Welcome to The Woodspeen Cookery School – where anyone can learn the skills and confidence to deliver precision cooking. Our courses range from foundational culinary knowledge such as butchery and baking, to classic Woodspeen dishes, to seasonal specials, all the way to simply having fun.
Browse our courses below, or click the ‘view calendar‘ link below to browse by date.
Do you love our restaurant? Then come and join this exciting course where you will learn how to recreate our most popular starter, main course and dessert of the season, at home, in your own kitchen. During this course our team will teach you to confidently re-create these restaurant dishes at home. We’ll share some of our kitchen secrets including ‘partition preparation’ where most of the cooking is done before your guests arrive, leaving you to spend more time at the table and less time in the kitchen. Before you head home, you will get to enjoy your starter with your fellow cooks around The Chef’s Table for lunch. The main-course and dessert you have made will be packed up for you to serve at home to impress your family and friends!
Do you know what great fish looks like? During this course we will show you how to identify quality points in fish, and ensure you know what to buy. We will teach you preparation and cooking techniques of flat and round fish, ensuring maximum eating quality and flavour. At the end of the course you will sit down at the chef’s table and enjoy some of the food you have made.
Learn the basics with us, and before you know it, you’ll be whipping up classic and modern breads, from traditional soda bread to shortbread.
At The Woodspeen we believe that a good understanding of traditional butchery skills gives the cook an advantage for getting the most out of each cut. Just as important as the prep skills, is the skill to cook and we will run through times and temperatures to ensure you cook your meat perfectly, every time! We will cover how to keep your stews and casseroles tasty with the meat being moist and tender, we’ll be breaking down a chicken and also demonstrating the perfect way to cook lamb and beef, explaining the cuts as we go along and the best cooking methods to use. You will make, pate and lamb koftas.
Italian food is the ultimate in social food, and what could be better than gathering a group of friends or family around the table for homemade Italian specialities. Join us for this fabulous course where we will teach you to prepare an Italian feast, including classics such homemade pasta, gnocchi, risotto and focaccia.
You will end the day around the chef’s table, with your fellow cooks, enjoying some of the delights you have prepared
Ever feel like your dinner parties need a little bit more je ne sais quoi? If so, our French Cookery Course will give you all the tools that you need to pull off the perfect dinner party. You will learn a multitude of skills including making a cheese Soufflé from scratch, Classic Coq au Vin and creamy potato & finish with a beautiful Tart Tatin.
Leave the pots and pans with us, all you need to do is get the wine and flowers.
Here at the cookery school you will prepare and part-cook (ready to finish at home) a romantic three course meal for you and your Valentine, including bread and petit fourss, making the Valentine’s evening relaxed and enjoyable for you both.
Produce a romantic 3-course meal, full of classic delights and plenty of Woodspeen flavour and style. You will cook the starter and the main and our chef will demonstrate the dessert.
You will also make a soda bread to accompany the meal and sweet treats that can be served with coffee at the end of your meal
This course allows even a novice become a star of their kitchen, yet there’s plenty to learn and tips to pick up for the more advanced home-cook too.
Get this special weekend started off in style by joining us at The Woodspeen Cookery School. Enjoy a glass of wine while we make some delicious sweet treats, and tocomplete our afternoon tea we will have some finger sandwiches from the kitchen. Also demonstrated will be how to make your own home made butter to go with your scones.
Discover the secrets to cooking the perfect steak and chips. We’ll show you how to pick the best cuts and share tips on how to keep your steak tender, juicy and full of flavour. To accompany your steak you will make triple cooked chips and a delicious tomato chutney. The chef will also show you how to make classic steak sauces, béarnaise and peppercorn. To end this enjoyable evening, you will head over to The Chef’s Table, where you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labour, with a glass of wine, beer or soft drink.
Join this fantastic cookery course, where you will learn some robust techniques for making Indian and Thai curries. You will cook a variety of dishes that you can easily replicate at home. This will include techniques on marinating and alternative cooking methods. You will end the evening at the chef’s table, where you will get to enjoy the dishes you have made, with a glass of wine, beer or soft drink.
Join us to create this classic dish, that will soon become a firm favourite. This time it is beef wellington made from scratch, with homemade puff pastry, perfectly cooked beef fillet and rich velvet red wine sauce. To finish off this fabulous evening, you will get to enjoy your homemade beef wellington at the chef’s table, with delicious fries and a glass of red wine.
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The Woodspeen is owned by The Woodspeen Restaurant Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 08524322 and with our registered office at TVP2, 300 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1PT.
The perfect gift for foodies, Woodspeen Gift Vouchers can be redeemed against memorable dining experiences, drinks in our beautiful bar, and even courses in our Cookery School!