COOKING CLASSES

These are the scheduled classes for the next few months, but if you have a specific date in mind and don't like whats on the menu for that day, providing I do not have any existing bookings for that particular class, I can adjust the menu to suit you or we can swap any other menu that you'd like to do for your class. Also if you are not able to do a day class we can arrange an evening class to suit you, Contact me either by telephone or email and I will endeavour to meet your requirements, maria

Class prices : $129.00 per person but if booking multiple classes or persons please take off 10% per class/person making each class $116.10

Tuesday 16th February

Warm goats cheese in tomato sauce

This is a fantastic starter of rich warm goats cheese

in a lovely tangy tomato sauce served with garlic flavoured bruschetta

to mop up all the juices fantastic with a glass of wine.

Risotto ai funghi piselli e salsiccie

(risotto with mushrooms peas and sausage)

A soft creamy risotto with italian sausage and peas with shavings of fresh parmiggiano reggiano cheese

Panna cotta al cafe

This dessert is for all the coffee addicts out there you won't be able to resist the creamy rich taste you'll think you've gone to heaven.

served with whipped cream and flaky italian biscuits and espresso coffee the perfect way to end a meal.

Thursday 18th February

Tuscan white bean soup

A delicious soup made with lima beans pancetta onions and other ingredients a wonderful start to an autumn or winter dinner, served with crusty italian bread

Pollo alla cacciatora

A traditional dish of chicken pieces with fresh mushrooms tomatoes red wine and lots of fresh herbs

Florentine trifle

A dome shaped sponge filled with cream candied fruits chocolate and nuts this dessert will please many delicious and very attractive

Saturday 20th February

Fagottini di asparagi al forno

Tender asparagus bundles wrapped with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto then baked in the oven and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.

Spaghetti marinara

Spaghetti in a wonderful seafood sauce with calamari prawns and mussels in wine garlic and tomatoes.

Torta di mandorle e carote

Carrot and almond cake

This beautifully moist delicious cake with grated carrots and almond meal is fantastic with coffee

Tuesday 23rd February

Warm pancetta, goats cheese and spinach salad

Baby spinach leaves with goats cheese fried crispy pancetta, garlic fresh thyme dried raisins and cracked black pepper, served with crusty Italian bread.

Fettuccini carbonara

The traditional recipe using freshly made pasta with a sauce of pancetta garlic parsley eggs and cheese.

Peaches with a balsamic caramel sauce

Fresh poached peaches in a sweet but tangy delicious sauce served with cream.

Thursday 25th February

Caponata

A vegetarian's delight comprising of eggplants capsicums onions celery tomatoes and black olives,this is best a few days old and cold, so the flavour have time to develop, served with crusty Italian bread

Italian meatballs with tomato sauce

Tender pork meatballs with olives and cheese in the centre cooked with a wonderful tomato sauce and served with pasta.

Zabbaglione

A fantastic creamy dessert made with egg yolks and marsala wine, served in elegant glasses with delicate flaky Italian biscuits accompanied with a hot cup of espresso coffee.

Saturday 27th February

Quails with pancetta

Pancetta wrapped quails gently cooked with butter sage and white wine served with soft polenta

Penne gratinate al forno

Oven baked penne layered with a rich bolognaise sauce, pancetta mozzarella and pecorino romano cheese

Torta di cioccolata alle mandorle

(chocolate amaretti cake)

rich chocolate cake with the wonderful flavour of almonds served with fresh cream and coffee

Tuesday 2nd March

Rombo al sugo

Fried turbot (fish) on a bed of spinach topped with a light tomato sauce

Spaghetti aglio e olio

A traditional pasta dish, we'll be making fresh spaghetti, then cooked al dente with a simple dressing of olive oil breadcrumbs garlic and lots of pecorino romano cheese

Poached pears in wine

Separately poached pears in red and white wine infused with cloves cardamom cinnamon and star anise, served with vanilla ice cream

Thursday 4th March

Spaghetti al amatriciana

Freshly made spaghetti with a rich sauce of pancetta garlic, tomatoes and chillies.

