News

APPRENTICESHIPS AT THE COOKING SCHOOL LEAD THE WAY

Tuesday 31st July 2012 10:20 AM

The Cooking School at Dean Clough is offering apprenticeship training starting from September 2012 with sought after regional employers including The Design House in Halifax and Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor Café in Leeds.

The chef-level training for the budding apprentices will include Master Classes in the state-of-the-art facilities in Dean Clough combined with hours within the business the apprentice chooses.

The qualification at the end of the course is a City & Guild accredited Level 2 NVQ, which will lead them onto a career in the catering industry, most specifically in food preparation.

The Cooking School apprenticeships will be funded via and supported through leading training provider Scientiam. Holly Tonge, Operations Director at Scientiam, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with such a highly regarded organisation as The Cooking School. "The Cooking School has an excellent pedigree, first class facilities and strong links with the region's community and businesses; combined with Scientiam's expertise within the hospitality sector and our strong record for apprenticeship delivery, these courses will no doubt provide an excellent foundation for a new generation of top chefs and catering experts."

As well as a state-of-the art professionally equipped facility, apprentices will benefit from a highly experienced and inspiring chef tutor team, who have over 20 years experience in teaching cooking. Matthew Benson-Smith who has been Head Chef Tutor at The Cooking School since before it opened in 2009 has just been promoted to Director and is looking to the future with the start of this professional qualification.

"We are very excited to be embarking on this route and are confident that we are a fantastic choice for those looking to build their career. Completing an Apprenticeship with The Cooking School will set students on the road to a committed career in cookery with the potential to make the most of their skills with a career in catering and hospitality."

The Cooking School is a wholly owned subsidiary of a charity which also runs Focus on Food, a national programme for teaching cooking to school and communities. It has welcomed a host of celebrity chefs and talented chefs into its facility since opening in 2009 and has worked with its charity across the UK with schools, communities, government and local authorities to put cooking skills at the heart of life since 1998.

Go to www.thecookingschool.co.uk/apprenticeships for more details

Posted 10:20 AM | Permalink

2012 GREAT YORKSHIRE PUDDING CHALLENGE

Thursday 26th July 2012 9:37 AM

Yorkshire has often set the scene for epic battles whether it is the War of Roses or Viking conquest. Though no battle has ever been more important to the people of Yorkshire than the Great Yorkshire Pudding Challenge taking place at The Cooking School, Dean Clough, Halifax.

Last year East and West Yorkshire won the inaugural professional- amateur competition with Ben Cox of the Star at Sancton (East) taking the Professional crown and Christopher Blackburn of Copley, Halifax (West) winning the amateur class.

The competition sees Yorkshire's top chefs go head to head to create the best tasting Yorkshire Puddings. Amateur chefs also have the opportunity to create their recipes and compete against the other contestants.

This year's competition sees defending Champion Ben Cox return to represent East Yorkshire again. Whilst the chefs for the rest of Yorkshire are to be confirmed.

Matthew Benson-Smith, Executive Head Chef Manager at The Cooking School said, "Last Year we had some very good amateur contestants who provided a whole array of different Yorkshire Puddings. We ask the contestants bring their own recipes, ingredients and tins, after watching the professionals in action our contestants then line up for a cook off and are then judged anonymously."

Judging again this year will be Jill Turton and Amanda Wragg of expert Yorkshire food guide "Squidbeak".

The competition takes place on Saturday 8 September in order to take part register here. Places are free but limited therefore contestants will be chosen at random and notified by email.

Posted 9:37 AM | Permalink

AFTERNOON TEA WITH NO. 10

Wednesday 25th July 2012 4:35 PM

Claire from No.10 The Coffee House in Haworth is at The Cooking School at Dean Clough teaching how to create the perfect cakes for Afternoon Tea by "Cooking from the Heart". This very English tradition is now seeing a revival with many enjoying tea parties in summer afternoons and stylish teahouses in streets across the UK.

Claire will be explaining her philosophy of "Cooking from the Heart" and the "Art of the Possible". She will teach how to create the perfect Chocolate and Raspberry Tart, and Banana and Passion Fruit Cake plus talk through No.10 The Coffee House's special syrups, coulis and jam.

Claire said, "'Cooking from the heart' is about rediscovering the joy of cooking and not seeing it as a necessity. To stop and take the time to taste, recognise, appreciate and enjoy ingredients. Then the next step is to have the confidence to cook but to aim for perfection this is what the 'Art of the Possible' is aimed at achieving."

