CitySeed hosts community-based cooking classes, Sanctuary Kitchen events, and other culinary events in our commercial kitchen at 817 Grand Avenue. We also support small food business incubation in New Haven by providing licensed food preparation space for local food entrepreneurs.

Commercial Kitchen Space & Usage

CitySeed’s kitchen is a certified commercial kitchen, approved for food preparation for public consumption or sale, and built in a residential/commercial design within CitySeed’s loft style office space. The 300 square foot kitchen features three large wooden islands on locking casters, providing flexibility for a variety of food preparation and instructional needs. The kitchen is best suited for baking, light stove-top cooking or other food preparation that does not create a lot of smoke or grease, as the kitchen does not contain a commercial grade hood fan or grease trap.  Canning, ingredient preparation for a food truck and baking are all well-suited to this kitchen, in addition to conducting cooking classes and hosting food-based events. The space accommodates 12-15 participants for hands-on cooking classes and 20-25 attendees for cooking demonstrations.  Our dining table seats up to 10 people.

For commercial kitchen use for food business incubation, please see our Food Business Incubation page.

Kitchen Equipment List

Convection wall oven
Ceramic-top electric stove and double oven
Charcoal filter fan over stove (not a commercial hood fan)
Hand washing sink
Dishwasher with sanitize cycle
Basic small- and mid-sized pots and pans
Cutting boards
Knives
Basic cooking utensils and tools

Mixing bowls and strainers
Blender
Food processor
Microwave oven
Toaster oven
Stand & hand-held mixers
Reach-in refrigerator and freezer (shared usage while cooking)
Basic pantry food items
Basic cleaning supplies

Dry and cold storage is available on a per case basis.

Kitchen Event Rental Rates

Please note that a $100 security deposit is required for all events to cover any potential damage.

Non-profit and Small Business Rental
Rental fee $35/hour (weekdays 9am-5pm), $45/hour (evenings/weekends).
Minimum two hours total rental time.
Rental period t
o include one hour for set-up and  one hour for clean-up. For example, for a two hour class or event, plan for four hours total. This fee covers CitySeed space usage, clean-up and reset costs, staff time, utilities and other operating expenses.

For-profit Business Rental
Rental fee $50/ hour (weekdays 9am-5pm), $60/hour (evenings/weekends).
Minimum two hours total rental time.
To include one hour for set-up and  one hour for clean-up. For example, for a two hour class or event, plan for four hours total. This fee covers CitySeed space usage, clean-up and reset costs, staff time, utilities and other operating expenses.

Businesses using the space through private rental must have liability insurance.

Guest Teaching a Workshop with CitySeed
CitySeed organizes an annual calendar of cooking workshops and events. If you are interested in being a guest chef or teacher for one of CitySeed’s Cooking Workshops, contact kitchen@cityseed.org for more information.

To request rental of the Kitchen, please complete this form:

Kitchen at CitySeed Business Incubation/Event Request