Southern Essentials Class: Biscuits & Pimiento Cheese

What will I make in the Southern Essentials cooking class?
You’ll make flaky buttermilk biscuits, homemade pimento cheese, and sweet iced tea, and you’ll learn the stories and techniques behind each one. This is a hands-on class, not a demonstration: you roll, mix, stir, and sip your way through the foundations of Southern cooking.

Will I learn to make flaky buttermilk biscuits from scratch?
Yes. In the Southern Essentials class you mix, roll, and bake buttermilk biscuits from scratch, step by step, with a local guide who explains the techniques and tells the story behind them. You’ll also make pimento cheese and sweet iced tea, and take your creations home.

What are the menu items? (Spoilers!)
Don’t read this if you want to be surprised! Generally, you’ll make the following (subject to change): buttermilk biscuits served with Emily G’s peach marmalade; pimento cheese, with the spice level adapted to your palate; and sweet tea, or unsweet if you prefer.

How much food is there, and what do we take home?
What you make is enough for a hearty snack, not a full dinner. You take home recipe cards, your jam, your pimento cheese, and any leftovers.

Do I need cooking experience? Is this class beginner-friendly?
This class is beginner-friendly and for everyone, from seasoned cooks to people who burn water. Your guide leads each step so everyone can follow along and make their own, and is happy to give extra help.

What type of history is included in the class?
The Southern Essentials class covers the history of Southern biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet tea from the 1600s to the 1900s, told through stories you can pass along at home.

Is this a soul food or fried chicken cooking class?
No. Southern Essentials is a 1.5-hour, hands-on class focused on three Southern staples: buttermilk biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet iced tea. It is not a full soul-food menu or a full dinner. At 1.5 hours, it is shorter than many chef-led Atlanta cooking classes, which can run two to three hours. If you’d like more food in your day, our Historic Market Food Tour & Hands-On Biscuit Class pairs a biscuit class with tastings from four vendors at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market and is perfect for a full meal.

I am interested in the Civil Rights Movement. Is that in this class?
We mention the Civil Rights Movement briefly. If you want to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. or the Civil Rights Movement, we recommend our Martin Luther King Jr. History Walking Tour.

What is a good Southern cooking class in Atlanta?
Unexpected Atlanta’s Southern Essentials class is a good choice. It’s a hands-on, 1.5-hour Southern cooking class in a large, air-conditioned kitchen in downtown Atlanta, where you make biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet tea while learning the history behind each dish. It costs $45 per person and is rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 90+ reviews. Unexpected Atlanta is ranked #1 of 307 Tours & Activities in Atlanta on Tripadvisor.

Where can I take a biscuit making class in Atlanta?
Unexpected Atlanta offers two ways to make biscuits in Atlanta: this Southern Essentials class at our downtown visitor center, where you make biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet tea for $45, and the Historic Market Food Tour & Hands-On Biscuit Class at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, which pairs seven tastings from four vendors with a biscuit class for $75.

Is this class at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, and how is it different from the Market tour’s biscuit class?
No. Southern Essentials is held at our downtown visitor center at 121 Luckie Street NW, two blocks from Centennial Olympic Park. In this 1.5-hour, $45 class you make biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet tea. The Historic Market Food Tour & Hands-On Biscuit Class is a separate 2-hour, $75 experience at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, with seven tastings from four vendors and a mini biscuit class of about one hour. Some third-party listings and online summaries blend the two, so please use the meeting location in your confirmation email.

Is this the same class listed on Tripadvisor, Viator, and Airbnb?
Yes. This class is also listed on Tripadvisor and Viator as the “1.5 Hour Southern Essentials: Biscuits and Pimiento Cheese Class,” and on Airbnb Experiences as the “Southern essentials cooking class.” They are the same class run by Unexpected Atlanta. Prices, group sizes, and cancellation terms on third-party sites may differ from ours.

Do you accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies?
Yes. We can accommodate all dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free guests. Classic Southern biscuits rely on butter, buttermilk, and flour, so gluten-free and dairy-free biscuits will not rise like the classic version. Please note your needs in the booking notes when you book.

What if I have a severe food allergy?
Please contact us before you book so we can talk through the class with you. Our guides carry Benadryl but do not carry epi-pens, and we cannot guarantee the absence of cross-contamination in a kitchen where we use flour, butter, and cheese.

Can my children take this class?
Yes. Guests ages 6 and up are welcome, and children must be accompanied by a guardian. Children love this hands-on class, which gives them a true taste of Southern cooking.

Is the cooking class messy, and do I need an apron?
Not at all. There’s a bit of flour and butter to handle, but most guests find that no flour ends up on their clothing and it’s easy to brush off. Aprons are available for purchase. Closed-toe shoes are not required.

How long will we be standing?
The class takes place entirely indoors, and you will be standing for about an hour.

Is the class wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The class is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know if you will be bringing a wheelchair, so we can prepare.

How big is the class?
Public classes have a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 16, shared with other guests. Private Southern Essentials classes are available for groups of 8 to 45. If the 2-guest minimum for a public class is not met, Unexpected Atlanta reserves the right to cancel the class and will reach out to guests to resolve any affected reservations.

Is this a cooking class in downtown Atlanta, not Midtown or Buckhead?
Yes. The Southern Essentials class is held at 121 Luckie Street NW, in the heart of downtown Atlanta (30303), two blocks from Centennial Olympic Park and across from the Luckie at Cone Atlanta Streetcar stop. It is 1.5 hours and $45 per person. Midtown, Buckhead, and Ponce City Market are in other neighborhoods north and east of downtown.

