Culinary Intuition
New Zealanders, by nature, love to entertain. Most aren’t after cooking qualifications. They simply want to learn the tips they’ll need to confidently welcome friends into their homes to enjoy a classy meal in a gorgeous setting. This list gives details of non-vocational cooking schools around the country.
NORTHLAND
Magnolia HouseKerikeri
4th generation catering family Cedar Corbin creates a hands on learning environment in small workshops, highlighting authentic dishes from her Lebanese heritage as well as other cuisines and speciality foods of all styles. Scheduled and custom designed classes are available to suit any level of expertise.
Chef Paul and Beth Jobin’s travelling cookschool hosts chefs in homes around
the Bay of Islands and the Matakana Coast. In the Big Fish event chef Chris Harris goes out fishing with guests and demonstrates what do with their catch. Guest chefs include Shane Yardley of Gault on George, Amanda Morris from Rice and Season’s Cameron Lawless, plus local talent.
www.puretastes.co.nz
AUCKLAND
Al Dente Italian Cooking School
Browns Bay
www.aldente.co.nz
Learn to combine traditional Italian cooking methods with New Zealand’s top-quality products. Raffaela Delmonte offers hands-on classes, fund-raising demonstrations, custom-designed classes and team-building workshops. Also ethnic cuisine.
Alessandra Zecchini
783 West Coast Rd, Oratia
Small, informal cooking workshops at Alessandra Zecchini’s home in the bush at Oratia, presenting the bases of Italian cuisine. Also an introduction to Asian vegetarian cuisine.
Arte in Cucina
Red Beach, Hibiscus Coast
Classes divided into levels at this modern Italian cuisine and gourmet cooking school. Chef Cesare Stella teaches simple, effective day-to-day meal preparation in kitchens around Auckland. Regular classes at Kitchen ’Things in Albany.
Auckland Cooking Academy
Milly’s Kitchen Warehouse
Home Ideas Centre, Level 2, 165 The Strand, Parnell
www.millys.co.nz
The Auckland Cooking Academy based at Milly’s Kitchen always has a feast of star chefs on the menu. April includes Laurie Black’s Autumn’s Bounty, Vic Williams presents Cheese Please and Connie Clarkson creates Simply Thai.
Auckland Fish Market Seafood School
22 Jellicoe St, Auckland City
www.aucklandfishmarket.co.nz
This school opens in June with the new fish market. Classes feature well-known chefs from all over the world who will showcase fish and shellfish available at the specialist retailers on site.
Creative Cuisine Cookschool
211 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway, RD 3, Albany
Barbara Pennington bases her demonstration classes on a theme - a country of origin, style of cooking or seasonal.
Dream Cuisine
Glendowie
Louise Edwards and Julie Muirhead inspire home cooks to take fresh, seasonal
ingredients and cook simply for flavour and enjoyment with demonstrations of two
menus in a working kitchen.
Duck Under the Table
20 Pine Ridge Terrace, Takapuna, Auckland and
Inglewood, Taranaki
Informal yet informative classes by Philippa Mandis and Jane Shearer in their domestic kitchens in Auckland and Taranaki. Menus designed to be done ahead. All recipes adapted for locally available ingredients.
Epicurean Workshop
6 Morrow St, Newmarket
www.epicurean.co.nz
Winner of a Cuisine/Matua Valley Award of Innovation and Excellence in 2002, the Epicurean is a unique concept for cooks that incorporates a cookware store, cooking school, espresso bar and mail-order catalogue. Hands-on classes and demonstrations from ethnic cuisine and seasonal menus to classes for corporate or private events. Regular guest chefs include Cuisine contributing food
editors Lauraine Jacobs and Ray McVinnie.
Gitta Rupa’s Vegetarian Cooking Classes
Ponsonby
Gitta Rupa bases her cooking techniques on the principles of Ayurveda, the life science of her Indian ancestors. Evening demonstrations focus on organic fresh ingredients, eating according to body types, food combining, seasonal eating and the healing properties of herbs and spices.
