Knife Skills, Chefs Tips & The Mother Sauces – 26th July 2025

Master the foundations of professional cookery in this multifaceted and empowering Knife Skills, Chefs Tips & The Mother Sauces class. You’ll learn essential knife skills that will transform how you prep, slice and cook—while discovering the secrets behind the five classic French mother sauces that form the base of countless dishes. Along the way, our expert chef instructor will share decades of insider tips, tricks, and kitchen hacks to help you feel confident and capable in any culinary situation.

You’ll kick things off with essential butchery as you deconstruct a whole chicken, hone your technique with classic vegetable cuts, and perfect the elusive chef-style onion chop. From there, you’ll dive into dishes and sauces that bring your new skills to life—like Asian Chicken and Noodle Broth, Quick Kimchi, and the building blocks of flavourful cuisine: béchamel, hollandaise, velouté, espagnole, and tomato sauce. You’ll also learn to make rich, homemade stocks—a cornerstone of every good kitchen.

The day begins with coffee and a relaxed chat with your chef, where you’ll hear about the techniques you’ll be learning. Then it’s into the kitchen for a blend of demonstrations and hands-on cooking, where you’ll slice, stir, and simmer your way through the key elements of this essential culinary toolkit.

At the heart of our classes is a focus on cooking techniques rather than just following recipes. You’ll work together with fellow food lovers in a warm and welcoming kitchen environment, building your skills with every dish you create. For some elements, we’ll prep a few things in advance so you can focus on the most rewarding parts of the process.

We don’t hand out recipes during the class so you can fully enjoy the experience, but we’ll send you a complete recipe pack by email afterwards. Our chefs are always happy to answer any questions during or after your class.

There will be a short break for lunch where you’ll head to the dining room to enjoy your culinary creations with a glass of wine or a soft drink.

If you’d like to take home any extras, please bring suitable containers. Please note – we are unable to accept responsibility or liability for food taken out of the cookery school.

Knife Skills Covered:

• Deconstructing a chicken

• How to chop an onion ‘chef style’

• Creating the classic cuts using different knives

• Chefs tricks of the trade

Sample Dishes Include:

• Asian Chicken and Noodle Broth

• Quick Kimchi

• Béchamel Sauce

• Hollandaise Sauce

Demonstration Dishes:

• Velouté Sauce

• Tomato Sauce

• Espagnole Sauce

• Homemade Stocks

Important Information

Time:
10am – 3pm

When to arrive:
Please arrive 10 mins prior to the commencement of the class. On arrival you will be directed to our coffee lounge where you can meet the chef and chat about the class.

What to wear:
Please wear comfortable clothing and closed toe, non-slip footwear. An apron will be provided for you to use during the class.

What to bring:
Everything you need for the class will be provided for you. If you wish to take any food that you have cooked home with you, please bring suitable containers. Please note – we are unable to accept any responsibility or liability for food taken out of the cookery school.