Kitchen Confidence, the most important skills

Sometimes its just a matter of knowing a simple little technique that makes all the difference to your confidence in the kitchen.  This course will help you to learn some of these techniques and give you confidence in the kitchen to cook for yourself, friends or family.

 To begin with you will Watch and learn as we demonstrate the recipes and highlight the simple techniques that make them work.

Then it’s your turn in the kitchen. Two hands-on sessions with one tutor for every six students in our kitchens.  In these sessions you will learn important skills and techniques to get the best out of your time in the kitchen 

Many of the recipes use seasonal ingredients from the school’s organic farm and gardens. We will share a selection of fish, meat and vegetarian options for delicious appetisers, starters, mains and puddings.

And don’t worry, you will be well fed! As well as having the opportunity to taste all the dishes prepared after each demonstration, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch every day.

By the end of the course you will have mastered a whole new repertoire of recipes and techniques. You’ll return home confident to entertain with panache and just chill out, sip some bubbles and enjoy your guests.

What you’ll learn

• Great recipes featuring simple breads, meat and vegetarian dishes; starters, soups, salads, mains and puddings. 
• A variety of essential techniques you’ll use again and again
• Tips for forward planning and saving time

Course elements

•  A tour of the organic farm, gardens, dairy and greenhouses, which provide much of the seasonal produce you’ll be cooking with
• Three demonstration sessions, showing how dishes are prepared from scratch, with overhead mirrors and two monitors showing close-up handiwork. Rachel will share a wealth of knowledge through her expert tips and techniques. Students can ask questions and have the opportunity to taste the dishes prepared at the end of the sessions
•  Two practical, hands-on sessions in the kitchens, where you can cook 2-4 dishes from each demonstration. With a high teacher to student ratio of 1:6, there’s plenty of support and guidance while you master the recipes, learn to make the most of your ingredients and gain a deeper learning experience. Let your teacher know if there are specific techniques you’d like to master, as seen in the demonstrations

Good to know

• Breakfast and lunch included; eat alongside fellow students, our teachers and gardeners
• Often you’re able to watch the cows being milked, the sourdough loaves being made and gather produce for the days cooking with the gardeners
• A pack of the recipes will be provided for your ongoing reference 
• Our Shop will be open for further inspiration: cookery books, equipment and select ingredients
• Accommodation available within our grounds and close by
• There’s plenty to do and explore in the area. These summer courses are a fabulous way to spend your summer in the countryside. Learn during the days, eat well and then soak up the surroundings in the evenings
• We run this course several times a year, varying the recipes in synch with the seasons