Culture > Get Creative > Food & Drink Courses
Food & Drink Courses
If you want to add an extra flair or air of confidence to your cooking a course at one of the two main cookery schools in the area should have you brimming with enthusiasm!
Manna from Devon cookery school is run by Holly and David Jones. Holly is a chef, food writer, consultant and broadcaster and David is a baker, sourdough enthusiast, and team-building consultant. They understand that food is a lot more than just fuel, it feeds the imagination, reflects our family traditions, underpins (or undermines) our health, nourishes our spirit and defines our culture. They keep all of this in mind as they plan and prepare their classes giving you and the food the time, respect and attention deserved.
The classes, demonstrations and tastings are designed to inspire, build confidence and help you improve your culinary skills in a relaxed environment. They all take place in a purpose built cookery school. Small groups give you ample opportunity for hands on practice; using the very finest local produce from the South Hams and emphasise the pleasure and benefits of cooking in tune with the seasons. Whether you want to be a better home cook or use the experience of catering professionals, nutritionists and masters of wine to help you get out into the market-place one of the Manna from Devon courses could be perfect for you!
Ashburton Cookery School offers a fresh approach to cooking with exciting courses that emphasise hands-on cookery training, top quality organic Devon produce and inspirational teaching. Set in a beautiful Georgian town on the edge of Dartmoor the school, founded by Stella West-Harling, offers over 40 cookery courses to choose from, designed to suit beginners as well as experienced cooks. Working in one of two superbly equipped teaching kitchens, in small groups you will learn fundamental cookery techniques that can be applied whether you're working in a professional kitchen or entertaining at home. The tutors are highly regarded with extensive experience, they will inspire you to cook with imagination, passion and enjoyment. Even a one day cookery course will give you knife skills and food handling training as well as around 5 hours tuition - and you get to eat the food you have prepared afterwards!
Occombe Farm has an on-site bakery which supplies the farm shop and cafe. You can go along for an hour in the mornings to learn about the history of bread-making and how to make great organic bread yourself. As an education facility they're used to small groups of children teaching them about ingredients, how to mix dough, how to kneed dough, how to shape different types of rolls and loaves, proving, and baking in the large bread oven. Children get to take their bread home at the end of the day. There's also a traditional clay oven at the farm and for bigger groups, larger than 15, the run the two activities together and rotate the groups so everyone gets a chance to work with the baker.
