expand your culinary horizon...
Cumbria has a great deal to offer the budding culinary star with a spare day or so as there are a growing number of individuals and cookery schools which offer a very wide selection of courses, covering topics from Dinner Parties for Men to Late Medieval English Cookery.
Renowned food historian Ivan Day offers historic cookery courses out of his home, complete with historic working kitchen, in Shap. Where else can you be taught by a consultant to Heston Blumenthal? How about Period Sugarwork and Confectionery, or Period Ham Making - Meat and Fish Preservation, or why not Italian Renaissance Cookery. www.historicfood.com
Annette Gibbons, ITV Borders own TV chef, runs cookery demonstrations in her lovely cottage kitchen in Mawbray on the north west coast of Cumbria. The demonstrations vary with the seasons, but always involve local and regional raw ingredients and other food products. www.cumbriaonaplate.co.uk
Andrew Whitley started the organic Village Bakery in Melmerby. He has recently written a phenomenal book called Bread Matters, named the 2007's best food book in the Financial Times, and now spends his time teaching people how to make real bread. www.breadmatters.com
Woodend Cookery is run by Grainne Jakobson from her Georgian home just outside Egremont in the western Lake District. Grainne too does cookery demonstrations around lunch or in the evening, and the meal and a glass of wine is included in the price. Courses in 2008 included A Taste of Spain, French Flavours Provencal Style, The Magic of Chocolate and Summer Soups & Starters. www.woodendcookery.co.uk
One of the newer openings is Yelly De Jong's school Cook in Cumbria, situated in the Upper Eden Valley. Yelly went down a storm at Cumbria's recent chilli festival. She particularly enjoys teaching and demonstrating Chinese and Thai dishes, and is known for laughing very loudly. You have been warned. www.cookincumbria.com
Lucy Cooks is the ultimate cookery school, with affordable, creative courses for everyone, including families with children. Most courses last for a day or half a day and topics include Aga Cooking, Healthy Eating, Chinese Cookery, Mediterranean Food, Puddings, Desserts & Patisserie, and many, many more. www.lucycooks.co.uk
Food & Company is run by sisters Joan Gate and Margaret Brough, who do food demonstrations in a wonderful refurbished barn at Mirehouse on the side of Bassenthwaite Lake. Themes include Simple Suppers, Dinner Parties for Men, Flavour, Sizzle & Smoke, The Spice Trail and Easy Entertaining. www.foodandcompany.co.uk
Content and photography supplied by www.artisan-food.com , funded by Distinctly Cumbrian.
