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Learn to Cook in the West country
. . . with CookAbility Residential Cookery Courses

• Can you cook?

• Could you feed yourself?

• Would you cook for someone else?

CookAbility can show you . . . an ideal opportunity to gain a new skill that will last a lifetime.

How the cooking school began

A change of lifestyle saw Venetia Cameron-Rose and her family move to Devon in 1997 where she was introduced by mutual family friends to Tricia Samways. The rest, as they say, is history!

They started CookAbility in the same year to teach the basics of cookery . . . and beyond. This was in response to pleas from friends whose children had not been taught to cook at school, and who had spent an enormous amount of money on buying ready made food during their first term self-catering at University! Sound like a familiar story?

Tricia and Venetia are delighted to be able to pass on their vast wealth of experience and knowledge to new classes of young, and not so young, would be self-catering gourmets through their CookAbilty cooking school and conduct their classes with enthusiasm and panache. In the busy months two houses are up and running each accommodating seven students, and Venetia and Tricia are ably supported by a well trained team of cook-helpers.

Crisis Cookery Course for the over twenty-fives

The Cookery Course that will give you the chance to learn to cook those Special Dishes you have always dreamt of but have never dared to try . . . or try your hand where you might not have dared before!

This Course is for students 'over 25' who have reached that stage in their lives where the need, and desire, to cook a decent meal has become a major goal.

The course runs from Monday 12:00 noon until Thursday 2:00 pm

Arrive on the Monday to settle into your accommodation and meet your fellow course students over an informal lunch before spending the afternoon selecting Menus and preparing some stunning dishes for a delicious dinner in the evening.

On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be two separate sessions each day tailored to your requirements. You will be able to select from a wide range of Culinary Experiences, try your hand at New Methods and Techniques and even pick up a few tips for shortcuts!

Your instructors will be on hand throughout to help you choose suitable dishes and give advice on Menu Planning, Nutrition and Costings for every occasion.

Whether you want to cook for a crowd, or feel that cooking for more than three is a crowd, all will become manageable!

You will be creating dishes to cook with ease and confidence to impress your friends and family.

Live locally and prefer to come daily? No Problem. CookAbility will happily quote for non-residential or you can attend sessions to suit your circumstances.

The course will finish on Thursday after lunch.

availability and booking information

Skills for Life Cookery Course

The Skills for Life cookery courses are designed to teach the basics of cookery - and beyond - and will enable you to cook for yourself and others with ease and confidence.

Sound basic methods and techniques are used together with our tried and trusted recipes.

Flexibility is our keyword and all levels of experience and tastes are catered for. Dishes include everyday favourites and also some impressive dinner party pieces!!

Arrive on Monday to settle into your accommodation and meet your fellow course students over an informal lunch before spending the afternoon selecting Menus and preparing some stunning dishes for a delicious dinner in the evening.

On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be two separate sessions each day tailored to your requirements. You will be able to select from a wide range of Culinary Experiences, try your hand at New Methods and Techniques and even pick up a few tips for shortcuts!

The courses start at 12:00 noon on Monday and finish on Thursday at about 1:30 after lunch.

Live locally and prefer to come daily? No Problem. CookAbility will happily quote for non-residential or you can attend sessions to suit your circumstances.

availability and booking information

Chalet Host Cookery Course

If you are determined to make you mark in the Ski Chalets this season - and on the slopes - then the Chalet Host Cookery Course could be just what you need to get you going.

Included in this course will be enough recipes to see you through two weeks of cooking for a chalet of up to twenty guests of all ages without having to repeat dishes - unless you get asked to because the meals are so delicious! And the following . . .

• Food Hygiene information
  
  
• Menu Planning and Nutrition
  
  
• Information and training in preparing meals for guests who are on special diets for medical or religious reasons
  
  
• Costings, Shopping Lists
  
  
• Economic Purchasing and Storage. Waste Reduction
  
  
• Time Saving Tips (Great to help make time for that extra black run!)
  
  
• Altitude Cookery Techniques and Recipe Adaptations
  
  
• Equipment suggestions

CookAbility will also have application forms and information available for ski companies – please ask.

availability and booking information

Duke of Edinburgh - Gold Residential Award

CookAbility is very proud to have been awarded National Access Organisation status with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme to offer the Residential Project Qualification for the Gold Award.

The course is an activity based personal training which fulfills the requirement of the Residential Project for the Gold Award.

