AROUND THE WORLD WITH COOKING
There are a lot of things we love about food here at Experience Days - and I mean A LOT! From baking to sushi making, our range of cooking classes is ever expanding and we're always looking for new and innovative venues to partner with.
Arguably one of the best things about cooking is that you can experience tastes and flavours from every nation, without ever leaving the country.
We've updated our Around The World with Cooking Guide for 2024, so you can continue to travel with your taste buds.
Let's face it, it's not enough to simply eat a dish that’s cooked for us and think no more of it; our thirst for knowledge is insatiable. When we try a new food that we love, we want to know where it came from, who made it, the history behind the dish, the ingredients, and most importantly, how to make it ourselves!
Another culture’s food can tell us a lot about the history
of a country, as well as the people who live there. Food is steeped in traditions,
but it’s also something that’s always being adapted. Learning to cook
another culture’s cuisine doesn’t necessarily only mean following a step-by-step
recipe (although that does sometimes help). If you've ever been on a cooking lesson before, you'll know you learn a lot more than how to cook!
Food trends come and go, but every day people are coming up with new exciting ways to cook, and cooking lessons are a great way to experience modern cooking as well as draw upon traditional techniques. Either way, you'll be learning from the best!
If, like me, you can’t get enough of the local food while you’re away, and return to England dreaming of all the mind-blowing cuisine you no longer get to eat, there is an answer… learn to cook it yourself!
Read on to find out our top picks for culinary classes that show you how to create cuisines from all around the world.
Middle Eastern Cooking
Learn how to create Middle Eastern cuisine from scratch during this 6 hour cookery course in Hertfordshire.
Throughout the day, you’ll be taught to follow several authentic recipes – including those for a Moroccan couscous salad, chicken tagine, Lebanese kibbeh, vegetable pilaf, and syrupy baklava.
You’ll blend fragrant spices, like cardamom and saffron, and learn to achieve the perfect balance of sweet and savry. Vegetarian options are available by prior arrangement, and your freshly-made lunch includes a complimentary wine, beer or soft drink.
Featured Experience Gift: Middle Eastern Cookery Course Hertfordshire From £199
If you're interested in learning to cook some delicious Middle Eastern cuisine but you aren't in Hertfordshire, have a browse of these classes:
International Street Food - Cooking Class
Tapas Cooking Class - Spanish or Indian
Haggis Making
While Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom, it's still its own country, with its own customs, traditions and (extremely unique) cuisine. If you're at all curious about haggis, their famous dish, this haggis making demonstration in Glasgow will show you everything you need to know in order to perfect it at home.
The expert haggis maker will begin demonstrating how to create haggis from scratch, explaining each ingredient that gives it its distinct flavour.
The dish is packed with a unique combination of specific herbs and spices, so listen closely for the perfect recipe. You’ll also learn how to make all the traditional accompaniments that round off the dish. Finally, you’ll sit down to a two course, freshly prepared haggis dinner with all the trimmings.
Featured Experience Gift: Haggis Making Demonstration in Glasgow with Dinner From £44
Pasta Making Class
Once you’ve experienced fresh homemade pasta, the dried stuff from the packet just doesn’t compare.
Pasta is a hard food to perfect; you can’t put a set measurement of ingredients into a bowl and expect the right result every time, you need to learn how the dough should look and feel for the ultimate outcome.
This fresh pasta making class in London takes place in an authentic, family-run Italian restaurant and is run by enthusiastic Italian chefs who are just dying to share their expertise with other pasta-lovers! During your class, you'll learn how to make classic favourites ravioli and tagliatelle along with two fresh sauces. By the end of your pasta making session you'll be knowledgeable about how to craft the perfect pasta and its accompanying sauce, before sitting down to enjoy your meal paired with a glass of Italian wine.
Featured Experience Gift: Fresh Pasta Making Class in London From £60
If you love the sound of learning how to make fresh and authentic Italian food, you might like to check out:
Ravioli Making Class in Warwickshire
Pizza and Focaccia Cooking Class in London
Kids' Pasta Cooking Class in London
Baking Class
French baking is a notoriously skilled practice that people spend years perfecting, and the result is a scientifically-crafted, life-changing selection of pastries and cakes for which their country is known.
