Entry No. 52 — the Pueblo file — filed under: hands-on
Gather Food Studio & Spice Shop
A locally owned cooking school and spice shop on the historic Old Colorado City stretch, about 45 minutes up I-25 from Pueblo. Their interactive, small-group classes swing from hand-rolled sushi and steak technique to French macarons and cake, so couples cook side by side and eat what they make. It's the closest genuinely hands-on culinary studio to Pueblo and a worthwhile half-day trip.
The story
You have to drive about 45 minutes up I-25 into Old Colorado City to get there, but Gather Food Studio is the closest place to Pueblo where a cooking class isn't just watching a instructor perform behind a plexiglass barrier. Co-owned by chef David Cook, the studio functions as a working kitchen-classroom on West Colorado Avenue, backed by an active spice shop stocked with house-blended seasonings and seasonal staples like hand-peeled roasted Pueblo green chilies.
The setup relies on small-group execution rather than passive observation. Instead of receiving a pre-made sample at the end, you and a partner stand side-by-side at a station, taking actual heat and steel to raw ingredients. On any given night, the menu swings from technical line skills like knife work and steak searing to hand-rolled sushi, French macarons, or regional twists like mini apple pies folded with Pueblo green chile and piñon nuts.
What it's like
Stepping into the storefront on the historic Old Colorado City strip, the first thing you'll hit is the dry-spice aroma before reaching the kitchen floor. The vibe is zero-pretense prep work: aprons go on, knives come out, and you get straight to work without long-winded lectures. Once everything is seared, rolled, or baked, you sit down to eat the full meal you just prepped. Just don't roll up on a whim—classes are strictly date-scheduled and sell out well in advance.
The move: Drive up for an evening class like sushi rolling or French macarons and cook the whole meal together, then eat it on the spot.
📍 Before you go Classes are scheduled on specific dates and sell out; book ahead. It's in Colorado Springs (~45 mi / under an hour from Pueblo), not Pueblo itself.
- 📍 Old Colorado City, Colorado Springs
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2011 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Supernova Bar and Arcade — Drive less than two miles east into downtown Colorado Springs post-class for craft drinks and classic cabinet arcade games.
- Manitou Springs Penny Arcade (Arcade Amusements) — Head 3.5 miles west into Manitou Springs after eating to walk off your meal across eight rooms of historic coin-op machines.
- The Glass Collective by Sassy Glassy — Pair your culinary lesson with a stained glass or glass fusing workshop just a few miles away in Colorado Springs.
Good to know
Where is Gather Food Studio located, and how far is it from Pueblo?
It's at 2011 W Colorado Ave in Old Colorado City (Colorado Springs), roughly 45 miles—or under an hour's drive north on I-25—from Pueblo.
Do I need to book cooking classes ahead of time?
Yes. Seats are capped for a small-group setup, run on specific dates, and routinely sell out online long before the day of the event.
What kind of classes do they offer?
The menu rotates through technical, global, and regional recipes, including sushi rolling, steak technique, French macarons, chile rellenos, and dishes utilizing Pueblo green chilies.
Does Gather operate as a retail shop without taking a class?
Yes. Beyond classes, you can walk in to buy dry spices, roasted Pueblo green chilies, or take advantage of their knife sharpening services.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · Tripadvisor · gazette.com · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-23