ÉTOILE
ÉTOILE
5
About
Founded by a Cordon Bleu-trained Chef, ÉTOILE is an exclusive culinary institute in Zurich where you can learn from some of the best chefs in Switzerland.
Contact us for professional cooking classes and unique culinary experiences for individuals as well as corporate events!
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
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- Hanspeter M10 contributionsGreat cooking class!Great cooking class! Attending a Japanese cooking class in English was the present I gave to my wife's birthday. She (and also I) enjoyed it a lot! Yuan did a great job in not only teaching cooking, but also in telling us about interesting facts about food, drinking tea and a lot more! We were very happy and will for sure book another cooking class again in the future.Thank you so much! We are very happy that you have enjoyed your Japanese cooking class. :-)Written March 23, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 19, 2023
- KarimZurich, Switzerland2 contributionsGreat Cooking Experience!Chef Aruna was excellent - informative and patient - and she made the experience very enjoyable. The class was comprised of a nice mix of people from all over the world - just like the food we prepared. Good food, good conversation and good wine. Thank you.Thank you so much for cooking with us!Written March 23, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Traveled soloWritten February 25, 2024
- gregfromnancyZurich, Switzerland11 contributionsLearn in a fun and professional way. I will go again :) Aruna is having such an impact on our life now!Aruna is an amazing chef and she knows how to run such workshops! She makes it very fun, interactive and interesting. The learnings that goes with it were also brilliantly brought by Aruna. She also answered my numerous questions :) Definitely way above my expectations! I will go again!Thank you so much, Greg! It was a pleasure having you in our kitchen! :-)Written March 23, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 26, 2024
- Passenger656188793632 contributionsAbsolutely amazing experienceWe had an absolutely great time cooking with Aruna. The menu, the atomosphere, Aruna's personality and passion for food and cooking all made this evening exceed our already high expectations. We can highly recommend this experience to others. Thank you - Aruna and Étoile.Visited April 2024Traveled with friendsWritten April 7, 2024
- Anna V1 contributionCooking class with ArunaI visited middle eastern cooking class with Aruna and had a great time. She instructed us and everyone had a chance to cook, she also shared a lot of tips, insights and history of the food. Food was delicious!Visited May 2024Traveled soloWritten June 2, 2024
- deniswidlerFreienbach, Switzerland5 contributionsAmazing experience to dive into japanese cuisineHad the pleasure to take a japanese course with Yuan. It was excellent. I went solo and didnt know anyone, but with Yuans flair, I immediately got to know all the people and how to prepare delicious japanese cuisine. 100% recommended, and I‘m already excited to come again!Visited June 2024Traveled soloWritten August 13, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
51 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
1
SKI
Zurich, Switzerland1 contribution
Jan 2023 • Solo
I was very excited to discover English cooking classes in Zürich, from a company where someone has been trained in an elite culinary institution and where interesting, themed menus are offered.
However, the message created by the company’s marketing and positioning, especially prices, create expectations that are by far not met.
Simply put, the class was much closer to cooking in someone’s home than anything near a professional cooking class. Out of the supposed length of 4 hours, we cooked for barely over an hour, making all the dishes at the same time. Because of this, neither did each participant see / get to learn at least a couple of the recipes proposed nor did the instructor have time to give proper instructions (as the recipes used are laid out in a simplistic manner and far more concise than anything you would see in a cookbook were not enough and caused multiple errors in preparation). One of the attendees basically only boiled milk during the class. Besides a short discussion as part of intro, the cooking tips were shared with whomever was next to the instructor but sparingly so. We did not have instruction on any relevant techniques or demonstration, as one would hope from a cooking class. On top of that, we were using tools that were sub-par: some knives were completely blunt, pots did not have lids needed, etc.
A minor detail that still stands out in memory was that the extra help that was there for prep, clean-up and table service was unfortunately not aware of how to properly set dishes and glasses on the table, which caused initial confusion among participants on which glass belonged to whom. It is not her fault but the company should make sure to give at least minimal training in such scenarios.
We had over two hours allocated for dinner and nobody knows what, so all of the participants left after total 3 hours on location, after discussing how all of us where disappointed in the experience and would surely not purchase the services again.
However, the message created by the company’s marketing and positioning, especially prices, create expectations that are by far not met.
Simply put, the class was much closer to cooking in someone’s home than anything near a professional cooking class. Out of the supposed length of 4 hours, we cooked for barely over an hour, making all the dishes at the same time. Because of this, neither did each participant see / get to learn at least a couple of the recipes proposed nor did the instructor have time to give proper instructions (as the recipes used are laid out in a simplistic manner and far more concise than anything you would see in a cookbook were not enough and caused multiple errors in preparation). One of the attendees basically only boiled milk during the class. Besides a short discussion as part of intro, the cooking tips were shared with whomever was next to the instructor but sparingly so. We did not have instruction on any relevant techniques or demonstration, as one would hope from a cooking class. On top of that, we were using tools that were sub-par: some knives were completely blunt, pots did not have lids needed, etc.