Now you can unlock some of that expertise with this French baking class in London, led by an expert chef. You'll learn how to make two traditional French dough and pastry recipes which can be adapted to make a variety of classic breakfast treats, and learn pastry skills that will serve you for years to come. As you learn kneading, rolling, and laminating, you'll marvel at your newfound ability to produce deliciously light and airy pastries.
During the 3.5 hour group lesson, you'll bake buttery Croissants, Pain Au Chocolat, Pain Aux Raisins, and even Brioche.
Featured Experience Gift: French Baking Class in London From £180
If you have a passion for baking or you'd like to learn a new skill, check out these classes:
Full Day 'Basics' Baking Course Dorset
Bread Making Class in Warwickshire
Full Day Pizza and Italian Baking Course Dorset
Spanish Tapas Cooking
Heading over to Spain now, this Hertfordshire cookery class will introduce you to the joy of tapas.
Your lesson takes place in a top cookery school, dedicated to providing a high standard of teaching, whilst emphasising ingredients’ nutritional benefits. Class sizes are kept small, so expect plenty of one-to-one tuition throughout the day. Over six hours, you’ll learn to follow several authentic recipes – including those for chorizo potato fritters, tuna and egg empanadas, albondigas, prawns in garlic sauce, and aioli. You’ll discover the regional diversity of Spanish cuisine, trace its roots to Roman, Gypsy and Moorish settlers, and make use of classic exports, like smoked paprika, sherry and ham.
Lunch is prepared by the group, and includes a complimentary wine, beer or soft drink. Not only will you leave with a tasty Tupperware feast – you’ll also have gained the know-how to experiment with even more colourful, exciting dishes at home.
Featured Experience Gift: Spanish Tapas Cookery Course Hertfordshire From £199
If Tapas peaks your interest but you aren't located in Hertfordshire, why not look into:
Tapas Cooking Class in London, Essex or Beaconsfield
Half Day Cooking Class in Chelmsford - Spanish Tapas
Weekday Tapas Style Afternoon Tea with Bottomless Cocktails in London
Thai Cooking
Apparently, our tastes in food are evolving! The last five
years have seen Thai cuisine slowly become one of the UK’s favourites, with Thai
chain restaurants in the UK such as Giggling Squid and Rosa’s Thai appearing
left, right and centre; and we are not complaining, because let’s face it, Thai
food is delicious. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of chatting to someone who
travelled around Thailand on their gap year, I doubt they could shut up about
the exceptional local food.
So, why does Thai food taste so good? There’s actually a kind of
science in the taste of Thai food. It’s all about the balance of sweet, salty
and acidic, and it’s not as easy as it sounds to get that balance spot on.
If you’re ready to cook the real deal, this 3-Hour Cooking Lesson in Gloucestershire will teach you all you need to know. With some delicious classics such as Tom Yum Soup, Spicy Salads, Pad Thai and Red or Green Curry, you’ll soon be creating Thai food at home with ease.
Featured Experience Gift: 3 Hour Thai Cookery Class in Gloucestershire From £60
If Thai’s your thing but you don’t live anywhere near Gloucestershire, check out one of these other locations:
Traditional Thai Cookery Class - London
Half Day Thai Cookery Course in Hertfordshire
Full Day Thai Cooking Course in London
Vegetarian Cooking
European cuisine needn't be exclusive to meat eaters. This European vegetarian cooking class will show you how to master dishes from throughout the continent without relying on meat or fish.
Over six hours, you’ll be taught to follow several creative recipes – including those for spinach, leek and feta pastries, baked Portobello mushroom, Persian falafels, and butter bean and parsley dip.
You’ll learn to make the most of vegetables and grains, and explore the health benefits of a vegetarian meal – even for committed meat eaters.
Featured Experience Gift: Vegetarian Masterclass Hertfordshire From £199
If you love the idea of vegetarian cooking, why not try vegan? Here are some fantastic vegan cooking classes for those looking for plant-based activates:
Vegan South East Asian Cooking Class in Birmingham
Bao and Dim Sum Class
The Taiwanese Gua Bao is one of the latest food trends to hit the UK, and if you ask me, the ultimate street food. As opposed to other forms of bao dumplings, these beauties are made from steaming the flat dough, folding it together and adding the fillings after – similar to a sort of sandwich, but a whole lot fluffier!
