Tip: Cooking events at Lento are irregular; check the restaurant's website or call ahead. The regular chef's table dinner is available by reservation and gives direct kitchen access.
Cooking School$$downtownBy class schedule, see rochesterbrainery.com
Rochester Brainery at 176 Anderson Ave runs rotating hands-on cooking classes for adults in the same building complex as Good Luck, covering cuisines from pasta to Thai to pastry techniques.
Tip: Classes run weekday evenings and weekends; check the website calendar for current offerings. BYOB is typically allowed. Book at least a week in advance; popular sessions sell out.
Culinary School$$pittsfordBy class schedule, see wegmans.com/cooking-classes
Wegmans Amore Cooking School at the Monroe Ave Wegmans runs professional-quality instruction by Wegmans culinary staff, covering Italian, seafood, holiday baking, and knife-skills sessions.
Tip: Classes run $60-$90 per person. Call 585-452-8780 to book; online registration is not always available. Wegmans staff instructors teach in the store's demonstration kitchen.
Culinary Center and School$$pittsfordTue-Sat 11:00-18:00, by class schedule for evening events
New York Kitchen in Canandaigua, 35 minutes from Rochester, is a state-backed culinary center combining hands-on cooking classes with a wine bar poured from Finger Lakes producers.
Tip: About 35 minutes from downtown Rochester via I-490 West and Route 332. Classes span 2 hours and include a paired Finger Lakes wine flight. Combine with a Canandaigua Lake winery visit on the same day.
Italian Cooking$$$public-marketBy event schedule, see fiorellarochester.com
Restaurant Fiorella at the Rochester Public Market runs occasional hands-on pasta and Italian cooking events, led by the kitchen team in the historic market building.
Tip: Fiorella's culinary events are posted on social media rather than a formal class calendar. Follow on Instagram or call to ask about upcoming events. Capacity is very limited.