Cooking on Gas

Cookingon gas

Keen to brush up on your cooking skills? The BunGeo has a class to suit all skill levels, says Danielle Costley.

If you have ever wanted to master the art of cooking with fire, whip up an authentic Spanish paella while sipping on a sangria, or create a silky chocolate ganache, there are a range of cooking classes available in the region to choose from.

These talented chefs are opening their doors and inviting you into their kitchens to help you gain confidence in your culinary skills and sate your appetite along the way.

MARKET EATING HOUSE

The incredible food offering from Market Eating House is renowned throughout BunGeo and, thanks to chef Brenton Pyke, guests can now immerse themselves in a cooking class for up to 10 people, where a charcoal grill and woodfired oven take centre stage.

The dishes are inspired by Brenton’s love of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Combined with his passion for cooking over open flame, you have the ingredients for a very special tasting experience.

Essentially, the classes explore the relationship of food and fire, with a seasonally reflective menu that showcases the abundance of locally sourced produce with a selection of dishes best enjoyed for sharing. Learn how to make classic hummus with ground

lamb, spiced cauliflower and Middle Eastern rice, or explore the nourishing seasonality of vegetables and fruit in a selection of plant-based dishes.

Learn the techniques to master this primitive style of cooking over flame with meat, seafood and vegetables. Classes cost $250 per person, inclusive of lunch and Geographe wines and craft beers. Visit marketeatinghouse.com. au for more information.

FOOD WITH PASSION SW

If sipping sangrias at a winery while making paella and churros takes your fancy, try a Food with Passion SW cooking class that’s held at various wineries throughout the picturesque Ferguson Valley. Let Mon Barrero and Laura McGinley transport you to the exotic cuisine and culture of Spain, where you will be taught how to cook authentic paella, mix a perfect sangria, and, if you’re lucky, be treated to a flamenco performance.

“The wineries are excited to offer an afternoon of immersion into Spanish culture and food, along with their individual wines which are featured in our sangrias,” Mon reveals.

“Our classes are not just about food. We want to give customers a physical and emotional experience into Spain.

“We cook authentic Spanish paella, from scratch, using traditional recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.”

A typical cooking class begins with guests learning about the best ingredients to use for the recipes. The sangria is then prepared as it requires two hours for the wine and fruit flavours to fully combine. While eating paella and drinking a sangria, guests share their Spanish experiences or the connections they have with its culture. Meanwhile, Laura and Mon are cooking the churros so at the end of lunch a churros and decadent chocolate sauce is served.

Cooking classes are for small groups or you can book into a Spanish Fiesta for up to 60 people. Email foodwithpassionsw@ gmail.com to find out more.

GUARDIANS OF HAPPINESS

Whip up the fluffiest fondant, pipe beautiful buttercream flowers, or create the silkiest chocolate ganache during a cooking class with French-trained pastry chef, Natalie Moremon. In one of her customised cake and dessert decorating classes at her Guardians of Happiness café, Natalie will demonstrate the correct execution of cooking techniques while passing on some professional tips and tricks.

“People who are new to cooking gain a lot more confidence in their skills and feel more able to adapt in the kitchen, while my seasoned home cooks tell me they have gained insight into alternative ways to cook, as well as a greater understanding of ingredients and how they work together,” says Natalie.

Currently, there are three grades of piping class as well as a cooking school for children, each week progressively challenging students with cooking techniques and dishes.

Cooking classes last for up to two hours and start at $75 per person through to $120 for an advanced piping course, where participants take home a cake they have created and iced. Visit guardiansofhappiness. com for more information.

CHEF'S INSIGHTS Brenton Pyke, head cheft at Market Eating House, is sharing his knowledge with keen would-be chefs. Left, the delicious paella you'll make during a Food with Passion SW cooking classx.