Workshops Programme
To book please use the booking form. Thank you!
| Thursday January 14 11am £80 | Dim Sum & Crispy Duck with Guo Yue Hands-On Class with Cookery Demonstration Master the art of dim sum with cook, author, musician, composer Guo Yue and discover both the traditional techniques of China’s most exquisite culinary contribution and the secret of that quintessential favourite, Crispy Duck with Pancakes. This class is limited to 9 people; bring your apron |
| Friday January 15 11am £40 |
Vegetarian Rice & Spice with Reza Mahammad Explore exquisite vegetarian dishes with the innovative and flamboyant The Star of India chef-patron Reza Mahammad and experience a sumptuous feast of flavours that focus on the aromatic spices that add fragrance and sometimes heat to Indian dishes. |
| Saturday January 16 11am £40 | Favourite Italian Stews & One-Pots with Olivia Greco Got the winter blues? Now’s the time to revitalise your one-pot repertoire with the help of Tuscan cook and slow food lover Olivia Greco. A pot of something delicious simmering away on the stove never fails to tantalise tastebuds, plus these make-ahead dishes actually improve with time and so provide an ideal solution for busy home cooks who want maximum flavour with minimal fuss. |
| Thursday January 21 11am £40 |
Winter Curries with Monisha Bharadwaj Spice up your weeknight dining with a collection of easy and seasonal one-dish dinners that really dance on the palate! Curry queen Monisha Bharadwaj demonstrates dishes perfectly suited to our modern busy lifestyle, proving that it really is possible to cook authentic Indian food at home with minimum fuss and bother. With Monisha as your guide, you can savour the seductive aromas and vibrant flavours of India in your own kitchen with recipes that can be put on the table in a matter of minutes and not hours! |
| Friday January 22 11am £80 |
Hands-On: Sam Watherston’s Modern British Classics |
| Saturday January 23 11am £40 | Raw Food Meals with Susan Meggitt Enjoyed a festive season of delicious excess but in need of an energizing boost? Why not try a short period of detox by going raw? Raw food aficionado Susan Meggitt reveals gourmet recipes to get you back to your pre-holiday season form. |
| Thursday January 28 11am £40 |
Cook Now, Dine Later with Sofia Craxton |
| Friday January 29 11am £80 |
Hands-On: Family Breads & Soups with Ursula Ferrigno Hands-On Class Plus Cookery Demonstration Learn how to maximise the quality of ‘quick’ breads with minimum effort to produce delicious breads that require only a short rising time and deliver great flavour. Homemade bread served with hearty Italian zuppe will brighten any winter day. Ursula Ferrigno shows how. This class is limited to 9 people; bring your apron. |
| Saturday January 30 11am £40 |
Chutney Masterclass with Michelle McKenna Preserving the harvest is a centuries-old way to make the most out of every season, stretching the more bountiful months into the sparser ones—and what’s more, making chutneys and savoury spicy condiments is fun, rewarding and easy to learn! Michelle McKenna, founder of Clippy’s Apples, the award-winning producer of lip-smacking British-apple based preserves, shows just how easy it is to start making your own produce, whether to enjoy or give as a welcome present. |
| Thursday February 4 11am £40 |
Hot Pots Japanese-Style with Eico Kano You’ll love how easy it is to cook Japanese hot pots—simple, economical, healthful one-dish dinners that require minimal fuss and preparation and no special equipment. Hot pots are a mingling of tasty layers: flavourful broth, tempting but healthy combinations of vegetables, noodles and seafood, poultry or meat, natural flavourings like soy sauce and miso, and accents and garnishes like wasabi; compared to Western dishes, they’re heartier than soup but not as dense as stew. Join Eico Kano as she demystifies Japan’s favourite comfort food, taking you through the basic sauces you can make at home and the staples you should have in your store cupboard. The Japanese have long believed that sharing a meal from a single pot forges closer relationships—here’s a chance to come and find out why! |
| Friday February 5 11am £40 |
Plates to Share with Jennifer Joyce Forget the formal three-course meal and settle in for a laid-back feast of plates to share—food that’s chic yet convivial, elegant yet inviting and perfect for relaxed and informal entertaining. Dinner party diva Jennifer Joyce shows how to use far-flung flavours to produce fabulous yet unfussy food and gives plan-ahead tips to keep you out of the kitchen and with your guests. |
| Saturday February 6 11am £40 |
Sweet Treats Italian-Style with Ursula Ferrigno Discover la dolce vita and sign up for a deliciously sinful morning of sweet treats Italian-style with Ursula Ferrigno. Don’t miss this irresistible invitation to get inspired to fill your kitchen with the sweet smell of baking vanilla, butter and sugar and take home great recipes for favourite Italian tarts, cakes and cookies! |
| Thursday February 11 11am £40 |
