If your ideal souvenir is something you made (and maybe even ate), these immersive food workshops are calling your name. From kneading sourdough in a sun-drenched farmhouse kitchen to foraging wild herbs in the forest, hands-on culinary experiences offer a deeper taste of place—and a whole lot of fun.
Whether you’re perfecting pastry, digging up mushrooms, or playing with plant-based meals, these workshops invite you to roll up your sleeves, get a little messy, and leave with skills (and stories) to share.
Red Hen Artisanale Baking Workshops | Grey County
At Red Hen Artisanale, baker and pastry chef Lauren Hambleton welcomes guests into her dreamy Grey County kitchen studio for small, seasonal baking workshops. Set on a peaceful stretch of the Saugeen River, this is slow living at its tastiest. Workshops include sourdough bread, bagels, fresh pasta, and decorative pies, with a focus on technique, tradition, and confidence in the kitchen. Whether you’re new to sourdough or want to master the perfect chewy bagel, the hands-on classes are thoughtfully paced and deeply satisfying.
Wild Muskoka Botanicals Foraging Classes | Muskoka
For a grounded experience in Muskoka’s wild beauty, Wild Muskoka Botanicals offers foraging classes, herbal workshops, and full-season programs led by founder and educator Laura Gilmour. Single-day offerings like the Intro to Foraging Walks and Mushroom ID sessions focus on ethical harvesting and safety while introducing participants to 10–12 edible or medicinal species. For something deeper, the Wild Medicine Program and Fungi as Kin series blend science and tradition with hands-on practice, creating a meaningful relationship between land and learner.
Foraging Workshops with Deep Roots Adventure | Kawarthas
Deep Roots Adventure’s mushroom foraging classes are a deep dive into fungi. Led by Stephan Lukacic—an engaging educator and passionate forager—you’ll learn to safely identify and harvest edible and medicinal mushrooms. Workshops like Introduction to Foraging, Common Medicinal Mushrooms of Ontario, and Chaga 101 combine ecology, science, and a whole lot of muddy-boot magic in the forests of the Kawartha Highlands.
Make it a Weekend
Many of these workshops pair perfectly with a weekend escape. Book a nearby cabin, plan a hike or market stroll, and turn your food class into a mini culinary retreat. Don’t forget to pack containers—you might leave with leftovers!
Charmaine Broughton’s Classes at The Creative Cook | Muskoka
Chef Charmaine Broughton’s Laugh, Lunch & Learn series at The Creative Cook in Bracebridge is all about great food and good times. Held on Fridays (and some Saturdays), these relaxed demos include a full restaurant-size portion of the dish, a copy of the recipe, and a surprise dessert. From Pad Thai to Brie-Stuffed Pork Burgers with Maple Mustard Glaze, the menus are fun, flavourful, and approachable—ideal for cooks of any level.
Free Spirit Tours Wild Edibles Experience | South Georgian Bay
Barefoot Brian (yes, that’s his real nickname!) leads Free Spirit Tours’ Wild Edibles Experience—a two-hour guided forage in the woods in Heathcote. You’ll learn to spot, harvest, and prepare wild plants for both food and medicine, all while tuning into your surroundings in a whole new way.
Harvest Table Nutrition Cooking Workshops | South Georgian Bay
Bailey Franklyn, a culinary dietitian based in Thornbury, hosts private and group cooking workshops that make plant-based eating easy, beautiful, and delicious. Held in a welcoming home kitchen, these 2–3 hour classes are ideal for girls’ getaways, date nights, team events, or wellness retreats. All ingredients and tools are provided—you just show up ready to cook. Expect approachable, seasonal menus and a big dose of feel-good food education.
Food tastes better when you’ve made it yourself—especially in good company, in a beautiful setting, with a bit of flour on your shirt. Whether you’re after a fun weekend activity, a new skill, or a stronger connection to nature and the food you eat, these workshops offer memorable moments you can bring back home, bite by bite.