Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2011

Courtesy of ABC Cooking Studio

We all know that cooking at home instead of eating out all the time is good for the body and easier on the wallet, but when you can barely tell which end of the pot goes up, the results can be rather less appealing. Culinary klutzes can sharpen their skills at the ABC Cooking Studio in Tokyo Midtown, which offers a range of English-language courses, including a one-day lesson to get you started. And it won’t just be your stomach that thanks you: a portion of the proceeds is donated to the Japan Association for UNHCR, which engages in fundraising and public relations for refugees around the world.

One-day lessons start at ¥500. B1F Tokyo Midtown Galleria, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Roppongi. See www.abc-cooking.co.jp for more info.