The School of Artisan Food has served up a menu of Christmas gifts for the festive season that will whet the appetites of both the most committed foodies and enthusiastic beginners.

 

From baking and patisserie to cheese-making and butchery; pie-making to brewing, preserving and pickling to foraging or ice cream making; more than 80 hands-on courses are taught by world-class tutors and cater for all levels.

 

 

 

There’s a warm welcome whether you fancy getting stuck in to a two-hour taster experience or improving your skills on a day or week-long course.  A relaxed and fun atmosphere is complemented by unrivalled expertise in sustainable, cost-effective, tasty food made from scratch. And, at the end of the day, everybody gets to take home their own creations.

 

An award-winning charity, The School of Artisan Food is based on the beautiful Welbeck Estate, deep in the heart of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. A gem of specialist skills and knowledge, state-of-the-art facilities, and a heartfelt belief in the power of healthy, sustainable food, it even has a royal seal of approval with HRH Prince Charles declaring: “What is going on here at the School is of enormous importance”.

 

Gifts for Cheese Lovers

Home dairy skills – cheese, butter and yoghurt. One day, £185.00

Discover how to make soft cheese, yoghurt and butter at home on this one-day practical course led by tutor and cheese expert Katy Fenwick.

Professional cheesemaking – cheddar, cheshire and hard cheese, three days, £595.00

Dairy industry expert and cheesemaker Paul Thomas will cover starter cultures; texture; the ripening of hard cheeses; and troubleshooting common defects. Cheeses made on this course include: a continental style hard/extra-hard cheese of the Gruyère type, two territorial hard cheeses: Cheddar and Cheshire.

Beer and Cheese Tasting, £39.00

From the nutty, caramel aromas found in both aged cheese and stouts to the relationship between rich barley and our favourite blues, this afternoon tasting session covers a variety of mouth-watering combinations. Sampling includes a wide selection of artisan cheeses from across Britain, paired with a range of hand-crafted beers from Welbeck Abbey Brewery.

 

Gifts for Chocoholics

Introduction to chocolate making – 1 day, £195.00

The ideal one-day course for anyone with a passion for chocolate. This hands-on day begins with a chocolate tasting, leading on to an overview of various chocolate-making techniques as you create delicious products including chocolate bars, truffles, and ganache to take home.

Chocolate patisserie, 1 day, £195.00

With the expert guidance of multi-award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier Ross Sneddon, take your patisserie skills to the next level with this practical course dedicated to creating delicious chocolate patisserie. You will learn the fundamental techniques, from tempering chocolate to decoration, as you create chocolate gateaux with caramelised white chocolate, tarte au chocolat with salted caramel and much more to taste and take home.

Gifts for Bakers

How to make sourdough – 2 hours, £15.

Love real bread and enjoy baking? Then you should join our sourdough demonstration with David Carter. David will share his tips and secrets to making, looking after and using a sourdough starter. You will get to taste some delicious sourdough bread and also take away a small portion of sourdough starter to practise your bread baking at home.

 

Gifts for Beverage Makers

Introduction to cider-making, one day, £165.00

Discover the traditional art of making your own cider and perry at home. Guided by cider producer Simon Reed you’ll learn how to make delicious cider and perry using traditional processes as he shares his expertise and passion for cider.

Beer and Cheese Tasting, £39.00

From the nutty, caramel aromas found in both aged cheese and stouts to the relationship between rich barley and our favourite blues, this afternoon tasting session covers a variety of mouth-watering combinations. Sampling includes a wide selection of artisan cheeses from across Britain, paired with a range of hand-crafted beers from Welbeck Abbey Brewery.

 

Gifts for budding butchers

Pig in a day, one day, £195.00

Explore every part of a pig, from nose to tail. As well as practical knife skills and butchery techniques you’ll learn which cuts are best for roasts, braises, sausages, pâtés and terrines.  Matching different cuts of meat to your favourite recipes and dishes you’ll also make your own traditional British sausages and a small stuffed loin to take home and enjoy.

 

Gifts for Cooks

Pasta making with Valentina Harris, one day, £185.00

Discover how to make your own fresh pasta and authentic Italian sauces under the expert guidance of acclaimed food writer and chef Valentina Harris. No previous experience is necessary as, using the best seasonal produce, you’ll learn about the fresh flavours and artisan techniques involved in making fresh pasta, asparagus and ricotta ravioli, ragu with fresh peas, Sicilian almond pesto and much more.

 

Gifts for the Undecided!

Whether you’re after a special gift for a food lover or looking to introduce someone to new skills in artisan food but you want to let them choose, then gift vouchers from The School of Artisan Food, starting at £25, are a great option.