Matthew Benson-Smith, Director of the Cooking School said, "Claire is a master at creating sweet treats. She has high standards and unique methods when it comes to baking and that is why we are delighted to have her here as a guest chef at The Cooking School."

"Cooking from the Heart" will be running on Saturday 4 August where Claire will reveal the secrets to her success. The day will include refreshments and places are just £55 per person. Book your place now here.

Posted 4:35 PM | Permalink

OUR SURVEY SAID...

Monday 16th July 2012 12:53 PM

We recently conducted a survey in partnership with Prashad restaurant in Bradford to find out how we could improve our Secrets of Prashad courses.

Our survey had a great response and we unearthed some interesting results:

• 50% of course participants are vegetarian
• 40% thought the chole was the best dish they cooked
• 86% thought the skill level was about right
• Lots of people are interested in cooking lentils on a future course
• Different course types they were interested in
  • Half-day course 73.3%
  • Evening course 60.0%
  • Series of courses 40.0%
  • Crash/intensive course 26.7%

People also made some excellent comments about the Secrets of Prashad course:

I enjoyed it and was impressed with the way Kaushy connected with everyone and made it feel quite personal.

It was a wonderful course. I have made the food several times now. I passed the knowledge on to my daughter and now she says they are her favourite dishes too.

First class facilities - a great cooking/training experience!

What a wonderful day we had, really enjoyed cooking and experimented with cooking skills like never before. I enjoyed a relaxing day at Dean Clough, which was really enjoyable

The Winner is…

Those that participated in the survey were entered into a prize draw to win a place on the Secrets of Prashad course and the winner is

KEITH WOODHOUSE of Halifax

The Cooking School at Dean Clough and Prashad would like to thank all that took part in the survey.

Posted 12:53 PM | Permalink

THE COOKING SCHOOL AT THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW

Tuesday 3rd July 2012 4:42 PM

The 174 year-old Great Yorkshire Show has steadily become synonymous with quality, showcasing Yorkshire's finest agricultural feats and the best of what Yorkshire has to offer.

In that spirit Matthew Benson-Smith from The Cooking School at Dean Clough and Robert Ramsden from Delifresh will be on the Game Stage, on 10 July, cooking Duck Two Ways using Yorkshire quality ingredients.

On 10 July in the afternoon and again on 11 July, Matthew will be in the Pride of Yorkshire of pub with Steve Livens of the British Beer and Pub Association. Where they will entertain and delight you with their renowned skill of matching food and beer together. On the menu Matthew will cook up, chocolate and raspberry truffles, beetroot marinated salmon and beef and wasabi pancake roll.

Matthew said, "It's always wonderful to be at the Great Yorkshire Show, the showground is buzzing with life, you can smell and sample the best of Yorkshire food and it's simply a great day out. The dishes I've planned for the Great Yorkshire Show are interesting, which I'm sure people will enjoy and try when they get home."

Posted 4:42 PM | Permalink

PRASHAD AND THE COOKING SCHOOL AT DEAN CLOUGH CELEBRATE 1ST ANNIVERSARY

Monday 2nd July 2012 9:38 AM

In July The Cooking School at Dean Clough and Prashad Restaurant, Bradford celebrate a year working in partnership on their "Secrets of Prashad" cooking course.

Matthew Benson-Smith, Director of The Cooking School said, "It's been a fantastic experience working with Prashad, not only do they always lead excellent sold out cooking courses but they are also regularly involved with our Focus on Food campaign which aims to improve the teaching of cooking within schools."

Prashad, a vegetarian restaurant, was a finalist on Gordon Ramsay's Best Restaurant and impressed him with their Chole (chick pea curry). To celebrate their anniversary The Cooking School is hosting a special Prashad course on 7 July. Where Prashad Executive Chef Kaushy Patel will be teaching how to cook some of her most popular dishes including Chole, Jeera rice, mixed vegetable Pakoras, Puri and Mint Sauce.

Bobby Patel, Operations Director at Prashad's said, "We love teaching at The Cooking School and look forward to our continued relationship. Their facilities are world class, the staff friendly and the people on the course surprise you with how quickly they understand and follow things, and are always a joy to work with."

Prashad will be running a number of other course dates throughout the year, which can be booked now at www.thecookingschool.co.uk.

Posted 9:38 AM | Permalink