These days everyone wants to be a Masterchef and plate up works of art for their family and friends. Here are some of Perth's best cooking schools where you can learn new culinary skills and cuisines.
Most of these Cooking Schools offer gift certificates making them a fantastic gift for those who love the get busy in the kitchen.
Anyone can be a Masterchef these days
Classes at The Cooking Professor in Churchlands are typically 3 hours long with 2 hours of cooking and one of eating. In a moderate sized group of up to 12, classes are hands-on, and you will learn 5-6 dishes. Bring a bottle of wine to have with dinner.
Most classes are $110 per person, and you will find sessions on weeknights and weekends.
Classes include:
Cuisines: Moroccan, Greece/Turkey, Vietnamese, Mexican, Tuscan feast, Middle Eastern, Indian
Specific dishes: Italian sausage, seafood, wine and tapas, paella, pasta, winter foods, bread-making
Techniques: Slow Cooking, wok flavour, tagine,
Desserts: cupcakes, baking, seductive sweets
Website:
www.thecookingprofessor.com.au/ Address: 271 Selby St, Churchlands
Do you measure up in the kitchen?
Centrally located in Highgate, TasteBudds run multiple classes run each week, many on weekday evenings from 6.30pm to 9pm, so you can go after work, learn how to cook an amazing meal and then enjoy it afterwards. Classes have up to 16 people, and you can BYO if you want wine with dinner.
Classes include:
Bread-making: six different loaves including focaccia, spelt and gluten free (2.5 hours) $90
Indian: learn how to make a number of quick curries after work ($90)
Veggies: inspired by Cook and the Chef Simon Bryant ($90)
Seafood masterclass: how to buy, prepare and cook various types of seafood ($70)
Pasta making: each class focuses on two different types of pasta ($95)
Tapas and paella: very 'now' flavours ($90)
Thai: five authentic dishes ($90)
Website:
www.tastebudds.co/
Address: 305 Lord Street, Highgate
Lawless Cooking
Lawless Cooking in Mt Hawthorn is the brainchild of Iain Lawless, winner of Season 1 My Kitchen Rules and partner, professional chef Liam Atkinson. Most classes run on Saturday mornings and are 3.5 to 4 hours long.
Hands-on classes are $121 per person. If you prefer to watch someone else do all the work, they also offer some demo (and tasting) classes on weekday evenings (2-2.5 hours) for $70pp.
Classes include:
Cuisines: Thai, Spanish, Asian street food, Chinese, Italian, US vs Canada, French Bistro
Specific dishes: duck, share food, cooking for two
Techniques: Wok cooking
Website:
www.lawlesscooking.com.au/
Address: 406 Oxford St, Mt Hawthorn
You will be an eggsellent cook after you finish your cookery course
The popular Matters of Taste cooking school in Bicton runs an enormous variety of classes on Saturday mornings and afternoons as well as weeknights.
Most classes are hands-on though there are some which are demo only, and some technical classes which require a higher level of skill. All classes are three hours long, include tastings and cost $125-$130pp. Group sizes up to 18.
Classes include:
Cuisines: Japanese, French, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Thai, Marrakech spice markets
Specific dishes: curries, artisan breads, tapas, paella, pasta, gnocchi, soups and stock, duck masterclass, seafood masterclass
Desserts: pies and tarts, macarons, croquembouche
Website:
https://www.mattersoftaste.com.au/
Address: 103 Harris St, Bicton
The Urban Provider
The Urban Provider based in Leederville offer classes on weekday evenings (7pm start) plus some weekday day time classes such as Thermomix lessons. Classes cost between $115-$120.
If you prefer you can design your own class by getting together 10 friends, choosing a time (lunchtime class, evening class or Friday sundowner) and then pick a food you wish to learn.
Classes include:
Cuisines: Thai, Moroccan, Asian, Sri Lankan
Specific dishes: pasta making, gourmet BBQ, simple pleasures (dishes that take <30 mins including dessert), and the hugely popular gourmet brunch class.
Website:
www.urbanprovider.com.au/
Address: 267 Vincent St, Leederville WA
Do you need to spice up your life?
Latasha'a family are from South India but she was raised in Malaysia and her food reflects both these traditions. Located in Leederville, Latasha's Kitchen is small and intimate and classes will run with a maximum of six people (minimum of two).
She offers:
6 week beginners classes $1,200pp (min 2 people, max 6). Food includes curry pastes, soups, snacks, rice and noodles, simple meals. The final week you get to bring a guest and cook them a beautiful meal.
4 week advanced classes $800pp. You will learn 5 dishes a week (ie 20 dishes) themed each week ie meat, seafood, simple and festive. Dishes include Goan fish curry, biriyani, eggplant kasaundi and desserts.
Alternatively you can arrange a private class for two ($500) choosing 6 dishes (8 if you are vegetarian) from her entire range. The class will be four hours long, and Latasha recommends organising the class so you can then take all the food home to serve at a dinner party (it will feed 8 people).
Website:
www.latashaskitchen.com.au/
Address: 745 Newcastle St, Leederville
Everyone Can Cook (with Fran)
Fran believes that Everyone Can Cook, and offers a number of three hours courses to prove just that.
She offers 3 different pasta making classes in the evenings (7pm) and for $95pp you learn how to make three different types of pasta, plus sauces. You can choose to sit and watch or get involved.
Her popular Sunday lunch class ($110pp) will teach you how to make a four course meal: bruschetta, seafood entrée, meat mains, pasta, vegetable side dish, devilish dessert.
Although most other cooking schools tend to focus on the savoury dishes, Fran offers two classes dedicated to the art of the dessert with her Devilish Dessert ($95pp) and Beautiful Biscotti ($95pp) lessons. Both run on weekday evenings you will learn five different and delicious traditional Italian sweets.
Website:
everyonecancook.com.au/
Address: 1 Tagney Cres, Samson