Sensational Soups, Great Garnishes with Celia Brooks Brown Everyone loves soup, the world’s most versatile dish, plus soup may be one of the last ‘perfect’ foods around—often low fat, always full of nutrition and endlessly varied. Join Celia Brooks Brown as she demonstrates delicious ways to enjoy the benefits and flavours of vegetables by the bowlful with a seasonal selection that can start supper or stand alone as a simple yet satisfying meal in a bowl, plus a host of creative finishing touches. |
| Friday February 12 11am £80 |
An Appetite for Asian: Easy Dinner Parties with Sam Watherston Hands-On Class plus Cookery Demonstration Expand your culinary horizons and invigorate your dinner party menus with the fresh, sweet, spicy, tangy taste of South East Asia. Sam Watherston gives a practical hands-on guide, focusing on key techniques and ingredients. This class is limited to 9 people; bring your apron. |
| Saturday February 13 11am £40 |
Ottolenghi Flavours with Sofia Craxton Chic eaterie Ottolenghi draws on a wealth of culinary traditions, in particular the Mediterranean basin, to make inventive honest food from quality ingredients. Sofia Craxton demonstrates a selection of all-time Books for Cooks favourite recipes from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook. |
| Wednesday February 24 11am £30 |
Meet and Eat! With Sri Owen Sri Owen is the world’s leading authority on Indonesian food and Books for Cooks is thrilled to welcome this revered food writer to a launch a new series of cookery demonstrations, ‘Meet and Eat’. Do join us to hear about Sri’s life and work as a cookbook author, her passion for entertaining at home and creating menus inspired by her travels throughout Asia while you enjoy a selection of Sri’s favourite dishes chosen from her seminal and award-winning cookbooks. |
| Thursday February 25 11am £40 |
Seasonal Suppers Middle Eastern-Style with Sofia Craxton Inspired by a seductive mix of Moroccan, Turkish and Persian flavours, Sofia Craxton delivers fresh yet fragrant, simple yet sensuous solutions to the what’s-for-dinner dilemma with a range of easy-to-prepare recipes perfectly adapted to modern timing and tastes. |
| Friday February 26 11am £40 |
Mogul Indian Feasts with Reza Mahammad The engaging chef-patron of London’s The Star of India restaurant will dazzle you with an exquisite gourmet menu inspired by the legendary cuisine prepared in royal Mogul kitchens—no class of Reza Mahammad is a class to be missed! |
| Saturday February 27 11am £40 |
The Art of Antipasti with Olivia Greco With growing numbers of restaurants specialising in ‘small plates’, the antipasto is back in style. These little dishes of savoury appetisers or small first courses are vastly versatile, making perfect party food, whetting the appetite and enticing the palate for meal to come, or even becoming the main event itself. Whether it’s bite-sized mozzarella fritters to serve before a dinner party or a more substantial first course of ricotta and olive stuffed frittata, an antipasti feast is a sure way to welcome everyone to the table. |
| Thursday March 4 11am £40 | South of the Border! Mexican Flavours with Angeles Ayala Turn your dinner party into a fiesta with chef, cookbook writer and travelling gourmet Angeles Ayala as she demonstrates a delicious selection of authentic Mexican recipes with fresh healthy twists and presents the Mexican cook’s ingredients and techniques in a clear and accessible style guaranteed to enlighten and inspire. |
| Friday March 5 11am £40 |
Easy Chinese Stir-Fry with Guo Yue Like to learn how to rustle up supper for family or a gourmet meal for friends in a matter of minutes? The versatility, convenience and sheer speed of stir-frying make this technique a requisite of modern life. A chance to master the art with with Guo Yue. |
| Saturday March 6 11am £80 |
Hands-On: Sam Watherston Cooks Chicken Hands-On Class plus Cookery Demonstration Inspired by John Torode’s Chicken and based around recipes classic and contemporary that offer something for every occasion, Sam Watherston shows how to make best use of the whole bird, including how to make the most of each joint and turning remnants into great stocks and soups. This class is limited to 9 people; bring an apron. |
| Wednesday March 10 11am £25 |
Cooking The Books: Tessa Kiros’s Venezia with Shelley McGlashan Calling all gourmets on the run! Join Books for Cooks own Shelley McGlashan for a 90-minute lunchtime demo as she cooks up a three-course menu of classic Venetian fare from Books for Cooks favourite, Venezia by Tessa Kiros. |
| Thursday March 11 11am £40 |
Trattoria with Ursula Ferrigno A trattoria is where Italians go for good times and robust food in which the unmasked flavours of quality fresh ingredients simply but lovingly prepared rule the day. Join Ursula Ferrigno as she demonstrates dishes that capture all the warmth, flavours and colours of this simple and generous style of cooking. |
| Friday March 12 11am £40 | The Art of Meringue-Making with Deborah Labi Deborah Labi, aka Queen Ruby, Australian meringue and biscuit-maker extraordinaire, reveals the secret of no-fail great meringues, including piping and shaping, free forms and quenelles, as well as colour, flavour and garnish. - plus how to use them to make gorgeous gluten-free goodies. Yum! |
| Saturday March 13 11am £40 |
Modern Moroccan, Meat-free, with Celia Brooks-Brown |
| Friday March 19 11am £40 |