Antipasto platter

A wonderful selection of different smoked meats and salamis along with pickled vegetables olives and cheeses,

served with crusty Italian bread

Affogato

Vanilla icecream drowning in a sea of espresso coffee, a must for coffee lovers.

Saturday 6th March

Pizza

Learn how to make gourmet Italian pizza's, chicken artichoke and olive, potato pancetta and rosemary and the classic margherita, which is tomato mozzarella cheese and basil.

Plaice with parmesan and anchovies

Rolled plaice fillets, (fish) with a delicious topping of anchovies, breadcrumbs grana padana cheese garlic and parsley served with a green salad

Mille foglie di Nutella

Delicate sheets of puff pastry layered with a delicious decadent chocolate nutella cream served with marinated strawberries and enjoyed with a steaming hot cappuccino

Tuesday 9th March

Risotto ai funghi piselli e saIsiccie

A beautiful risotto with Italian sausage meat peas and mushrooms cooked with beef stock and wine, with parmiggiano shavings on top.

Saltimbocca alla romana

Veal escaloppes layered with prosciutto and sage and cooked with olive oil wine and lemon juice

Marscapone creams

A rich creamy dessert of mascarpone cheese , cream, amaretti biscuits marsala and flaked almonds

Thursday 11th March

Caposante al forno

Fresh scallops baked in their shells with a wonderful topping of breadcrumbs parsley lemon zest garlic and white wine, served with a green salad and lemon wedges

Fettuccini boscaiola

Fresh egg fettuccini served with a wonderful sauce of mushrooms cream prosciutto and spring onions.

Crostoli

light pastry strips flavoured with grappa deep fried and sprinkled with caster sugar served with coffee

Tuesday 16th March

Pizza's and Focaccia's

Learn how to make pizza dough and gourmet Italian pizza's and focaccia, we will make chicken artichoke and olive pizza, potato pancetta and rosemary and the classic margherita pizza, which is tomato mozzarella cheese and basil, and we will also make olive garlic and rosemary foccaccia.

Thursday 18th March

Antipasto platter

An assortment of different salami's and meats together with various chargrilled and marinated vegetables like eggplants and sun dried tomatoes and accompanied with different italian cheeses and lots of Italian crusty bread.

Lasagna bolognaise

To start off we will be making bolognaise and bechamel sauce, then you will learn how to make the pasta sheets for lasagna which we will be layering with the sauces and mozzarella cheese, then bake in the oven until golden and delicious

Zabbaione

A light creamy dessert of egg yolks marsala wine and sugar served in elegant glasses with delicate flaky Italian biscuits.

Saturday 20th March

Traditional sweets

Classic Tiramisu

Layers of sponge fingers soaked with coffee and marsala and layered with a marscapone cheese cream.

Amaretti biscuits.

Soft chewy mounds of almond meal eggs and suger, delicious and very moor-ish.

Crostoli

Deep fried crispy pastry ribbons with a hint of lemon and grappa sprinkled with icing sugar, and you also teach you how to make espresso coffee the italian way with a caffettiera.

Tuesday 23rd March

Fettuccini alfredo

Fresh egg pasta ribbons tossed in a lovely sauce of butter, cream black pepper and parmigiano reggiano cheese.

Scalloppini alla pizzaiola

Tender slices of veal seasoned and cooked lightly then covered with a lovely sauce topped with a slice of mozzarella cheese

Torta ai frutti di bosco

A beautiful berry cake with mixed berries throughout and lots of berries on top sprinkled with icing sugar.

Thursday 25th March

Orecchiette con zucchini

A simple pasta dish with a delicious fresh zucchini sauce and parmiggiano reggiano cheese

Slow cooked pork spare ribs

Melt in your mouth pork spare ribs the way I love to cook them, with onions and white wine and served with soft polenta.

