Tablespoon Cooking Company

What Tablespoon Cooking Company does

Tablespoon Cooking Company is a privately held, single-location culinary education and experience business headquartered at 1731 Elm Street in Cincinnati's Findlay Market district. Founded by classically trained chef Jordan Hamons (Midwest Culinary Institute; UC Lindner Honors-PLUS), the company sells hands-on, chef-led cooking classes to individual consumers, couples, and groups, with class sizes intentionally capped at 12-16 guests to preserve a personalized, instructional format. Core programming follows a monthly release cadence (third Thursday at noon), distributed primarily through an email list, and includes a rotating catalog of international cuisines (Italian, Thai, Korean, French, Moroccan, Turkish, Chinese), seasonal specials, and themed date-night or workshop formats; tickets include ingredients, equipment use, drinks, and the meal participants prepare.

The business extends its single-kitchen footprint with adjacent revenue streams: (i) packaged private events for corporate team-building and private celebrations (Party Style, Lunch Break, Workshop, Competition formats priced $975-$1950+); (ii) Camp Tablespoon, a three-day kids cooking day camp for ages 8-13 at $249-$299 per camper; (iii) catering service for corporate meetings and events; (iv) space rental of the venue with in-house catering and bar packages; (v) gift cards that never expire; and (vi) a separate e-commerce storefront selling curated ingredients, tools, and TBSP-branded merchandise. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company website and Simpletix for classes, and a sales-led motion via HubSpot scheduler for private events; the company also runs active Instagram, Facebook, and a recipe blog for top-of-funnel demand generation.

Tablespoon operates on a transaction-fee revenue model across nearly all streams, with no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and no institutional investors. The team is approximately 20+ people including 6 instructors and 16 culinary team members under an Operations Manager, Guest Experience Director, and Kitchen Manager. Forward operating posture includes guest-chef collaborations (Kristina Cho, Chef Brad Greenhill of Takoi Thai), sommelier partnerships (Skurnik Wines), and local co-marketing with Rookwood Pottery, Link x Lou, and Asianati Night Market — all pointing to a deliberate neighborhood-ecosystem strategy inside Findlay Market. Revenue and ARR are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Tablespoon Cooking Company

Legal name

Tablespoon Cooking Co.

Website

https://tablespooncookingco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tablespoon Cooking Company is a Cincinnati-based culinary institute at Findlay Market that sells hands-on cooking classes, private events, kids cooking camps, catering, and curated retail to consumers, corporate teams, and private celebration groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary Education Services

NAICS

Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Venue & Banquet Hall Catering (THAFAIAC)

Keywords

• Cooking classes
• Culinary education
• Private events
• Catering services
• Culinary experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cooking Classes: Hands-on cooking classes sold as tickets for individuals or pairs. Classes include two drinks per person and a full meal prepared by participants. Classes range from date nights to themed cuisine workshops.
2. Private Events: Custom private cooking classes for groups including Party Style (10-35 guests, $1950+), Workshop (6-16 guests, $1950+), Lunch Break (6-16 guests, $975+), and Competition format. Includes dedicated event manager planning.
3. Kids Camp: Three-day cooking camp sessions for kids ages 8-13 held at the Findlay Market location. Pricing: $249 early bird, $299 regular per camper.
4. Catering: Gourmet sandwiches and salads for events and work meetings, prepared fresh with quality ingredients.
5. Retail Shop: Curated selection of cooking ingredients, tools, and TBSP merchandise sold through their online store. Includes specialty items like vanilla, salt, olive oil, kitchen tools, and apparel.
6. Gift Cards: Gift cards redeemable for cooking classes and merchandise. Never expire. Can be purchased online or in person.
7. Space Rental: Event venue rental at their Findlay Market location for company events or celebrations with in-house catering and bar packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tablespoon Cooking Company is a hands-on culinary institute operating from a single kitchen venue in Cincinnati's historic Findlay Market. It sells chef-led cooking class tickets, hosts private group events and team-building experiences, runs children's cooking camps, offers catering and venue rental, and retails curated cooking ingredients, tools, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Tablespoon Cooking Company is a culinary education and experience platform offering hands-on cooking classes, private events, and children's cooking camps in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company operates a single-location business at Findlay Market with multiple integrated offerings: Cooking Classes form the core product with monthly-released schedules and a comprehensive class catalog; Private Events provide team building and celebration experiences with multiple event formats; Camp Tablespoon offers summer cooking day camps for kids ages 8-13; the Shop sells curated culinary products and merchandise; Gift Cards provide a flexible gifting option; Catering and Space Rental extend the venue's utility for external events; and the Blog offers recipe content. All offerings are centered around the company's physical kitchen space and professional chef-led instruction model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cooking Classes Hands-on, chef-led in-person cooking classes teaching various cuisines and techniques in small groups of 12-16 guests. Tickets are sold for individual or pair stations and include ingredients, equipment, two drinks per person, and a full meal participants prepare and eat at the end of class.
• Private Events Private culinary event packages for corporate team building, client entertaining, birthdays, and celebrations. Formats include Party Style (10-35 guests, $1950+), Lunch Break (6-16 guests, $975+), Workshop (6-16 guests, $1950+), Competition (10-25 guests, $1950+), and Custom events, with a dedicated event manager planning each experience.
• Camp Tablespoon (Kids Camp) Three-day in-person cooking day camp for children ages 8-13, held at the Findlay Market kitchen. Sessions run 11am-1:30pm daily and include hands-on learning, meals, an apron, a recipe booklet, and a TBSP tote bag, priced at $249 early bird or $299 regular per camper.
• Shop (Retail Store) Online retail storefront selling a curated selection of cooking ingredients, specialty items like vanilla, salt, and olive oil, kitchen tools, and Tablespoon-branded merchandise such as apparel and tote bags.
• Gift Cards Digital or plastic gift cards redeemable for cooking classes and merchandise, with recommended amounts of $250 for two people or $170 for one person. Gift cards never expire and can be purchased online or in person.
• Catering Gourmet catering service featuring prepared sandwiches and salads for events and work meetings, prepared fresh with quality ingredients, with in-house catering and bar packages available as add-ons.
• Space Rental Event venue rental at the Findlay Market kitchen location for company events or celebrations, with in-house catering and bar packages and dedicated event management included.

