Hi Cookery gals. Here are some pictures of the Xmas cookery class taken by a wonderful new lady< Susanne from Stellenbosch. Hope you enjoy them

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Hi Ladies from the cookery classes. I just want to let you know, that if you have to take the Yorkshire puddings out of the oven before you need them, place them back in just before you serve them for 5 minutes. They will be crisped up and glorious

This is for the ladies who attended the cookery class on Wednesday the 11th. I went to Woolies and chatted to a fantastic butcher (who has been one for 40 years). He confirmed that Topside is wrong for that way of roasting and that a sirloin roast or a rib eye (this to me looks the best) would be great because it has less connective tissue (which makes meat tough if it is cooked too fast and at too high a temperature)and more fat marbled through the meat (which keeps it tender and moist. SO SORRY that we had to confirm this in your lesson. I do recall I had made the same mistake many years ago, and should not have listened to Jamie's recipe. Meat overseas is in any case different to here both in cut and texture.

Also White chocolate is available in Woolworths. It is their own Organic white, this will be fine and half the price of the Van Gesau at Melissas.

Happy cooking

Jenny

From top to bottom, my room in our appartment in Pais in the Marais area . The second picture is a souffle i ate at Joel Rubouchon's one michelin star restaurant in Paris. The third is one of the most amazing food markets somewhere in Paris. The last picture is the outside door of our appartment. Just a little taste of my amazing experience in Paris.

A few more pictures of my time at the cookery school in France

I am sending you this brief from Mary Cadogan who runs the cookery school, to whet your appetite if you are keen to go for a week (2 days in Paris and 4 nights at the cookery school.

Dear Jenny,
We are delighted to enclose details of your proposed Tasting France week-long adventure. Your holiday starts with a fully guided tour of the best foodie destinations that Paris has to offer including plenty of hidden gems away from the usual tourist trail. During your 2 night stay fabulous food shops, cookshops and markets will all be included in your visit. Memorable evenings will be spent soaking in the atmosphere and savouring the flavours of la vrai Paris in cosy bistros, accompanied by a glass or two of delicious French wine. Then after all the excitement of the city it’s time to head for the tranquillity of Les Noisetiers, our peaceful village house which will be your home from home for 4 nights . During your stay you will be cooking up a storm in our cookschool kitchen, honing your cookery skills and making dishes that you will want to make time and time again when you return home. This is a very hands-on cookery course and the emphasis is very much on locally sourced seasonal ingredients. I’ll be passing on lots of tips and tricks, and we will share the dishes you have made for lunch and supper. The trip also includes visits to local small producers, such as an artisan cheese maker, small Cognac producer, markets and one evening meal at a favourite local restaurant. You will also have time to relax beside the river Charente which flows through our garden, stroll around our pretty village or cosy up in the squashy sofas in our salon. We have an extensive cookery book collection which you are very welcome to browse through.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
2 nights in PARIS including the following:
2 nights hotel accommodation based on 2 sharing a twin room
3 light lunches
2 evening meals with wine, venue chosen and booked by Mary Cadogan
Metro travel around Paris
Itinerary of visits to markets, food shops, cookshops etc organised and accompanied by Mary Cadogan

High speed train travel Paris- Angouleme- Paris


4 nights cookery course at Tasting France with Mary Cadogan including all accommodation, meals, tuition, trips to food producers and travel during your stay. One restaurant meal included during your stay. Take a look at the website http://www.tastingfrance.co.uk/ for more detailed information on the itinerary.

PRICE 1,700 EUROS PER PERSON (1750 for la Riviere en suite room)


Mary Cadogan and Michael Rogers
Les Noisetiers
31 Avenue des Aveneaux
16330
Montignac Charente
France
(0033) 545 37 61 27
mary.cadogan@wanadoo.fr
http://www.tastingfrance.co.uk/

taken a pause

I realize that when one starts a blog you need to be adding to it regularly. I am not sure yet if there is an audience and so i suppose i dont feel i have to keep people enlightened each day. Well anyhow i have to put my food diary on hold as we are in the middle of major renovations. This is a picture of the Hind's Head, a pub owned by Heston Blumenthal. It is a stones throw from his famous Fat Duck in the village of Bray, an hour or so out of London. I was priveleged to have lunch at the pub with my Brother in Law Stuart. Amazing wonderful Chicken Pie and what was referred to as a Quaking Pudding. This is a wonderful free standing wobbly egg custard style dessert, which comes with its own little potted history. Well more later. I will resume my diary in a week or two. Sorry to those potential readers who are hanging on my every word !! (not)