Culinary Leisure Class Gift Certificates: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Charlie Ruffolo • February 12, 2019

 

Throughout the year there are a number of different occasions to give and exchange gifts. From birthdays to holidays to anniversaries, even for no reason at all; when it comes to selecting presents, you have a wide variety of options. Now finding that perfect gift can be a challenge. One trend that is growing in popularity is gifting experiences instead of material items. While plane tickets, exotic vacations, and sporting events provide fantastic encounters and memories, they are temporary. Another type of non-material gift you should consider is that of knowledge. This is exactly what a culinary leisure class provides. A culinary leisure class is fun way to learn new skills that can be used for years to come. With a wide variety of classes focused on different topics, skills, and genres, there is literally a class for anyone and everyone.

 

Whether you or your recipient want to explore ethnic foods, sharpen your talents, or simply learn some of the fundamentals, there is a class for that. Each class is taught by a professional chef instructor in a state-of-the-art kitchen. From desserts to breakfast, from grilling to baking, each class offers a unique experience.

 

Oftentimes classes will be based around a holiday, making them a great opportunity to add to your skillset. You can celebrate Mom with a Mother’s Day Brunch and Learn. You can learn some new techniques and ideas before hosting Thanksgiving dinner. You can enhance your knowledge before manning the grill on Memorial Day weekend. Whatever the occasion, there will be a class for you, or better yet the recipient of your gift certificate. As new classes are developed and scheduled, a leisure class gift certificate is a great option for when the right fit comes along.

 

So when the next celebration rolls around, give the gift that creates and sharpens a skill that can not only be used for years to come, but can be shared and enjoyed by everyone.

 

PURCHASE GIFT CERTIFICATE

From Music to Kitchen Mastery: Student Spotlight on Ben Messina

By Charlie Ruffolo • March 25, 2026
Some people know from childhood exactly where they're headed. Ben Messina took a different route. He started college as a music major, took a gap year to find his footing, and leaned on his brother's encouragement before landing exactly where he was always meant to be: a professional kitchen . Now a senior in the Savory program at Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) in Baton Rouge, Ben is weeks away from graduating in May 2026. He arrived at LCI with a love of cooking and a family connection to food. He's leaving with a world-class culinary foundation, a mentor who pushed him to be his best, and a dream of opening multiple restaurants of his own one day. His story is proof that the path to a culinary career doesn't have to be a straight line. Is It Too Late to Change Careers and Go to Culinary School? For Ben, food has always been part of the family fabric. Growing up in Baton Rouge, he spent time in the kitchen with his grandmother, learning to make snickerdoodles as a kid. Those early memories planted a seed. But Ben initially followed a different passion. He'd played trumpet and piano since a young age, so he enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana University to study music. It wasn't long before the questions started creeping in: "What am I actually going to do with a music degree?" He took a gap year to figure it out. And the answer, when it came, was simple: go back to his other love. Cooking. His brother, who owns a food truck, had been encouraging him to consider culinary school. More specifically, he encouraged Ben to look at LCI. And then, without warning, he signed him up for a campus tour. 
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Leadership and Culinary Skill: Why Being a Great Cook Isn't the Same as Being a Great Leader

By Charlie Ruffolo • February 26, 2026
Being a great cook isn’t enough. Explore how LCI develops culinary leadership skills that prepare students for real-world kitchen management and career growth.
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