Connection and community are at the heart of a new immersive culinary experience coming to Vancouver this fall. Social Kitchen combines hands-on cooking with opportunities to meet and connect with others.
Gene and Gretchen Fritz created Social Kitchen. Gene has worked as a personal chef, restaurant operator and teacher. Gretchen has more than 30 years of experience in hospitality sales and customer service. The couple designed the space to feel more like a home than a commercial kitchen.
“We wanted to create a venue for people to connect and saw the need for community. We wanted to create a unique experience,” Gene told What Now Seattle.
Guests book experiences in advance, choosing from international cuisine nights, such as Moroccan or Brazilian, or technique-focused sessions teaching skills like making soup stocks, sauces or pasta. Guided by a culinary instructor, participants work in teams of four to prepare multi-course meals, then sit down family-style to enjoy what they’ve created.
Social Kitchen also hosts private events, from corporate team-building sessions to bridal showers and anniversary celebrations. Each event is customized to meet the group’s goals.
“We design each event around the team’s goals,” Gene said. “If they just want to relax and have fun, we can do that. If they’re looking for something more competitive, we’ll turn it into a “Top Chef”-style challenge, complete with a trophy and a culinary guide to judge the dishes. Every experience is customized to make it memorable for that group.”
Experiences begin with a sparkling drink and small bite, followed by an overview. Guests put on aprons and gather around the cooking island, where the host walks them through recipes before they begin cooking. Three more courses and dessert follow, paired with regional beer, wine and nonalcoholic options. Guests receive a PDF of the recipes afterward.
“I want our employees to feel empowered to serve guests in ways that go beyond expectations. If someone asks for something specific we don’t have, we’ll figure out how to get it so the guest feels exceptionally cared for—even in the small things,” Gene said.
The venue is also collaborating with local businesses to expand offerings. One partnership with a pottery studio lets guests create bowls and mugs, later used in Social Kitchen’s soup-making experiences. Children’s programs and culinary camps are planned for school breaks.
Gene said Social Kitchen stands out for its attention to relationships. Handwritten notes, family photos and curated playlists are part of the personalized touches.
Social Kitchen includes unique micro-experiences throughout the space, even in the restrooms. Features include bidets with instructional QR codes, playful squirrel-themed wallpaper, a UV cell phone sanitizer, touchless trash cans and small amenities like mirrors and cuticle tools, which are designed to make guests feel pampered.
A standard single cooking experience at Social Kitchen costs $145 per person for a two-and-a-half-hour event. Longer sessions, such as baking or smoking meat, may carry a higher price. Gratuity is included, and the hosts discourage additional tipping.
Social Kitchen plans to debut with a soft launch in mid-September. Gene said he hopes to expand to Portland, Seattle and beyond, eventually offering a franchise model and employee stock ownership to keep the business rooted in the community.
