Entry No. 63 — the Des Moines file — filed under: hands-on
Kitchen Collage
A long-running cookware shop in the East Village that runs a steady calendar of hands-on cooking and baking classes in the back of the store. Sessions lean specific and seasonal — think summer fruit pies focused on flaky crusts and balanced fillings, royal-icing cookie decorating, or a 'Fresh from the Market' class that starts with a farmers-market walk before you prep and cook the haul. The shop frames classes as social date-night-friendly events, and small private group classes for 8-12 can be booked too.
The story
On paper, 430 East Locust Street looks like a standard high-end kitchen supply store—the kind that has sold fine china, Swedish Ankarsrum stand mixers, and specialty gadgets in the East Village since 1999. But push past the retail displays and you hit the real engine room: a working instructional kitchen hidden in the back of the shop.
The workshops bypass vague culinary overviews in favor of hyper-specific technique. Depending on the calendar, you might spend an evening learning the mechanics of flaky lattice crusts for summer fruit pies, tackling royal-icing piping work, or taking a 'Fresh from the Market' class that starts with a walk to collect ingredients directly from local vendors before bringing the haul back to prep and cook.
What it's like
You'll walk through a retail floor packed with cookware before taking your place at the back prep tables. The setup is small and collaborative—you'll be working shoulder-to-shoulder with other participants, rolling dough or prepping produce in an environment geared heavily toward date nights and small groups. Seats sell out fast on their web calendar, so booking weeks ahead isn't optional, it's mandatory.
The move: Take the summer fruit pie class together and walk out with a lattice-topped pie you rolled and crimped side by side.
📍 Before you go Classes are scheduled on specific dates and sell out; check the events calendar and register ahead. Private group classes (8-12) bookable via the shop.
- 📍 East Village, Des Moines
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 430 E. Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Alleged Lee's — Walk a block over after your class for drinks at an East Village speakeasy built around a 130-year-old carved bar.
- Up-Down Des Moines — Head nearby right after baking to trade kitchen tools for quarters and classic 80s and 90s arcade cabinets.
- The Dust Collective — Pair your cooking session with a stop down the street to browse vintage goods and oddities inside an artist-run storefront.
Good to know
Do I need to register for classes in advance?
Yes. Classes run on fixed dates with limited spots and routinely sell out, so you must register through their online calendar ahead of time.
Can you host private group events here?
The shop books small private group classes for groups of 8 to 12 people by contacting the store directly.
What types of classes do they host?
Offerings focus on specific skills and seasonal produce, including pie baking, cookie decorating with royal icing, and market-to-table cooking sessions.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · eastvillagedesmoines.com · ankarsrum.com
last checked: 2026-06-23