• London's top cookery courses

  • By Time Out editors

    Posted: Wed Nov 8 2006

  • Bad news for Birdseye, Londoners are abandoning ready meals and flocking to cookery classes across the capital. Time Out grabs a spatula and joins in

    London's top cookery courses

  • Homely Italian at Cucina Caldesi
    A welcoming studio kitchen, La Cucina Caldesi offers novices and accomplished cooks a splendid guide to Italy’s gastronomic fare. Tucked behind Caffè Caldesi, the school celebrates homespun dishes and is testament to the culinary passion of owners and restaurateurs Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi, who you may have seen on BBC2’s ‘Return to Tuscany’ series.

    Giancarlo's enthusiasm is heartfelt, and the other instructors are equally keen to share food stories, recipes and top tips. If you’re expecting new-wave recipe ideas, best look elsewhere. This place likes its tradition and that means plumping for saucy tomato ragùs, full-flavoured salads and plenty of delicious own-made pasta. Feature continues

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    Adding sparkle to the remnants of a rainy weekend, I dropped in at Stefano Borella’s Sunday Supper Club, which are informal cooking and dining sessions designed to teach guests how to make a simple Italian meal. After the experienced chef had demonstrated some basic techniques, 12 of us pitched resources for a spot of communal pesto pounding, gnocchi-rolling, and salad-making. While one brave soul flipped a courgette frittata in front of an audience, others set about making scrumptious antipasti of roasted aubergine and courgette strips, followed by garlicky peppers drenched in herby olive oil.

    A ten-minute session with a pestle and mortar delivered pesto good enough to put shop-bought varieties to shame, and our gnocchi was as light as a feather – not bad for a first attempt. The school combines culinary passion with easy-going camaraderie, best enjoyed around the supper table after the cooking is over.

    Courses at Cucina Caldesi are varied and hosted by over a dozen experts, including Giancarlo Caldesi, Gennaro Contaldo, and Sophie Grigson. The Sunday Supper Club, pegged at £50 per person, is the same price as a decent restaurant meal, but a lot more satisfying.
    Roopa Gulati
    Cucina Caldesi 118 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2QF (020 7487 0750/www.caldesi.com) Bond St tube. Classes from £50.

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