Cajun Entertaining with Eric Cook

Life in New Orleans means there's a new reason to gather and celebrate each week. Eric Cook (of Gris-Gris in the Lower Garden District) is here to show you how to ring them all in with a beautiful feast that draws inspiration from all across Louisiana. Pull up a seat at his table for an intimate cooking demonstratio of redfish court-bouillon and corn maque-choux, your chance to pick his brain on all things Cajun. After, we'll all sit down for a family-style dinner with flowing wine and conversation. You'll leave with recipes and ideas for effortless entertaining, ready for the next Saints game, holiday, or Sunday.

About the Instructor

Chef Eric Cook, a native of New Orleans, is a combat veteran who served six years in the United States Marine Corps. With training from the John Folse Culinary Institute, he began his culinary career at Brennan's, where he studied under Chef Mike Roussel. Soon after, he joined the team at Commander's Palace as sous chef and chef de partie. He has appeared on television shows such as Top Chef New Orleans and After Hours with Daniel Boulud and has been featured in magazines such as Saveur, Cooking Light, and Louisiana Cookin'. An advocate for the United States military and his hometown, he has also been an active volunteer for dozens of organizations and events from Wounded Warriors to Edible Schoolyard. In 2018, he opened Gris-Gris, where he serves classic Southern dishes and has earned many accolades from publications such as New Orleans CityBusiness, Eater New Orleans, and New Orleans Magazine.

Details & FAQs

When is check-in?
Class begins promptly at 6pm. As a courtesy to other guests, please plan to arrive 15 minutes beforehand to allow time for the check-in process. The NOCHI Cafe by Gracious, located in our lobby, also offers a happy hour beginning at 3pm in case you'd like to arrive earlier for bites and drinks.

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
You will find ample street parking and several paid parking lots in the blocks surrounding NOCHI. The streetcar also runs directly outside our building!

What is your cancellation policy?
Tickets are refundable until 30 days before the class. If your plans change, we encourage you to sell or gift them to someone, as they are fully transferrable. We always do our best to accommodate last-minute cancellations but cannot guarantee refunds or credits if we're unable to fill your seat in class.

What time do we eat?
In most hands-on classes, we’ll devote approximately the first 2 hours to demo and hands-on cooking. After that, we’ll sit down together for a family meal.

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
We absolutely love kiddos, but unless otherwise noted, most classes are designed with adults in mind. Enthusiasts younger than 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. We serve alcohol to anyone age 21+ and will be checking IDs upon arrival.

May I take photos during class?
Feel free to document your experience with us and share it on social media with the hashtag #intheNOCHI! You can find us on Instagram @nochi_grams, on Twitter @nochi_tweets, or on Facebook. Please leave professional photography and video equipment at home.

How can I contact the organizer with any other questions?
Drop us a line!