Friday 20 June 2014

Underground cookery school

Food Bloggers

Foodies love nothing more than covert missions in which they attend locations they haven't been to before and the reward at the end of it is food.

When I received an email in my inbox from Anneliese which I read the subject header, Underground Cookery School and food in the title, I was already there with bells and whistles on.

Well what else does a foodie need as temptation, the chance to meet other fellow bloggers, learn some new cookery skills and to be fed.

The Underground Cookery School has been going since 2003. Only 5 minutes walk from Old Street, it offers a fun and uncomplicated way to learn how to cook.

The Underground Cookery school is as the name suggests under street level in a modern and professional kitchen space. 

Underground school

If I had known about it before I would have certainly sent the other half in the direction of Underground Cookery School, who actively practices the can't cook, won't cook mentality.

The evening was off to a good start when I was handed a glass of Prosecco. 


Prosecco
Followed by Canapés cream cheese with smoked salmon on crostini, Parmissan cheese pesto twists and deep fried risoto balls. Absolutely delicious. 

Canapés

As a cook I don't take myself too seriously. Now don't get me wrong I love to cook and have a serious approach to eating food but cooking is about fun, laughs and putting that enjoyment in your food.

We were split into two groups and began work on our three course meal, starter - Salad of Sea Bass, served with asparagus, fresh Pea & Mint with Lemon Dressing. 
Sea bass filleted
Fillet the Sea Bass into two fillets. Mix five tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, five teaspoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of mustard and seasoning together in a bowl; set a side.

Place the Fillets in a hot pan with a little vegetable oil. Cook for about 90 seconds or until the edges turn white and then flip over; cook for another minute. 

Pat dry with kitchen roll and serve on a bed of the peas and dress.


Sea bass

Main - Roast Breast of Chicken with Salsa Verde, Broad Beans & Jersey Royals. (To the veggies amongst you look away now).
Underground cookery school
Take a whole chicken and remove both chicken breasts. 
Underground cookery school
Place both chicken breasts in a frying pan and brown for 3 minutes each side, place in a pre-heated oven at 170°C/Gas mark 5 for twenty-five minutes. 

New Jersey potato's
Wash the potatoes thoroughly. Cut into smaller sizes if needed. Place the potatoes in cold water and bring up to the boil until cooked. When soft drain and add to a frying pan, add a few slices of spring onions, some chopped chives salt and cracked pepper; dress with a little extra virgin olive oil.
Underground cookery school

Chicken with Salsa Verde, Broad Beans & Jersey Royals

Dessert - Strawberry Meringue Roulade.

Strawberry Meringue Roulade
Place the 6 egg whites in a bowl and whisk to soft peaks. Now add one table spoon of vanilla essence and lemon juice and then 200g of caster sugar and continue to whisk until the whites stiffen. 
meringue
Using a pallet knife or a flat edge, smooth the whites into the prepared tin and bake in  a pre-heated oven at 140°C for 12 minutes or until cooked. Take out of the oven and set a side for a few minutes.

cream
Whip the double cream and of course take the customary finger taste test. 

Turn the meringue onto the greaseproof paper and cover the top with the whipped  cream. Add the strawberries and using the greaseproof paper roll into a roulade. Place in the fridge and when ready to serve, roll off the greaseproof paper and cut into portions.
Strawberry Meringue Roulade

Strawberry Meringue
After all that hard work all that was left was to sit down and eat the wonderful food (well after countless picture taking, tweets and discussing it first). 

Underground Cookery school
Food blogs

Special thanks to (JesseEmmaLilyCharlie
Ashleigh,VictoriaAllyChiara and Melanie) for the brilliant company and chatter. 

So all in all, if you want to learn to cook, improve your skills or become a sultry cooking goddess this is the place for you.

One thing I learnt throughout the night was...
Cooking school

I was kindly a guest of the Underground Cookery School and supplied the recipes, however in no way did that affect this review I had a wonderful time and I am looking forward to donning my black silk dressing gown and becoming a sultry chef. Ok everyone has to start somewhere.
cookery schools

Underground Cookery School, 
201/203 City Road 
London 
EC1V 1JN

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#FF (Foodie Force) out-takes...
Cookery school

cookery school
Cooking antics


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38 comments:

  1. Wow this looks like so much fun! I really need to learn to cook. I'm great at eating it but rubbish at making it!

    x

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    1. It was a hoot really good fun, the balance of cooking, eating and laughing was just right. Lucy x

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  2. This looks like a great way to spend an evening. There must be so much satisfaction tucking into something so luxurious you've actually prepared yourself! B xx

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    1. Eating is a favourite foodie pastime but making it and eating it does give lots of additional satisfaction. Lucy x

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  3. This looks like so much fun, and the food looks delicious! I've always wanted to take a cooking class like this, mainly to learn how to cook :P I think it'd be a great experience!