A minor detail that still stands out in memory was that the extra help that was there for prep, clean-up and table service was unfortunately not aware of how to properly set dishes and glasses on the table, which caused initial confusion among participants on which glass belonged to whom. It is not her fault but the company should make sure to give at least minimal training in such scenarios.
We had over two hours allocated for dinner and nobody knows what, so all of the participants left after total 3 hours on location, after discussing how all of us where disappointed in the experience and would surely not purchase the services again.
Written January 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello S.,
First of all, thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive review. I have already contacted you bilaterally but have unfortunately not heard back. We take customer feedback very seriously, especially if our clients have not been happy. It is a challenge at times to meet everybody's expectations as we might have absolute beginners as well as semi-professional amateur chefs in the same class... we are trying our best to find the right balance so all of our students leave satisfied but clearly, we did not succeed in your case. I am sorry that you were disappointed and have discussed your review during one hour with the chef mentioned, we would like to address all of your points mentioned one by one:
- The chef you had is one of our most experienced chefs who has been teaching for more than 10 years. I have personally taken various classes with her, and she always goes the extra mile (she also brought various extra things that were not on the menu/in the online description to your class so you could all try). She's extremely passionate about what she does, and we have only had very positive feedback for her which is why I struggle to understand what upset you so much that you would leave a 1* review. The chef is not aware of any "errors in preparation" that you have mentioned, we have also never had any issues with our recipes. Could you please help me understand? We would really like to learn from your feedback and improve the experience for future students.
- It is true that we always cook all the dishes together as a group. However, there is a briefing before we start cooking so everybody knows what the other people are working on. Also, if there is a demo of a technique, the chef will always demo for the whole group. The chef then goes around all the stations to make sure everybody is okay and all the recipes are clear... since our kitchen is very small, all the students will naturally see everything that is happening on the kitchen island.
- The length of the cooking process depends on the skills/speed/questions of the entire group, our classes are usually between 3-4h incl. dinner. As I was not present that evening, I cannot comment on how long you spent actually cooking vs. eating.
- As for the equipment, we rent the kitchen and have also recently noticed that not all knives are supersharp anymore (I wouldn't call them "blunt" though). We have taken relevant measures in this regard. I'm not sure what you mean with regards to the lids, as all of our pots have lids.
- Kitchen assistance: It was her first evening with us, and she was very nervous. She did make some mistakes, and I apologize on her behalf.
- Price: We keep our classes very small on purpose to ensure a good learning experience, this is why our public classes all average 8-9 students. If you deduct the rent for such a high-end kitchen on a Saturday evening in Zurich + cleaning + 2 staff members + ingredients, you will see that we mostly run these classes for fun... not for profit. We just want to share what we love the most.
- I have spoken with some other students in your class and have not received the same feedback that you have given us. We would therefore really appreciate if you could elaborate on what we could improve as customer service is extremely important to us.
In my email that I have sent to you after receiving your review, I have offered you three possible forms of compensation: 1) full refund, 2) a private class with the chef (for free) so you could go through all the recipes 1:1 together, or 3) another free class of your choice. Please let us know what you would prefer as we don't want to keep your money if you have been this disappointed with our services.
Have a good day & we look forward to hearing back from you!
Written February 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
simran r
2 contributions
Feb 2023
I recently did a cooking class with ETOILE and thought I’d share some thoughts on my experience. I attended “The Indian Feast “ - the class was conducted in a beautiful kitchen with an island counter enabling us all to work together as well as see the Chef demonstrate. My favorite dish was the Vegetable Biryani, a one pot dish which is a meal in itself. Chef Aruna shared some great tips on meal prep - I now keep a ready to use jar of ginger garlic paste in my fridge - a requirement for all Indian dishes. I also learned how to get my rice perfectly cooked, every single time! The food is surprisingly easy to recreate and with ingredients that can be found in most supermarkets.
Besides the cooking itself, I really enjoyed the background stories and the history behind the dishes. The chef was receptive to all my questions, and the lesson had a lovely personal touch for all group members in my class. A big thank you to my friend for gifting me this class, and I would definitely recommend it!
Besides the cooking itself, I really enjoyed the background stories and the history behind the dishes. The chef was receptive to all my questions, and the lesson had a lovely personal touch for all group members in my class. A big thank you to my friend for gifting me this class, and I would definitely recommend it!
Written February 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so, so much for joining us! :-)
Written June 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Passenger65618879363
2 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
We had an absolutely great time cooking with Aruna. The menu, the atomosphere, Aruna's personality and passion for food and cooking all made this evening exceed our already high expectations. We can highly recommend this experience to others. Thank you - Aruna and Étoile.
