Have some time on your hands but not sure what to do? Take your passion for food out of your home kitchen with these five foodie activities, where you can embrace hands-on culinary experiences at local businesses. Grab a couple of friends and create a foodie staycation for the ages.
Take a Cooking Class with Cooking Thyme With Stacie
Stacie Husman is a passionate cook and host, and she loves to share her skills through cooking classes, cooking parties, and cooking demos both in person and virtually. You can book a group class for your next gathering, either through a Zoom class, in your home, or at Husman’s space in Fairfax. Or book a “Wine & Dine” experience to have the class at a winery in Hamilton, where the food you create is paired with a wine tasting. Location varies, in-person classes start at $125 per person
Visit a Local Chocolate Factory, River-Sea Chocolates
Founded by Krissee and Mariano D’Aguiar in 2017, River Sea Chocolates is a chocolate factory, chocolate shop, and hot chocolate café that values sustainable chocolate-making practices. Visit the shop to take part in a chocolate-tasting experience. During this hour-long experience, you will sample five types of chocolate and tour the production room to learn all about how chocolate beans are turned into chocolate bars. 4520 Daly Dr., Ste. 100, Chantilly, $25 per person
Tour Alexandria’s Eateries with Blue Fern Travel
Old Town Alexandria is not just a charming neighborhood — it’s also a delicious one. Sample all that the neighborhood has to offer through a guided food tour from Blue Fern Travel. The 2-mile Southern Comfort tour includes plenty of tastings, as well as interesting historical facts about the area. Groups, solo travelers, vegetarians, and individuals of all ages are welcome. Old Town Alexandria, starting at $120 per person
Create a Sweet Masterpiece at Fran’s Cake and Candy
In addition to selling baking supplies and tools, Fran’s Cake and Candy offers classes ranging from cake decorating to cake-pop making. Some classes are themed, such as seasonal classes for Valentine’s Day, and there are special parent and child classes as well. Best of all? You get to take your treats home to devour! 10927 Main St., Fairfax, prices vary
Combine Yoga and Cooking at Cookology
Cookology has classes for every kind of food, from pastries to ravioli. A standout offering is the Flow & Feast series, where participants engage in a 60-minute yoga class before making a hearty meal such as red lentil dahl with coconut milk and a beet salad on the side. 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, $110 per person
Feature image courtesy River-Sea Chocolates
