I was so excited for the Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass. I’ve already enjoyed the Gordon Ramsay MasterClass and the Thomas Keller MasterClass as part of MasterClass’s All Access Pass, but Wolfgang Puck was the one I was most looking forward to.
I’ve been a big fan of Wolfgang Puck ever since I started eating at his restaurants in Tokyo. Without a doubt, Chef Puck’s restaurants are the best value meals for two in the forty dollar price range anywhere in the city.
Me chilling in Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
So when the Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass was released, I was on that like olive oil in a skillet.
Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass Review
This Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass Review will review the course materials, the production value, Wolfgang Puck himself as a teacher, the ease of cooking, and all that good stuff.
If you think I haven’t covered anything in this review, leave a comment at the end of article and I’ll be happy to answer you.
After taking all of the other cooking MasterClasses currently available, it’s interesting to start comparing different teaching styles.
Chef Ramsay has a blend of general advice and recipes that act as universal lessons. Chef Keller focuses mainly on principles and wants to give you the tools required to become an independent chef.
Chef Puck basically just dives straight into the recipes.
Chef Puck’s teaching style
Wolfgang Puck’s teaching style is just like his personality: assertive, bold, and adventurous.
This is a teaching style that really clicked with me.
There’s no huge preamble in the Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass.
After a lesson on how to train your palate, Puck dives right in there and gets us cooking some tasty – and complicated – recipes.
Tuna sashimi, pepper steak with red wine sauce, roasted branzino, and oatmeal risotto are just some of the awe-inspiring recipes you’ll find in the Wolfgang Puck Masterclass. You’ll also learn to make some yummy cocktails too.
Despite what appears to be complex recipes (at least to an amateur cook like myself), Wolfgang Puck’s teaching style is incredibly crisp and clear.
Chef Puck’s affable attitude really makes it easy to whip up some fancy meals.
Wolfgang Puck’s recipes – what you need
If you’re going to invest in the Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass, you’ll probably also need to invest in more ingredients than you currently have in your kitchen.
Thomas Keller’s MasterClass (my review here) required few ingredients and used a minimalist approach. Gordon Ramsay’s MasterClass (my review here) required the basics and got you cooking those nostalgic home meals.
But it feels like Wolfgang Puck does not give a damn about keeping ingredient lists low.
I’m not complaining. His recipes are DELICIOUS.
The picture below does not do justice to how freaking delicious that meal was.
I didn’t spend time with the lighting or getting fancy plates or decorating the meal just right, but it was gorgeous.
I used Wolfgang Puck’s veal stock and demi-glace and red wine raisin sauce along with his pepper steak recipe and…
OH MY GOD.
Firstly, I’ve cooked a lot of steaks in my time (one of the few meals I could ever do) but this was the best.
Even using one of the cheapest Australian cuts of meat on sale at my supermarket, this meal was divine.
Secondly, Wolfgang Puck’s teaching style was so good that I was able to watch the video once and then cook this from memory. This is a serious achievement for someone who is not confident in the kitchen yet.
Thirdly, it was so delicious (yes, I know I’ve already mentioned that), that I ended up cooking it three times in one week.
When was the last time you dipped your spoon into the sauce you were cooking, tasted it, and couldn’t help but MOAN out loud?
I could have drunk that red wine sauce by the bucket.
Yummy.
Anyway, I digress…
Like I was saying, you do need quite a few ingredients if you’re going to cook some of the meals in the Wolfgang Puck MasterClass.
Puck’s Seafood Gazpacho requires around 20 ingredients.
That’s on the higher end.
The steak required half that amount.
So just keep that in mind when investing in this course.
A good thing though: Puck’s recipes don’t require fancy equipment.
Seeing as I only have a small kitchen, fancy equipment is more likely to be a block to me making the recipes than what ingredients I need. So I was super happy about that.
The Wolfgang Puck Masterclass is split up into 16 video lessons
The video lessons typically run to 15-20 minutes and the whole course is just under 4 hours.
The Wolfgang Puck MasterClass is shorter than the Ramsay and Keller MasterClasses. But I don’t equate length with value. The value I received from Chef Puck’s MasterClass is more confidence with complex dishes, a ton of motivation, a few new delicious recipes under my belt, and intense motivation to keep improving my cooking.
As part of the All Access Pass, which lets you watch all of the MasterClasses, this was very good value for me.
In addition to the beautifully produced video lessons, you can join the student hub to mingle with other cooking students (something I haven’t done yet) and participate in different ongoing exercises and discussions.
You also get access to office hours where Wolfgang will answer your questions (no questions answered yet – that means if you sign up soon you might be able to ask him a questions).
On top of that, you get a great PDF booklet course booklet that will give you a ton of different things to explore in the world of cooking.
Bottom line: is the Wolfgang Puck Masterclass worth it?
Personally I am crazily happy with my MasterClass All Access Pass.
I didn’t just enrol in the Wolfgang Puck MasterClass. I get access to all of the classes. I get to learn from all of the world-class chefs, writers, actors, directors, musicians, and more that MasterClass have in their catalogue.
But I would still be very happy with the Wolfgang Puck MasterClass as a standalone.
This MasterClass has given me some insane motivation for cooking.
I’ve not cooked much for many years and suddenly going from not being able to cook basic stuff to suddenly being able to easily whip up the delicious and exotic meals in the Wolfgang Puck MasterClass is a glorious thing.
If cooking is your hobby or vocation, it’s definitely worth the price tag.