So what does bao actually mean? The closest translation to English of the Chinese word bao
is ‘treasure’ or ‘precious’ and if you’ve been lucky enough to try one
yourself, you’ll know that’s a pretty fitting description.
This bao and dim sum making class is run by one of London’s top cooking schools. Safe to say, you’ll be in the hands of a bao expert for the three hours it'll take to create your cloud like masterpieces. You’ll learn specific bao making techniques including how to make and work the dough. You can then get a little creative with the fillings, while also being taught how to make the best sides to compliment your precious creations. You'll also prepare savoury beancurd rolls, sesame chicken wings, and Siu Mai – an open wonton wrapper filled with meat, mushrooms and prawns.
Featured Experience Gift: Bao and Dim Sum Class in London From £110
If you don’t love bao buns quite as much as me, here are some more of my favourite Asian cooking lessons around London:
Vietnamese Cooking Lesson in London
Japanese Cuisine Cookery Class in London
Authentic Chinese Cooking Lesson in London
Indian Cookery Class in Gloucester
Indian Cooking
Indian curry has been one of the UK’s best-loved foods for
decades, even being named as a British national dish in 2001. Always a firm
favourite when it’s time for a takeaway, a recent study has shown that Indian
food is also one of the most popular cook-at-home dishes in the UK - so why not
learn how to do it right?
This Indian cooking class in York offers you the chance to learn to cook mind-blowing curries, side dishes and sauces from "The Queen of Curry" herself, Sharmini Thomas. Take advantage of her years of expertise to gain valuable insight into every aspect of Indian cuisine as you cook up a storm and fill the kitchen with the irrestistable aromas of Indian dishes. Sharmini will guide you step-by-step through each dish, including the preparation, seasoning and cooking techniques that give the dishes their unmistakable flavour. You'll even learn to make your own spice mix, so you never have to rely on the premade stuff again!
Featured Experience Gift: Full Day Indian Cooking Class in York From £180
If you're not a York local, check out some of our
other best-selling Indian cooking lessons across the country:
Authentic Indian Cookery Class in Brighton
Indian Cookery Class in Gloucestershire
Half Day Indian Cookery Course Hertfordshire
World Cuisine Cooking
With this Gloucestershire world cuisine cookery class, you can choose which nation's cuisine you'd most like to master and learn all about it over the course of a three hour workshop.
Whether you want to learn how to make Thai green curry, create the perfect falafel, or master Moroccan cuisine, the cookery school has a class to suit
Featured Experience Gift: World Cuisine Cookery Experience in Gloucestershire From £60
Check out this cookery class where you will get to choose the cuisine you would like to work with:
2 Hour Cookery Class - Choice of Cuisine
Japanese Cooking
In this 3 hour Japanese cuisine cookery class, you get to dive into the world of delicious Japanese cuisine, as you learn to cook Gyoza dumplings, Katsu Curry and Yaki Udon.
This class gives you the perfect introduction to classic Japanese dishes, and you'll be able to recreate them at home. It is the perfect experience to give a food lover, and anyone up for trying new things! They can show off and impress guests at their next dinner party!
Featured Experience Gift: Japanese Cuisine Cookery Class in London From £110
Check out this Japanese cooking class where you'll have the luxury of cooking in private:
Private Japanese Cooking Class in London
Chocolate Making
Last but not least, it's sweet time! This chocolate making workshop is taught by an expert chocolate maker, and you'll get to make mouth-watering hand-crafted truffles.
This interactive workshop provides you with a 2 hours of entertainment and hands-on tasks. You'll learn some piping techniques, will make some oozy ganache, and be able to taste your magnificent creations. This is the perfect experience for chocoholics and anyone with a sweet tooth!
Featured Experience Gift: Chocolate Making Workshop in London From £55
Check out some more of our sweet experiences, with a variety of different treats available:
Luxury at Home Ice Cream Making Kit
Desserts and Pastries Masterclass Hertfordshire
Thanks for reading!
A cooking lesson is a fun and interactive way to engage with food, meet like-minded people, and learn new skills that you’ll put to use frequently.
Whether it’s a delicious midweek dinner, or an impressive dish to whip up at dinner parties, cooking lessons teach you how to perfect dishes that will serve you for life! So why not explore a new culture hands-on, and get stuck into a whole new world of food?
If you’re still searching for the perfect cuisine for you or
a loved one, check out our complete list of cooking lessons here.
