. Also, the owners/chefs were super friendly and helpful, but I do feel that the Chopping Block chefs are more knowledgeable.at least from my experience. I'd say if you're looking for a fun night out with friends and you're looking to just let loose and be social while doing a whee bit of cooking this is your spot.

It truly is a dinner party (emphasis on party). If you're like me and you're looking to actually up your culinary skills I'd recommend going to a true cooking class, which is not what I'd consider Bespoke to be.

Great team event. The place is nice and the kitchen is spacious for the team. The chefs were really friendly and kind of started taking over when most of the group started congregating to drink and chat instead of cooking. The food turned out surprisingly well. For making mass souffles and with people making it for the first times, I'm really surprised at how well it turned out! We made that? They had to have switched out the plates when we weren't looking!

We attended an appetizer cooking class. There were numerous appetizers and a couple of desserts and all were generally good. The chef owners were very pleasant as was the chef in charge of our group. Plenty of food to pass around among the groups. The space was nice. The reason I gave three stars is because it was crowded and extremely loud. At certain points I felt as though I was in a bar after a Cubs game.

It was difficult to move around to the other stations to watch or ask questions and cooking at the stove was shoulder to shoulder with an occasional chef taking out hot pans from the oven and asking for room to pass and others trying to move around and really very little room to move. Our group was told they had more attending than usual. There were seven people at our cooking station and the chef was eight so we were packed in.

Although it was an appetizer class and food was passed around the different groups, I felt more chairs should have been provided for those who had a break or older people. Someone did ask for a chair and they brought out four for a class of 35 attendees.

Great food and a wonderful space! We came on a business trip and it was a perfect ending to the day. Delicious options and wines and the atmosphere was chic yet casual. Highly recommend!

What can I say, I LOVE Bespoke! I have now been to Bespoke several times. Most recently my boyfriend and I went with another couple and we had such a great time. We are even planning to make some of the recipes this weekend! I have also taken clients and perspective clients, it's a great way to build relationships. It's a relaxed atmosphere and you go at your pace. The chef's all really know what they are talking about and the place is just so cute! I look forward to the next time!

Attended an appetizer Mix It Up cooking class. Setup allows you to work with and ask questions of a seasoned chef. Light apps served before cooking commenced and then all the delicious food (that you make) is passed around as it's ready. Really informative and fun to share with a pal or a group. Leslie and Clay (the owners) are great and it really comes through that they enjoy what they do.

From the get-go, Bespoke stood out from any other caterer we talked to for our wedding. Jeannie and Kim were so welcoming it felt like we were meeting and planning with family each time we met with them. From initial talks, to the tasting, and all throughout the big day, they nailed it. Not only were they friendly and casual in their collaborative style, but their professionalism and ability to execute amazing recipes from all culinary arenas blew us away.

Our example: Indian, Medditeranean, and Gastropub stations. All amazing, especially their take on Chicken Tikka Masala. They really impressed with the hors d'oeuvre during our cocktail hour (their brussels sprouts converted a few haters in attendance). Our only gripe is that we really wish there had been more, as our guests inhaled every last morsel.

Make sure to get some packaged portions set aside to enjoy as a couple. My apologies, as this review is way-delayed (like all of our wedding reviews). We've owed you these five stars since summer 2013. THANK YOU! Brent & Jamie

I burned my arm hair off making the stone ground mustard grilled baby lamb chops, but I'm still giving this experience four stars. Besides keeping hands far away from the incredibly hot grill, following are a few things I learned from the cooking class/meal at Bespoke. You want to get there early if you have your heart set on making a specific dish.

If not, you might end up making something less interesting, like the salad. Though each part of the meal is made by a different group, you will get to try all the dishes during the meal and every recipe is later emailed to you. It's BYOB. If you take wine, they will uncork it for you and put a label on the bottle so you don't forget which one is yours.

The instructors are knowledgeable, informative, and entertaining. A lot of your experience can depend on the random strangers in your group for the food preparation or sitting next to you during the meal. We were at a table of couples and had some very lively conversation. Though this could be fun to do with a group of friends, part of the experience is getting to know new people.

The recipes for our meal were excellent. Even the salad had interesting elements like picked green beans. If you are looking for a cooking class that emphasizes technique, this is not the right one for you. The Bespoke experience is more about a fun time, a good meal, and recipes that you can try later.

A delightful Friday evening for the "Bourbon & Bacon" class. Class split into four groups - appetizer, sides, entree & dessert. Instructor was knowledgeable, friendly. Relaxing atmosphere, ambient lighting, not stressed or rushed and the perfect ending to the week. Dishes turned out well and we sat down to the full meal with a tablecloth and cloth napkins. I've taken many cooking classes and this one was more social than others, felt more like a dinner party where everyone gathers in the kitchen. My class was mostly couples, so take note and bring a friend (or your grandmother, which one person did) if you are going alone.

I did a BYOB cooking class via Groupon. I have some of the same hesitations that other people had: - Not much cooking (you only get to help with one dish) - Small space - Mostly about drinking and chatting The staff however were very friendly, and being served at the end was a nice touch. That being said, for a cooking class. I expect much more cooking.

And the recipes in hand upon arrival so I can take notes. If you're looking to learn new cooking skills, this is not the place. If you just want a different BYOB experience, go for it.

You know what kind of brunch costs $160/couple? That's right.there aren't any. You could splurge at the Peninsula for afternoon tea. get a chocolate table. live jazz. and still have money leftover. Even at $40/person with a Travelzoo deal, the Autumn Parisian Brunch at Bespoke was not worth it. Sure, we were stuffed at the end, but the point of this cooking party was the first word. COOKING.

