If you’re looking for a unique and flavorful experience near Charlotte, let me put you on to a local gem: Santhoshi’s Kitchen. My husband and I recently took a cooking class there, and it turned out to be one of our favorite date nights to date—equal parts fun, flavorful, and surprisingly educational.
A Warm Welcome (and the Smell of Toasting Spices)
Santhoshi’s Kitchen is more than just a cooking class—it’s an experience. As soon as we walked through the door, the aromas of toasted spices and simmering sauces greeted us like a warm hug. Santhoshi herself is the heart of the experience. She’s friendly, passionate, and makes Indian cooking feel totally accessible, even if you’ve never picked up a masala tin in your life.
Spice Things Up: Our Date Night Cooking Class at Santhoshi’s Kitchen in Tega Cay, SC
What We Learned to Make:
During our class, we learned how to cook a full, restaurant-quality Indian meal from scratch:
- Jeera Rice – Light, fluffy basmati rice seasoned with cumin seeds and ghee. Simple, but so flavorful.
- Samosas – Yes, we made the dough and the filling ourselves! Golden, crispy, and packed with spiced potatoes. We couldn’t stop eating them.
- Chicken Tikka Masala – Creamy, rich, and deeply spiced. This dish alone was worth the class. It tasted better than any restaurant version we’ve had—and we made it ourselves!
We chopped, stirred, tasted, and laughed our way through the evening. Santhoshi guided us each step of the way, offering tips and background about the spices and techniques we were using. By the end of the class, we had not only learned how to make each dish, but we’d also sat down to enjoy the full meal we cooked—together with the rest of the class, family-style.
Even More Dishes to Explore:
Santhoshi offers a variety of rotating menus, so every visit offers a chance to try something new. Some of the other popular dishes you can learn to make in her classes include:
- Butter Chicken – A classic North Indian favorite, rich and velvety.
- Masala Dosa – A crispy fermented rice and lentil crepe filled with spiced potatoes, served with coconut chutney and sambar.
- Paneer Butter Masala – A vegetarian delight made with soft cubes of paneer in a tomato-based cream sauce.
- Vegetable Biryani – Fragrant basmati rice layered with spiced vegetables, herbs, and saffron.
- Chana Masala – Hearty chickpeas simmered in a spiced onion-tomato gravy.
- Gulab Jamun – Deep-fried milk dough balls soaked in rose-scented sugar syrup for dessert!
Whether you’re a meat-lover, vegetarian, or somewhere in between, there’s a menu for every palate.
Why You Should Try It:
If you’re in the Charlotte area and love trying new things, Santhoshi’s Kitchen is a must. Here’s why:
- The classes are hands-on and intimate, so you get plenty of personal instruction.
- You’ll gain real confidence in the kitchen—especially with Indian spices.
- It’s perfect for date nights, girls’ nights, or private group events.
- You leave with take-home recipes and a belly full of your own cooking.
- You’re supporting a local, woman-owned small business that truly cares about sharing culture through food.
We left Santhoshi’s Kitchen feeling full, inspired, and already talking about which class we want to take next. It’s the kind of experience that sticks with you—because you didn’t just eat something delicious, you made it with your own hands.
So if you’re ready to spice up your next night out (or just want to up your cooking game), book a class at Santhoshi’s Kitchen. Trust me—your taste buds will thank you.
Have you taken a cooking class recently in or near Charlotte? Let us know what you learned to cook and how your experience was in the kitchen by leaving a comment below.
