Scotch College

Cooking classes at Scotch!

The unthinkable has happened: cooking classes at Scotch College! Is this the thin end of the wedge?

No need for alarm - the classes were run on Monday evenings in Term 4 last year for adult afficionados and epicureans, in the superb demonstration kitchen in the Language and Culture Centre. Participants were treated to the culinary delights of Normandy by Philippe Mouchel (Paul Bocuse); Provence by Stephanie Alexander (Stephanie's), Italy by Robert Castellani (The Pavilion), Malaysia by Dure Dara (The Nudel Bar) and the Middle East by Greg Malouf (O'Connells).

Each chef demonstrated four dishes which were representative of the region concerned, spoke about the link between the cuisine and the culture of the region, and then prepared ample tastings for the participants. Some wine was also served, to complement the food.

To whet the appetite and fire the imagination, Philippe Mouchel provided us with a four-course meal worthy of Paul Bocuse: a warm crustacean salad dressed with olive oil and lime vinagrette; pan-fried fillet of John Dory with an apple/onion chutney in a creamy cider sauce; Tasmanian rack of lamb with seasonal salad and fresh herbs; and an apple and calvados soufflé. These delicacies were accompanied by nostalgic reminiscences of Normandy.

Selections from the other chefs included patafla and scallops provencale by Stephanie Alexander; artichockes with pancetta and saffron risotto by Robert Castellani; mee goreng and laksa lemah by Dure Dara; and bistayeea (pigeon pie with sweet spices and fried almonds) and Syrian cigar nut pastries with orange honey cream by Greg Malouf.

We were all inspired to restock our larders with exotic ingredients and impress our family and friends with new culinary masterpieces, and also to pester our travel agent for information on tours to Morocco, Messina, and Malaysia.

Another series of 'Top Chefs' cooking classes will be running in June and July, and a further series of two classes with Gabriel Gaté is due in August. For details, see the advertisement in this issue, or call the Language and Culture Centre on 9810 4407.