Our pop-up cooking events are the perfect way to bring people together and foster teamwork in your company or community. Our hands-on, interactive classes are led by our expert chefs who specialise in team-building and group activities. Your colleagues, students, or members will learn to work together in a cohesive, positive, and efficient way while creating delicious meals they can easily recreate at home. 

Our cooking classes are truly unique in that they cater to all ages, interests, and cooking abilities. Our chefs are engaging and inspiring teachers, making each class an enjoyable and valuable experience for everyone involved. 

Not only will participants gain valuable cooking and teamwork skills, but they'll also have a great time doing it. Our classes are designed to break down barriers and build strong bonds, making them the perfect recipe for your organisation's success. Plus, each event is fully customisable to meet your goals, budget, and schedule. 

Join us in the kitchen for an unforgettable team-building experience that will leave everyone feeling inspired and connected!

A trip to Japan

Master the art of sushi with this exciting sushi master class! Learn how to select and properly cut ingredients, create intricate maki rolls and beautiful hand rolls, and perfect nigiri. Our expert chef will give you hints on how to upgrade your sushi-making skills to an elevated level. Experience something new with each class - discover different preparation methods and unique ingredients to bring some fun flair into your cooking. And don't forget about plating - learn all the techniques needed to put together a stunning presentation of this delicious food. Unlock the key to becoming your own sushi master in no time at all! The menu will feature:

• Sushi with salmon & avocado
• Udon Noodles with Topping 
• or Miso soup demonstration
• or Spicy pork ramen (ja-ja men)

Requirements

• The food we bring: rice, seafood, toppings
• The equipment we bring: rice cooker, induction cooktop
• The venue needs to have hand washing, a prep sink and power points
• We cater for no seafood, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free.

A trip to Vietnam

Get ready to experience a true authentic Vietnamese master class! Learn how to make delicious meals with fresh produce while the expert chef offers key insights into making sure your next trip to Vietnam will be filled with flavourful experiences. Spend an afternoon or evening preparing Vietnamese dish from scratch, while learning traditional techniques and inventive new methods. With this masterclass you will gain the skills – and confidence - to craft amazing Vietnamese dishes for yourself and loved ones back home! The menu will feature:

• Vietnamese rice paper rolls
• Rice Noodle with Grilled Chicken
• *Pho Demonstration - Chicken Or A-la-minute Beef 
• *Vietnamese Rolls Banh My

Requirements

• The food we bring: noodles, meat and seafood, herbs and toppings
• The equipment we bring: pot, induction cook top, small BBQ charcoal or gas
• Venue needs to have hand washing, prep sink, power points and be open air for BBQ set up and deep fry spring rolls
• We cater for no seafood, vegan, gluten-free with rice paper for the spring rolls, dairy free.

A trip to China

Gather around our table and be ready to be in the dumpling party, hand-crafted dumplings and wonton while experiencing China’s diverse culinary regions. This handmade dumpling class includes a lot of dumplings and wontons, so come hungry, plus a container to take yours home too. The menu will feature:

• The Arts of Dumpling Making
• Steam Bao with BBQ pork
• *Chinese Summer Chicken Noodle Salad
• *Prosperity Toss Festive Singaporean Salad

Requirements

• The food we bring: flour or dumpling wrapper, meat and seafood, noodles, herbs and toppings
• The equipment we bring: roller pins, pot, steamers, induction cooktops or gas cooktops
• Venue needs to have hand washing, prep sink and power points or allow to use the camping gas burners.
• We cater for no seafood, vegan, gluten-free (handmade dough), dairy free.

A trip to Thailand

Come explore the exotic and fresh flavours of Thailand! We’ll teach you how to balance the quintessential flavours of Southeast Asia sweet, sour, salty and spicy- so you can confidently prepare the vibrant and exciting Thai flavours of Thai. This menu just happens to be gluten-free! The menu will feature:

• Thai Papaya Salad with Sticky Rice
• Green Chicken Curry 
• *Red Duck Curry 
• *Summer Seafood and Glass Noodle 
• *Sticky Rice and Mango - summer only

Requirements

• The food we bring: rice, meat and seafood, herbs and toppings
• The equipment we bring: pot, induction cooktops or gas cooktops
• The venue needs to have hand washing, a prep sink and power points
• We cater for no seafood, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

A trip to Italy

Become a pizza chef for a day. Let an expert pizza chef help you to understand how to knead, roll out and garnish your pizza, using local and fine products and bake it in a 450-degree oven. Discover the secrets behind a good pizza using only fresh products, such as peeled tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and DOP olive oil. Then, take a seat to enjoy a good beer or a glass of wine. The menu will feature:

• Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata
• Pasta, Ravioli Master Classes 
• *Hand made pizzas Classes * require open air space
• *Traditional Tiramisu 

Requirements

• The food we bring: pre-made dough, flour, toppings
• The equipment we bring: pizza oven, gas bottle, tray, pepper plates...
• Your venue needs to have hand washing, prep sink and be open air for the pizza oven and/ or allow to use the camping gas burners.
• We cater for no seafood, vegan. Not suitable for gluten-free. 

