Food from the heart at three new cooking schools
Bella Vedere
Learn about where food really comes from and gain a new respect for the environment with three new cooking schools in regional Victoria.
Bella Vedere is a renowned restaurant in the Yarra Valley that has built its reputation on organic seasonal produce sourced locally as well as from its on-site kitchen gardens. New cooking classes with charismatic head chef Gary Cooper run each Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am, with a lunch following at 12.30pm.
Rather than having themed classes, Bella Vedere will focus on what is seasonal and provide an open, friendly forum for questions. Topics explored could include cold larder, sweet and savoury pies, harvesting from the garden and preserving.
For more information call (03) 5962 6161; email: cookingschool@bellavedere.com.au; or vist www.bellavedere.com.au
Peaceful Gardens Organic Cooking School
In the foodie town of Koonwarra in Gippsland, another cooking school educates people about organic and sustainable food principles in a relaxed farmhouse environment. Peaceful Gardens Organic Cooking School began around 18 months ago and has been developing and expanding its program ever since.
Produce used in the classes is sourced from Peaceful Gardens’ 60 acre organic farm, including wagyu beef, vegetables and fruit used for jam and preserving. Classes include pasta making, bread making, food gathering and preserves. Kids’ classes incorporate story telling and cooking songs to make food preparation fun.
Since June, teacher Maria Stuart has been introducing concepts of carbon-neutral cooking into classes, with plans to run a dedicated carbon-neutral cooking class from 2008. This includes educating visitors about emissions from cooktops, the lower emissions of good quality cookware, the benefits of composting, home herb and vegetable gardens and avoiding the ‘embedded emissions’ found in pre-packaged foods.
Tours of the farm can be organised and delicious organic meals are available in the farmhouse café adjoining the cooking school.
For more information visit www.peacefulgardens.com.au
Media contact: Carolyn Johns on 0418 672 703; carolynjohns4@bigpond.com
Spice Island
The romantic retreat, Spice Island, in Phillip Island, is embarking on its own cooking school this month with the aim to showcase Gippsland’s fabulous local produce in a very contemporary environment.
Guests and students will be able to work in a state of the art kitchen with a very hands-on approach. ‘Themed evenings’ will give students the chance to cook in a relaxed environment whilst learning different cultural foods. One day participants may be cooking a Moroccan Banquet and the next an Asian dinner party. The classes will be geared to people of all cooking skill levels and those that simply want to have a fun night and learn about something outside of their normal realms of knowledge.
Courses will also include Professional Masterclasses, Lifestyle Courses, Cooking for Kids, and Workplace Team Building.
Spice Island will run most of the courses on-site, but will also have access to some of Melbourne's most exciting chefs who will be joining them for special Masterclasses.
The full schedule will be available on the Spice Island website later this month.
For more information visit www.spiceisland.com.au
Media contact: Paul Stafford on (03) 5956 7557 or email info@spiceisland.com.au