Amelia Island Culinary Academy

Amelia Island Culinary Academy

Amelia Island Culinary Academy
5

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.


5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles19 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Margaret H
Washington DC, DC17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Solo
I visited the culinary academy on my own. The bright, cheerful interior was as welcoming as the exterior. Chef Bill and his assistant were friendly and hospitable. Although I was there alone, he made the group cohesive and collegial. The group felt like old friends. Chef Bill was very knowledgeable and answered all of the questions with easy to follow responses. I have taken other cooking classes and felt the environment and knowledge was superior. The class was on the cuisine of Tuscany and he thoroughly explained the ingredients and his own experiences there. It was a lot of fun! He also provided excellent tips to improve my everyday cooking techniques. He taught us that we shouldn't be afraid to improvise with what we have. The best part of course was the food. The aioli and fried zucchini from the farmer's market was divine! The chicken marinated with lemon, garlic and rosemary was bright and flavorful. I loved the fresh arugula with the homemade vinaigrette and garden fresh tomatoes. He finished the meal with limoncello biscotti and fresh figs baked with Gorgonzola. Exquisite!
Written August 15, 2015
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.

Faith B
Atlanta, GA5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Friends
I was lucky enough to take a cooking class with Chef Bill Thompson while vacation on Amelia Island. It was such a fun night instead of going out to a restaurant and Chef Bill is a great instructor. I learned how to make a fabulous Tuscan meal and Chef Bill gave us tips about cooking and basic kitchen skills. The Tuscan chicken was amazing -- I've already made it twice this week. It's not as good as Chef Bill's but I didn't expect it to be. This was a great atmosphere with great friends. There were only six of us and we were all able to ask questions and see everything that was being prepared. I highly recommend doing this if you get the chance!
Written August 22, 2015
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.

txptla k
14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2016 • Couples
I am not a super great cook and honestly cooking is not one of my favorite things to do. We attended the tasting tour with Chef Bill and it was great! Although I had been to all of the restaurants we went to on the tour, Chef Bill had many unknown insights to the restaurants. Also, having the tasting was a great way to try different things and the 3 different restaurants. Finishing up with a cooking demo for dessert was just enough cooking instruction and a perfect way to end the evening.
Written November 14, 2016
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.

Sue M
Richmond, VA66 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Friends
So I have taken a number of cooking classes all over, in multiple states, but also abroad. First point to make is that this is not a hands on class, which is something other reviewers either didn't mention one way or another, or I missed. Given that one can watch any number of cooking shows on television, having someone cook in front of me for 2 and a half hours while seated in an uncomfortable canvas director's chair was not actually what I had in mind when I signed up for this class at the Amelia Island Culinary Academy. Also, Chef Bill felt the need to fill the time with empty chatter about things that had little to do with culinary tips nor was particularly insightful about the art of cooking with specific types of vegetables, fruits, etc., instead opting for offhand comments about how rude the French are and making generalizations about Americans and Europeans alike which were hardly complimentary to either. Nonetheless, the meal prepared was quite tasty. But the most troubling aspect for me, a physician, was the fact that he clearly had a cold, was sniffling throughout the class, yet through most of the class ran his hands under water in a perfunctory way, which, unless Florida water has antibacterial properties of which I am unaware, was a bit troubling. So, the culinary experience itself was mixed, but not ideal. That said, I will make sure in the future that the next cooking class I take allows me to experience as well as participate in the actual cooking, not just eating.
Written October 21, 2016
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.

vaisvil
Saint Charles, IL11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015 • Friends
Our menu included shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes and veggies with a yummy arugula pesto. We were there celebrating a birthday and we all had a wonderful time and learned some great cooking tips along the way. I would highly recommend Chef Bill and this cooking class.
Written October 12, 2015
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.

Gaylen C
Bethesda, MD29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2018 • Solo
This is the first cooking class I have ever taken, and the experience was nothing short of amazing. I loved the fact that the # of participants is limited so everyone gets an opportunity to prepare the dishes. Chef Bill offers great preparation and cooking tips throughout the class and is very welcoming in fielding questions even from a novice cook. The preparation experience is awesome, but then you get to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. During this time you are provided the opportunity to engage your fellow class mates and Chef Bill in a relaxed conversation period which is the icing on the cake. With my recipes in hand, I headed out with a much higher degree of confidence and look forward to joining Chef Bill on another culinary adventure.
Written November 4, 2018
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.
Thanks so much for the fantastic review!
Written November 4, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ken T
Rochester, NY12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2017 • Couples
This is a fun two hour experience that combines island history, tour and tips from the farmers market and tips and cooking philosophy from Chef Bill as he prepares a multi-course lunch for you. This is not a hands on cooking class but one where Chef Bill prepares lunch while instructing you on how to select better ingredients, combine foods more effectively and think about cooking differently. Fun, educational and tasty !
Written December 26, 2017
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 you enjoyed our Farmer's Market Tour & Class! Thank you!
Written December 27, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

518ATLCouple
Mableton, GA458 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2017 • Couples
We enjoyed our evening with Chef Bill as he prepared shrimp three different ways. He is a great chef and conversationalist. The food was amazing and he provided the recipes for us. Reservations are required. Bring your own alcoholic beverages. He only supplies water.
Written August 16, 2017
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.

Bonjsc
Hilton Head, SC145 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Couples
We arrived at 10:30 for the Saturday Market Tour and class. My wife and I plus four delightful women. We all got along very well! Chef Bill provided a history of the town of Fernandina Beach during the short walk (about 6 blocks) to the market. He knows the vendors and their products. We had ample time to buy anything we wanted. He had very wisely been at the market earlier to get what was needed for the class (we didn't have to wait for him to make purchases). After returning to the class room, Chef Bill gave us the recipes for the three things to be prepared. Rice wine vinaigrette, Red pepper vinaigrette and amaretto zabaglione. It was a hot day (95+) so these dressings were light and favorable. The techniques that he showed us and the chemistry made the preparation very informative. Each dressing was prepared with a different salad and the zabaglione was matched with strawberries and black berries. When we were all finished with the eating, he brought out his home made lemon chella ( kept in the freezer). Nice finish to a three hour tour and class. He has a variety of classes and we will sign up for additional ones when we are back in the area. He keeps the classes small and he is easly to understand and answers all questions. Class is informal and therefore lots of fun while still being very educational.
Written July 2, 2017
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.

Mae D
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2016 • Couples
What a great experience. I cannot speak highly enough of Chef Bill! My friend and I attend Chef Bill's pasta making class and I was so pleasantly surprised. Not only did I learn how to make fresh, handmade egg pasta, I learned that it wasn't as difficult as I thought and the payoff was amazing. He showed us proper cutting technique and gave us information about the right ingredients and how to make great food with simplistic dishes. Isn't how funny how simple is often times better than anything else. Chef Bill is also so knowledgeable about Amelia Island's history and economy and it was so interesting to listen and learn not only about the culinary background of the city, but overall how it impacts the culture and the feel for the little town. There are a variety of programs for children and adults and it makes the perfect date night outing! I highly recommend the experience, and you get to taste some pretty amazing dishes!
Written November 15, 2016
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.

Showing results 1-10 of 19
*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.

Amelia Island Culinary Academy - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All Amelia Island HotelsAmelia Island Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Amelia IslandHotels near Amelia Island Culinary Academy
All things to do in Amelia Island
Day Trips in Amelia Island
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars