Cookery Courses Around Scotland - Page 2
Nairn's Cook School, Port of Menteith, Stirling
This purpose built school on the shore of the Lake of Menteith, features a state of the art stylish kitchen, spacious facilities for demonstrations and a dining room. On the Lochend estate there are attractive self-catering cedar wood chalets for residential course students and for combining a cookery course with a family holiday.
The Celebrity TV chef and restaurateur Nick Nairn founded Nairn's Cook school eighteen months ago with fellow chef John Webber, whose eminent background includes training under Anton Mossiman at the Savoy and latterly the post of head chef at Kinnaird Country House, Perthshire, where he won his second Michelin star.
Recreational day classes claim to "take the stress and mystery out of cooking". The focus is on enjoyment and informality as well as informing. With a limit of eight people per class you are assured of personal attention. Learn how to make the perfect Sushi, Thai cuisine, bread and baking, vegetarian dishes and plan a Stress-free Christmas. Flexible one day and five day residential Masterclasses at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels, provide a complete programme for the home cook, from soups, sauces, salads, seafood, meat and game to dessert.
John Webber believes anyone can be taught to cook well, given the interest. "It's becoming the new golf with many men cooking on Saturdays as a form of relaxation," he comments with a broad smile.
Repeat business is big business at Nairn's Cook school, which must be the proof of the pudding. "Enjoyed the day very much - gone away stuffed and inspired" comments Sally in the guest book. "Another fabulous day - we'll be back", enthuses Steve.
The hard work in opening the school is beginning to pay off believes Nick Nairn. It is now very popular for all kinds of courses at every standard from beginners to the more experienced.
"John Webber is the best tutor around, patient and affable and he takes the mystery out of cooking. His teaching skills are second to none. We also use the school as a training facility for professional chefs."For more details see Nairn's Cook School
Earlshill Farm, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire
Mo Scott is a highly renowned award-winning chef. After a rigorous apprenticeship in many leading restaurants around the UK, she came to Glasgow to open Poacher's specialising in natural, seasonal Scottish produce, the first really serious "foodie" restaurant. Within two years it won the coveted Michelin M award. Since 1993 Mo has been passing on her wide professional knowledge and her unstinting passion for good food to all who wish to improve their skills in the kitchen, from beginners to the more experienced. All year round, with seasonal variations, there are morning and evening demonstrations and hands-on masterclasses.
"I like to prepare elegant dishes that are worth spending time on for special occasions," she says, "but other times I want dishes that are quick and simple to make. Most folk are too busy to spend more than an hour each day in the kitchen. The emphasis is always on quality ingredients and excellence of taste"Special imaginative classes include Dinner-in-a-Dash, Men's hands-on Masterclass and a very successful children's cookery school encouraging children to change their eating habits and enjoy fresh home-cooked meals.
For more details, contact Earlshill Farm.
Kinloch Lodge, Sleat, Isle of Skye
Lady Claire Macdonald has been running cookery demonstrations at the hotel on the Isle of Skye, which she owns and runs with her husband Lord Godfrey Macdonald, for 12 years. Take a three-day weekend or midweek cookery course at Kinloch Lodge and each morning Claire will demonstrate a selection of recipes from her 14 books, covering seasonal cooking, lunches, suppers and puddings. These classes are very relaxed and do not involve any practical work and simply fun for those who just wish to observe the experts at work.
Over the winter months selected courses combine with special Guy Fawkes and Murder Mystery weekends.
Claire admits that her life is dominated by food.
"I am passionate about food. I cook, I write about food and give demonstrations. I like to experiment and encourage others to do so, to enjoy cooking, eat for pleasure and have fun with food."For more details see Claire Macdonald.
Other Cookery Courses in Brief
Airds Hotel in Port Appin Argyll has a Culinary Weekend which takes you on a gastronomic journey with their head chef Paul Burns (a Master Chef of Great Britain). During your stay, you will learn how to prepare the perfect dining experience from canapes to pre-dinner drinks, starters that will satisfy, main courses that will overwhelm to desserts that will delight!
Burrastow House, Walls, Isles of Shetland. Demonstrations with Bo Simmons using the very best of fresh local produce.
The Edinburgh School of Food and Wine The Coach House, Newliston, Edinburgh EH 29 9EB. Diplomas, chalet cook survival and dinner party courses.
The Cookery School in Glasgow is in the heart of the city and has a wide range of courses to teach you the techniques that you can use again and again. All courses are self-contained and none is more difficult than the other. They can last from two hours to eight weeks (accommodation can be arranged), but most courses last one day. There’s no reason to get worried that you can’t cook something - as the school says: "it’s our job to teach you. And we’re good at that."
Kinloch House Hotel, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6SG. Cookery courses under top chef, Bill McNicoll.
Ruthven House runs residential workshops on cooking and découpage (decorating home accessories) in a Victorian family house (now a bed and breakfast establishment) 3 miles north of the historic town of Coldstream in the Scottish Borders. The cookery courses are supervised by Judith Hettrick, a famous Borders caterer.
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