Quantifiable outcome

• Classes typically sell out quickly after tickets go on sale

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Rookwood PotteryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative Mother's Day weekend experience where participants cook at Tablespoon and receive a Rookwood shareboard, then tour Rookwood Pottery facility on the other side of Findlay Market for behind-the-scenes tour, private shopping, and light bites.
• Skurnik Wines / TJ SnuffinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sommelier TJ Snuffin of Skurnik Wines provides wine selections for holiday wine tastings ($5 tasting) and class pairings.
• Link x LouminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Permanent jewelry pop-up at Tablespoon events including Sparkle & Shop Holiday Open House and Mother's Day events. Cross-promotional event partnership.
• Takoi ThaiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hosting Chef Brad Greenhill of Detroit's Takoi Thai restaurant for exclusive cooking class as part of their 10-Year Anniversary Tour. Chef teaches signature dishes and Thai curry paste techniques.
• Kristina Cho / AsianatiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Award-winning cookbook author (James Beard awards for Mooncakes and Milk Bread) teaching recipes from her new cookbook 'Chinese Enough' during book tour stop. Book included with ticket.
• Asianati Night MarketminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Tablespoon cooking class collaboration associated with Blink light festival. Kristina Cho class connects to Asianati Night Market event at Blink.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sur La Table: National retailer and cooking school operator offering in-store hands-on classes, private events, and a robust retail store of cookware and ingredients. Comparable because it combines chef-led cooking classes with retail and event experiences, similar to Tablespoon's integrated model — but at far greater national scale.
• Institute of Culinary Education (ICE): Large NYC-based culinary school offering professional culinary arts programs plus recreational cooking classes, private events, and team-building experiences. Comparable because it operates the same format mix (hands-on classes + private/corporate events + shorter recreational courses) but at significantly larger scale and with formal career-track programming.
• Milk Street: Christopher Kimball's media-and-class venture offering cooking classes, recipes, and culinary content. Comparable to Tablespoon's hands-on class + recipe blog + retail (cookbook/merch) model, but at national scale driven by media distribution.
• EatWith: Global marketplace connecting travelers and locals with hosts offering in-home dinners, cooking classes, and chef-led culinary experiences. Comparable because it operates in the same experiential culinary category (chef-led cooking experiences as social events) that Tablespoon serves for date nights, friend groups, and private celebrations.
• Stonewall Kitchen: Specialty food retailer and cooking class operator offering hands-on classes, retail stores, mail-order specialty foods, and café service. Comparable because it combines chef-led cooking classes with curated retail — a structural analog to Tablespoon's cooking-class-plus-store model, though at multi-location scale.

Direct peers

• The Chopping Block: Chicago-based hands-on recreational cooking school offering public classes, private events, corporate team-building, kids' classes, and date nights — a near-direct operational analog to Tablespoon's small-class, chef-led, multi-format model, with similar ticket pricing and capacity constraints.

Emerging players

• Cozymeal: Online marketplace connecting consumers to in-person and virtual cooking classes, chef's table dinners, and food tours. Comparable to Tablespoon because it represents the broader demand-aggregation layer for chef-led culinary experiences that Tablespoon competes against for consumer attention.
• Classpop!: Online marketplace for booking local cooking classes, mixology classes, and culinary experiences across multiple cities. Comparable because it represents the platform/marketplace model Tablespoon competes with for consumer demand and could partner with for distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TablespoonCookingCo
• Instagraminstagram.com/TablespoonCookingCo
• Xx.com/tbspcookingco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tablespooncookingco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tablespoon Cooking Company