Back to School - in the kitchen

- Sally Hammond

With the youngsters back in class, maybe it’s time for the oldies to learn a trick or two, too.

An upsurge in TV cooking shows has left some of us feeling a little, er, left behind in the culinary stakes. When even children are offering to ‘plate up’, and you realise you are not entirely sure of the difference between a macaron and a meringue, or even a kohlrabi and a cabbage, maybe it’s time to up your kitchen skills!

Cookery schools vary enormously. Most offer the chance for you to participate 'hands on', which means you will be chopping and sauteeing along with the chef or your co-cooks. But with supervision. You won't have to fly solo, and there will always be someone to ask for help if you don't understand a term or what to do with an ingredient.

Often there will be a part of the lesson where the class will observe the teacher as he or she demonstrates a technique or the preparation of a dish, and this is particularly so when you are in the presence of a high-flying guest chef with much to share and show.

Some cookery schools also organise outings to local produce markets or wineries, and arrange wine tastings or other food related experiences, to enhance the package.

Often your co-students will also be non-professionals, you will quickly realise that while some may be more experienced cooks, no one will know it all. That is the beauty of cookery. It is so complex and varied, that there is something for everyone to learn. The other good thing is that people who really love food and cookery, are generally delighted to share their knowledge, without wanting to score points off someone who knows a little less.

The net result will be greater confidence in the kitchen, a better understanding of the ingredients you use, and what to do with them, a bunch of tested recipes, some great memories, dozens of innovative ideas for serving your food more attractively, and new friendships that you are sure to make as you chop and stir and mix over the hours, or in some cases days, that you are in class.

Hey, that sounds like a surefire recipe for success!

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