Pere glassate con crema di amaretti e cioccolata

Beautiful poached pears drizzled with a delicious chocolate sauce and covered with crushed amaretti biscuits.

Saturday 27th March

Caponata

A wonderful vegetable dish that can be eaten hot or cold, consisting of eggplants onions celery capsicums tomatoes and black olives, served with crusty italian bread.

Chicken and spinach cannelloni

Fresh pasta sheets filled with chicken spinach and ricotta cheese then rolled into tubes and covered with a delicious creamy cheese sauce

Torta di mele al burro

A delicious buttery apple cake with many layers of sweet sliced apples sandwiched together with very little cake batter a fruity afternoon treat, beautiful with cappuccino's^.

Tuesday 30th March

Insalata verde con gorgonzola

A delicious warm salad with rocket radicchio crispy pancetta and walnuts drizzled with a sweet balsamic dressing and sprinkled with gorgonzola cheese.

Lasagna bolognaise

Instant dried lasagna sheets layered with a rich meat sauce and mozzarella cheese, covered with a delicious bechamel sauce, then baked in the oven until golden and cooked.

Zabbaione

A light creamy dessert of egg yolks marsala wine and sugar served in elegant glasses with delicate flaky Italian biscuits.

Thursday 1st April

Mushroom risotto

A creamy risotto with rich earthy flavours of dried porcini's and fresh field mushrooms and grana padana cheese

Saltimbocca alla romana

Tender slices of veal with prosciutto and sage in a lovely wine sauce.

Lemon and mascarpone tart

Sweet shortcrust pastry filled with a velvety marscapone and lemon filling

Saturday 3rd April

_^Bruschetta

Crispy toasted slices of crusty Italian bread with garlic, sundried tomato paste basil olives cheese and balsamic vinegar

Pappardelle con salsiccia e piselli

Broad ribbons of fresh egg pasta in a delicious sauce of pork sausage meat cream peas and cheese.

Tiramisu

A beautiful creamy dessert of sponge fingers drizzled with espresso coffee and marsala wine layered with marscapone cheese cream and cocoa.

Tuesday 6th April

Super quick minestrone

The goodness of fresh seasonal vegetables with the rich taste of pancetta and pasta, ready in 30 minutes.

Plaice with anchovies

Rolled fillets of plaice with an anchovy filling on a bed of spinach and tomatoes, topped with a delicious cream sauce and sprinkled with parmesan rocket and ciabatta crumbs

Salame di noce

A delicious log of chocolate walnuts and candied fruits, rolled in rice paper and served in rounds with a piping hot cup of espresso, latte or cappuccino.

Thursday 8th April

Spaghetti al amatriciana

Freshly spaghetti in a rich tomato sauce with pancetta and chilli's

Scaloppini di vitello al limone

Tender slices of veal coated in seasoned flour and sauteed in butter and olive oil, with lemon juice and wine and served with glazed carrots.

Amaretti biscuits

Soft chewy little mounds of almond meal and egg whites, served with cappuccino's

Saturday 10th April

Frittelle di zucchini

Light fluffy little fritters full of zucchini, cheese and mint, served hot with a tomato and onion salad

Coniglio al agro dolce

Fresh rabbit pieces in a beautiful sweet and sour sauce with olives peppers and onions, served with crusty italian bread

to mop up all the juices, if you haven't tried rabbit before you will love this dish.

Pinolata (pine nut tart)

A traditional tart from Liguria in the northern regions of italy beautiful crusty shell with a generous layer of raspberry jam and a filling of eggs pine nuts and ground almonds.

Tuesday 13th April

Warm goats cheese in tomato sauce

This is a fantastic starter of rich warm goats cheese in a lovely tangy tomato sauce served with garlic flavoured bruschetta to mop up all the juices fantastic with a glass of wine.