Indoor Dining Culinary School
Wellesley St, Auckland City
www.indoordining.com
The NZQA-accredited Indoor Dining Culinary School offers personalised classes in private homes, yachts or restaurants. Or spend an entire weekend creating and enjoying food with chef Martin Harrap’s residential classes at Kauri Lodge. Planned courses include Mid-winter Warmth in June, Italian in August and New Zealand Foods in October.
Innovative Cook School
190 Remuera Rd, Remuera
Karen Hally conducts seasonal menu classes, morning and evening two days a week in a purpose-built kitchen in her home. She offers a selection of recipes to mix and match to form a menu. All dishes tasted and matched with wine.
Kaizen Café
350 Main Highway, Orewa
Natalie Townsend, head chef of Kaizen for the last year, uses local products to bring home Italian cooking concepts. Intimate evening classes in the Kaizen Café kitchen are a combination of demonstrations and hands-on cooking. Minimum two courses with wine matches. Learn about Italian food history, products and culture.
Main Course
20 Beaumont St, Auckland City
www.maincourse.co.nz
A relaxed and funky attitude to food. Fully hands-on classes are small, comprehensive and informal. Course director Alison Robert aims to inspire and motivate participants by building confidence. Classes include Cool and Confident Basic Skills and Nutrition for Sporty People. Busy people will appreciate Damn Quick Dinners and Lightnin’ Lunches. Also customised classes.
Sabato
57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden
www.sabato.co.nz
Offering a basic cooking class with simple recipes, learn how to cook simple dishes with staple foods. Then sample the creations and wash down with a glass of wine.
The Homestore
Rialto Centre, Newmarket
www.homestore.co.nz
Cooking classes include demonstrations by well-known chefs and foodies, and suppliers will advise how to get the most from their products.
Uxbridge
35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick
www.uxbridge.org.nz
See Uxbridge’s web site for updates on cooking classes and guest chef demonstrations. Scheduled for June is TV celebrity and food editor of the Sunday Star Times Annabelle White.
Vinotica’s Gourmet Cooking School
Unit D, 3 Henry Rose Place, Albany
Two hours of informative instruction by either Martin Harrap, President of the New Zealand Chefs’ Association, or occasionally Morgan Lonergan and other guest chefs. Wines matched to food cooked.
Whitterley’s School of Cooking
Vineyard Cottages and Conference Centre,
1011 Old North Rd, Waimauku
Whitterley’s, located at the renowned Vineyard Cottages and Conference Centre, hosts guest chefs who run hands-on classes or demonstrations.
WAIKATO
The Platter Place
Queenwood Ave, Hamilton
www.platterplace.co.nz
Relax and watch the chefs create inspiring dishes for you to share with family and friends and of course sample on the night! Or enquire about the private and group sessions. They specialize in corporate team building classes for up to 16 persons up at Debbie’s Devonport Beach Retreat in Auckland. Casual, fun, interactive and very relaxed - a great way to spend an evening with your friends. From traditional Thai Feast to Spanish Tapas, they’ll teach you how at the Platter Place cooking studio. Classes start at 7pm and run approx. 2 hours. All classes include generous tastings and recipes.
Out in the Styx Café
2117 Arapuni Road
Pukeatua, Te Awamutu
www.styx.co.nz
Cooking classes can be organised on request.
TAURANGA
Somerset Cook School
30 Bethlehem Rd, Bethlehem
Rick Lowe, chef at Somerset Cottage, shares popular dishes from the restaurant’s menu during morning sessions. Also classes focusing on cooking techniques. Occasional guest chefs, including Ray McVinnie.
HAWKE’S BAY
Esk River Cuisine Workshop
347 State Highway 5
Esk Valley, Napier
Renowned French Chef Pierre Vuilleumier uses fresh local produce as well as his own products to produce a three course meal for the Lunch and Dinner demonstration classes. He also offers ‘Hands On’ classes, ‘Men in the Kitchen - level 1 class, and seasonal menu classes with wine matching.
Sileni Culinary School
2016 Maraekakaho Rd,
RD 1, Hastings
A variety of classes to suit a wide range of skill levels and interests in the purpose-built culinary school at Sileni Estates. Also custom-designed courses for groups and corporate team-building sessions.
