Vietnamese Cooking Class: Master of Pho

Learn the art of making authentic beef pho and other Vietnamese dishes!


Labour of Love
Labour of Love
4.6 (25)

3 hours Class size 1 to 10 guests

  $155 - $160 (Earlybird price of $155 applies if you book into a public session 30+ days ahead, otherwise $160 per guest when you book for 1+ guests, $155/guest for 3+ guests) (Afterpay & PayPal Pay in 4 available)

THE ART OF PHO – COOKING CLASS
Love Pho? Ready to level up your Vietnamese cooking skills? If you’re a pho enthusiast or a home cook eager to master authentic Vietnamese cuisine, this hands-on class is made for you!
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‍About the Class
In this fun, interactive workshop, you’ll dive deep into the art of crafting authentic beef pho from scratch. Learn essential techniques, explore traditional ingredients, and uncover the rich cultural story behind Vietnam’s most iconic dish. By the end of the class, you’ll walk away with the confidence and skills to recreate a deeply flavourful bowl of beef pho at home.
But wait… there’s more! You’ll also learn how to make:
  • Hanoi Crispy chicken and prawn spring rolls (nem) (entrée)
  • Refreshing Café Sua Da (Vietnamese iced coffee – to take away!)
This wholesome experience leaves you nourished in body and soul — with dinner, drinks, and delicious new skills to add to your culinary journey.
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What You Will Learn
Pho Foundations
  • Overview of essential ingredients: broth, noodles, herbs & meat
  • Understanding the soul of pho: the broth
  • Selecting the right beef cuts (bones, brisket & flank)
Broth Mastery
  • Roasting aromatics: onion, ginger & spices (star anise, cinnamon, cloves, coriander seeds)
  • Slow-simmer techniques for a clear, rich, flavourful broth
  • Tips for balancing flavours perfectly
Cooking Meats to Perfection
  • Slow cooking method for oxtail and tender beef ribs
  • How to stir fry eye fillet to medium rare on an Asian wok to use as rare beef on pho
  • Usage of beef meatballs to add texture to your noodle dish
Assembly & Presentation
  • Cooking rice noodles to the perfect texture
  • Slicing beef for tenderness & visual appeal
  • Assembling pho: raw, cooked & garnished elements
  • Traditional & creative garnishes: bean sprouts, Thai basil, coriander, lime, jalapeños & hoisin as well as spring onion and red onions
  • Proper layering & serving for the ultimate pho experience
Please note: Traditional pho broth takes at least 6 hours to master. In this 3-hour workshop, you will be taught how to prepare a broth from scratch with fresh beef bones. Then you will learn how to clean the bones, simmer the stock for a clear and flavourful broth, how to skim off the fat and impurities, and how to intensify the broth flavours through traditional simmering techniques. This process takes around 2 hours. Once the broth is ready for an additional 4 hours of slow simmering on its own, a homemade, ready-to-season broth that has been simmered for 6 hours the day before will be used instead, to shorten the overall cooking time. You will then use that broth to season to perfection and learn the process from start to finish without having to spend an extra 4 hours in the kitchen waiting for the simmering to be done.
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‍About the Tutor
With a deep-rooted passion for food and a heart full of joy for bringing people together, Kate Ngo is a dynamic culinary expert and the founder of Labour of Love, a unique culinary school designed for all ages and abilities. She is also a product and recipe developer and aspiring entrepreneur. Her approach to teaching cooking and baking is both fun and interactive, ensuring that every student feels empowered and inspired in the kitchen.
For a decade, Kate ran a successful baking business that focused on macarons, custom-made cookies, cakes, and desserts for all occasions. Her baked goods have not only satisfied taste buds but also created memorable experiences for her clients. Through this venture, she developed a reputation for creating visually stunning, wholesome dishes that marry flavour and aesthetics.
As an expert in Asian cuisine and a wide variety of desserts, Kate brings a special touch to her classes, offering students the opportunity to learn about and embrace diverse culinary traditions. Whether it’s mastering the art of delicate pastries or cooking authentic Asian dishes, Kate’s passion shines through in every recipe she shares.
Her teaching philosophy goes beyond just showing students how to cook. Kate believes in the power of food to tell stories, connect cultures, and bring people together. Through her classes, she emphasises cultural sharing and the importance of giving back to the community—something Kate is deeply committed to. She sees the kitchen as a place of creativity, joy, and connection.
Whether you're an absolute beginner or an experienced home cook, Kate’s warm and inclusive teaching style ensures that everyone leaves with new skills, a fuller heart, and a deeper appreciation for the art of food. Join Kate and let her help you unleash your culinary potential!
Dietary Requirements?
Please contact us at least 1 week prior to your class to discuss your dietary requirements. Please note: this class is a LOW gluten class. For gluten-free dietary requirements, alternative dried pho noodles will be provided. Dried pho is gluten-free and has a similar texture to fresh pho, however, it is slightly chewier. Dairy-free coffee can be arranged. Gluten-free spring rolls can be arranged. Vegan pho requests are acceptable with reasonable notice (1 week).
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Come for the pho. Stay for the culture. Leave with a skill for life.
What you'll get
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What You Will Get
  • Master the fundamentals of authentic beef pho
  • Understand the cultural importance of pho in Vietnamese cuisine
  • Confidence to prepare and serve pho like a pro
  • A stylish lunch or dinner at the venue with a 3-course meal including:
  • Prawn spring roll (entrée)
  • Beef pho (main)
  • Café Sua Da + takeaway dinner
  • Take-home recipe pack with ingredients, step-by-step instructions & tips, and a complimentary linen pho spice bag ready for your next pho adventure
  • Recommended suppliers for authentic pho ingredients
Knowledge required
This class is suitable for beginner or enthusiastic home cooks, or even experienced chefs who would like to master their traditional Vietnamese cuisine techniques.
What to bring
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What to Bring
Everything is included, including:
  • Apron
  • Containers for takeaway
  • Pen & paper
Please just bring your appetite and enthusiasm for an authentic Vietnamese pho cooking experience!
Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, birthday or hens party.

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mum or gift for couples.

Location

West Footscray, VIC

Exact location is masked for privacy. You'll automatically get the specific address after booking.

Vietnamese Cooking Class: Master of Pho location
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Your teacher

Labour of Love
Labour of Love

4.6 (25)
female 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.

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