Risotto ai funghi piselli e salsiccie

(risotto with mushrooms peas and sausage)

A soft creamy risotto with italian sausage and peas with shavings of fresh parmiggiano reggiano cheese

Panna cotta al cafe

This dessert is for all the coffee addicts out there you won't be able to resist the creamy rich taste you'll think you've gone to heaven served with whipped cream and flaky italian biscuits and espresso coffee the perfect way to end a meal.

Thursday 15th April

Risotto milanese

A delicious creamy risotto cooked with saffron pancetta and garlic.

Agnello in vino rosso

A Beautiful boned leg of lamb filled with fresh herbs roasted with red wine and served with roast potatoes and a green salad

Crostata di mele

The buttery pastry and the delicious stewed apples in this italian apple pie will have you coming back for more served with double cream

Saturday 17th April

Traditional Italian biscuits and desserts

Tiramisu

Sponge fingers soaked in coffee and marsala layered with marscapone cheese and cream and scattered with chocolate flakes

^Amaretti

Soft chewy little mounds of almonds that are fantastic with coffee or a glass of marsala

Crostoli

Thin crispy strips of deep fried pastry with a hint of lemon and grappa sprinkled with icing sugar.

All served with espresso's, latte's or cappuccino's.

Tuesday 20th April

Gnocchi di patate ai quattro formaggi

Tender little potato gnocchi's served with a wonderful rich sauce of marscapone, fontina, gruyere and parmiggiano reggiano cheese. and sprinkled with fresh parsley.

Fesa di tacchino bardata alla pancetta

A succulent turkey breast wrapped in pancetta, cooked in wine with onions carrots and potatoes

Lemon and vanilla panna cotta

beautiful tangy vanilla cream puddings with a sweet delicious fresh raspberry sauce.

Thursday 22nd April

Caponata

A wonderful vegetable dish that can be eaten hot or cold and is delicious cold, made with eggplants onions celery capsicums tomatoes and black olives, served with crusty Italian bread.

Chicken and spinach cannelloni

Tender chicken and spinach cannelloni filled with fresh ricotta cheese chicken parmiggiano reggiano and herbs and covered with a delicious tasty cheese sauce

Torta di mele al burro

A delicious buttery apple cake with many layers of sweet cooked apple sandwiched together with a light sponge cake mix, wonderful with a cappuccino.

Saturday 24th April

Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce

Melt in your mouth tender gnocchi in a rich creamy gorgonzola sauce

Pollo alla Marengo

(This chicken dish is rumoured to have been a favourite of Napoleon's)

Tender juicy chicken cooked in a buttery wine flavoured white sauce

Lemon and vanilla panna cotta

Creamy baked custard puddings with a hint of vanilla and lemon smothered in a delicious tangy raspberry sauce.

Tuesday 27th April

Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce

Melt in your mouth tender gnocchi's in a rich creamy gorgonzola sauce

Scalloppini di vitello al limone

Tender veal slices cooked with butter olive oil beef stock and lemon juice, served with glazed carrots

Crostata di nutella (nutella tart)

The chocaholic's dream a crispy shortcrust pastry tart filled with a delicious velvety filling of chocolate hazelnut cream served with a lovely hot cappuccino.

Thursday 29th April

Traditional Italian bruschetta

We'll be making 3 of the most popular toppings

Tomato basil onion olive and garlic, black olive tapenade, and white bean puree with garlic and goats cheese

Fettuccine alla boscaiola

freshly made fettucini in a delicious creamy sauce with pancetta and mushrooms you will love this dish.

Limoncini

wonderful light lemon liqueur flavoured self saucing puddings served with fresh cream

Saturday 1st May

Zuppa di Pesce
Full of delicious Mediterranean flavours this soup is less heavy and much easier to make than it's french cousin bouillabaisse, chunks of fish with mussels and prawns in a wonderful stock of wine herbs and tomatoes, served with plenty of garlic bruschetta to mop up the delicious juices

Saltimbocca alla romana
Tender veal escaloppes speared with sage and prosciutto in a delicious sauce served with a crisp salad

pesche ripiene
succulent peaches lightly poached then stuffed with amaretto biscuits and almond liqueur, served with vanilla ice cream

Tuesday 4th May

Risotto milanese

A delicious creamy risotto cooked with saffron pancetta and garlic.

