The other night I passed Hipcooks (4048 30th St) in North Park. It looked like a clean, well lighted space, and a small group of aproned people had gathered around a table to listen to instructions. I actually thought, I want to do this, before my husband chimed in and said, "Let's do that sometime."

A Hipcooks class begins as an intimate cooking lesson based on a planned menu, and ends with a wine tasting and dinner party with the class. This Saturday, June 9 from 2 to 5 p.m., Hipcooks teaches Thai One On. Curries, spring rolls, chicken satay, and coconut sticky rice with shrimp are a few menu items in this Thai immersion class. Upcoming classes include Romantic Dinner for Two (pumpkin, garlic sage risotto; creme brulee), A Cocktail Party (warm goat cheese wrapped dates; endives stuffed with gorgonzola and roast pear), and Thrill of the Grill (Gazpacho Andaluz; grilled pork loin with pomegranate sauce).

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/08/25858/

The classes are open to all skill levels, but on Tuesday, June 19 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Cooking 101 will teach students how to fix affordable and quick main courses. The menu includes carrot and ginger soup, mini pizzas, pasta, lentils with orange roughy, and pear galette.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/08/25860/

Classes are set at $55 and include fresh, organic (when possible) ingredients as well as full use of the kitchen. Class size is limited to about 30 students for personalized instruction. Registration online is required to reserve a spot.