Joshua Bachant traded corporate dining security for culinary passion, and Bay Area food enthusiasts are reaping the benefits. His venture, Chef Prep Kitchens, is redefining what adult cooking classes bay area residents can expect from hands-on culinary education.
A Journey Rooted in Authenticity
A Fresno native who spent years perfecting his craft with Continental Dining Services, Joshua made the bold decision to leave Southeast Michigan and return to California with a different vision. “I realized I wasn’t just cooking food—I was missing the connection, the moment when someone’s eyes light up because they’ve mastered a technique they thought was impossible,” Joshua reflects.
The Intimate Revolution
While cooking shows promise instant expertise, Joshua recognized that real culinary education requires genuine human connection. Operating from his home kitchen while preparing for his permanent location, he limits classes to eight participants maximum.
“When you have 20 people in a class, you’re performing. When you have eight, you’re teaching,” he explains. This intimate setting allows real-time feedback, customized instruction, and confidence-building that transforms nervous home cooks into culinary enthusiasts.
Community Through Cuisine
Chef Prep Kitchens isn’t just about technique—it’s about connection. While preparing for the opening at Historic Dielmann on Main Street in Downtown Redwood City, Joshua hosts pop-up events featuring seasonal menus that celebrate food as a universal language.
“Food is vulnerable. When someone trusts you to teach them something new, they’re opening themselves up,” Joshua notes. “That vulnerability creates genuine connections. I’ve seen friendships form over properly dicing an onion.”
Building More Than Skills
For Joshua, success isn’t measured in Instagram-worthy dishes—it’s in moments when students realize their own capability. “I’m not just teaching cooking—I’m teaching people they’re more capable than they think. That confidence doesn’t stay in the kitchen.”
As the Bay Area’s culinary scene evolves, Chef Prep Kitchens represents something refreshingly authentic: education that prioritizes connection over content, quality over quantity. For food enthusiasts ready to move beyond watching and start creating, Joshua’s approach offers the chance to truly learn, grow, and connect through food.
The revolution in culinary education is underway, one small class at a time.
