Vegetarian cookery classes

LONDON AND SURROUNDS

The Veggie Kitchen

If you’re bored of your day-to-day vegetarian repertoire, then the Veggie Kitchen is the place to go. Specialising in veggie Indian cuisine as well as Thai, Mexican, Chinese, Lebanese (to name a few), the courses are aimed at all levels of experience, and offer a memorable experience in a homely environment using a contemporary approach to cooking. After a day at the Veggie Kitchen you’ll be full of ideas  and will be able to recreate some exotic dishes in your own home. Beginner’s courses, £180 for eight classes; One-to-one class, £110. Also on offer are courses specifically designed for children in the school holidays as well as cookery classes for pre-university students.

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Cordon Vert

Offering courses in north-west England and London, the Vegetarian Society’s cookery school has an established reputation for teaching innovative vegetarian cuisine. Whether you’re new to the kitchen, a fussy eater, or a keen cook, Cordon Vert offers helpful, interesting courses. The variety of courses is impressive – from Fragrant Lebanese Workshops, to Italian Workshops– there’s even a Casablanca session. One-day workshops, £112; Two-day workshops, from £244. Special events also run including a wild mushroom course for fungi lovers (£95).

NORTH

Harmony House Cookery School

Take a class at Harmony House, where the name speaks for itself; the school, once the village post office, is set in beautiful, peaceful surroundings in a quaint Yorkshire village five miles south of York. Your day commences with tea, coffee and biscuits while you meet your tutor and fellow students and get an introduction to your surroundings. Then it’s into the kitchen to don aprons and begin your culinary creations. The school offers a range of courses for children and adults and covering all aspects of cookery including vegetarian. Once you’ve worked your way through the extensive menu, sit back, relax, and dine on your good work. Full day courses £80 including lunch, refreshments and a goodie bag or you can choose just to spend half the day cooking for £50.

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SOUTH

The Gables School of Cookery

Voted in the Top 10 cookery schools worldwide by the Independent on Sunday, The Gables holds a host of cookery courses to cater to your culinary interests. At the Vegetarian one-day cookery course you’ll learn to cook healthy and nutritious veggie dishes with an adventurous slant, including Biryani Stuffed Peppers; Roasted pepper and Goat Cheese Terrine; and much more. Tutors aim to reignite the imagination and challenge common (mis)conceptions about vegetarian food. The Vegetarian course costs £135, and is aimed at those with a basic to intermediary level of cooking skill.

The Vegetarian Cookery School

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never so much as picked up a knife before, or if you are already a budding chef, the Vegetarian Cookery School offers a range of hands-on courses to cater for all capabilities. Join up to 12 fellow students in a masterclass and finish the day enjoying the fruits of your labour, enjoyed alongside an organic tipple. One-day courses cost £125; in that time you’ll make ten different dishes. In the Back to Basics course you learn about unusual vegetarian and vegan ingredients and are guided through the skills and techniques that turns simple food into something exceptional.

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Ashburton Cookery School

At this leading independent cookery school learn from the best using organic, seasonal produce to conjure up delicious dishes. Ashburton offers practical advice that’s easy to recreate at home, or professionally if you’re planning a career in catering. The vegetarian cookery courses offered at Ashburtons vary in terms of length, difficulty and content. Prices range from £149 for a one-day course, to £289 for a two-day experience. Whatever your choice, it will result in mouth-wateringly moreish dishes.

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SCOTLAND

Nick Nairn Cook School

Instead of marvelling at Mr. Nairn’s endlessly creative concoctions on Ready Steady Cook, why not go one step further and join him and his team at a converted piggery on Nick’s Port of Menteith estate. Nick dreamt of running a school for years before he finally set up his vision of a foodies’ heaven. The establishment is at the top of its game, yet remains grounded by the onus on fresh, local, organic produce. A one-day cooking experience at the Nick Nairn Cook School costs £185 but book online for a discount.

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Cook School by Martin Wishart

Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart’s Cook School is a stylish and sophisticated establishment in the heart of Edinburgh that blends classical and contemporary culinary styles. Let the day unfold at the Practical Vegetarian Cooking class as you learn to select only the finest ingredients and create dishes for a three-course menu based around those at Martin’s award-winning restaurant, mustering up dishes such as pickled organic beetroot, cucumber nage and beetroot foam. The importance of individual tuition is important here; you’ll be in a small class so you can interact with the tutors on a more personal level.

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WALES

J&R School of Cooking Masterclasses

The friendly folk at J&R welcome anyone who has ever wanted to learn to cook. Here you will find a down to earth approach to cook and you can also learn how to work within a budget or create table menus for dinner parties to impress. The Vegetarian Dishes from around the World Course is priced at £165 for a one day event. In a relaxed and formal manner you will get tips how to create these masterpieces, whilst sipping on a glass of wine and working up an appetite for lunch.

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