Meet your host Courtland at his welcoming home with a lush vegetable garden and chicken coop located in a residential neighborhood of New Orleans. Sip on a refreshing drink as Courtland shares stories about living in New Orleans before joining him in his kitchen. Learn to cook a Cajun meal during this experience that is both hands-on and a demonstration. As much as possible, Courtland uses fresh produce from his vegetable garden or that she purchases from local markets. During your Cajun cooking lesson that lasts about 1.5 hours, you will learn to cook three authentic Cajun dishes. Not only will you learn the culinary history and techniques involved in making a Cajun starter, main and dessert but also the differences between Cajun and Creole cuisine. A jovial host, Courtland encourages people to cook based on what you taste, see and smell. After cooking, sit down at the table to share the fresh, seasonal meal you helped prepare with Courtland. Your menu might include dishes such as an appetizer of crispy fried boudin balls filled with Cajun seasoned pork and herbs or blackened alligator bites served with a remoulade and for a main, one of several traditional Cajun dishes such as jambalaya, gumbo, étouffée or blackened fish along with a vegetable side. Your meal concludes with a dessert such as a New Orleans bread pudding. Local beer or wine is included in the cost of your experience.
Courtland is excited to share his culture through this authentic/traditional cooking class in New Orleans at his home. He can also accommodate vegetarian or gluten-free diets on request.
Courtland works during the week so prefers to host evening experiences during weekdays but is delighted to host morning and evening experiences on weekends.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Starter: Crispy boudin balls or alligator bitesMain: Cajun Jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish étouffée or blackened fishSide: Braised collard greensDessert: Bread custard in a cast iron skilletCourtland comes from a strong Cajun French background and a big component of his upbringing was Cajun cooking! Courtland learned to cook from his grandmother and father who spent most of his career in the restaurant industry. In fact, his father continues the family tradition of throwing a big annual party during the Cajun music festival for friends and family and serving authentic, home cooked Cajun food. Courtland is delighted to share his secrets of Cajun cooking with guests. He believes that food brings people together in the best way possible - it ignites amazing conversation and bonds among people that only family style cooking can do. Courtland lives with his wife and a small cat in a house with a flourishing vegetable garden. They live in a cool, non-touristy, residential neighborhood of New Orleans near City Park.
"Superb experience. This cooking class was nothing short of amazing!!! Everything was organized and clean! The vibes were 1000%! The food was top notch and perfect premium cuts of meats. One thing you don’t have to worry about is the lack of culture! Courtland and his wife were the perfect host and oh so welcoming to me and my friends! We will def be back! I am still blown away at that Banana Foster dessert was out of this world!! The jambalaya was slamming!"
"Cultured from the motherland! Courtland and his wife was extremely friendly, uplifting , home warming and much more. They are kind hearted people who make you feel like family. It felt like you was just back home with old friends that you haven’t seen in awhile and your just catching up. Now for the food, the food was nothing but spectacular. It was well season and for a person who doesn’t eat Brussels sprouts or bananas I licked my plate clean. They also send you home with a plate of food. This family oriented home is nothing but the best of the best with very cultured and non-biased individuals. I wish them nothing but the best. I love it here and will definitely be back for more. 🥰"
"Book this experience NOW!! 10 stars!!! This was a phenomenal experience. Courtland has an amazing gift, and a passion to share with others. He is super personable, an excellent host and creates a great atmosphere. No restaurant can touch a home-cooked meal prepared by a native New Orleanian with Cajun roots! Highly and strongly recommend."
"Great Cooking Experience in New Orleans! This cooking class was an absolute highlight of our trip to New Orleans! My two college-aged sons and I had fun learning to cook jambalaya with Courtland. He was a fantastic host, and our conversation about sports, travel, and cooking made the experience even more memorable.
What's incredible is that my boys, who have never shown much interest in cooking before, were so excited to try making jambalaya on their own after the class. The collard greens and bananas foster we had were equally delicious. This class truly made our trip special and was the best part of our visit!"
