About What's Cookin, Chicago?!

Chicago is a city that is rich with diversity and cuisine and I definitely want to take advantage of it. ... as I'm sure many others do too. Even those who aren't in Chicago often get inspired to discover what culinary treasures await in their corner of the world! So if you like cooking, baking and learning about the experiences others have with food, especially in Chicago, come join What's Cookin, Chicago in our events or check them out on our blog!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How did What's Cookin, Chicago start?

The What's Cookin, Chicago Meetup Group was created back in March of 2007 because oddly, there wasn't any similar active groups in Chicago at the time. There were foodie groups, but events were random and not consistent. Aside from that, cooking/baking classes in the area didn't allow much time and/or hands-on interaction at an affordable price. As a result, I wanted a cooking/baking group that would consistently foster learning in and out of the kitchen, coupled with the opportunity to improve my own cooking/baking skills with other everyday folks like me.


Do you work professionally in the food industry?

I'm not classically or formally trained in the culinary arts but I did grow up in the kitchen at a very young age, thanks to my parents who were caterers. They've since retired, but through them I picked up the passion for cooking, baking & entertaining. After years of helping and working my way around the kitchen throughout childhood and adolescence, cooking became second nature. Now as an adult, I'm intrigued by all things food related and I love sharing my "culinary adventures" both locally and virtually. What's Cookin, Chicago actively participates and engages others in culinary events where our blog captures the experience with recipes, pictures and some culinary information to share with others.


What kind of culinary events does What's Cookin, Chicago participate in and are reflected on your blog?

You can find descriptions of our various monthly events HERE. When it comes to offering culinary events, I realize everyone looks at food differently and has varying needs that food satisfies. I strive to offer culinary events that reach out to everyone in some way, shape or form. Events I offer also have an emphasis on sharing and learning from others. There's always something to learn and/or to share and it's even better when food is involved.


Are the culinary events mostly geared to folks who can cook and bake?

The beauty of What's Cookin, Chicago is that folks don't need to know how to cook or bake to participate. Our group is made up of a whole spectrum of food enthusiasts from the novice cook, the everyday home cook, professional chefs and those who like to eat and learn about food. Everyone has to eat and everyone has a place with What's Cookin, Chicago.


How many culinary events does What's Cookin, Chicago offer each month?

Each month, there are usually 12-14 culinary events offered... many of them are consistently offered each month. To help facilitate these events, there are a handful of assistant organizers who take the lead. However, a majority of the events are hosted by me and my husband. We oversee most of the events to ensure those participating are warmly welcomed and each person has a positive and engaging experience.


Are your culinary events expensive?

Despite the amount of work, time and effort we put into our culinary events, we are pretty much a non-profit group. Most events are free and if fees are noted, event fees rarely are over $10 because some of the expenses are shared with the members, which help to keep costs low. For some events, payment is required to secure RSVPs. This is to ensure those that attend will attend and it prevents no-shows or last minute cancellations. We offer quite a few free events as well so there's something for everyone at every budget, every month! Besides, we are a non-profit meetup and are focused more on the experience than gaining a profit. Once you've attended one of our events, you'll see that our members take away much more than they expected.


How does someone sign up to attend an event?

We've made it easy and user friendly! Folks can go to our calendar, click on an event listed and on the event page, click on the button to RSVP. If there is an event fee, payment will be required to secure RSVPs.


Do the same people usually attend the events?

With over 1,500 members and growing, there are always new and familiar faces at our events. We've seen a great mix of folks of all ages, of all backgrounds, attending from all over Chicagoland and beyond. Regardless, the common thread among those that attend is the interest in food, cooking and/or baking. We're a very welcoming, hospitable and personable group of food enthusiasts and our success shows that.


Thanks for checking us out and we hope you join us soon or check out our blog soon!

~ Joelen & Louis Tan
www.whatscookinchicago.com