Melbourne

classes: Japanese Cooking • Vietnamese Cooking • Cake Decorating • Cooking

4.6 (23)

Women-owned

Welcome to Labour of Love

Labour of Love is a boutique culinary school for all ages and abilities, founded by Kate Ngo — a culinary expert, recipe developer, and qualified trainer with a lifelong passion for food and education.

At Labour of Love, we believe food is far more than sustenance. It is culture, heritage, and connection. It carries childhood memories, honors traditions, and tells stories passed lovingly from one generation to the next. Food is a language of love, a source of belonging, and a beautiful form of artistic expression. Every class we offer reflects this philosophy — thoughtful, meaningful, and crafted with heart.

Our Workshops & Experiences

Labour of Love offers a diverse range of hands-on culinary workshops designed for both beginners and experienced cooks.

Authentic Asian Cuisine

Explore the depth and richness of traditional Asian cooking, including:

Vietnamese

Thai

Chinese

Japanese

Korean

Each class focuses on authentic techniques, balanced flavors, and cultural appreciation, while also embracing modern creativity.

Baking, Patisserie & Cake Decorating

From foundational skills to advanced techniques, our baking and patisserie classes cater to a wide range of learning levels. Whether you are mastering the basics or refining intricate decorative skills, our workshops are designed to build both confidence and creativity.

Private & Corporate Experiences

We also specialize in:

Corporate team-building workshops (small to medium groups)

Private cooking or baking classes

Intimate private dining experiences for groups of up to 12 guests

Each experience is thoughtfully curated to encourage collaboration, creativity, and connection.

Meet Kate Ngo

With a deep-rooted passion for food and a genuine love for bringing people together, Kate teaches the art of cooking and baking in a way that is interactive, engaging, and accessible to all.

Kate began her hospitality journey with her successful baking business, Sweet Serendipity, which she ran for over a decade before pausing to focus on raising her young family. Now returning to the culinary scene, she brings with her a refined focus on fusion flavors, authentic Asian cuisine, and an extensive range of baking and patisserie workshops tailored to diverse learning abilities.

Kate is known for creating wholesome yet creative dishes that not only tantalize the taste buds but are also visually stunning. Her versatile culinary knowledge, deep understanding of authentic Asian and fusion techniques, passion for baking, and artistic flair are reflected in her exquisite presentation and plating style.

Inclusive & Adaptive Learning

In addition to her culinary background, Kate has spent 18 years working in the disability sector. This experience has given her a profound understanding of different learning styles and abilities. She thoughtfully adapts her teaching techniques to ensure every participant feels supported and empowered.

Her classes foster not only essential life skills in cooking and baking but also confidence, social interaction, and communication skills — creating a truly inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Allergy-Friendly & Adaptable Recipes

Living with allergies herself, Kate understands the importance of inclusive cooking. Many of her recipes can be adapted to suit dietary requirements, including:

Gluten-free

Nut-free

Egg-free

Soy-free

Dairy-free

Vegan

At Labour of Love, everyone deserves to feel welcome at the table and encouraged to do their best while having fun and learning something new and embracing positive connections with others and with food.

Our cooking class is an immersive cultural experience - not just with the cooking alone but also the entire experience from start to finish.

Our cooking style is a collaborative approach. Instead of having individual stoves and workstations, we share the cooking space and all take part in the preparation of ingredients, and everyone is encouraged to be involved in the preparation and cooking. Our instructor Kate spends a lot of time doing one-on-one hands-on coaching to ensure each student learns and applies the best techniques when preparing and cooking each meal. The presentation of each meal is always exquisitely executed to showcase the dish in the most professional yet authentic ways. Students often leave feeling inspired to recreate the dishes at home with a professional touch.

At each class, guests are treated to a complimentary gourmet truffle grazing board with antipasto, fruit, crackers, etc. The truffle sauce is made in-house to accompany the antipasto platter. We also provide juice, Japanese and Chinese tea, Vietnamese coffee, Korean soju or sparkling wine, or occasionally Japanese plum and yuzu wine, depending on the menu.

After cooking, guests are then treated to a formal, stylish, and opulent lunch or dinner with a full tablescape and styling adorned with flower arrangements, candles, matching tableware, etc. We believe we eat with our eyes first, and we will also make sure you get to experience the cooking class and lunch/dinner with all of the senses and leave feeling inspired to recreate at home and share your love for food and our culture with your loved ones.

Classes