Written April 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Han Le
2 contributions
Sep 2021
I had my first cooking class in my life with Etoile and it was so fun, they made it really entertaining for students so it's just not all about cooking!
The theme of the class was Persian cuisine, before this class, I've never tried this type of cuisine before and now I even know how to make it myself!! The food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere between chefs and students was wonderful, we laughed a lot.
Even though I went solo but this kind of activity would be so much more fun if you do it with friends or partner. I definitely going to try other classes here!
The theme of the class was Persian cuisine, before this class, I've never tried this type of cuisine before and now I even know how to make it myself!! The food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere between chefs and students was wonderful, we laughed a lot.
Even though I went solo but this kind of activity would be so much more fun if you do it with friends or partner. I definitely going to try other classes here!
Written September 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much, Han! We loved having you. :-)
Written September 26, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Danni
1 contribution
Sep 2021
I‘ve always wanted to join a cooking course and I‘m so glad that my first experience was such a lovely one with Etoile. Our host Yuan is a wonderful and inspiring person with such deep expertise in all aspects of food from all around the world. Her passion for food is greatly infectious and truly inspiring. Throughout the entire evening, the atmosphere was very welcoming and inclusive, we cooked simple Japanese dishes that were very well though-out and perfectly complemented each other. Also, Yuan made sure that the dishes were easy to re-create at home and gave us many helpful tips and tricks to do so. Each group was responsible for one part of the dinner and in the end we had a huge buffet of different delicious dishes.
I truly had an amazing time and would definitely recommend all beginners to join this amazing course!
I truly had an amazing time and would definitely recommend all beginners to join this amazing course!
Written October 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for choosing us as your first cooking experience, Danni! :-) It was a pleasure meeting you!
Written May 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Frank W
2 contributions
Jul 2023
We had an unforgettable time with Sara.
With humour and charm, she shared her passion for cooking over a warm and light-hearted evening, full of laughs and learning.
It was easy to tell that she had been a life-long experiencer and engaged observer in various nonnas' kitchens, as we were passed down tasty crumbs of details and childhood scenes that made the dishes and processes feel rich and storied.
Everyone felt comfortable and excited, our group of 7 couldn't have asked for better class. Would strongly recommend!
With humour and charm, she shared her passion for cooking over a warm and light-hearted evening, full of laughs and learning.
It was easy to tell that she had been a life-long experiencer and engaged observer in various nonnas' kitchens, as we were passed down tasty crumbs of details and childhood scenes that made the dishes and processes feel rich and storied.
Everyone felt comfortable and excited, our group of 7 couldn't have asked for better class. Would strongly recommend!
Written August 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So glad that you have enjoyed your class with Sara! Thank you for coming!
Written March 23, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Diana K
Zurich, Switzerland1 contribution
Dec 2019
It was an amazing evening and it was for me a pleasure to cook and learn how to cook and to join my free time with very interessting people. The organisation was excellent, the culinary experience amazing, the place in a kitchen studio just interestingly raised the level of my experience. An exceptional melding of flavors from the Japanese culture wonderful. I really recomend this cooking course to all who like cooking, wish to learn and taste something special, spend time with amazing intelligent opend minded people and to make new friends. It was a wonderful evening and I would like to go back there. See you all there :)
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your lovely words, and we look forward to cooking with you again soon! :-)
Written May 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
deniswidler
Freienbach, Switzerland5 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
Had the pleasure to take a japanese course with Yuan. It was excellent. I went solo and didnt know anyone, but with Yuans flair, I immediately got to know all the people and how to prepare delicious japanese cuisine. 100% recommended, and I‘m already excited to come again!
Written August 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tamara Z
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Friends
We recently had a cooking Indian class with ETOILE for a Bachelorette party and it was a great experience. The class we had with Chef Aruna was conducted in a perfect way, not only with the cooking experience and demonstration but also with a lot of background stories, explanations of the dishes and experiences sharing with the Chef. We really liked every moment and the food was delicious (we will keep jealously all the recipes!). We had a lot of fun and enjoyed our time. Everything was perfectly organized even more if we think that they had to find a different kitchen for us from what they normally use. I can only recommend it!!
Written March 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so happy that all of you ladies have enjoyed your class with us! :-D It was such a pleasure having you!
Written June 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tom2784
1 contribution
Jun 2020 • Friends
My wife Katie and I had a truly unforgettable food experience in Étoile's "Japanese favorites" cooking classes in Zurich. Highly recommendable to all who want to have a great evening among like-minded foodies and to improve their knowledge about Japanese food at the same time in a concentrated and yet casual atmosphere. We loved it! ❤️
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much, Thomas & Katie! We would love to cook with you again! :-)
Written September 26, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.