Cookery Classes are becoming more popular with the advent of food network, Masterchef, Top Chef and Iron Chef programs allowing us a non-threatening environment to explore the world of haute cuisine. I love watching cooking shows but there is nothing like having an experienced chef or cook there to guide you through the steps and help when you get stuck. A simple tip such as 'never keep your almond meal in the fridge if you want perfect macaroon feet' or 'always use eggs at room temperature when baking a souffle' can mean a lot to someone who has experienced failure, sometimes expensive, in the kitchen. It is easy to give up and just say 'I'm obviously not able to cook a macaroon with friilly feet so I may as well admit defeat' but with a little bit of support from an expert you will soon be on your way to wowing friends and family with your cooking skills. 

Below are a few of the cookery classes on my wishlist.

Caveau French Cookery Class (Wollongong, NSW Australia)

 I have wanted to dine at Caveau, Wollongong's only French restaurant, since it first opened in 2004. The menu has the ability to make my mouth water and every person I have talked to that has dined at Caveau has declared it the best dining experience they have had in Wollongong, rivalling the best fine dining experiences in Sydney. A few years ago there was an article in the Illawarra Mercury about his cookery school and it has been on my to-do list ever since

Peter Sheppard's Cookery School is a hands-on, fun afternoon of learning, making and eating! It runs between 11am and 2pm, where you will cook and eat 3 fabulous dishes. Cookery schools are run with 12 persons, with dates and menus planned to suit interested parties. If you nominate a date, we will fill the group. Cost: $85pp including GST, includes coffee at the start and the recipes to take home.[Source: Caveau Website http://www.caveau.com.au/chef.html

 

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Red Balloon Cooking Classes

Cooking Class In Authentic Italian

Code: CUC931

Location: Sydney, NSW

Sydney Weekender has classified this Italian cooking class as 'One of the best places in the world to learn how to cook authentic Italian'. So why ... Read More»

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• Price: $120

Spanish And Tapas Cooking Class

Location: Sydney, NSW

Code: CHE632

Invite the sexy spices of Spain into your life with this Spanish and tapas cooking class in Sydney. Add a dash of confidence, a sprinkling of tips ... Read More»

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• Price: $125

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Delicious Dessert Cooking Class

Code: HEC241

Location: Sydney, NSW

Have you got a sweet tooth? Do you love to cook good food? Then you’ll love our dessert cooking class! During this Sydney-based cooking class you’ll ... Read More»

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• Price: $120

 

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Make Your Own Pasta Kit

Code: BNV243

Location: Australia-wide

Make your own pasta with this fantastic pasta machine! There's nothing nicer, or more economical, than pasta made in your own kitchen. Just add eggs ... Read More»

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• Price: $99

 

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Seafood BBQ Cooking Class

 

 Code: BAR163

Location: Sydney - NSW, Brisbane - QLD,

Are shrimps on the BBQ more your style? Let us show you how to cook seafood to perfection on the BBQ. Our experts will show you the techniques to ... Read More»

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• $100
• $88
• Special:

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Chocolate Making Workshop

Code: KCL831

Location: Sydney, NSW

Indulge yourself in a hands-on chocolate making workshop designed for the inquisitive and creative chocoholic! Find out how real chocolate is made ... Read More»

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• Price: $130

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Beer & BBQ Cooking Class

Code: BAR191

Location: Sydney, NSW

This beer and BBQ class will have you hosting the best barbies ever! Learn everything from meat and seafood cooking to what beers to serve with your ... Read More»

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• Price: $120

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Japanese Sushi Cooking Class

Code: JAP971

Location: Sydney CBD, NSW

Calling all sushi lovers! If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make delicious sushi rolls, temaki-zushi or miso soup, then this Japanese cooking ... Read More»

 
Price: $110

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Spanish Paella Cooking Kit At Home

Code: BNV591

Location: Australia-wide

Add some variety and spice to your cooking with this Spanish paella home cooking kit. Paella pans are integral to Spanish cuisine and are fast ... Read More»

 

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BBQ Cooking Course - 3 Classes

Code: BAR161

Location: Sydney, NSW

Do you own a BBQ? Do your barbeque recipes and cooking skills leave everyone calling for take-away? Then this cooking class is for you. Get some ... Read More»

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• Price: $280

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Pizza Cooking Class

Code: SSF211

Location: Sydney, NSW

Do you think that pizza should be classed as a food group in its own right? This Sydney-based cooking class will teach you all you need to know ... Read More»

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• Price: $129

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Cooking Class In Authentic & Modern Greek

Code: GKS751

Location: Sydney, NSW

A cooking class in authentic and modern Greek cuisine is sure to spark your appetite and inspire your cooking! You will learn the story and history ... Read More»

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• Price: $130

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Meat BBQ Cooking Class

Code: BAR162

Location: NSW & QLD

Do you fancy the odd snag on the BBQ? If your sausages tend to look more 'char-grilled' than grilled, then this is the cooking class for you! Learn ... Read More»

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• Price: $100

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Sri Lankan Cooking Class

Location: Sydney, NSW

Code: HEC802

Now everyone can cook with confidence in the kitchen with this Sri Lankan cooking class! This cooking class will ensure that you can cook a selection ... Read More»

