Welcome!
Our goal at Turn Up The Heat Culinary is to provide a warm, fun, welcoming place to learn cooking skills.
We’re officially open! 🍳🔥
Welcome to our Cooking School, where great food starts with great learning. Join us to sharpen your skills, discover new flavors, and turn your love for cooking into something extraordinary.
🔥 GIFT CARDS ARE HERE! 🔥
Give the gift of fun, flavor, and unforgettable experiences! Whether you’re gifting or joining us yourself, let’s cook something amazing together! Reserve your spot early — they will sell out fast! Sample of first wave of classes:
🍝 Homemade Pasta • 🍜 Thai Favorites • 🐟 California Coastal Feast • 🇮🇹 Flavors of Italy • 🥡 Chinese Takeout • 🍣 Sushi Workshop • 🍖 Southern Baby Back Rib Night • 🇫🇷 Parisian Bistro • 🥗 Clean Eating • 🥟 Dim Sum Night • 🌱 Vegetarian Farm to Table
"There is a chef in all of us."
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
If you want a truly personalized experience, book a private cooking class. We'll tailor the class to suit your group and your choice of menu. The chef-instructor will then lead your group in a collaborative cooking experience that's sure to create some undeniably delicious memories. A private event is a unique option for bridal showers, team building and so much more.
From beginners looking to boost their confidence in the kitchen to seasoned home chefs interested in trying new and exciting recipes, there's something for everyone in a Turn Up The Heat Culinary cooking class. Sign up now or inquire about a private event to learn from our chefs.
Our Offerings
About
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.
