Food Sorcery Cookery and Barista School – Big & Little Cooks*

After almost 6-months of delay due to COVID, I was really excited to be heading back to Food Sorcery Cookery School in Didsbury, Manchester to review their Big & Little Cook Class with both my children.  Big & Little Cooks is where parents will get the chance to cook together with their children or soon to be a teenager.  Some of you would remember that I attended Chef Jason Palin’s Pasta Making Class some time back and I was looking forward to meeting him again to see what was in store this time.  We were to prepare 3 dishes; a starter, main course and pudding during the 3-hour cooking session and later we would get the chance to taste the food which we prepared.  For our class, we prepared Vegetable Gyoza for starters, Japanese Katsu Curry with Breaded Chicken for mains and Banoffee Pie for dessert. If you are keen on heading to Food Sorcery for one of their cooking classes, keep on reading to find out about our experience and what we thought about it.

I was very impressed with the whole set up and Food Sorcery’s COVID procedure. Although they had a full class of about 17 people, we each had our own station and were 2m apart from each other. There were also plastic dividers between each cooking stations and our tables (where we had our drinks/meal).  Staff also ensured that we all had our own ingredients and cooking utensils so we did not have to share with anyone else.  We were immediately asked to wash our hands upon arrival and offered a drink while we waited for the other participants to arrive.  Next, we were each given disposable aprons and shown to our cooking station. If I remember from my last class, we were encouraged to go to the front to see Chef Jason doing the demo, but due to social distancing, they have improvised by placing a large TV screen so we could easily watch Chef Jason as he explained each dish to us from where we were.

Veggie Gyoza 

These cute little starters dumplings were fun to make. There is no right or wrong and kids can get as creative as they want. It was wonderful to see both my children using the knife in a safe manner to chop the vegetables and later filling the wrappers to make various dumpling shapes. An easy enough recipe for kids to do and fun at the same time. These dumplings were first fried with sesame oil and then steamed in the pot.

Chicken Katsu

I make Japanese Katsu Curry all the time at home and my children have been eating this since they were little but surprisingly I have never made it from scratch.  So it was a learning process for me as well.  Madeline was mainly in charge of chopping the vegetables while Thomas was in charge of adding the ingredients to the pot and stirring them. They both also tasted the curry as it was cooking and decided if they wanted to add in extra soy sauce or chilli flakes.  Another easy dish for kids to make without much supervision.

Ingredients – Serves 2

• For the chicken – if using a decent butcher, one chicken breast will work for 2 – if using the supermarket, 2 chicken breasts.
• Egg & milk wash
• Panko Bread Crumb
• Plain Flour

For the Sauce Roux

Tablespoon Butter, Tablespoon Plain Flour, Tablespoon Curry Powder, Tablespoon Garam Masala

Curry

• 50g Block Coconut, 1 Banana Shallot – fine dice, Carrot – diced, Clove garlic – fine dice
• Sachet (tablespoon) honey
• Chicken Breast halves – see above
• Water 400ml/ Miso teaspoon
• Teaspoon Soy Sauce
• Salt/ Pepper

Garnish

• Coriander
• Chilli Flake – optional

Method

1. Flatten the chicken and layer, flour, egg, panko – do this twice for extra crispiness.  These will be baked in the oven for about 20 minutes at 180C – you can do in advance, chill and reheat.  To serve you will slice into strips and lay on top of your rice and drizzle with Katsu curry sauce.

To make the sauce

1. Melt butter and add the flour, stir so the flour bubble and cooks.  Then add the 2 spice mixes, this is your katsu curry roux.
2. Either set the roux to one-side or use another pan.
3. Soften the shallot, ginger, carrot and garlic
4. Add back the roux, allow to soften, add the liquid and the coconut block
5. Taste – but then add the honey, salt, pepper and soy
6. Taste again – re-season if needed
7. Reduce heat and allow to simmer
8. Serve on side or drizzle over the sliced chicken strips, with plain rice – delicious!

Banoffee Pie

My children love dessert, so I can’t stress the fact that they were super excited to make the Banoffee Pie.  Although they ate quite a lot of the raw ingredients as they were preparing it, we actually had 2 decent sized pies in the end to taste and take home. So a total achievement for me! This recipe again was easy enough for them to assemble on their own and it just needed chilling in the fridge to set.