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• Price: $99

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Learn to Cook Japanese Food

Code: JAP962

Location: Sydney, NSW

Sydney's finest Japanese is here! Learn to cook Japanese and enjoy it year round. Take this Japanese cooking class to master classics such as ... Read More»

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• Price: $110

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How To Cook A Rapturous Roast - Cooking Class

Code: HEC641

Location: Sydney, NSW

Learn how to cook a mouthwatering roast during this Sydney cooking class. It's a self-contained introduction to everything you need to know about ... Read More»

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• Price: $120

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Indian Style Cooking Class

Code: NI685

Location: Sydney, NSW

Enjoy a 'hot & spicy' experience, where chef Ajoy Joshi introduces you to the pleasures of cooking Indian food. The classes offer a fascinating ... Read More»

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• Price: $110

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Seasonal Vegetarian Cooking Class

Code: SSF212

Location: Sydney, NSW

Do a Sydney cooking class in Seasonal Vegetarian! Learn a range of beautiful, nutritious meals which can be prepared in under 20 mins. This ... Read More»

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• Price: $80

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Cooking Class In Pastry & Dough Making

Code: SSF210

Location: Sydney, NSW

Ever wanted to know more about cooking with pastry and dough? Fancy yourself as a bit of a patissier? This beginners cooking class will teach you all ... Read More»

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• Price: $109

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Team-Building Cooking Class - Create A Restaurant!

Code: CHE461

Location: NSW & Vic

Do a team-building experience like none other! Watch your team grow in friendship and teamwork as they work to create their own restaurant. Everyone ... Read More»

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• Price: $3600

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World Cuisine 3 Class Combination!

Location: Sydney, NSW

Learn the world's most palatable cuisines over three nights! Italian, Thai and Spanish will all be mastered in this wonderful Sydney course. Explore ... Read More»

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Price: $325

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Learn To Cook A Rapturous Roast

Code: BBQ264

Location: Brisbane, QLD

Learn to cook a rapturous roast in a few hours! This Brisbane class gives you the confidence to whack a big piece of meat in the oven and have it ... Read More»

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• Price: $120

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Vegetable BBQ Cooking Class

Code: BAR164

Location: Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane

Ever wanted to learn how to cook the perfect vegetable skewer or wanted to try your hand at pancakes on the BBQ? Yes, it can be done! Join us for ... Read More»

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• Price: $100

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Cooking Class For Men

Code: HEC781

Location: Sydney, NSW

This is a cooking school designed to meet the specific needs of men who want more confidence in the kitchen. We know that everyone cooks for ... Read More»

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• Price: $120

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Corporate Sushi Cooking Class For 15

Code: FFF831

Location: Adelaide or Sydney

Dread team events? Not any more! Now you can look forward to bonding with your colleagues or social group in a ‘hands-on’ cooking and team building ... Read More»

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• Price: $2700

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BBQ Team Cooking Challenge For 12

Code: BAR131

Location: Sydney, NSW

The BBQ team building cooking challenge is sure to bring your group together in a mouth-watering cooking event! Your group will prepare a 4 course ... Read More»

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• Price: $1680

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Greek Cooking Class At Your Home

Location: Sydney, NSW

Code: GKS671

A Greek cooking class is sure to spark your appetite and inspire your future endeavours in the kitchen. In the comfort of your home, you will cook ... Read More»

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• Price: $300

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Early Teens Chocolate Party For Up To 10 People

Code: KCL791

Location: Sydney Region

Chocolate? Party? It's hard to impress Sydney's 10-14 year-olds but this is something they will truly love! This Chocolate Party involves making, ... Read More»

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• Price: $700

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Learn to Cook Shojin Japanese Food

Code: JAP961

Location: Sydney, NSW

Learn to cook Japanese food in Sydney's most authentic class! Shojin is a Japanese cuisine created to help us all on the path to enlightenment. Learn ... Read More»

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• Price: $110

If you're not able to leave the house to attend a cooking class then this might be for you:

Elise Pascoe's Online Cooking Class

"Elise’s great passion is Italian cooking and after her last trip to Italy five years ago, she came back with 41 new recipes. “I’ve been in love with Italy since I first went there in 1960,” she said. “I’ve had 20 trips to Italy so I feel confident that what I cook is authentic.” Adelaide-born Elise developed her love of food and wine as a child, growing up with a father who collected wine and an English mother who “cooked well and intelligently”. Later she moved to Melbourne, where she began her food writing and teaching career, before moving to Sydney in 1982, where she ran her own cooking school and spent 10 years writing a weekly food column for The Sydney Morning Herald.

She has written five books including Elise Pascoe’s Four Seasons of Food and Wine (Macmillan, 1989, now out of print) and The Incredible Australian Icecream Book which sold 30,000 copies. Elise buys 90 per cent of her produce locally and particularly likes Oscar’s Deli in Warrawong. She shops at the farmer’s market on the waterfront in Kiama on the fourth Saturday of the month and can’t think of “anywhere in the world which has a prettier market setting than here.” She has gone to extraordinary lengths to make the cooking school a success, right down to buying the best ingredients and the best crockery, putting fresh flowers on the table and welcoming her guests to an immaculate and beautiful house. “I’m a perfectionist. I want things to be like that.”

Information on Elise’s classes can be found at www.cookingschool.com.au or by phoning her on (02) 4236 1666"

Source:
Elise Pascoe's Cooking School Capital magazine - May/June 2004 © Christine Salins