So how many of us are avid viewers of cookery
programmes?
Ratings are high, and it
seems people can’t get enough of them – but in reality not many people are
turning their hand to trying any of the dishes they watch being prepared!
I adore cookery programmes, so for me
deciding to spend a day at a cookery school was a natural progression, and once
I tried it – I was smitten!
Now I hardly know any of my friends who have been to a
cookery school, it seems to be something people would like to do, but like
cookery programmes, just never get round to doing it! Well I really urge you to think again. Cookery schools are really wonderful places for you to step up
your game and learn some fantastic things that the TV just can’t teach you. Not only that, but it gives you a platform
of confidence to experiment in your own kitchen, and become a better cook. There is a huge choice of schools in
England, which vary in duration, skill level, and cost – so there is something
to suite everyone. I recently invited a
friend of mine along with me and she loved it too, now she would love to go
again someday. Perhaps like I did the
first time – you could drop a hint to a dear friend or a loved one about
purchasing a gift voucher for you, but I can honestly say if you love food like
I do – it will be a decision that you will be pleased you have made. Forget Red Letter Day’s etc, get out to a
cookery school!
I have been to several different schools over recent years
(and they really do vary) – so here is a run down of my experiences and what
you can expect:
Ashburton Cookery School – Ashburton, Devon
This was the first school I ever attended, so I have a
fondness for it.
An extremely
professional well oiled machine, for me Ashburton offers the best courses
because everything has been well thought out to make you day truly wonderful,
and the produce you cook with is of top quality and locally sourced.
Kitchens have all the best equipment too,
and you leave with a high sense of achievement
Pros:
Over 40 courses to choose from.
The dishes you prepare are of a high-end restaurant standard
The advanced courses are really that – a challenge to any
budding chef!
They have a shop too so you can purchase ingredients and
equipment.
The school is very modern with induction hobs and the layout
of the cookery kitchen is practical and fun too!
Binder with all the recipes to take home too
Cons:
Devon may be a little far for many, which will probably mean
the cost of accommodation which will bump up the overall cost of attending the
course. Apart from that no other
negatives to mention!
Waitrose Cookery School – London
A new kid on the block, which means they too have great up
to date equipment, the teaching here is excellent and very enthuiastic, this
cookery school is a good option for all.
They have a large cookery theatre in which you can also watch the chefs
giving demo’s whilst you sit, listen in, and eat the fruits of you labour.
Pros:
Great central location – 3 minute walk from tube station
Great atmosphere here – very conducive to learning
Shop too, for purchasing equipment
They give you a well laid out binder to go home with all the
recipes
Cons:
A big space but a small cookery school as it only has one
big classroom, which can fit a lot of people!
If it was full then I’m not sure the experience would be so intimate and
pleasurable!
The work benches are very close together, thus it can become
a dangerous trip hazard when you pull open your oven to the people working
behind you. This was not thought out
very well
Daylesford Organic Cookery School – Daylesford,
Gloucestershire
One word – wow!
This
is a very stylish ‘destination’ cookery school that oozes character and
flair.
Although it also only has one
large room, it is intimate and a great place to learn from
head chef Vladimir Niza who is extremely
knowledgeable and charming (watch out ladies!). The dishes you cook are suitably impressive, and will want you
going back for more. The school is
located on the farm; so all the produce you cook couldn’t be any fresher. I adored my day here, felt charmed and
totally chilled.
Pros:
Great layout, very
well thought out, and the food you cook is exceptional as it is organic and
straight from the land! Truly their
biggest USP
There is a restaurant, various shops to browse around to buy
the most amazing foods, clothes, garden accessories, so you get more than just
a day out cooking – this in mind take extra bags and a credit card as you wont
be able to resist their incredible produce!
Cons:
Hmm, only to say like Ashburton - perhaps just it’s
location for some may prove arduous, but still worth the drive!
http://daylesfordorganic.com/engine/shop/page/cookery+school
Tante Marie – Woking
This is oldest independent of the cookery schools, and it
knows its stuff!
You walk in here and
instantly feel why they are so well established. Located In a big old converted
house, it has several well-equipped cookery classrooms, as well as a demo
theatre area.
What more could you ask
for.
The professional long-term courses
are offered here, and it would be my choice for one of these longer courses.
Part owned by Gordon Ramsay holdings too.
Pros:
Very professional, the staff really care for you here
The teaching too is of an excellent standard
They have well known chef demo days (this is what I
attended) where although you mainly watch, the cost is greatly less than a
whole day’s hands on cookery, making it an affordable option, plus you get
lunch provided, and a great opportunity to chat to the guest chef and taste his
dishes, ask tons of question.
Cons:
It’s not as modern looking as some of the other schools, but
look beyond that, it still has all the equipment including induction and a
Range oven to learn on
Most of the schools have a dedicated washing up team, so
that you can get on with the cooking, but this is not offered here, so some may
find that off putting if you have had the luxury of it all being done for you.
Leith’s – London
Probably Tante Marie’s biggest competitor as they too offer
very professional courses. I came to Leith’s to do a day’s butchery course with
an external tutor from the Ginger Pig, so I can’t hugely comment on the school
as I feel I never really got to the heart of it.
The school felt a little impersonal to me, and my greeting from
reception was sadly far from helpful/sincere.
However the course I attended was insightful thanks to the tutors, and I
came home with a huge cooler bag of lamb dishes that I had prepped to cook
myself– nice touch!
Pros:
Location
Extensive choice of courses too
They in addition have a wine school
Cons:
A little impersonal, felt like I was a small cog in a big
wheel
Just a little something missing, that I could not quite put
my finger on!
The Bertinet Kitchen & Cookery School - Bath
This is the latest cookery school in which I have just
attended.
I was enticed in by a days
cookery with 3 Michelin starred Clare Smyth from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
Having seen her on TV many times, I admire
her greatly!
This cookery school is in
the heart of Bath and makes a great day out too (if you can fit in some
shopping round town afterwards).
Richard Bertinet was there himself, and a charming man to chat to.
Pros:
Guest chef days are a plenty here, drawing big names such as
Angela Harnet, Clare Smyth
Bakery and shop with cookery equipment is attached to the
school too, but be quick as the bakery closes around 2pm
Cons:
(Sadly for me there were too many things not quite right
here)
My class was sold as ‘Advanced’, but it was clear that the
level of other attendees and the dishes we cooked were not advanced in my
experience.
This course was more prepping of vegetables and watching
than a ‘hands on’ cookery day, and for that I think the course was overpriced
There are 2 classrooms, and the largest of the two (the one
I was in), you work in groups of 4 (most other schools I have worked in pairs),
which limits the amount of cooking you actually get to do when there is so many
of you.
No correspondence sent out prior to the course, so the
emphasis is on you to make sure you don’t forget to attend!
I hope you found this post informative and insightful, and
if you have attended any cookery schools, I would love to hear of your
experiences, and what you thought of them!
Giveaway!
To heighten your cooking to more than just the basic everyday
meals, I have two books to giveaway from this summers Taste of
London.
These books have
recipes from the countries top chefs, and will put your skills to the test, helping you to create restaurant style dishes (like you would at a cookery
school).
Perhaps they will whet you
appetite for cookery schools!
All you
have to do is:
1) Follow this blog and
2) Answer this simple question:
Q) Name the 3 Michelin starred chef I cooked with at the
Richard Bertinet cookery school
Please leave your answers in the comments box below. Winner will be notified by e-mail. Competition closes midnight 21st October 2012.
**Congratulations PompeySuz & Laura Pugh - you are the book giveaway winners.**