Ingredients – Serves 2

• Digestive biscuits, crushed
• 100g melted butter
• Tin caramel sauce
• 2 bananas
• Carton whipping cream
• Grated chocolate/sprinkles

Method

1. Crush biscuits in a zip lock bag, press into a cake tin and pour over the melted butter. Chill for 30 minutes.
2. Spoon the caramel from the tin into the base and spread gently to the edges.
3. Slice the bananas and scatter them over the caramel.
4. Spoon the cream on top and decorate with grated chocolate.

What did we think of the class?

What I loved most about Big & Little Cooks was that both my children had the opportunity to be in charge of the cooking and be exposed to different ingredients and cooking styles. My son can be quite a fussy eater so I was surprised that he ate everything that we prepared and even tried new vegetables like Chinese cabbage willingly.  My daughter on the other hand will try everything and I was proud to see her taking charge of the whole session while I just guided her.  I enjoy cooking with my kids but this experience gave me the chance to spend time with my children to cook as a team without the stress of cleaning up or preparing the raw ingredients.

The team at Food Sorcery were super efficient and ensured that we all had all the needed ingredients when we were cooking and went around to ensure that all the participants knew what we were supposed to do next.  All the ingredients were measured prior hence it was easy to follow each recipe. Both my children who are 10-years-old and 7-years old did most of the cooking by themselves.  Because there were two of them, we had double of everything so there were no arguments as they both had the chance to do the same thing.  I just supervised them when they were handling hot pans, knives and the hot oven.

I have to admit that I had my concerns about heading to the class initially with all the uncertainties with COVID and social distancing but the team at Food Sorcery have put my mind at ease with their well-planned event.  I am really glad we went and what an experience it has been for us!  I would totally go again and definitely recommend others to attend similar classes.  Big & Little Cooks is a great way for families to get together and cook together, this is also a wonderful experience to gift family or close friends via Food Sorcery’s Gift Certificate.

How much did the class cost and how do I book a cooking session?

The Big & Little Cook class cost £95 for an adult and child, you can add extra children at £25 each. Do head to their website here to see what classes are available and to book a session. Especially for our readers, please use discount code : yeah10 to be eligible for a 10% discount off the full price.

Here a short video of my cooking experience at Food Sorcery

Eat Out Help Out Shorter Cooking Classes

Food Sorcery has recently created a unique 90-minute cooking class in response to the Eat Out To Help Out Scheme. With the scheme ending last week, they have now decided to continue offering these Meal for 2 classes which are perfect as a midweek lunch/dinner meal out. You will cook your meal, eat it and even learn to create a new dish in the process and yes…there is no washing up involved!  So do check out their website to see what menu is being introduced and how you can book your session.  Do speak to the staff about food allergies and vegetarian options when you book.

Where is Food Sorcery? 
Wilmslow Road
Adjacent to Waterside Hotel
M20 5WZ
(Head down the drive and look out for the sighs to the Waterside Hotel and not the housing area, you’ll find Food Sorcery in the first car park, just buzz the buzzer and they will let you in).

About Food Sorcery

Food Sorcery Cookery and Barista School offers fun, hands-on cookery classes and team-building with a twist – Learn to Create and Enjoy.  From novice to expert, healthy to gourmet, they’ve got classes to suit all and can adapt to dietary or allergy requirements on request.  With views over the river, easy transport links and a Hotel, pool & gym onsite, it’s the perfect place to have fun with food, learn tips and tricks from experts and to gain cooking confidence.  Their unique Cooking Together Friday nights are a fresh take on dining out, ditch the conventional meal out and cook your own!

About Chef Jason Palin

Food is my passion – my art is creating a delicious and surprising menu that will overwhelm your every sense. I have cooked around the world and I am bursting to share all my knowledge (and stories) with fellow foodies! I have worked as a head chef at leading luxury resorts and as a private chef to A-list names. My style is a fusion of worldwide flavours. I am, a regular face on the North West foodie scene, cooking and teaching in a friendly, relaxed way. I am a qualified lecturer, delivering courses to professional chefs, foodies and children. I am experienced in corporate team building and mentoring around confidence in the kitchen. I have also launched many products and as well as cookery schools in and around the North West. Come as a guest, leave as a friend…

Things to note: 

• Don’t worry about aprons, they will provide disposable ones
• Do not bring Tupperware as they will provide take-away food containers as there is often more food than you can eat
• Try to get there on time as they will have to keep to the time and won’t wait for you if there is a delay
• There is plenty of free car parking space
• There is a COVID Procedure in place. Do read more beforehand so you know what to expect.

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*Disclaimer: We were invited to attend the cooking class in return for a feature. All opinions are our own.