Agnello in vino rosso

A Beautiful boned leg of lamb filled with fresh herbs served with golden roasted potatoes and a green salad.

Crostata di mele

The buttery pastry and the delicious stewed apples in this italian apple pie will have you coming back for more served with double cream

Thursday 6th May

Ricotta and Grana Padano gnocchi

Fluffy light melt in your mouth gnocchi in a lovely sage and butter sauce with freshly grated grana padano cheese

Salsiccie con patate e rosamarino

(Italian sausage with potatoes and rosemary)

Chunky pieces of Italian sausage baked with potatoes ciabatta and rosemary.

Crostata al limone

A light shortcrust pastry shell with a delicious tangy lemon filling served with fresh cream

Saturday 8th May

Pasta e ceci

A wonderful minestrone type soup with pancetta garlic chick peas and pasta, so delicious and full of flavour the perfect dish to come home to on cold chilly nights.

Scaloppine al limone

Tender fillets of veal cooked with olive oil wine herbs and a lovely addition of fresh lemon juice served with salad

Crostata di mele

A heavenly apple pie Italian style with juicy sweet fragrant apples served with double cream.

Tuesday 11th May

Spaghetti al amatriciana

Freshly spaghetti in a rich tomato sauce with pancetta and chilli's

Cotoletti di agnello con salsa di acciughe

(Lamb cutlets with anchovy sauce)

Tender lamb cutlets coated in breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese then fried in butter until golden brown and served with a tasty anchovy sauce and green salad.

Tortine di cioccolata con crema

Shortcrust pastry tart shells filled with a delicious nutella cream topped with a glazed strawberry served with cappuccino's

Thursday 13th May

Ravioli al mascarpone

Learn how to make delicious ravioli with a filling of 3 different cheeses served with a wonderful sauce and brussel sprout leaves sauteed with shallots and wine.

Pollo al zafferano

Spatchcocked chicken marinated with wine herbs and saffron then baked to a beautiful golden colour on a bed of juicy onions served with a green salad.

Biscotti mezzaluna

Delicate melt in your mouth shortbread biscuits full of ground almonds and generously sprinkled with icing sugar served with a wonderful cup of espresso or cappuccino.

Saturday 15th May

Minestra d'inverno

A lovely winter chicken broth with potato carrot borlotti beans and risone pasta simmered gently until slightly thickened and with a generous amount of parmesan and butter added, served with crusty garlic bruschetta .

Stufato Toscano

A hearty Tuscan beef stew slow cooked with wine garlic and lots of tomatoes served with soft polenta

Torta di mandorle e cioccolata

A decadent chocolate almond flourless cake that stays soft in the centre and is very moorish, served with fresh cream and coffee

Tuesday 18th May

Penne alla carbonara

This makes a gloriously rich supper dish, al dente penne served with a delicious cream and pancetta sauce.

Scaloppini di maiale con finocchio

Tender pork escaloppes coated in a crispy coating served with a sambuca flavoured fennel dish in a gorgonzola sauce served with crusty Italian bread

Zabaglione

This world famous dessert gets it's name from the Neapolitan dialect "zappillare" which means to foam and that sums up the exact texture required, it tastes delicious and is well worth the effort, served with delicate puff pastry biscuits.

Thursday 20th May

Caposante al forno

Fresh scallops baked in their shell with a wonderful topping of breadcrumbs parsley lemon zest garlic and white wine, served with a green salad and lemon wedges

Fettuccini boscaiola

Fresh egg fettuccini served with a wonderful sauce of mushrooms cream prosciutto and spring onions.

