Take time to venture out and enjoy the changing season for yourself or an early Christmas gift?
October’s a big month in the culinary world; it’s one of the best months for foraging, it’s a time when artisans and producers are preparing for Christmas, and it’s also when cookery schools launch their autumn and winter courses. Here’s what we recommend for the month ahead – happy October!
#1. Get wild in the English countryside – this private foraging experience for 12 run by our partners at Totally Wild UK will equip you with all the skills you need to find, safely identify, pick and cook a feast of wild delights, from delicious mushrooms to seasonal berries.
#2. Spend the afternoon at River Cottage – the River Cottage Experience is just one of the delightful range of cookery courses on offer at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s famous Devon HQ; you’ll bake the signature farmhouse loaf, explore the gardens and create a spectacular wood-fired pizza for a late lunch – all with a glass of fizz and a seasonal cocktail.
#3. Create delightful Christmas gifts – it’s never too soon to start planning, and The Grand York Cookery School has devised the perfect set of presents. Their Edible Gifts cookery course will show you how to create things like macarons, raspberry jam, chutneys, pickles, terrines and all manner of festive treats for your loved ones.
#4. Get creative with plant-based ingredients – Stella West Harling MBE created a wonderful all seasons cookery book, with some Autumn favourites inspired by her life in cooking. ‘A Cook’s Book’ is a must have for any kitchen. Buy it here
#5. Get well for winter – the Natural Chef’s range of courses at the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London are designed to introduce you to toxic-free, ethical and organic food. Their popular short course in Herbal Medicine will show you how to use herbs for a range of common ailments, from headaches and low moods to the common cold.
#6. Up your gifting ‘game’ – for those looking for the perfect gift for Christmas and beyond, the Swinton Estate Cookery School Head Chef Tutor, talks you through how to select, prepare and cook seasonal game throughout the year in this Loose Birds & Game gift, which also includes a copy of ‘Loose Birds and Game’, by Andrew Pern, considered one of the best chef game books. (or for a limited time only, sign up for our newsletter below, and receive access to Chef Marc’s online game masterclass for free!)
#7. Celebrate National Curry Week. The start of October is a great time to learn how to make hearty curries, either online or in person. How about a private Thai Cookery Experience with ‘Curry Chef of the Year’ Chef Suree Coates, in her Shropshire restaurant ‘Suree’s Kitchen’. More details here
Or cook up an online Indian feast with a pioneer of Indian fine dining, Atul Kochhar. From the kitchen of his restaurant Kanishka in London’s Mayfair, Atul’s online course will take you on a tour of the four corners of India, highlighting the regional differences in specialities from Kerala, West Bengal, Kashmir and Goa. Courses from just £45! Plus Save 20% off this and all participating Learning with Experts online courses. Sign up for our FREE GX.Club newsletter below. Receive an instant discount code and links!
