The chilies poster that hangs in the foyer of Heat and Spice sums up the focus of this intimate BYOB school. Mexican, Indian and Thai food are the core of chef Joe Sochor's classes, and after drooling over offbeat offerings like "Mexican Street Food" and "Thai Curry Trek" I signed on for a couples Indian class.

Mixing cultural insight with mad skills and a calm demeanor, Sochor made even the most intimidating recipes (samosas, anyone?) seem manageable. The Uptown apartment setting, which threw me for a loop when I first arrived, left me feeling confident that I could reproduce the recipes in my normal kitchen. Sharing the space with only one other couple, I got plenty of attention and left with a near-bursting belly. Classes, offered 3-4 times each week, run from $65-$100.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Rockwood