# Online Culinary Classes The Google+ Cooking School Launches to Incredible Success By Omar Yusuf | Published 2011-08-12 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-cooking-school References: [gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/5829828/live-cooking-class-explodes-on-google) & [bits.blogs.nytimes](http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/cooking-classes-live-on-google/?ref=technology) After discovering the untapped potential of Google+ hangouts, which allow users to webcast one another, watch [YouTube](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chef-stephanie-izard) clips together and even participate in organized games, Lee Allison came up with the idea of Google+ Cooking School. Three months later, it's an online sensation! The New York-based tech consultant was using Google's video chat service, cooking and talking to a friend. Unbeknownst to the two amateur chefs, their casual demeanor and willingness to teach would quickly turn the hangout into a business! After just two months of broadcasting, the Google+ Cooking School is revamping their pedagogy, perfecting the formula and charging participants $20 for hour-long lessons. Although Lee Allison intends to keep his consultancy job, this idea has allowed him to turn his passion into a business -- and a successful one at that! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 58% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Online Culinary Education:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a platform for online culinary classes, allowing users to learn cooking skills from the comfort of their own homes. - **Virtual Cooking Communities:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop an online platform that enables cooking enthusiasts to connect, share recipes, and participate in virtual cooking hangouts. - **Monetizing Online Cooking Classes:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a business model that charges participants for online cooking lessons, providing a new revenue stream for culinary instructors. ### Who This Affects Most - **E-learning:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transform the traditional culinary education industry by providing online courses that offer convenience and affordability. - **Online Video Streaming:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a specialized platform that focuses on live cooking classes, attracting a community of users interested in culinary education. - **Social Networking:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine social networking with culinary education by creating an online community for cooking enthusiasts to interact and learn from each other. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Cooking Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gordon-ramsays-ai.md) - [Online Culinary Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/online-culinary-marketplace.md) - [Virtual Cooking Adventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/infinite-chef.md) - [Ghee Cooking Classes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sur-la-table-x-4th-heart.md) - [Branded Exclusive Baking Classes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exclusive-baking-class.md) - [Community-Oriented Cookbook Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foodies-cookbook-shop.md) - [Student-Friendly Digital Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cookin-somethin-for-college.md) - [Global Recipe Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ive-been-cooking.md) - [Food Sharing Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/totallychefs.md)