Champaign-Urbana is home to an amazing variety of restaurants serving a broad range of international cuisines. Despite all this abundance, we’re still missing out on several important culinary traditions. My goal is to fill in that gap with unique culinary experiences not typically available in the Champaign-Urbana area.
If you're an adventurous foodie who wants to expand your taste buds, I am available to fulfill your fantasies. From private cooking classes to dinner party planning consulting, I am available to guide you through exciting new dining experiences without having to drive to Chicago or flying to Paris.
As a private chef, I can teach you everything you need to know about making and serving beautiful tasty meals including menu planning and wine pairings. This is your chance to be adventurous, to try new cuisines, and to hone your kitchen skills. Here’s what you’ll learn in our private cooking class:
how to plan a dinner party and design a fabulous menu
how to utilize flavor principles to freely adapt recipes
techniques and skills needed to be successful in the kitchen
lots of time-saving tips & tricks without having to sacrifice quality
Invite me into your kitchen or come to my house for a private "cooking party" where we'll make a fabulous meal for you, your family, or friends. For larger events, consult with me for anything from menu planning to assistance in executing your dream dinner party. You can choose from over 200 kitchen-tested ethnic recipes from 22 international cuisines, or we can develop some new recipes together.
Let’s cook up a storm and create something great together! To get started, just send me an email and tell me about your latest food fantasy: paul@cooking-with-paul.com
Chambana Ethnic Food Tour
Champaign-Urbana has an amazing selection of ethnic eateries available for your tasting pleasure. Let's go on an international food safari and sample the best of what our little town has to offer. These small group tours will take us all over town to visit the most interesting family-owned grocers and restaurants. Here's an incomplete list of stops we could make and the ethnic cuisines we could try:
Chinese
Congolese
Indian
Japanese
Korean
Mexican
Middle Eastern
Thai/Laotian
Vietnamese
Zambian
These tours are best scheduled for either mid-day or early evening. I usually only take two to four people at a time. The cost is $100 per person which includes all food and beverages (non-alcoholic). Each tour is customized and adapted to the interests of the group. Advanced reservations via email is required: tours@cooking-with-paul.com.
Special offer for new residents of Champaign County! Request a new resident ambassador through the Chambana Welcome Crew, and the tour is free! You'll receive registration information when matched with an ambassador as our way of welcoming you to town.
Special offer for new residents of Champaign County! Request a new resident ambassador through the Chambana Welcome Crew, and the tour is free! You'll receive registration information when matched with an ambassador as our way of welcoming you to town.