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    1. It was great fun a good mix of preparing food, making and then eating. The chefs had wonderful banta too if I had them at school for maths I am sure I would have done much better. Very few of is had met before so it would also be great as a team building activity Lucy x

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  4. How much fun does this look? Seems like a great thing to get invited too. How much does it cost to go there?

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    1. It was a hoot. It is the first bloggers event I have been too, was a little worried before hand but everyone was lovely. Most of the sessions they do are for team building and hen parties. You can have a look at there web here: http://bit.ly/UyE6pl Lucy x

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    2. Oh, it would be great for a team building! I wonder if they have something similar nearer here.

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  5. This looks amazing - such a fun way to spend a day. The food all looks so professional :) Pleased you had a great time! xx

    www.lulabelloves.com

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    1. It is amazing what can be created with a little bit of know how and help from friends. A great night that was great fun Lucy x

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  6. I had such a fun evening! That roulade was the stuff of dreams, I'm going to attempt it at home when I'm feeling brave enough!
    Cx
    http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5354905

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    1. It was good fun I am not sure I would make a stern chef too much launching from me. Hope to put the roulard practice to good use soon Lucy x

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  7. This looks like so much fun! I'd love to go to a cookery class, I'm not very good at cooking but I try! The dessert looks especially delish x

    Josie’s Journal

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    1. Trying and paying attention is half the battle was a good laugh. The dessert was yummy Lucy x

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  8. I'd love to learn how to cook properly! Sea bass is my favourite, definitely trying this!

    www.myladyboudoir.blogspot.com

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    1. The sea bass was lovely cooked on a griddle skin down. Lovely and moist but crisp skin yummy Lucy x

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  9. Looks fantastic! I wish I could send can't cook won't cook husband on a course like this too. Looks like you learned heaps.

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    1. Wouldn't that be lovely. I think this would make a god advertising campaign:"have some who actively practices can't cook, won't cook? Send them our way". Great event really enjoyed it Lucy

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  10. wowwwwwwwwww Lucy!!! I love your this post. I also have to attend event like this. I am sure you had superrr fun there :) Thanks for all your these ideas and info :)
    Stay happy,
    Liuba
    xxx

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    1. It was good fun and I really recommend that learning a new skill or perfecting one is a great hobby. The cookery school was well paced and good fun X

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  11. Foodies certainly know how to cook. This looks like a lot of fun. Someday, I plan on taking a cooking class. Nothing is more rewarding than cooking a great meal.

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    1. Cooking is a wonderful way to relax and let your creativity out. You definitely should look into taking a cookery class is great fun Lucy x

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  12. Oh wow, brilliant pics! And well done on the hard work, it looks fantastic! Seems like such a fun evening, lucky you :) xxx

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    1. Thanks Lucy it was good fun. I hope you are having a good week x

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  13. I think this is one of my favorite posts of yours! How cool to take a cooking class! Your photos are gorg! Plus, I adore British cooking shows - Nigella and Nigel Slater being faves. Gas mark 5 is so much sexier than our "350 degrees" - though I have no clue what said gas mark is! Great post!

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  14. Thank you for being so kind. Ooh I love Nigel Slater, Nigella and Rick Stein. The cooking class was great fun and lovely to meet other bloggers. Lucy x

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  15. Wow! This looks like great fun Lucy and that sea bass looks incredible! Yum!

    Marie x
    titchytombie.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. The sea bass was wonderful skin crisp and fish moist. A great cooking experience Lucy x

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  16. Ooh I loved the seabass. I can't wait to try the recipes at home :) What a fun evening it was! x

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    1. The sea bass was delicious just need to buy a griddle now so that I can keep it moist whilst cooking. Was great t meet everyone Lucy x

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  17. This is such a fun idea! Everything looks so delicious! Also, I love the sign that says everything is salvageable :)

    Jennifer Ashley
    www.prettylittledetails.ca

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    1. Was a great and fun evening. The chefs really did show that everything is salvageable with a little know how Lucy x

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  18. Wow! This is brilliant Lucy; what a great experience. It looks like so much fun; great out takes photos too :-) The presentation looks very professional; well done lovely.

    x Roch & Tash x
    www.next-route-style.blogspot.co.uk

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  19. I love cooking and this was totally up my street. Was lovely to meet other bloggers too. The food was yummy too Lucy x

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  20. Oh Wowzer, this looks like so much fun and the food looks so good! I love that you all put the photo taking before the eating... sign of a blogger, Ha! x

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    1. It was really good fun and perfect to be around those that take pictures before, during and after they eat Lucy x

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  21. This looks incredible! Brilliant photos too! I need to try out a cookery school. The chef life is so intense haha! ~ Sending you lots of London love xx

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