First complaint: Cooking stations are not of equal difficulty levels. We did not pay money to watch someone semi-cook french onion soup shooters for us. This wasn't even a real french onion soup! Sprinkled cheese and pre-made croutons on top as a garnish? The whole point is to bake it so they create a thick crust! I get that this is brunch and a fun idea for a modern twist on french onion soup, but I paid to learn cooking and this was a cheap shortcut.

Second complaint: Too many people. Some groups were cooking until the very end, my group was done in 20 minutes (majority of time was spent stirring a pot or simmering the soup). We had 6 people at our station with only 1-2 things to do at any given moment. Third complaint: Minimal amount of actual cooking. Most of the prep work was done and our station's chef did too much demonstrating (and spoke way too fast).

Fourth complaint: Teaching people to cook usually implies learning proportions or at least quantities of ingredients in a dish. Besides visually observing how much went into a dish, we were not informed how much of what was used (except for salt content). Sending out a recipe card after the class is good (expected, I would say), but it's after the fact. Pluses: Fun environment, free time can be spent walking around and observing other stations, variety of food, BYOB with a variety of cheeses, crackers, bloody mary bar, OJ for mimosas, and TONS OF FOOD that you eat during the cooking process and as a meal at the end. Would I do it again? Maybe for a dinner class where most of the dishes sound like they require effort and only with a deal, not full price.

We went to Bespoke for a private bachelorette party. We were allowed to bring our own alcohol which they chilled and set out for us. The dining table was set and they had a welcoming sign upon arrival calling out to our bride. First we were treated to some cheese and crackers and got going on the wine, they they broke the meal and the people into three groups and we each contributed in making a third of the meal.

All of the dishes were ALL excellent and the chefs were very personable. Because it was a bachelorette there were some people who were highly interested in the class and some who were not. The chefs made this a smooth process and no one felt uncomfortable. When it came time to eat they served us the courses and cleared the plates. All in all i was very satisfied and would come again. The only thing that was a bummer is they have a 15 person minimum and I actually felt 15 might be a little much. I think 12 would have been the perfect number.

I had a great experience here with a deal saving groupon for a bottomless mimosa brunch with my girlfriend on a sunday morning. The groups were very interactive and the menu options were delicous! I had a blast cooking and sampling as the day went on. It did help that it was byob and the bubbly added to the brunch fun. The chefs are all friendly and very interactive.

The set up is very organized and enjoyable. The only reason I took a star away is even after almost 2 1/2 months of waiting and waiting I still have not recieved a copy of all the recipes we made and tasted. I was hoping the whole point of learning these tasty bites was to make them again at home. I have reached out multiple times with no success. So my advice is take a snap shot of the recipe when at the event if available!

Went for a "Mix It Up" cooking class and it was a lot of fun. My friend and I did an appetizer themed class which was fun because it was pretty informal. The cooks were nice and helpful. It is BYOB, but there is usually someone there to serve you your wine. And there was a ton of food! Conveniently, only a semi-short walk from the train. It is a smaller space, so I understand why they are strict about what time the doors open.

My one complaint was it took a while for us to get our recipes emailed to us. And yes, I checked my Spam folder, they were not there. Definitely recommended and will go again.

A collection of thoughts on my recent experience at Bespoke: 1. I heard about Bespoke through Groupon; a BYOB cooking party seemed like a brilliant plan for a "Girls Night". Sadly, the scheduling process was beyond irritating as Bespoke limited the number of Groupon-purchasers who could participate in each class and everything filled up months in advance. Um, OK. Thanks.

They finally added more classes, but the website snidely assures you that your Groupon will expire at the end of 2010, and at that point, don't come crying to them.* 2. Don't bother arriving early. Despite being located in Chicago (uh, it gets cold here!) they have no space inside for you to wait. They email you before the class telling you when the doors will open.

Get there 5 minutes past that to avoid shivering outside. 3. I attended a holiday mixer party where we made various appetizers. I'm a little shocked that the full (non-Groupon) price for this event is $80 - the same as the sit-down dinner events. While I enjoyed almost everything we made, there definitely was not a "dinner-sized" amount of it. 4. Don't worry about not being much of a chef.

For this class, at least, all the prep work for each dish was done - our job was more to stir, sip wine, and chit-chat. 5. The method by which they ask for tips (handing everyone an envelope at the conclusion of the class) is a touch gauche. 6. Recipe cards. For the amount we paid (see above), these should be pre-printed and ready for us to take home that day. Heck, they should be printed on fancy card stock. Instead, we had to sign up for an email list and were assured recipes would be sent out shortly. Two days later, no recipes. * Instead, cry to Groupon - they have wonderful customer service.

I bought the groupon for this, and I think it's a great deal. I had a really fun evening. It is weird that you only get to make 1 dish, on the other hand you do all the prep work as well. The only other cooking class I have taken, all the prep work was done in advance, so all I had to do was throw things in the pan at the correct time. I think it's important to do the set up as well, so I can see the correct way to do it. Calvin was the instructor showing us the main dish, and he is wonderful.

I want to take another class just so I can learn more from him. I liked how he showed us everything, and really explained a lot to us. I did not realize there was a special spoon for risotto to keep the rice airy. It was really nice to sit, eat, and chat with people after we had made the dishes. This made it like a very cool dinner party. They had labels for the bottles of wine, so no one would get confused as to which is theirs, which seems brilliant!

I love that this place recycles! So few restaurants, catering companies, bars etc recycle, so it's refreshing to see a place that does. Because you only work on one dish, I would suggest looking over the menu for the day you're planning to go, and picking your top 3 choices, and get there right when they open the doors. It is first come first serve!