New cookery school opens in South Devon
A new, ultra-modern cookery school on the edge of Dartmoor, South Devon, has opened its doors this autumn. The Ashburton Cookery School boasts newly built, custom-designed premises, with three new state-of-the art teaching kitchens equipped with the latest Siemens appliances.
The superb facilities will enable the school to increase the choice of courses on offer and expand the number of student places to meet an ever increasing demand to learn new cookery skills. Students are taught fundamental cookery techniques that can be applied when cooking at home, entertaining family and friends or working in a professional kitchen.
Delighted with the new facility, Chef Director, Darrin Hosegrove said: “Building a brand new cookery school has allowed us to distil years of expertise in cookery training to create a fantastic facility built around the needs of the student. Everything is designed to maximise the quality and enjoyment of the training. We’re really proud of it and the feedback from students has been fantastic”.
Future plans include the opening of a stylish new chef’s restaurant within the contemporary cookery school premises, where the chef tutors can prepare signature dishes for everyone to enjoy with a selection of matched wines.
Over 40 Cookery Courses
With courses running seven days a week in up to four kitchens (three new and one in the former building), the school offers over forty different hands-on courses split into five levels of ability and one to twenty days in length. “Most of our courses are designed for the enthusiastic home-cook, but we also have courses for those with no cookery skills whatsoever. We have had several students start on a beginners’ weekend and work their way up to an advanced course, cooking at a fine dining level”, continued Darrin Hosegrove.
Among the more popular are the one and two day Express Dinner Parties, which teach the art of quick, effective entertaining, and Gentlemen’s Relish – a two-day course intended for men to build-up their confidence and skills in the kitchen so that they really enjoy cooking for guests and themselves. Others include breadmaking, canapés, desserts, fish and seafood, game, knife skills and modern vegetarian; there are also courses inspired by a country’s cuisine such as Italian, French and Thai.
The twenty-day Ashburton Cookery Diploma is an intensive training course for those wishing to launch a career in catering or start their own business. It is highly regarded in the catering industry and past graduates can be found working in Michelin starred restaurants, appearing on television’s Masterchef, or running successful catering companies and bistro’s.
Headed by Chef Director Darrin Hosegrove, Ashburton Cookery School’s chef tutors are qualified lecturers with extensive experience of working in the catering industry. They inspire students to cook with imagination, passion and enjoyment.
The school also prides itself in using only the best quality ingredients and promotes the use of food and drink that has been produced in a way that is organic, sustainable, environmentally sensitive or ethical, and is supportive of local businesses.
Location and Accommodation
The Cookery School is located in the small Georgian town of Ashburton with its many antique shops and cafes to explore and enjoy. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the West Country with Dartmoor’s open expanses and the rolling countryside and sandy beaches of Devon’s glorious South Hams within easy reach. The new building is a few minutes’ drive from the A38, equidistant between Exeter and Plymouth, while the nearest train station with a direct service to London Paddington and Birmingham New Street is at Newton Abbot (about 15-20 minutes by car).
Accommodation is available on a B&B basis in the school’s own 17th century building in Ashburton’s East Street. Alternatively there is a choice of quality B&Bs and guesthouses in the town and surrounding area.
Tariff and Further Information
Cookery courses are priced from £149 per person for one day; this includes a personal workstation with all necessary utensils and ingredients, an apron, course folder with notes and recipes to take home, morning tea/coffee and lunch with a glass of wine, partly comprising the dishes made during the day. Those on courses lasting two days or more may also have supper.
Courses run from 9.30am and finish at either 4 or 6pm with a break for lunch. B&B is from £59 per person (all prices quoted are 2009 subject to increase for 2010).
Gift vouchers, valid for nine months, can be purchased for one, two or five day courses, or be used towards the cost of a more expensive course, while fine-quality cookery equipment and specialist foods are also available via the school’s Cookery Store.
For more information, visit ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk.
