Give a guy a fish, and he'll eat for a day; teach a guy to make perfect sushi rolls, and he'll be the culinary king of the cul de sac. Impress neighbors with the glint of your gastronomic crown. For $30, you can attend any two-hour cooking class (regularly up to $75) at The Learning Kitchen in West Chester.

At The Learning Kitchen, highly trained instructors will help chop-happy visitors pick up handy tips for deft cuisine preparation. Grub-crafting students will slice, dice, and nibble-ize tongue-luring fare amid a sleek kitchen classroom. Top-notch boiling, frying, searing, and particle-accelerating equipment is on hand at 12 cooking stations as participants learn to wield quality knives and shurikens with nimble-handed dexterity. Chefs not only provide step-by-step instruction, but also teach useful chopping and sautéing techniques. A wide range of hands-on cooking classes is available, including a gnocchi workshop, neighborhood barbecue, vegetarian proteins, sushi rolling, and Thai. When dinner is done, students will sample their scrumptiously prepared meals in a sit-down dining area. Before they leave, students will receive recipe copies, saving them the trouble of scrubbing their hands free of ditto-machine wax.

Find out why your soufflé always falls or learn the basics of braising and roasting and the dark art of broasting. Béchamel by yourself or buy a Groupon for a friend, who may become more than a friend once the smell of rosemary scents the air and your hands casually brush while reaching for the paring knife. Call in advance to reserve your class.

Not valid for Kitchen Boutique merchandise.