Cook & Create at The Jefferson Hotel

Cook and Create is a hands-on culinary program offered by The Jefferson Hotel, one of Richmond, Virginia's most storied luxury properties. The hotel, which opened in 1895 and occupies a historic Beaux-Arts building on West Franklin Street in Richmond's Museum District, runs cooking classes through its in-house culinary team in a dedicated kitchen setting. The program is available to hotel guests and outside visitors seeking an intimate cooking experience grounded in the hotel's established kitchen culture. Classes focus on seasonal Virginia ingredients, with menus that change to reflect what is available from regional farms and producers. A typical class explores two to four recipes built around a central theme — summer herb preparations, Virginia seafood, Southern brunch classics, or holiday baking — guided by a chef from The Jefferson's culinary team with experience in New American and Southern cooking traditions. Participants cook alongside the instructor rather than observing from a distance, giving each session a hands-on character that differentiates it from a standard demonstration class. Sessions last two to three hours and are held in the hotel's kitchen facilities on West Franklin Street in Richmond. The class typically accommodates a small group of 8 to 16 participants, keeping the experience personal and allowing the instructor to provide individual guidance throughout. Participants eat what they cook at the conclusion of the session, which may be accompanied by Virginia wine or beer depending on the class format. The $95 per person price reflects the boutique nature of the experience and the quality of ingredients sourced for each session. Advance registration is required through jefferson-hotel.com or by phone, and dietary restrictions and allergies can be accommodated with notice when booking.