Two pieces of news from Edinburgh New Town Cookery School to share.
Edinburgh New Town Cookery School has beaten off stiff competition from throughout the UK to make it to the finals of the prestigious 2014 British Cookery School Awards (BCSA) in not just one, but two, categories.
Fiona Burrell
The school, run by Fiona Burrell, former principal of Leiths School of Food and Wine, has been shortlisted for both the Best Large Professional Cookery School and the Best Large Recreational Cookery School.
With more than 400 cookery schools now operating across the county, the awards honor excellent cookery schools that go above and beyond to deliver a first-class experience, and celebrate the important role that they play in driving Britain’s passion for cooking good homemade food.
The judges have been impressed with the consistently high standard of entries across the range of categories and cookery schools. Head of the judging panel, Nigel Barden, foodie aficionado and BBC food and drink broadcaster, said:
“It is really gratifying to be involved with the Kenwood British Cookery School Awards which attracts a magnificent number of entries who prove to be amazingly diverse. It is rewarding to see how much it means to the recipients, giving them an official standard of excellence and appreciation, not just by their students but from professionals within the food industry”.
The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony in London on 17 November 2014.
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it’s THAT time of year again, and Edinburgh New Town Cookery School has a range of cookery courses and events designed for the festive season.
These are not only the ideal way to brush up on cooking and baking skills to take the stress out of Christmas, but are also the perfect way to celebrate with friends or work colleagues as an alternative party.
Situated right in the heart of Edinburgh, the school is ideally located for Christmas shopping before or after courses, and it even has its own shop for cookery-themed gifts or cookery course gift vouchers for those hard-to-buy-for people.
Special festive courses include:
Carving Demonstration and Dinner. Thursday 4 December, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
This evening course with dinner is for anyone who has find the prospect of carving a joint of meat daunting. Participants will enjoy a glass of wine while learning about keeping knives sharp and watching various joints of meat being carved, with an opportunity to have a go themselves. Afterwards a sociable two course dinner, including the carved meats, is served with more wine and followed by dessert and coffee. Cost: £55
Christmas Easy Entertaining. Saturday 13 December, 9.45am – 2pm
Learn to cook new dishes at a Saturday practical cookery class in Edinburgh New Town Cookery School’s stunning kitchens. These cookery courses are designed to inspire participants with new ideas for dinner party dishes – just in time for the festive season. The day starts with coffee or tea and a short demonstration and introduction to the day’s recipes. Then everyone cooks three courses before enjoying the meal, sitting round the kitchen table, with a glass of wine. The day will finish at approximately 2 – 2.30pm – leaving plenty of time for Christmas shopping as well. Cost: £100
Three Day Essentials. 10 – 12 December, 9.45am – 4pm
This three day course, intended for novices, will teach the basic cookery skills which are essential for every cook to know and particularly relevant in the run up to Christmas. Each day students cook a variety of dishes some of which they will eat for lunch and the rest they can take home. As the days progress everyone’s confidence increases and by the third day they will leave with new recipes and new skills.Techniques covered will include: knife skills; browning meat; pastry making; cooking with eggs; cake making; bread making; roasting; fish cookery; and cooking vegetables. Cost: £420
Christmas Baking. Saturday 6 December, 9.45am – 4pm
Recipes will include chocolate fruit Christmas cake; stollen; mince pies; cinnamon shortbread stars; and pear, pecan and cranberry muffins. The course includes lunch in the school’s beautiful dining room and there will be plenty of baking treats for you to take home with you. Cost: £150
Christmas Sparkling Wines. Thursday 11 December, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Come and join us for a wine tasting of all that is frothy and frivolous, and learn of the many ingenious ways man has sought to put bubbles in wine. By comparing Proseccos, Champagnes, Cavas and New World sparklers you will discover the fizz for you. This will be a fun and sociable evening and would be a perfect early Christmas present. Cost: £40
Christmas Canape Demonstration. Tuesday 16 December, 10.30am – 12.30pm
The morning starts with coffee and shortbread before a two-hour demonstration showing how to create several festive savoury and sweet canapes. Participants will enjoy a tasting of the finished results with a glass of prosecco at the end. Cost: £45
Children’s Christmas Baking Courses. Friday 19 and Tuesday 23 December, 9.30am – 12 noon; and Friday 19 December, 1.30pm – 4pm
For children who love baking, and for parents who want to amuse their children during the holidays with something a little different these December half day courses are the perfect antidote to winter holiday boredom as children learn how to make delicious cakes and biscuits which they can pack up and take home. They may turn out to be the perfect Christmas Present for Granny! Suitable for children aged 9 – 13 years old who will learn to bake Chocolate Kisses, Lemon Drizzle Muffins and Shortbread Stars. Cost: £45
Children’s One Day Course. Monday 22 December, 10.30am – 3pm
During the Christmas holidays why not send your child for a one day cooking course at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School. Designed ages 9 – 12 , children will be taught cooking skills using the best seasonal ingredients, cooking dishes that they can easily recreate at home. The children will be taught, and encouraged, to clear up and wash up as they go – something that every parent will appreciate! They will cook a simple lunch and they will take some of their cooked treats home. Cost: £60
