Get up close and personal at River Cottage Canteen
River Cottage Canteen Plymouth is introducing a series of cookery demos, based on the River Cottage HQ’s cookery classes.
The taster sessions, starting in February 2014 will feature some of the classics, with chocolate, bread and fish all on the menu.
Guests will be treated to coffee and tasty samples as they watch the chef at work, learning the basics from how to perfect their dough to filleting a fish and curing meat, followed by a delicious two course seasonal lunch included in the ticket price of £30.
The cookery demos will take place on Thursday mornings from 10.30 – 11.30am followed by lunch. They will run over consecutive weeks, so guests can try their hand at more than one and those wishing to take things further can book onto one of the full day courses at River Cottage HQ.
Chocolate – Thursday 6th February 2014
Guests will learn how to make ganache, infusing the cream with different flavours that they may never have thought to put together. Chef will also demonstrate tempering chocolate and make petit fours and chocolate mendiants, a traditional French confection. Guests will all be able to tuck into the chocolate treats at the end of the session and will leave with a recipe for thyme and orange infused ganache to try at home.
Bread – Thursday 13th February 2014
In true River Cottage style, the bread making demo focuses on sour dough and soda bread. The session will begin by looking at how to make a sour dough starter. The process for making the dough will be explained before tasting the freshly baked loaf itself. Learn how to make quick and delicious soda bread and how to form different shaped loaves. The group session finishes with sharing dips and freshly made flat breads. Guests will leave with a recipe for soda bread to try at home.
Gluten Free – Thursday 27th February 2014
Gluten free cooking is becoming hugely popular and something the chefs at River Cottage know all about. This demo will explain the best alterative ingredients to gluten based products and why they work well in a given recipe. Guests will learn how to cook a polenta cake, sample one that has just been made and leave with a recipe to try at home.
Fish – Thursday 6th March 2014
Sustainable fishing is synonymous with River Cottage’s ethos and a hugely important part of how the chefs source the fish on the menu. The cookery demo will start with making a simple Pollock Ceviche, followed by a demonstration on gutting and filleting a Mackerel and curing it ready for the hot smoker. Chef will then prepare a flat fish, creating fish parcels before the group samples the Ceviche and Mackerel. Guests will leave with a recipe for Pollock Ceviche to try at home.
Smoking and Curing – Thursday 13th March 2014
The smoking and curing session will focus on cure mixes and the use of salt as well as looking at different types of wood and the kit needed for smoking your own meat at home. Guests will learn techniques involved in dry curing bacon and hot smoking meats. There will be a selection of delicious cured meats to try and guests will leave with a recipe for making their own bacon to try at home.
The cookery demos are all tasters of the River Cottage HQ courses and a perfect introduction for those wanting to find out more about cooking River Cottage style.
River Cottage Canteen Plymouth will launch an exclusive Chef’s Table in January 2014. The best table in the house will be available to book on Thursday evenings for groups of six or over.
Guests will be joined by the Canteen’s chef at the beginning of the evening, where he will talk about what they will be eating, what’s new, the canteen’s sourcing policies and the River Cottage ethos. Chef will then return to the kitchen to create a mouth-watering masterpiece featuring exciting elements from the seasonal and local menu.
The Chef’s Table will be dressed elegantly, with a River Cottage twist and can sit between six and ten guests. It will be located in the perfect place to watch the chefs at work, giving great views into the kitchen.
Those dining at the Chef’s Table will enjoy a four course seasonal menu plus coffee for £40 a head and booking is essential and must be made 48 hours in advance.
The courses will run consecutively every Thursday morning. For up-coming dates, more information or to book onto a cookery demo please visit www.rivercottage.net/canteens/Plymouth or call the Canteen on 01752252702.
To book a Chefs Table please call 01752 252702 or visit www.rivercottage.net/canteens/Plymouth