You also have the opportunity to learn a life-skill to stand you in good stead all your days - and The Course Certificate will be useful to add to your CV when applying for all sorts of jobs such as chalet cooks, nannies, etc. A letter of reference may be supplied where appropriate.

You will be taking part in our Skills for Life course so take a look at the info for that course as well . . . see below.

The ocurse is for five days. You arrive on the Sunday evening (or Monday morning) and depart on the Friday afternoon.

Please see the location page on the CookAbility web site <click here> for travel arrangements - CookAbility is able to meet buses and trains at Taunton

Students regularly come to CookAbility from the farthest reaches of the UK and Europe, with cheap flights readily available you are never too far away.

Just remember to book early!

availability and booking information

Skills for Life Cookery Courses

The CookAbility Skills for Life cookery courses are designed to teach the basics of cookery - and beyond - and will enable you to cook for yourself and others with ease and confidence.

CookAbility covers all the family favourites, some smart dinner party pieces, canapés, starters, cakes and desserts - and of course student friendly food.

It could be a great advantage if you will be self-catering at University.

All levels of experience and tastes are catered for.

The Routine:

Students are invited to arrive on Sunday between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm and an evening supper is provided.

The daily routine starts with a light breakfast - last chance 9:30 am - and the cooking course starts daily at 10.00 am until 12:30 pm when you have lunch.

There is free time in the afternoon from approx 1:30 pm until 4:30 pm when we start the second session of the day, cooking until 7:00 pm.

Students are then free to relax after dinner for the rest of the evening . . . once the kitchen is clean, of course!

Courses usually include a social evening with the opportunity to choose and cook themed party food.

availability and booking information

Chalet Host Cookery Courses

If you are determined to make you mark in the Ski Chalets this season - and on the slopes - then the Chalet Host Cookery Course could be just what you need to get you going.

Included in this course will be enough recipes to see you through two weeks of cooking for a chalet of up to twenty guests of all ages without having to repeat dishes - unless you get asked to because the meals are so delicious! And the following . . .

• Food Hygiene information
  
  
• Menu Planning and Nutrition
  
  
• Information and training in preparing meals for guests who are on special diets for medical or religious reasons
  
  
• Costings, Shopping Lists
  
  
• Economic Purchasing and Storage. Waste Reduction
  
  
• Time Saving Tips (Great to help make time for that extra black run!)
  
  
• Altitude Cookery Techniques and Recipe Adaptations
  
  
• Equipment suggestions

CookAbility will also have application forms and information available for ski companies – please ask.

availability and booking information

Venetia Cameron-Rose and Tricia Samways started the Company in 1997 to teach the basics of cookery - and beyond.

Venetia - loves trying new recipes and ideas and has a wonderful flair for presentation and garnishes. Canapes, Starters and Puddings are her specialities and she is an exceptional pastry cook.

Tricia - likes to try meat dishes and main meals with a mix of sweet and savoury flavours to compliment Venetia's starters and puds. She finds menu planning and turning traditional recipes into CookAbility specials a real challenge and great fun.

The CookAbility celebrated cook-helpers are:

Mari Jones - a wonderful Welsh woman who has been described by our students as an idol, an inspiration and a Goddess. She has a great sense of humour and has taught loads of young men how to wash up!

Sandra Samuelson - all the way from Devon and originator of some of the student food recipes. Responsible for our home made Soup and Beer Bread experience.

Jacqueline Isdell-Carpenter - from the local Blackdown hills with a wealth of kindness, encouragement, good humour and common sense for all our students.

Peter - Tricia's husband who makes impromptu guest appearances for a master class in knife skills and garnishes. Peter has a Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Operations with many years experience in the business and currently runs his own Catering company in Somerset.

All the staff hold Food Hygiene Certificates and are fully conversant with the day to day running of the classes.

The Venues

The CookAbility venues, Sherlands and Dene Court, are on the outskirts of Taunton, Somerset's County Town.

The houses have extensive gardens, wonderful countryside views and good local walks.

Taunton, with all the usual amenities, is only a few minutes drive away and there is also a frequent bus service.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in shared bedrooms (two or three sharing).

There is a student sitting room with TV and games facilities and a relaxed and homely atmosphere.

Free Time

In your free time you may choose to occupy yourself from a range of activities such as pleasant countryside walks, relaxing in the hot tub (don't forget your swimsuit), indoor or garden games, visiting and exploring the local towns - or even a quiet spot of paperwork or revision if exams are looming.

Courses usually include a social evening with the opportunity to choose and cook themed party food.