Unfortunately not. Fig classes are non-refundable for any reason. Tickets are valid only for the event purchased and cannot be transferred to another event. We ensure that each person who buys a ticket to a Fig class checks off that they understand this policy before they can complete their purchase, to make sure this is clearly understood and to make sure nobody is disappointed. We are a very small business and make many crucial decisions, staffing in particular, based on how many people are coming to a class. If we didn’t know how many people were coming to each class, we would quite simply go out of business and would not be able to guarantee steady work for our team members. If you cannot attend your class, you are more than welcome to send somebody else in your place.

Unfortunately, this is out of our control. We loudly encourage all people purchasing Fig as a present to buy gift certificates rather than class reservations for this very reason, as we cannot give refunds, and we want to make sure that everybody can sign up on a day that works for them. Everybody who purchases a Fig class must check off a box saying that they understand that classes are not refundable and cannot be moved to another date upon checking out. If you cannot make your class, you may of course send somebody in your place.

We are committed to keeping our classes running as scheduled as long as it is safe to do so. In the case of minor inclement weather (i.e. rain or light snow), the class will run as scheduled. In the case of extreme weather (i.e. heavy snow, or other dangerous weather) the class will be rescheduled. Since weather patterns change frequently, we will generally determine cancellation on the day, and will notify you via email.

In the event that a class is postponed due to inclement weather, we will schedule a make-up date and alert all participants. In the event that your class is rescheduled due to inclement weather and you are unable to attend the make-up date, please let us know up to 48 hours after we notify you of the new date, and we will give you a gift certificate equal to the value of the postponed class, to use at a different class of your choosing.

The sign-up link on each class listing page (found at figcookingschool.com/classes) will direct you to the registration page for that class, which will allow you to sign up through our booking system. If you have a gift certificate, there will be a place to enter your certificate information on that page. Your registration is official once you have received a confirmation email from our system (be sure to check your spam folder if you don’t see it). If you have signed up for a class and have not received a confirmation email, please email info@figcookingschool.com so we can help you out.

Unfortunately yes, that means it is sold out! Our system does not automatically update our classes to say they are sold out, so we have to update them manually. While we do our best to do this in a timely manner, we are a very, very small team, so there is sometimes a delay between when the class is sold out and when we are able to update it on our website.

Our system sends confirmations automatically so you didn’t receive one, this is almost always due to a mistyped email address or, on occasion, because the confirmation email got sent to spam. If the email is not in your spam folder, please reach out via email or over the phone. If you have already reached out, we will be in touch shortly to make sure you receive your confirmation.

We post upcoming classes periodically throughout the year. Our website system does not allow us to post more than 30 upcoming classes, so if the classes you see are sold out, we recommend checking back periodically to see which classes have been added.

If you are looking to buy someone else a class reservation as a gift, we highly recommend that you purchase a gift card instead so that they can choose a class they’re sure works in their schedule. Classes are non-refundable, and cannot be transferred to another day once booked. We offer a wide variety of classes all year round, and a gift card gives the recipient the most flexibility in choosing a class.

Our regular classes are only for ages 16+, and unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions to this rule. If you are scheduling a private party you are welcome to include children under 16 on your guest list!

We can only accept registrations through our secure online system, accessed directly through our website (visit figcookingschool.com/classes to learn more about, and register for, individual classes). If online registration is technologically difficult for you, we recommend having a friend help you out.

Give us a call! If there is enough demand we may be able to add another section. We also offer many of our most popular class offerings multiple times throughout the year, so check back to see if we have posted another section of the class you want to take.

We allow a maximum of five guests per party at each of our public classes, so this is the maximum number of tickets you can purchase.

If you can only select one person, that means there is only one ticket left for the class. Likewise, if you can only purchase two tickets, that’s how many tickets are left. Our system will allow you to buy up to 5 tickets as long as they are available. Please note that we have a maximum of five guests per party.

If there are spots available, you can register for a class up to 2 days before (though we cannot guarantee availability). We do accept registrations at the door. All attendees must have a fully paid registration prior to the start of the class.

Since our classes are non-refundable and tickets cannot be moved to another date, spots do not typically open up. That said, we can put your name on a waitlist in case of very unusual circumstances.

Yes! Gift certificates are an extremely popular present for holidays, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, employee appreciation, and much more! If you are trying to decide between buying a gift certificate and signing somebody up for a class, ALWAYS go with the gift certificate as classes are non-refundable and scheduling can be difficult. You can buy gift certificates here.

