Stir Studio Kitchen offers cooking classes with a side of entertainment

by Michele Collins

When Charlie Denk, the owner of Stir Studio Kitchens in Ohio City and Chagrin Falls, decided to open his third location, Hudson was the first place that came to mind.

He said that his business has found success by putting its unique cooking class studios in locations with vibrant downtown areas where residents support entrepreneurial businesses.

His inclination appears to be a good one.

Stir Studio Kitchen in Hudson, located in the First & Main shopping district at 16 Clinton St., has been a popular hangout for couples, groups of friends, even corporate teams from the likes of Goodyear and Timken, according to Denk. Participants, he said, have taken a liking to his philosophy that cooking class should impart some new skills with a side of fun. Ultimately, class members are treated to a sit-down dinner, which they helped create, served to them by the staff.

“I think participants should have a great time in the class, learn some new techniques and then enjoy themselves. We see the classes as having entertainment value,” he said.

He added that he is opposed to the kind of cooking classes that try to sell attendees things like kitchen utensils while they are making the meals. 

“We aren’t going to try and cross sell you while you are participating,” he said.

At Stir Studio Kitchen, class participants are welcomed into the chic new surroundings, given a quick tour of the place, and then they get to work at stations that have been meticulously set up to make prepping the ingredients and cooking the food easy.

Yes, participants will cook, but as Denk said, “we do not plan to make chefs out of them in one class.”

He added that participants are encouraged to bring a bottle of wine (“or two or three,” he said with a laugh), to enjoy with their proudly self-created dinners. 

“Everything here is BYOB,” he said.

Public classes are offered during the day and in the evening, Thursday through Sunday, and private events can be scheduled at any time.

“We have done team-building corporate classes at 9 a.m. on a Monday, and we have done family groups at 8 p.m. on a Friday night,” he said.

The Hudson classes are led by Zack Bordner, an executive-level chef, who Denk called “a rockstar” in the industry. Bordner is the Hudson general manager.

Classes cost about $75 per person. Denk said area participants have been sharing their enjoyment of the classes with others, resulting in many classes selling out.

“I just can’t tell you how well we have been received in Hudson. From working with the city government through the interactions with other business owners, through the participants we have had from Hudson, it has just been outstanding.”

Visit stirstudiokitchen.com for more information or to sign up for cooking classes. ∞

Featured Photo: Stir Studio Kitchen Hudson owner Charlie Denk owns entertainment-style cooking studios in Ohio City and Chagrin Falls as well. Photo by J. Stringer.