TRIED & TESTED

Upon entering the kitchen, the Food Sorcery team took our names with a warm smile and provided us with a compli mentary drink – we opted for a can of Punk IPA, but prosecco, wine and other beers were also available to choose from within the ticket price.

We took a seat in the dining area at a large table with other attendees ready to get their cook on. As guests began to arrive, the Food Sorcery team brought out Viet namese prawn crackers to nibble on as we got to know the people we’d be spending the evening with.

Once we’d munched our way through our appetiser, it was time to get our aprons on, wash our hands and start our Vietnamese cooking journey with chef Chorchaba as our guide.

First, Chorchaba showed us how to make bánh xèo; a crispy kind of pancake filled with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, along with a tasty dipping sauce (nước mắm).

Every few steps, Chorchaba let the group go back to their stations and get to grips with the recipe, assisting anyone who got stuck along the way.

Next up, it was time to make Vietnamese chicken curry, complemented with Chor chaba’s own special curry powder mix (which she kindly let us take home a portion of). My partner and I took turns keeping an eye on our deliciously fragrant curry, adding ingredients as it simmered away. As the chicken and veg began to cook, it was time to lower the heat and add in the coconut milk to make it creamier.

Once our curry had reduced a little, the sous chefs brought us a well-presented portion of rice each and it was time to plate up, garnish crispy shallots and take our seats back at the dining table and enjoy.

It was love at first bite as we tucked into our well-balanced Vietnamese chicken curry, savouring every morsel and washing it down with a refreshing glass of wine. Whilst we waited for dessert to be served, we discussed how pleasant an experience it had all been.

The team’s warm welcomes, plus tips and tricks from Chorchaba, and the way that the menu was chosen to meet and satisfy every attendee at every level – it came to gether perfectly to make a memorable evening at somewhere that we could see ourselves returning to.

Dessert came in the form of a lemon pos set and was a delightfully refreshing palate cleanser; the perfect end to an evening of bold flavours and one that we enjoyed at our leisure as the Food Sorcery team washed up for us.

In fact, we were so immersed in the dining experience, that we almost forgot that we’d just cooked most of the meal.

By Harley Young