Cooking School/Academy Case Studies

The Can’t Cook Won’t Cook – Cooking Academy Press Release - Verdict Solutions

‘The lads have a go!’

The 5 guys from Verdict all had varying kitchen skills from the hopeless ‘Me chef - I’ve peeled a spud!’ to the knock up a dinner – budding Jamie Oliver. The objective was to watch the chef from The Cooking Academy demonstrate a three course meal and then have a go themselves to recreate the meal to host their own dinner party.

The format of the day was to introduce the client to some basic cooking utensils and different foods with suggestions as to which food groups work well together, followed by a demonstration of a three-course meal. The guys were then let loose to ‘have a go’ each being responsible for a different part of the meal with the chef’s on call to avert disasters.

The menu for their challenge was:

Goats cheese & Walnut Rocket salad with an orange dressing
Spaghetti with Spicy Meatballs in a rich tomato sauce
Chicken Kebabs
Stir Fried Rice
Lime & Mascapone Tort

A few glasses of wine and a bit of heat in the kitchen and guys were really into the whole thing, diligently trying to re create the dish they were tasked with and were quite competitive in the end.

The chef’s covered the basics of sauce mixes, consistency, and how to use spices; as well as the concept of marinating food which is very generic and can be used in all types of cooking. They made it very relevant and interesting which was great and the guys were quite absorbed by it.

Although they were against the clock at times they did actually produce a good meal and all of them enjoyed doing their little bit. By attending as a team they discovered a little about themselves as much as each other.

Their next challenge they say is for each of them to cook three courses!

“Throughout the demonstration the chef would give lots of background information about using herbs and spices and gave tips that we could use in all types of cooking” –Nik Shah

“I’ve never been good at chopping onions and vegetables, usually end up with big chunks so the demo and being shown a technique was very good. I actually made a sauce base that can be used for pasta or bolognaise or even a curry by changing the spice mix - that progress for me” – Martin Chivers.

“Even when I follow a recipe it doesn’t work out, so having hand on experience was a great way to learn to cook. I actually found it very relaxing and good fun! I’d go again to get some more recipes!” Rupen

St Helen School Cooking Challenge

I really did enjoy the Cooking challenge. I never really took an interest in cooking but after today I think that will be changing. I have learnt how to make 4 different smoothies, different salads, spaghetti Bolognese and a scrumptious lime tort.

“I didn’t realise smoothies are so easy to make and so healthy! That’s definitely the breakfast for me from now on.” Shalini

“I Love desserts so making the Lime Tort by myself was awesome and so easy – I will make this at home for sure.” Natasha – year 10

“I’ve never really cooked before but I had so much fun today and learnt so much about healthy food that tasted brilliant – I didn’t think the two were possible” Ella B - Year 10