MANAWATU
Modena
723 Main Street
Palmerston North
www.modena.co.nz
Whether its delicious family meals or gastronomic dinner parties, you’ll get plenty of ideas and take home recipes from our master chef cooking classes. You’ll also be served with generous tasting portions and matching wine. Classes are held on the first Tuesday of every month at Modena epicurean café. Reservations are essential. On-line bookings possible.
Truelife
262 Ferguson Street
Palmerston North
Truelife specializes in natural, healthy food. They run 8-12 week cooking classes with a natural remedy theme.
WAIRARAPA
Wakelin House Restaurant
123 Main St, Greytown
Regular demonstrations during winter at Glenys Almao and Gerald Brown’s award-winning restaurant, Wakelin House, in Greytown. Classes follow either a food style or a meal plan.
WELLINGTON
Asiana School of Asian Cuisine
39 Tennyson Street
Hands-on Asian cooking. Specialise in team building for corporates and catering
for social groups.
Cooking with Sandrine (for kids)
Capital E, Civic Square
www.capitale.org.nz
Fancy having lunch cooked by your eight-year-old? French chef Sandrine Urvois runs classes for age groups 8-12 and 13-16, and for adults.
Mediterranean Food Warehouse
42 Constable Street, Newtown
www.millys.co.nz
Chefs and caterers from Wellington’s leading restaurants demonstrate the art of
cooking Mediterranean food. Participants enjoy nibbles and Italian wine and taste the dishes demonstrated.
Pierre’s Cookery School
103 Cashmere Avenue, Khandallah
Chef Pierre Meyer conducts cooking classes from his home. A variety of topics based on his cuisine, which has earned him a place in the Food Service Hall of Fame. Morning and evening classes.
Ruth Pretty Cooking School
41 School Road, Te Horo, Kapiti Coast
www.epicurean.co.nz
The Ruth Pretty Cooking School shares recipes, cooking ideas and entertaining secrets amid the rural tranquillity of Te Horo. Top chefs and food personalities including Annabel Langbein, Peta Mathias, Tony Tan, Julie Le Clerc and Ray McVinnie complement Ruth Pretty’s own classes. Dishes enjoyed over a long lunch.
Sarogini Cooking School
14 Govind Grove, Ngaio
Learn the techniques used in preparing authentic Asian-style dishes in a homely dinner party atmosphere. Sarogini Kamalanathan uses her own personal curry powder blend and other spices to show how to enhance rather than drown the flavour of dishes. Her classes cover a full menu, be it Indian, Sri Lankan or Malaysian.
The Homestore
Level 1, 250 Lambton Quay
www.homestore.co.nz
Evening classes held in-store are taught by visiting chefs and caterers, mostly Wellington based, each chef choosing the content of the class. Typical class consists of three or four-course meal. Each course tasted and matched with wine.
La Bella Italia Demonstration Dinners
10 Nevis Street, Petone
www.labellaitalia.co.nz
Demonstration Dinners at La Bella Italia start at 6.45pm for aperitif & crostini and include a three course meal with two wines to match and coffee to finish.
NELSON
Creative Tourism
New Zealand Workshops
The Smokehouse, Shed 2, Mapua Wharf
www.creativetourism.co.nz
Vivienne Fox shares her local knowledge during hands-on New Zealand seafood
workshops. These start at The Smokehouse in Mapua learning about the fish species and end with a seafood lunch complemented by locally crafted wine.
MARLBOROUGH
Herzog Cooking Classes
Herzog’s Winery & Luxury Restaurant
81 Jeffries Rd, RD 3, Blenheim
www.herzog.co.nz
Work with top European Michelin star-experienced chefs in a world-class kitchen. Louis Schindler and his team’s hands-on workshops cover preparation and presentation of a three-course menu, easy to repeat at home. Also Kitchen Confidential, a behind-the-scenes look into the kitchen as chefs prepare
for the evening’s five-course gourmet meal.
