Cooking can be a very social, fun activity, building communication and cooperation. Like any creative pursuit where you learn new skills, cooking classes can lead to new friendships. They even make great date territory. What better way is there to find a person who loves great food and is willing to do something for others than through a cooking class?
If you’re looking for lots of choice in cooking classes, Icon Cooking School has about 30 different classes; the widest range on offer on the Gold Coast, instructed by a dozen different chefs. With a convenient location, being situated on the first floor of The Kitchens, Robina, there’s easy access via a lift from the ground floor.
Having trained apprentices for eight years, owners Peter Mills and Imelda Bordiss decided to realise their dream of a cooking school, bringing everything together in one purpose built kitchen to cover both purposes. Beside the spacious commercial kitchen, a dining area doubles as the apprentices’ classroom.
We attend a 3-hour Thai cookery class covering five dishes, held on a weekend evening. Thai food is one of our ‘go to’ cuisines, suiting lots of diners as it is dairy free, easily adaptable to be gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan, ticking all the boxes of our family needs. So, why not learn to cook a few dishes!
Even for accomplished cooks, there’s plenty of learning to lap up – tips and tricks, new techniques, shortcuts and, most of all, the generous ‘asides’ that litter a good class with culinary information.
Chef Lee Hilder teaches us about the different uses of a mortar and pestle, how to use each part of the coriander plant, why using a mortar and pestle achieves a different taste to blender-made curry paste and ways to achieve the essential flavours in Thai cuisine.
Some classes, such as the Thai class, are followed by a meal and a glass of wine. In others, you take your creations home.
Classes range in price from $50 – $148, depending on their length of time and number of dishes covered. From children’s classes to international cooking, sweet treats to healthy eating, and fermentation to gluten-free cookery, there’s a class to suit all age groups, food preferences and palates.
Gift vouchers are available for purchase – a great idea for the foodie in your life (or for the person you wish would become one)!
Robina Town Centre, Shop 5036 The Kitchens, 19 – 33 Robina Town Centre, Robina Ph: 1300 426 626
Open: Mon – Sun 9am – 8.30pm
NOTE: Good Food Gold Coast were guests of Icon The Cookery School.