Moro at Home with Jenny Chandler Moro Restaurant is the Winner of The Observer Food Monthly Best Restaurant Award 2009 and rightly boasts legions of fans. Spanish food expert and cookbook author Jenny Chandler shows how to bring the inimitable Moro style of North African, Andalusian and Mediterranean dishes to your table! |
| Saturday March 20 11am £40 |
Great Dishes of the World: Tapas and Paella with Jenny Chandler |
| Wednesday March 24 11am £25 |
Cooking The Books: Diana Henry’s Cook Simple with Shelley McGlashan Calling all gourmets on the run! Join Books for Cooks own Shelley McGlashan for a 90-minute lunchtime demo as she cooks up a big on flavour, short on effort, three-course menu from Books for Cooks favourite, Cook Simple by Diana Henry. |
| Thursday March 25 11am £40 |
Easy-To-Cook Korean with Loanne Cattaneo Are you a fan of Thai or Japanese foods and interested in trying something new? If so, this is the class for you! Korean-born Loanne Cattaneo shows how to make Korean food from start to finish without fuss or multiple trips to specialty shops. Korean food is a tantalizing blend of sour, sweet, hot, burning hot, salty, bitter and nutty, plus it’s poised to become our next favourite Asian cuisine, —and here’s a great chance to discover why as well as bring new flavours to your dinner table. |
| Friday March 26 11am £80 | Hands-On: Sam Watherston Cooks Fish Hands-On Class plus Cookery Demonstration Inspired by Tom Kime’s Fish Tales and based around recipes classic and contemporary that offer something for every occasion, Sam Watherston explains how to buy fish responsibly and prepare it deliciously. From start to finish, gills to grill, this is an absolute must for any fish-lover. This class is limited to 9 people; bring an apron. |
| Saturday March 27 11am £40 |
Easter Feast Italian-Style with Olivia Greco Food remains at the heart of the Italian festive calendar and we are delighted to welcome Italian cook Olivia Greco for a truly seasonal and celebratory class devoted to the traditional favourites and special treats of an Italian Easter. |
| Wednesday April 14 11am £25 |
Cooking The Books: Maria Elia’s The Modern Vegetarianwith Shelley McGlashan Calling all gourmets on the run! Join Books for Cooks own Shelley McGlashan for a 90-minute lunchtime demo as she cooks up an exciting and inspiring three-course menu featuring contemporary flavours from around the world from Books for Cooks favourite, The Modern Vegetarianby The Whitechapel Dining Room Head Chef Maria Elia. |
| Thursday April 22 11am £40 |
Grains and Nuts with Celia Brooks-Brown Cookbook writer, chef and allotment devotee Celia Brooks Brown demonstrates delicious dishes with these protein-rich alternatives. Bulghur, quinoa and brown rice accompanied by seasonal vegetables, garlic, chilli and lemon simply burst with goodness and flavour while nuts are mini nutritional power-houses adding crunch as well as great taste to dishes. |
| Friday April 23 11am £80 |
Hands-On: Knife Skills with Jenny Chandler A set of knives is the most important kitchen tool a cook can have, so this is a great chance to learn about the different types of knives available and how to chose the right one to chop, dice, slice and julienne. Plus how to keep them sharp and in tip-top condition; Jenny Chandler shows how. This class is limited to 9 people; bring your apron. |
| Saturday April 24 11am £40 |
The Real Taste of Spain: Cooking from the Spanish Market with Jenny Chandler Spanish food has taken the culinary world by storm, with chefs bring Spanish food to the forefront of the gourmet world, but market life and fresh regional products remain at the centre of Spanish life and cuisine. Join Jenny Chandler for a truly inspirational and downright delicious class that goes straight to the heart of how the Spanish eat and their passion for good food. |
| Wednesday April 28 11am £25 |
Cooking The Books: Michele Cranston’s Marie Claire Fresh & Fast with Shelley McGlashan Calling all gourmets on the run! Join Books for Cooks own Shelley McGlashan for a 90-minute lunchtime demo as she cooks up a speedy but sensational three-course menu from Books for Cooks favourite, Marie Claire Fresh & Fast by Michele Cranston. |
| Thursday April 29 11am £40 |
Meals in Heels with Jennifer Joyce Dinner party diva Jennifer Joyce draws on her years of cooking experience and shows how to plan and prep ahead for entertaining with style and ease - and most importantly ensure you have time to slip on your heels, do your lippy and have a martini in hand when the guests arrive. If you've always wanted to be the hostess with the mostest, this class will show you the way. |
| Friday April 30 11am £80 |
Hands-On: Pasta Making with Olivia Greco Fresh pasta evokes the tastes and feel of Italy. Making your own pasta dough is fun, rewarding, deceptively easy and always impressive, especially when the results include fabulous filled pasta and hearty al forno dishes. With Olivia Greco. Please note this class is limited to 9 people; bring your apron on the day. |
Opening Hours
Don’t Forget Our Opening Hours are 10am - 6pm Tuesday to Saturday
If you are attending an evening class be sure that you are on time or no later than 7 pm as the shop is locked once the demo begins.
