Taste Buds Kitchen Bringing State College Community Together Through Cooking

Located just five miles from Penn State, Taste Buds Kitchen in State College has spent the past six years offering more than just delicious meals. It has created an atmosphere where the preparation of food brings people together.

Taste Buds Kitchen was founded 17 years ago as a national franchise to build relationships and foster teamwork through cooking. The State College location at 331 Benner Pike embodies this mission through cooking classes tailored for different age groups: children, adults, and families.

At Taste Buds Kitchen, community engagement is everything, owner Susan Passante explained. Cooking is not just about preparing food — it’s about bringing people together, creating memories, and having fun in the process.

Each class provides hands-on experience, in which the individuals work together to prepare a tasty meal and enjoy it together, fostering teamwork and a love for food.

There are children-oriented classes in the daytime for those too young to cook a fancy meal. The classes provide hands-on instructions to ensure a safe workspace and a fun environment for the kids to collaborate, practice following directions, and learn new kitchen skills.

Adult classes, for ages 18 and over, experience a wider array of choices. These adult classes are more of a social event where participants learn how to make food such as homemade pasta, sushi rolls, and tacos.

Taste Buds Kitchen welcomes all skill levels, making it the perfect place for beginners looking to learn and experienced cooks wanting to fine-tune their techniques. Theme nights switch things up and include “Mexican Fiesta” and “Tasty Thai.” But the most popular class across all age groups is handmade pasta.

“It’s an easy recipe that surprises people how simple and fun it is to make from scratch,” Passante said.

In addition to regularly held classes for the public, Taste Buds Kitchen hosts private parties. Groups of as few as 10 and as many as 42 can reserve the kitchen for a private cooking class by selecting the date, time, and menu of their preference.

Taste Buds Kitchen also collaborates with local businesses and organizations, further strengthening their ties to the State College community.

“We love using fresh, local ingredients,” Passante said. “Our food often comes from local farmers’ markets and vendors, and we work closely with local distributors to ensure the best quality for our classes.”

Taste Buds Kitchen is committed to giving back. It participates in outreach efforts such as hosting “Cooking for a Cause” events, where a portion of the proceeds is donated to organizations like THON, Mini-THON, and Centre Safe.

“The experience of cooking together is what really sets us apart,” Passante said. “We focus on the entertainment aspect of cooking in a group setting and find something for everyone.”

Folks interested in future classes or scheduling an event at Taste Buds Kitchen can visit its website here .