Braxted Park Cookery School Blog

Introducing new cookery classes and dates!

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:53:55 GMT

We are very happy to announce new dates for our popular cookery classes as well as introduce brand new classes!

Whether cooking with chocolate, marinating your meat for a summer afternoon BBQ or brushing up on your food presentation skills; we have lots of mouth-watering cookery courses this summer run by our fantastic award-winning chefs…Happy Cooking!

June
18th – Modern British

July
3rd – Presentation on a Plate – New class!
4th – Summer Afternoon BBQ – New class!
9th – Cooking for Beginners 1
11th – Seafood Extravaganza
24th – Summer Canapés – New class!

August
7th – Indian for Beginners
14th – Cooking with Chocolate: Savoury & Sweet – New class!
20th – Introduction to Thai – New class!

September
4th – Quick, Easy & Impressive Entertaining
11th – Daring Italian
18th – Brilliant Baking
25th – Cooking for Beginners 2
27th – Breads & Pastries

To book, visit our 'Courses' page on our website or call us on 01621 890300

Spotlight on... Padmaja Kochera

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:28:35 GMT

1) When did you start cooking and why?
When I moved to UK after getting married I started cooking, before that never stepped into a kitchen. The Indian Food we get in UK is totally different to what we actually cook at home. So I ventured into food and there was no turning back. Now I try to juggle between my two passions - One being Civil Engineering and second being my cooking.

2) What is your favourite dish?
My all time favourite dish - South Indian Chicken Curry made with poppy seed and coconut with Coconut Rice.

3) Where do you get your inspiration from when creating your dishes?
My first inspiration is my Dad, although he is very busy being a doctor, he really enjoys cooking. I am also inspired by cookery shows, books and I try to create a new refreshing dishes with simple flavours using readily available ingredients. My family enjoys good food and that motivates me to bring healthy and tasty food to the table each day.

4) Other than Indian, what is your favourite cuisine and why?
I love Italian, Moroccan, Mexican and Thai food. I enjoy travelling, blogging and trying new cuisines which inspires me to enjoy cooking more.

5) What cookery tip can you offer?
Ginger and garlic are vital ingredients in Indian cooking. A recipe may require them chopped fine or ground to a paste. I always have a large glass bottle each of ginger and garlic pastes in my refrigerator. You can just as easily buy them from the grocery store (Asian or Indian groceries will definitely have them) but I like to make mine at home so I can be sure they're free from preservatives.

Happy Easter!

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:01:51 GMT

Although the weather may be rather unpredicable at the moment with snow, wind, rain and the occasional patch of sun.. we wanted to brighten up your Easter with a delicious recipe to bake the classic hot cross bun.

There's nothing quite like a homemade warm hot cross bun, oozing with butter to warm you up this Easter! Time to get baking!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/hotcrossbuns_397

Tasty Thai

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:24:40 GMT

Our first Tastes of Thailand class with Oi Cheepchaiissara was a great success and the wonderful dishes on the menu brought a great flavour of the East to Braxted Park.

Fragrant green Thai fish curry, sticky rice with coconut cream and fresh mango and Oi's very special Gold Bags. Delicious parcels of chopped prawn and water chestnuts tied with chive 'string' accompanied by a selection of sweet chili dipping sauces.

Oi's passion for her native cuisine is obvious as she passed around her ingredients for the delegates to smell, explaining the part that each one plays in the careful balance of creating perfect Thai dishes.

We can't wait for her next course, An Introduction to Thai on 18th April. A few places are still available, join us for a taste of the east!

Cheesy Breads & Chelsea Buns

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:09:19 GMT

The end of Friday’s first ‘Breads & Pastries’ class with Guy Moore saw the dining room table laden with a sumptuous selection of sweet and savoury breads and mouth watering pastries.

The stand-out dish of the day for us was the round of Chelsea Buns dripping with icing; not only a feast for the eyes, but filling the dining room with the warming scent of cinnamon.

Delegates also enjoyed Baked Vanilla Cheesecake, Brie in Brioche, Ciabatta and Poached Pear and Custard Tart (to name but a few!).

They all got a great selection of breads and pastries to take home and show off their new found baking skills.

New Chefs, New Classes!

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:53:13 GMT

The Cookery School at Braxted Park is delighted to announce the arrival of two new chefs providing exciting classes of exotic cuisine.

Thai chef, Oi Cheepchaiissara offers flavours from the east at Braxted Park with her 'Taste of Thailand' and 'Introduction to Thai' classes.

Also joining us is Huyla Erdal who's Turkish and Cypriot heritage brings a ray of Mediterranean sunshine to Braxted Park with her 'Stuffed & Wrapped - Tasty Turkish Delights' class.

We are really looking forward to working with these chefs who are both extremely passionate about their native cuisine.

For further details on both chefs and their classes, see our chefs bios and courses page.

The Great Braxted Bake Off

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:04:21 GMT

Just finished our first Brilliant Baking course with Mark Webb.

What a great, fun and very messy course this turned out to be. Delegates prepared a lovely selection of cakes to enjoy with a nice cup of tea as well as taking home a fabulous assortment to share with the family.

We never realised that baking was a competitive sport, until the cupcake decorating started! Sprinkles, flowers and butterflies abound not to mention some expert piping worthy of the famous New York Magnolia Bakery!

Vast quantiites of sugar and butter were used, but some delicious carrot cakes did contribute to one of our 'five a day'! This course is ideal for those who can resist everything but temptation.

Our next Brilliant Baking Course has a few places remaining, Join us on 11th April and compete for the Best Decorated Cupcake!

There's Still Time!

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:17:55 GMT

If you haven't finished the Christmas Shopping yet, and are tired of pushing your way through the High Street Crowds, we have the perfect solution.

It's not too late to buy your Cookery School vouchers, a great gift for the foodie in your life. Vouchers can be purchased from the website, or by calling on 01621 890300.

Gift vouchers will be dispatched immediately, we would advise you order no later than 22nd December. Alternatively you can collect from the Estate Office up until Mid-day on 23rd December.

Happy Christmas from The Cookery School at Braxted Park.

Christmas is Coming!

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:05:04 GMT

All around the country Advent Calendar windows were being opened this morning revealing their chocolate treats and seasonal images. Can it really be December already?

What about the Christmas Shopping, the food, the drink, the presents!

If you are struggling to find the perfect gifts for family and friends, why not visit us at The Christmas Food and Craft Fayre at Cressing Temple Barns on 3 & 4 December.

The Cookery School at Braxted Park will be attending this festive event, which is being run in aid of Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. Visit our stand and solve your gift worries with a Cookery School Gift Voucher.

We hope to see you there!

Book any December Course and get a Taster Free

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:45:16 GMT

Our Christmas gift to you.

Book any December Day course before 1st December and we will give you a free Taster Session on Dec 2nd, as a Christmas gift from The Cookery School at Braxted Park.

These Dinner Party Delights, 2 hour sessions are the perfect bite size cookery class with a delicious main course and desert to add to your repertoire and not a Turkey in sight! Choose from Spiced Crab Gratin with Sticky Toffee Pudding, Pork Stroganoff with Pear & Almond Tart or Wild Mushroom Risotto and Lemon Syllabub.

These Taster sessions are mostly demonstration, with a little hands on cookery and of course would not be complete without sampling the results in our dining room. The perfect alternative to Christmas Shopping!

This offer can only be booked by calling us on 01621 890300.