A trip in Australia

We are excited to bring our pop up cooking class featuring Australian ingredients to your location near you! Our classes are designed for anyone interested in learning more about sustainability, local produce and traditional recipes. We provide all the necessary equipment and ingredients to create amazing dishes from scratch on site or off site. Whether you’re looking for a quick lesson in sustainable food production or an immersive experience with celebrated chefs and experts—our cooking classes have something special for everyone! Join us as we take your taste buds on a delicious journey through Australia’s unique culinary landscape. The menu will feature:

• Lemon Myrtle Prawns on Crispy Wonton Basket with Mayo
• Trout With Fennel, Macadamia & Pepper-berry
• Lamb or Kangaroo Koftas, Harissa and Cucumber and Wattle seed & Mint Salad
• Spelt, Macadamia & Cauliflower Salad Bush Tomato Tahini Dressing
• Wattle Seed, Berries & Pavlova

HIGHLIGHTS

• The ultimate organic way of building the relationship and connecting to people from 10-150 people
• Hands-on cooking experience with your chef or chefs with fundamentals of fresh ingredients and flavours
• You are required to work with one another in the class. 
  
• Prepare a range of quick, healthy and authentic around-the-world recipes with cooking tips, tricks, and techniques.
• We will get you exclusive use of our venue or partner, and sometimes we can cater for indoor and outdoor function spaces available depending on your budget.

ON THE DAY

• The chef will arrive at the venue one hour before the event to set up. Event planner to organise a car parking spot close to the event so chef(s) can get access to the venue on time. Chef(s) to bring food, small equipment, personal cooking needed for chef demonstration and any hands-on components. 
• If you require to hire a kitchen, the setup needs to be done one hour before the chef arrives. You can hire some equipment for large items such as demonstration tables, kitchen, hand-wash facility, gas and electric stoves and ovens. We will tell you if we require a special piece(s) of equipment depending on the menu, and you will pay for the hire or purchase cost.
• If you book one station, we will cook one menu with a chef and the chef will do a demonstration and get the participants to prep, cook and taste the dish. Each session will be for 1-2 hours.
• If you book more than one station, we will set up more than cooking stations with a chef on hand in each station. Each customer will cook, eat, share and clean up at one station and then move to the next station. They will eat as they go and have time to bond or catch up while the chef resets for the next round. Each station will have one hour: 30 minutes to cook, 15 minutes to eat and 15 minutes to clean up. The more people, the more dishes/stations you can select. 
• We can book a mobile bar if you require one - we can quote once we know the number of guests. Please note that we may be required to get a liquor license, which will take some time.

SOME CURRENT FESTIVALS AND EVENTS WE PARTICIPATED IN

• Watergarden Vic 2022
• Epping Pacific 2022
• Stockland Point Cook 2022
• Melbourne Youth Club 2022
• Melbourne World Travel Expo 2020
• Stocklands Doncaster East 2020
• Victoria Street Moon Lantern Festival
• Box Hill Community Arts Centre 2018, 2019
• Dockland Harvest - Dockland 2017
• Victoria Street Lunar Festival - Richmond 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Spice Festival - Melton 2017
• Home Economics Institute of Australia 2017
• Hawker Food Festival in Narre Warren  2017
• Bright N Sandy Food and Wine Festival - Brighton 2015, 2019
• And Plenty of Corporate Functions More

BOOKING TERMS

• A minimum charge of $1,650 is applied to all group and venue bookings. If your group number falls below the minimum spend, the minimum spend is applied. 
• A deposit of 10 seats or 50%, whatever is greater, is required to confirm your booking. Payment may be made via credit or debit card, cash or invoice. Full payment is required at the event booking time, within 14-day of the event date. The balance is due 14 days before the event upon confirmation of the guest number and their dietary requirements. 
• If cancellation is made with more than 14-day notice, we will refund 50% of your deposit. For a cancellation is made within 14 days, no refund will take effect, and you will have to pay for the minimum spend. If your group voluntarily leave or does not show up to the event on the day, no refund will take effect.
• Final numbers and dietary requirements for your session must be confirmed no later than 14-day prior to the start time of the cookery session in order to give us enough time to pre-order the necessary ingredients and staff.
  
• If you would like to increase the number of participants after this time, please email us at hello@otaokitchen.com.au to discuss this, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

REVIEWS

Jackie Mates • May 2021

Much better than expected. No elements were pre-made so we learnt how to do every step using stuff we prob already had at home. The teacher was friendly and welcoming and I felt the venue was the perfect size and setting. They were generous with ingredients for those wanting to try different things. Would recommend.