All of our gift cards are electronic and must be purchased online. We do this so that recipients never have to worry about losing their cards, as these can always be printed out again. To purchase an electronic gift card, go to https://www.figcookingschool.com/gift-certificates. If you are planning to give the gift certificate in person, please enter your own email address. The certificate will then be sent to you, and you can print it out and give it to the recipient whenever you want! They will then be able to use the code on the gift certificate to redeem the value towards any Fig Cooking School class.

If you want a printout to accompany your electronic gift card, please email us with proof of gift card purchase, and we can send you a link to this printout. Please note that we cannot send this link before you purchase a gift card.

You can redeem the card for the dollar value, but we cannot compensate for the difference in the current cost of a class (most of our classes are now $125). All of our $85 gift cards were sold more than 5 years ago when classes were taught in Heide’s home, and were an entirely different experience. In addition, the costs of food, supplies, and labor have increased significantly since then.

If your gift card is not marked with an expiration date, then you can still use it.

Yes, the dollar value of your gift certificate may be applied to a private party. However, please keep in mind that our 16-guest minimum exceeds the value of most gift certificates, and you will need to pay the difference.

For the vast majority of gift cards purchased within the last 5 years, yes, you can. If you have an electronic gift card (or a printout of an electronic gift card) then you can combine these to purchase a class. If you have one of our old physical gift cards (purchased 5+ years ago) valued at $85, our system, unfortunately, cannot combine these.

Physical gift cards should be treated like cash, as we have no way of tracking them. Unfortunately, we cannot honor physical gift cards without the code.

We recommend contacting the person who gave it to you and asking them to send it again.

This only happens if the gift certificate number is entered incorrectly. If entered correctly, the value of the gift card will come off, and the total will be adjusted accordingly (if the gift card value exceeds the order, the total will simply become $0, and the balance will remain on the gift card for future use). Please check to make sure your total has been adjusted before checking out, and if not, check your gift certificate code for errors, as the system will otherwise not know to remove the value of your gift card and charge the total shown.

Please note that gift certificate codes must be entered EXACTLY as written, which can be a little tricky, particularly with the electronic cards. If you have a digital version of your gift certificate, we highly recommend copying and pasting the number.

For electronic gift certificates (the vast majority), you can apply your gift certificate by clicking the link that says “Apply a gift card, ” next to your order total. If you click on that link, a form will then come up, and you can insert your gift card code. Please note that the gift card code must be entered exactly as written. If you have a digital version of your card, we recommend copying and pasting it.

If have a physical gift card, you will enter your code in the field that says “Physical Voucher Number.”

See the pictures at the top of this section if you are not sure which type of gift certificate you have!

The best way to learn is through active experience, so our classes are very hands-on. We all work together to create the meal, and you may participate as much (or as little!) as you like.

We all cook together to make the meal.

We all work together to create the meal, but of course, you will be able to stand with the people you came with. Note that we allow everyone to choose where they stand, and positions are chosen on a first-come-first-served basis. While people are generally willing to move around a bit to make sure everyone gets to stand with the people they came with, please arrive on time to make sure you are able to pick the spot that works best for you!

Absolutely! We make sure everybody gets to know each other during the class. Many of our guests come solo, and everybody has a great time.

As of 2023 we no longer offer kids classes, camps, or workshops. We have a minimum age of 16 to attend all public classes and unfortunately cannot make any exceptions to this rule.

Of course! All classes come with a full meal, typically served once all the food is prepared. We recommend having a hearty snack before you come so you’re not hungry while we cook the meal.

Our open reservation classes are 15-20 people.

Of course! You will given a recipe packet at the beginning of class which you will bring home with you when you leave.

We don't have classes specifically for beginners, but all of our classes are designed for all skill levels, including beginners. If you are a very new cook, we do not recommend signing up for any of our 4-hour classes, like Spice Market: Persia, as these classes tend to be more advanced.

Absolutely! Our classes are extremely in-depth and informative, and even our most experienced guests are typically shocked by how much they learn, not just about the menus we prepare but about cooking and technique in general. We always adapt our lessons to our guests and their needs so that everybody comes away enriched.

We do not teach any baking-only classes. In our experience, there is not enough demand, and cooking is our main area of training and expertise. That said, most of our classes do feature a dessert.

We do not. On VERY rare occasion, one of our classes will feature one bread (typically some type of brioche or cake-like sweet bread) but this is not typical, and we cannot say when/if these classes will be offered in the future.

