Welcome!
Turn Up The Heat Culinary
Cook More Than a Meal—Create an Experience.
Discover the Joy of Cooking
Under the guidance of Chef Michael, you'll learn professional techniques in a relaxed, welcoming kitchen where everyone is encouraged to participate. You'll chop, sauté, bake, season, plate, and enjoy every step of the cooking process using fresh, high-quality ingredients.
No demonstrations from the sidelines. No watching someone else cook.
You'll be the chef.
Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced home cook, you'll leave with new skills, greater confidence, and recipes you'll want to make again and again.
Something for Everyone
Choose the experience that's perfect for you:
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Adult Cooking Classes – Date nights, international cuisine, seasonal favorites, and specialty workshops.
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Kids & Teens Cooking Classes – Fun, educational, and confidence-building experiences that inspire a lifelong love of cooking.
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Parent & Me Classes – Make memories together while learning new culinary skills side by side.
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Private Events – Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, bridal showers, and special occasions with an unforgettable cooking experience.
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Corporate Team Building – Strengthen teamwork, communication, and creativity in a fun, hands-on environment everyone will enjoy.
More Than a Cooking Class
At Turn Up The Heat Culinary, we believe the best memories are made around the table.
Our classes are about laughing together, trying something new, celebrating success, and sharing an incredible meal you've created with your own hands.
Come hungry, Leave inspired!
Explore Our Classes & Courses
Ready to find your perfect culinary experience? Browse our Classes & Courses to view upcoming cooking classes,
85 US dollars
85 US dollars
85 US dollars
85 US dollars
Thank You for an Amazing Summer!
Our Kids & Teens Summer Camp Series has officially wrapped up, and what an incredible summer it has been! We had a wonderful time cooking, learning, and creating delicious memories with all of our young chefs. Thank you to all of the families who joined us and made this summer so special.
Monthly Saturday Cooking Classes Begin in September!
The fun doesn't stop here! Beginning in September, we'll be offering monthly Saturday cooking classes for:
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Kids: Ages 8–12
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Teens: Ages 13–17
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Parent & Me Cooking Class: Ages 6 and up
These hands-on classes are the perfect opportunity for young chefs to build confidence in the kitchen, learn new cooking techniques, make exciting recipes, and enjoy the delicious meals they create.
Whether your child is new to cooking or already loves spending time in the kitchen, our classes provide a fun, welcoming, and educational experience.
We can't wait to welcome your kids back into the kitchen for another season of cooking, learning, and making lasting memories!
Our Offerings
Public Classes
Want to become a better home chef or chase even bigger culinary dreams? Turn Up the Heat Culinary offers the expert instruction and convenient class options you'll need to get there. We have class options for every level of experience. You will cook at a station in groups of 2, which features all the equipment and ingredients you'll need. With small class sizes, you'll get plenty of personal attention from the chef-instructor.
Private Events
Looking for a personalized experience tailored to your culinary interests? Book a private cooking class! Our expert chef-instructors lead collaborative cooking experiences featuring customized menus, creating unforgettable memories for bridal showers, corporate team-building events, anniversaries, birthdays, and more. From beginners looking to build confidence in the kitchen to seasoned home chefs eager to refine their skills, there's something for everyone!
Gift Cards
Gift Cards are now available! Give the gift of a fun, hands-on culinary experience with adult cooking classes, courses, or private sessions — the perfect gift for food lovers, home cooks, and anyone looking to learn new skills in the kitchen. We're expanding our gift card offerings and will have them available for kid and teen classes soon. Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for considering Turn Up The Heat Culinary for your next gift-giving occasion!
Chef michael
As a child, Michael and his brothers would hang out in the kitchen and “help” their mom by being the official tasters and picking up simple techniques. These skills came in handy when he moved out on his own and began experimenting with different flavors and textures. After getting married and raising two children (one now a pastry chef and the other a highly regarded sous chef), Chef Michael attended the Westlake Culinary Institute (WCI). After graduating, he stayed on as an assistant instructor for two semesters while also teaching classes to the general public, where he discovered his passion for sharing his knowledge of the culinary arts. He then joined the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel and Resort in Westlake Village as a chef in the Health and Wellness Kitchen, a position he held for many years.
Seeking a new challenge, he became the private resident chef at a large luxury facility in Malibu, where he shared his skills with clients and staff for more than three years. He later returned to his love of teaching as a chef instructor at a prominent culinary school in Santa Barbara, until pursuing the dream of opening his own school, Turn Up the Heat Culinary, became a reality.
Turn Up The Heat Culinary is more than a cooking class. It’s an immersive culinary journey. We offer small, mentorship-focused sessions that explore seasonal ingredients, time-honored techniques, and authentic stories behind every dish. While in-studio you’ll cook alongside experts and artisans, build confidence in the kitchen, and join a community that shares your passion...one delicious plate at a time.
Questions about our cooking classes, private events, parties, team building? We'd love to hear from you.
