Within a bland industrial park on the edges of San Luis Obispo lies a converted warehouse, which is home to The Garden’s Kitchen, the complex’s most unlikely tenant.

A couple of times a week, owner Ashleigh Hutchison teaches themed cooking classes in what she calls “an urban dwelling where friends and food come together.”

But Hutchison, 30, is not an acclaimed chef or even formally trained. She’s a self-taught cook who used to own a small catering business. But she’s taken a unique concept and has taught dozens to cook since opening in July.

“This is going to teach you how to change your life and look at food and everything else differently,” Hutchison said. “Instead of taking that money and going to a restaurant and spending $50 or $60, it’s more of an investment. And some people really look at it that way.”