While we are huge sushi fans, we are absolutely not qualified to teach it. Training to become a sushi chef takes years. We will only teach things that we are positive we can teach respectfully and accurately, and we will not disrespect the art form by teaching an approximation.

We don’t teach fresh pasta in any of our classes, though we do teach many pasta-based classes that will teach you what to do with the pasta you have!

Please let us know BEFORE purchasing a class if you are a vegetarian or have any other dietary restrictions. Some of our classes are vegetarian or can be made vegetarian with small adjustments if we have advance notice, but we cannot guarantee that accommodations can be made for every class.

Give us a call before signing up so we can discuss your options! Some of our classes are vegetarian or pescatarian, or can be made so with small adjustments if we have advance notice. We may be able to accommodate other restrictions if given prior notice. That said, please ask about accommodations and dietary needs before signing up for your class, as we cannot guarantee that adjustments can be made for every class, and signups are not refundable, nor can reservations be moved to another date. Please note that our kitchen is full of dairy, gluten, and nuts, and that we cannot accept responsibility for these or any other food allergies. Our kitchen is not Kosher.

Unfortunately, for food safety reasons, we cannot cook any outside food brought into the school.

We are located at 42 Naugatuck Ave, in Milford, CT's beautiful Walnut Beach arts district. We are only 5 minutes from I-95 and are extremely convenient to New Haven, Fairfield, and Westchester Counties.

You can park across the street or on any of the surrounding streets. Please do not park in the 15-minute zone directly in front of our building.

We do! We have a menu of wine, beer, and spirits (including signature cocktails!) available for purchase. Guests must be 21+ to order alcohol. Please note that we cannot serve alcohol until we serve the meal, as we are working with chef’s knives and flames. None of our classes are BYOB.

As of 2023, we no longer require full vaccination to attend our classes. Masks are encouraged, but not required.

We do not have public classes during the day, as there simply is not enough demand. However, we frequently hold private events during the day, including corporate team-building events. If you are looking for a slightly earlier class, we recommend one of our Sunday classes, which typically run 5:00 – 8:00.

Fig’s space is fully ADA-compliant, with front ramp entry and room for wheelchair access throughout. Our main bathroom is wheelchair accessible. If you are a wheelchair user, please let us know in advance so we can make any adjustments necessary to meet your access needs. In particular, let us know if the seat on your chair does not elevate, so we can set up at one of our lower counters, as our usual counter is higher than most wheelchairs can comfortably access. Note that our stovetop is located at standard counter height. If you have other access needs, please give us a call so we can ensure they are met.

We don’t have typical public hours and are only reliably at the school while teaching or actively setting up for a class. Our open hours, as listed on our website or Google, refer to the hours we can typically be reached by phone. You can feel free to reach out during that time if you have any questions!

Yes! We offer private parties and team-building events for groups of 16 or more. These classes have flexible scheduling and can be customized to your needs. If you are looking to schedule a private event, please reach out to let us know what you have in mind, and we will be happy to share more. When reaching out, please be sure to let us know how many guests you will be inviting and what date you have in mind.

You can learn more about our robust corporate team-building program at this link.

Custom events, such as private parties or team-building events, have a minimum of 16 people.

We have a minimum of 16 guests for all private classes. While you may pay for 16 people and only bring 2, that option is not very popular ;)

While we do offer this as a possibility, we very rarely do it in practice, as we essentially need to transport our entire kitchen to yours, resulting in both travel fees and more work (i.e. cleanup!) for you! Since we have such a beautiful space, which is set up for the specific needs of our classes, the vast majority of people ultimately choose to host their events in the Fig kitchen.

We are not able to offer private classes during holiday weeks or weekends (including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year) as this is one of the rare times per year we are able to take off and spend time with our families!

No. Fig is a recreational cooking school for home cooks and does not offer a degree program. If you are looking to become a professional chef, we recommend checking out Gateway Community College’s program locally, or the French Culinary Institute in New York.

We do not.

We sell a small selection of merchandise, including t-shirts, aprons, and bags, available for purchase at the school. Please note that we cannot guarantee the availability of any given item.

Giving back to our community is extremely important to us. We wish we could give to everybody who asks us, but we get hundreds of requests each year and simply cannot afford to donate to all of them. We are able to offer a certain number of donations each year, and will respond to your request if we are able to participate. However, please understand if we are not able to accommodate your request.

Nope – in fact we rarely cook with figs! Fig is named for Heide’s 3 daughters – Francesca, Isabella, and Gabrielle!