Hands down these are the two most highly recommended cooking classes one can go to: to either learn how to cook completely; or to enhance one's cooking knowledge.
The school that is closest to the city is the
Electrolux Cooking School located at the
Queen Victoria Markets on Elizabeth Street.
Learning how to cook is like learning how to drive a car; it is easy once you know how. Although the cooking class on offer at Queen Vic Markets is the perfect excuse to be pampered (where one of the many benefits is to enjoy a glass of red on the house); seriously you would be much better off financially to stay at home and watch
Junior Masterchef or any cooking show masterclass style on TV if you are wanting to know how to cook; otherwise it is just another great day out. The choice is yours.
It is all well and good to watch how the teacher or chef cooks; however it is great to be able to be the cook yourself and actually apply and learn simultaneously in a safe and encouraging environment which is why I highly recommend
Pip's Cooking School at Moonee Ponds - a nearby stroll from Moonee Ponds train station. You actually cook hands on from the start where each participant takes turns in cooking each dish, and the class sizes are much smaller at Pip's Cooking School; where Pip only takes around six people per class; whereas the cooking school at Queen Vic Markets normally takes around 16 people for each cooking class.
At $125 a pop for a 4-5 hour beginners cooking class, one was armed with the ability to cook delicious entrees and mains, and also how to prepare simple desserts with a bit of elegance. There was even a Doctor in our group willing and keen to learn. That's right, we chopped up the snow peas the way they are meant to be chopped for stir fry's; we blended the soup the way it should be blended, and yes there were a few onion tears and smells of garlic on our hands; where we actually felt like contestants on Masterchef with our own unique black aprons and name badges being taught by Pip Kerslake herself. Thankfully the blue band aids did not need to come out. The fish wrapped in prosciutto seasoned with cracked pepper was another smart entree to learn how to prepare; and one has had so much fun cooking and playing around with flavours ever since.
Come to this cooking class a little hungry as a seven course degustation type menu is included where, that's right you need to eat all that you have cooked, and you are your own Masterchef judge judging yours and others food simultaneously. Sadly Pip is not allowed to serve alcohol unlike the school at the Queen Vic Markets can; so you will need to be content with being served a delicious Italian soft drink when you finally get an opportunity to eat the cooked food, and you are set for the day. Also the recipes are so easy to understand. Two thumbs up to Pip.