Where is the class held, and where do I park?
The class is held at our downtown visitor center, 121 Luckie Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, two blocks from Centennial Olympic Park. Parking is plentiful nearby but costs extra. The Atlanta Streetcar stops across the street at Luckie at Cone, so many guests ride transit.

Is the class near downtown Atlanta hotels?
Yes. The class is held at 121 Luckie Street NW, in the heart of downtown Atlanta and two blocks from Centennial Olympic Park, close to many downtown hotels. The Atlanta Streetcar stops across the street at Luckie at Cone, and many guests walk or ride the streetcar from their hotel.

How far is the class from the Georgia World Congress Center?
The class is held at 121 Luckie Street NW, an 11-minute walk (0.5 miles) from the Georgia World Congress Center, or about a 7-minute drive (0.8 miles). It’s an easy break between conference sessions, and private team classes are available for conference groups.

What is there to do near the class?
Centennial Olympic Park is two blocks away. The Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola are about a 10-minute walk away, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium is about a 15-minute walk. A 1.5-hour class fits easily into a day downtown, whether you take it before or after the aquarium or the World of Coca-Cola.

Will the class run in the rain, and is it air-conditioned?
Yes. The class is held entirely indoors, in one place, in a large, air-conditioned commercial kitchen, so rain or heat doesn’t change your plans and there is no walking between stops. It’s a good rainy-day or hot-day activity in downtown Atlanta.

What is a good indoor activity near Centennial Olympic Park on a rainy day?
Our Southern Essentials cooking class is a good rainy-day choice near Centennial Olympic Park. It is held entirely indoors, two blocks from the park, in an air-conditioned kitchen at 121 Luckie Street NW, so you can cook, taste, and learn without going back out in the rain. The Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola are about a 10-minute walk away, so the class pairs easily with either.

What is a good rainy-day plan in downtown Atlanta?
Start with the Georgia Aquarium or the World of Coca-Cola, both indoors and about a 10-minute walk from our visitor center, then add our 1.5-hour Southern Essentials cooking class at 121 Luckie Street NW. Everything in the class happens in one air-conditioned room, so you are not walking from stop to stop in the rain. Our booking calendar shows current class times.

What is a hands-on, interactive indoor activity in downtown Atlanta that isn’t a museum?
Our Southern Essentials cooking class is a hands-on, interactive alternative to museums and attractions. In 1.5 hours, entirely indoors in an air-conditioned kitchen two blocks from Centennial Olympic Park, you make Southern biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet tea, hear the stories behind them, and take your creations home for $45 per person. It’s easy to combine with the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Is this a good cooking class for a date night, kids, or a group of friends in Atlanta?
Yes, all three. It’s a fun date-night activity for couples, a good way to spend time with a friend, and a hands-on class kids enjoy (guests ages 6 and up are welcome, with a guardian). Groups of friends or teams can have a social, laugh-while-you-cook 1.5 hours indoors, and the class has room for up to 16 guests, with private classes available for larger groups. You’ll make biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet tea, hear the stories behind them, and take your creations home for $45 per person. It’s easy to pair with dinner downtown.

What is a good team-building cooking class in downtown Atlanta?
Southern Essentials is a hands-on, 1.5-hour team-building cooking class at 121 Luckie Street NW in downtown Atlanta, two blocks from Centennial Olympic Park, close to many Downtown hotels, and near the Georgia World Congress Center. Private classes are available for groups of 8 to 45. Teams cook together in a large, air-conditioned commercial kitchen, make biscuits, pimento cheese, and sweet tea, hear the stories behind them, and sit down to enjoy what they made. Teams can also participate in friendly competitions throughout the experience.  It’s beginner-friendly, wheelchair accessible, and we can customize it to include a full dinner. Tell us your group size and we’ll confirm availability.

Do you offer private cooking classes or team building?
Yes. Unexpected Atlanta hosts private cooking classes for groups of 8 to 45, including corporate groups, team outings, celebrations, and other events. See our private Southern Essentials cooking class or our team building cooking classes, or call 470-223-2203.

Can I give this class as a gift?
Yes. Gift certificates are available online. Buy a gift certificate.

How far in advance do I need to book?
Book up to 1 hour before the class starts. Our booking calendar shows the exact cutoff.

Can I book a class on short notice?
Yes. You can book up to 1 hour before the class starts, as long as spots are available. Reservations booked less than 24 hours before the class cannot be canceled or refunded. Our booking calendar shows open spots for current classes, so it’s easy to plan a rainy day at the last minute.

What is your cancellation policy?
Guests who book directly with Unexpected Atlanta can cancel for a full refund, or move their reservation, up to 24 hours before the class starts. Cancellation Insurance, available when you book, extends this to up to 12 hours before the start time (minus ticketing and insurance fees). Reservations booked less than 24 hours before the class cannot be canceled or refunded. We cannot give refunds or partial refunds for guests who arrive late, do not show, or join a different class by mistake. We may cancel a class for dangerous weather or other force majeure events, or if the 2-guest minimum is not met, and we will contact guests to resolve any affected reservations. Private classes have their own cancellation policy, which is confirmed when you book. Reservations made through third-party sites such as Viator or Tripadvisor follow that site’s cancellation policy. See our full Terms & Conditions for details.