Lemon and marscapone tart.

Sweet shortcrust pastry filled with a velvety marscapone and lemon filling

Saturday 22nd May

Tuscan white bean soup

A delicious soup made with lima beans pancetta onions and other ingredients a wonderful start to an autumn or winter dinner, served with crusty italian bread

Pollo alla cacciatora

A traditional dish of chicken pieces with fresh mushrooms tomatoes red wine and lots of fresh herbs

Sicilian cannoli

crisp pasty tubes deep fried then filled with a delicious combination of ricotta chocolate and candied fruit served with coffee.

Tuesday 25th May

Focaccia

Crispy thin focaccia with a topping of juicy black olives cheese and rosemary

Oven baked penne

A delicious dish with tiny little pork meatballs mixed into the pasta with bolognaise and bechamel sauce, this is a family favourite.

Mascarpone e cioccolata

Layered dessert of mascarpone and chocolate cream served in elegant glasses with wafer biscuits

Thursday 27th May

Ricotta and Grana Padano gnocchi

Fluffy light melt in your mouth gnocchi in a lovely sage and butter sauce with freshly grated grana padano cheese

Salsiccie con patate e rosamarino

(Italian sausage with potatoes and rosemary)

Chunky pieces of Italian sausage baked with potatoes ciabatta and rosemary.

Pinolata

A traditional tart from Liguria in the northern regions of Italy, with a beautiful crusty shell and a generous layer of raspberry jam then a filling of eggs pine nuts and almond meal.

Saturday 29th May

Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce

we'll be making fresh gnocchi, nothing like the one's you buy in the supermarket. These little morsels are light and fluffy, served in a creamy gorgonzola sauce.

Pan Roasted Quails

Prosciutto wrapped quails seasoned with sage and garlic, seared in butter olive oil and white wine served on a bed of polenta

Vanilla panna cotta's

Delicious creamy desserts served with a beautiful caramel sauce.

Tuesday 1st June

Insalata verde con gorgonzola

A delicious warm salad with rocket radicchio crispy fried pancetta and walnuts drizzled with a sweet balsamic dressing and dotted with little chunks of gorgonzola cheese.

Osso Buco

This rich and hearty dish from Milan is fantastic on a cold winters evening, you could put it into a slow cooker in the morning and finish it off when you come home at night. The delicious flavours of the meaty veal shanks cooked with a medley of vegetables with wine and herbs and is served with risotto milanese or polenta.

Millefoglie di nutella

Layers of crisp puff pastry sandwiched together with a delicious cream of nutella and mascarpone , topped with strawberries and liberally dusted with icing sugar, delicious

Thursday 3rd June

Vellutata di zucchini

(cream of zucchini soup)

A lovely smooth textured soup with a pronounced gorgonzola cheese flavour

Spezzatino d'agnello

A rustic warming lamb stew from the plateau of Puglia where the sheep graze alongside vineyards.served with polenta.

Panna cotta di cioccolata e menta

(choc-mint panna cotta)

A delightful refreshing panna cotta with fresh mint and a luxurious layer of rich chocolate, the perfect ending to a meal. Cappuccino's latte's or espresso's to end this wonderful meal.

Saturday 5th June

Polpettine di melanzane

Delicious little balls of eggplant mixed with eggs cheese and tossed in breadcrumbs then deep fried till golden brown and served with a green salad.

Conchiglie ripiene di pancetta e ricotta

A beautiful rich dish that will make you a winner with all your friends and family. Jumbo pasta shells baked till firm then filled with a mixture of ricotta pancetta and montasio cheese placed in a baking tray on a layer of rich bolognaise sauce then covered with more sauce and a layer of bechamel sauce and sprinkled with more cheese. Then baked in oven till fully cooked.

Biscotti al limone

delicate little Italian shortbread biscuits in the shape of wreaths with a lovely tangy lemon icing on top, served with coffee.

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More classes coming soon

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