With the holiday season almost palpable, many Londoners will soon leave the island in search of sun and some well-deserved time off. But have you considered adding a unique twist to your holidays and planning something just for yourself? How about giving yourself a break and doing something that’s both enriching for you and delightful for your loved ones?
We often hear that investing in yourself is one of the best things you can do, and it’s even better when it’s something you’ve always wanted to do for fun, not just for work. If you like food and cooking as much as I do, why not take some time to elevate your cooking game?
As an unofficial and untrained but passionate cook, I've always wanted to dive deeper into my cooking abilities. While my cooking journey has been fantastic so far, I realised I’d missed out on some essential techniques and basic recipes. These gaps bothered me, but I reminded myself that it’s never too late to learn, so I set my mind on doing it.
Even though, I've taken some one-day crash courses in the past, last year I decided to go for a more formal culinary experience and maximise my cooking efforts. That’s how I ended up enrolling in an intermediate skills course called “Cooking with Confidence.” The title says it all. I could have chosen something more advanced but then again, I didn’t want to jump ahead and lose sight of my goal; learning those basic techniques and processes. This six-week course provided a fantastic cooking experience overall. Even though I didn’t learn as much as I expected, there were always little but unvaluable tips that added to my cooking repertoire.
As a self-taught cook, seeing these techniques first-hand and getting professional feedback was perhaps the most valuable aspect of the course.
And clearly, committing to a longer course like this one, immerses you in a focused mindset, where you practise recipes, perfect them, and apply every technique learned into your weekend cooking. The best part? After completing the course, I wanted more, fuelling a desire for a more challenging and in-depth cooking course.
Beyond the techniques and course itself, the highlight of this investment hit two high notes for me: fulfilling a longstanding dream of formal culinary training and discovering new ideas for my kitchen. Yet, finding time, making the commitment, and budgeting can make it challenging to follow through.
Lastly and perhaps the biggest challenge is finding the right course for you. With a full-time job, sports, and other life activities, plus the wide range of courses offered by culinary schools in London, choosing the right one can be tough. But that’s what this blog post is all about—helping you push your boundaries, select the right course for you, and make it happen. For me, it’s been one of the most fulfilling learning activities I’ve done as an adult.
Still wondering if taking a cooking course is worth your time and money? The answer is a resounding yes! Here are seven key takeaways:
Mastering techniques and skills
Even if you're already comfortable in the kitchen, a cooking course will teach you professional techniques that elevate your cooking. From knife skills to mastering the perfect sauté, these basics can greatly improve your efficiency and precision moving forward.
2. Exploring new cuisines
One of the best parts of a cooking course is the chance to explore cuisines from around the world. Whether it's Italian pasta-making, Thai stir-frying, or French pastry baking, most courses offer a deep dive into the flavours and techniques unique to each culinary tradition.
3. Understanding ingredients
A good cooking course doesn't just teach you how to cook; it educates you about the ingredients themselves. You'll learn about seasonality, sourcing, and the nutritional benefits of various foods. This knowledge allows you to make informed choices when shopping and cooking, leading to healthier and more flavorful meals.
4. Gaining confidence and creativity
With hands-on practice and guidance from professional chefs, you’ll gain assurance in your abilities. This confidence translates to more ambitious cooking projects at home and tackling more complex recipes.
5. Boosting creativity
A cooking course encourages you to think outside the box, experiment with flavours, and develop your unique style. You’ll learn how to plate food more attractively, combine ingredients in innovative ways, and incorporate those learning into your cooking style.
6. Connecting with other cooking enthusiast
Cooking courses offer a social element that can be incredibly fulfilling. You’ll meet fellow food enthusiasts, share experiences, and learn from each other.
7. Professional insight and inspiration
Access to professional chefs is one of the most significant advantages of taking a cooking course. These experts bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to their teaching, offering feedback and tips, helping you overcome challenges and improve over the course of your programme.
Pictures: Some of my recipes at home
Which cooking courses are the best ones for you?
Before embarking on this journey and all it involves (time and money investment), ask yourself what you really want to get out of it. Do you want a fun one-off cooking session with others? Do you want to learn something new and immerse yourself in it for a while? Or are you looking for new skills that could lead to a career change?
Once you’ve answered that crucial question, you can start picking the right course and institution.
As expected, London offers a wide range of options catering to various skill levels and durations—from half a day courses and masterclasses to week-long deep dives, monthly programs, and professional certifications. For me, the six-week course served as a great introduction, and now I'm searching for the next course that hopefully will take my cooking to the next level.
Below are some of the best cooking courses offered by top culinary schools in London.
Note: While one off courses can be enjoyable, they are more about a fun afternoon or evening rather than intensive skill-building and technique refinement.
This is the school I attended and I only have high praise for the experience I had. This cooking school has a wide range of courses, from professional to entry level, this institution has a course for every type of cook out there. I had the chance to learn new techniques every week and get into the heat of a professional kitchen (or as close as it can get) at least each of those evenings. What I chose was a 6 week evening course entitled “cooking with confidence”, intermediate level which I want now to top up with a more in depth course.
This culinary institution doesn’t need introductions as it is one of the most well known and prestigious ones in the world. With branches all over the world, Le Cordon Bleu offers more than just cooking courses, including wine and hospitality management, making it a great place to start a new career in the food industry. However, for cooking enthusiasts like me, their short courses might be more suitable. They offer various short courses from half a day to a month, covering topics like wine, cooking essentials, cake decorating, and more.
More informal but similar to the ones listed above, the Cookery School excels at offering a flexibility in their courses, allowing part time studies which will be more suitable for those wanting to undertake these after working hours.
Pictures: Capturing cooking techniques and dishes at Leith
For me, and as stated in the "my story" section, one of the greatest joys of cooking is sharing my dishes with others. Therefore, a cooking course can equip you with the skills and confidence to prepare delicious, impressive meals for your loved ones.
Are you ready to elevate your cooking game? Sign up for a cooking course this season and start your journey toward becoming a master home chef. Happy cooking!
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