I’ve spent most of my years so far being quite frankly a hopeless cook.
But last week I got well and truly bitten by the culinary bug.
I’d never made fresh pasta from scratch before, but my goodness what a sense of satisfaction – let alone the freshness.
If I’m honest, I was hoping to hide somewhere near the back of the class, but Sophie’s Cookery School is all about getting well and truly stuck in and not being afraid at having a go for yourself – believe me, the reward is well worth it.
For their first birthday celebration at Will’s Deli in Jericho, Sophie and her team – assisted by a well-lubricated bunch of their closet friends – served up an array of delightful dishes in homage to their best creations from the last highly successful 12 months popping up around the city.
“It’s all getting a bit grown-up now,” said Sophie. “We just ran a few little courses to begin with, but we’ve had such nice customers (who just want to keep coming back) that we’re expanding, honing it and looking for a permanent base, so watch this space!”
It’s obvious that Sophie loves passing on her knowledge of food and cooking. Her springboard was a youthful enthusiasm for making fudge in a teaspoon over a Baby Belling somewhere in the back streets of Oxford. She’s come a long way since then, having written about 20 cookery books spreading the pleasure that creating great meals brings.
Her courses are friendly and informal with everyone sharing the work – chopping, peeling and stirring – but, thankfully, not the washing up! When the dishes are ready, there’s a chance to sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labour… with a glass of wine or two.
If you too fancy rolling up your sleeves, donning an apron and picking up your wooden spoon, there are plenty more opportunities coming up at Oxford’s only pop-up cookery school. You can learn to make bread, try your hand at the art of Pakistani cooking or forage on a farm before taking the ingredients home to cook up a hearty treat for all the family. Most classes last two to three hours and are suitable for anyone – from a total beginner (like me) to the most confident of cooks (my mum).
On October 23, Sophie will be teaming up with irrepressible master butcher Paul England of Alcock’s Butchers in Summertown to take you through the key steps in creating an irresistibly plump sausage ready for the pan. Tickets are available now from sophiescookeryschool.com
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