Hotel d’Urville Cook’s Discovery
52 Queen St, Blenheim
www.durville.com
Hotel d’Urville’s Cook’s Discovery uncovers the secrets of Marlborough’s cuisine. Embark on an intriguing taste tour of Marlborough’s finest food and wine producers, then noted chefs lift the lid on their culinary secrets and match those creations with the region’s world-famous wines.
CHRISTCHURCH
Deux Tartes
Sisters Tina Duncan and Maria Ryan show how to put the wow factor into a dinner party. They demonstrate 8-12 recipes during their small Saturday classes at Tina’s Christchurch home or guest homes. Often a speaker presents new food products, decorating ideas or wines at the long lunch at the end of the demonstration.
New Zealand School of Food and Wine
63 Victoria St, Christchurch
www.foodandwine.co.nz
This registered private cookery school offers full and part-time courses. Its NZQA-accredited courses are the only local alternative programmes to those based on the polytech system. Principal Celia Hay also offers evening demonstration classes, barista workshops and wine appreciation courses.
The Small Kitchen School
178A High St, Christchurch Hillside, Governors Bay
www.smallkitchenschool.com
Michael Lee-Richards’ school offers a fun programme of classes with visiting chefs and teachers. Lee-Richards takes many of the classes, and organises special events in the purpose-built kitchens above his restaurant, Michael’s, in Christchurch and at Hillside in Lyttelton.
Otahuna Lodge - gourmet classes with Jimmy McIntyre
Contact: Otahuna Lodge
Rhodes Road, Tai Tapu
www.otahuna.co.nz
Otahuna a luxury lodge, situated on the outskirts of Christchurch is also a gourmet retreat, offering an eclectic program of practical and demonstration classes, not only on food and cooking, but also on a vast range of subjects. From things Culinary, (the latest and greatest in New Zealand cuisine, traditional cheese making, wine appreciation), to things Horticultural (pottager and garden design, organic gardening and mushroom foraging), these classes are an extension of the Otahuna experience. Lodge guests might well wish to time their visit to coincide with an upcoming retreat or series of classes.
The Cook House
Contact: The Cook House
110 Rossiters Rd, RD 2 Rangiora
www.thecookhouse.co.nz
Graham Brown is an accomplished and well respected chef in the hospitality industry. The Cookhouse is Graham’s home and his very own kitchen. It is an intimate food experience for other enthusiastic cooks to enjoy and learn more about the never-ending pleasures of fine food. The Cookhouse celebrates the inspiration that Graham draws from Canterbury and the outstanding range of superb fresh foods and wines produced within an hours drive of his home.
QUEENSTOWN
Ki Tao
Punatapu Lodge, Queenstown
www.cuisinequeenstown.com
Ki Tao is headed by chef Jenny Stewart with Jackie Strain and Sue Farry. Three-hour demonstrations, plus weekend and five-day residentials, at the new purpose-built whare-umu (cookhouse) at Punatapu Lodge. Classes feature the best of local produce with an emphasis on home-made and organic foods.
DUNEDIN / INVERCARGILL
Judith Cullen Cooking Classes
18 Cliffs Rd, St Clair, Dunedin
Ph: 03-445 838, email: philip_judithcullen@xtra.co.nz
Judith Cullen plans a series of recipes using seasonal produce in her home kitchen, designed to encourage home cooks. Menus change every two months. She also teaches her classes in small communities in Otago and Southland.
Judith Cullen also holds cooking classes at Hawthorn Den Inn the second or third week of every month or according to her busy schedule. There are approximately 25 in each class. The classes run from 7pm to 10pm and include wine tastings and food tastings plus a set of recipes. Bookings can be made by e-mail to Carol Chittock quertier@xtra.co.nz or phone 03 2040885
Bungalow Cooking School
Southern Institute of Technology
Ythan St, Invercargill
Ph: 03-218 2599
www.sit.ac.nz
The Bungalow Cooking School hosts five national/international chefs who present a class each over a four-day programme. Three-hour demonstrations with a glass or two of wine to complement the food.
New Zealanders, by nature, love to entertain. Most aren’t after cooking qualifications. They simply want to learn the tips they’ll need to confidently welcome friends into their homes to enjoy a classy meal in a gorgeous setting. This list gives details of non-vocational cooking schools around the country.
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