Shires Cookery School

Hi All,

I apologise It’s been a while since my last post, I have been busy these past few months running courses for those with vouchers from pre lockdown and for those that had their booked courses cancelled.

I’ve also been busy trying to secure the future of the Shires Cookery School as my lease expires next month.

Sadly I won’t be running courses over the Christmas period as I have no courses scheduled over that period.

Charles Wells who are now running the Red Lion with a management team have allowed me to have a short term contract which is still being drawn up but from February 2022 I will running cookery courses up until the end of July 2022.
I have written a new course schedule and it will be published online in the next week or so and I will be promoting and selling it through the winter and Christmas period.
Once again you will be able to buy vouchers or courses online at www.shirescookeryschool.com

On a personal note I am so happy to able to share this news with you all and can’t wait to get back in the kitchen and cook some amazing food with you all.

I’m that excited to share this news I’ve attached a sample of the proposed schedule below for you to view.

Best wishes,

James

February-July 2022 Course Schedule

February 2022

Note: I’ve extended the Pudding Club and I’m now running it at the start of each month on a Thursday 6pm-9pm for £75 per/person.

Thursday 3rd Pudding Club “Rich Chocolate Marquis with Salt caramel” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 4th Knife Skills 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 5th Thai cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 6th Vietnamese Cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 10th Hand Raised Pork Pie 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 11th Sausage Making 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 12th Perfect Pastry 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 13th British Baking 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 17th Handmade Chocolates 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 18th Quick Fish Dish 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 19th Fish Masterclass 9.30am-3.30pm £130

Sunday 20th Shellfish Masterclass 9.30am-3.30pm £160

Thursday 24th Japanese “Sushi” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 25th Spanish Cookery “Paella” 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 26th Taste of Game 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 27th Venison Masterclass 9.30am-3.30pm £130

March 2022

Thursday 3rd Pudding Club “ Delice de Cassis” (Blackcurrant mousse cake) 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 4th Japanese “Steamed Hirata Buns” 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 5th Artisan Bread Level 1 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 6th Artisan Bread Level 2 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 10th Pizza and Beer 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 11th Artisan Bread Level 3 (two part Sourdough course) Part 1. 6pm-9pm £195

Saturday 12th Artisan bread level 3 (Sourdough) Part 2. 8am-2pm

Sunday 13th Chocolate Heaven 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 17th Pasta Pronto 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 18th Curry In A Hurry 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 19th Italian Cookery (Spring Menu) 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 20th Indian Cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 24th Pudding Club “Hot Cross Buns” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 25th Handmade Chocolates (Easters Eggs) 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 26th Vegetarian Cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 27th Six sumptuous Summer Salads 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Easter Holiday

April 2022

Thursday 21st Malaysian cookery 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 22nd Knife Skills 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 23rd Thai Cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 24th Vietnamese Cookery 9.30am 3.30pm £120

Thursday 28th Hand Raised Pork Pie 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 29th Pie and a Pint 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 30th Perfect Pastry 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 1st British Baking 9.30am-3.30pm £120

May 2022

Thursday 5th Japanese “Sushi”. 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 6th Quick Fish Dish 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 7th Fish Masterclass 9.30am-3.30pm £130

Sunday 8th Shellfish Masterclass 9.30am-3.30pm £160

Thursday 12th Japanese “steamed Hirata Buns”. 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 13th Sausage Making 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 14th Artisan Bread Level 1 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 15th Artisan Bread level 2 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 19th Pizza and Beer 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 20th Artisan Bread Level 3 (two part sourdough course) Part 1. 6pm-9pm £195

Saturday 21st Artisan Bread Level 3 (two part sourdough course) Part 2. 8am-2pm

Sunday 22nd Chocolate Heaven 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 26th Spanish “Paella course” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 27th Handmade Chocolates 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 28th Vegetarian cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 29th Six sumptuous summer salads 9.30am-3.30pm £120

June 2022

Half Term Holiday

Thursday 9th Pasta Pronto 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 10th Curry In a Hurry 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 11th Italian (Summer Menu) 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 12th Indian cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 16th Pudding Club “Cannoli, Italian Pastries” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 17th knife Skills course 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 18th Thai Cookery course 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 19th Vietnamese Cookery course 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 23rd Malaysian Cookery 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 24th Pie and a Pint 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 25th Perfect Pastry 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 26th British Baking 9.30am-3.30pm £120

July 2022

Thursday 30th June Japanese “Sushi” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 1st Quick Fish Dish 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 2nd Fish Masterclass 9.30am-3.30pm £130

Sunday 3rd Shellfish Masterclass 9.30am-3.30pm £160

Thursday 7th Japanese “Steamed Hirata Buns” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 8th Sausage Making 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 9th Artisan Bread level 1 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 10th Artisan Bread Level 2 9.30a,-3.30pm £120

Thursday 14th Pizza and Beer 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 15th Artisan Bread Level 3 “sourdough” (two part course) Part 1. 6pm-9pm £195

Saturday 16th Artisan Bread Level 3 “Sourdough” Part 2. 8am-2pm

Sunday 17th Chocolate Heaven 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 21st Pudding Club “Chocolate and Orange marble cake” 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 22nd Spanish Paella course 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 23rd Vegetarian Cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 24th Six Sumptuous Summer Salad 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Thursday 28th Pasta Pronto 6pm-9pm £75

Friday 29th Curry in a Hurry 6pm-9pm £75

Saturday 30th Italian cookery (Summer Menu) 9.30am-3.30pm £120

Sunday 31st Indian cookery 9.30am-3.30pm £120

CLOSE

Shires Cookery School - Do you want to cook like a pro? Shires Cookery School is based at The Red Lion, East Haddon Northamptonshire. Our classes open up a world of delicious, fresh and healthy food to people of all ages and levels of culinary expertise.

Thank you to the two Paul’s for allowing me to share their Hand Raised Pork Pie class last night with you all.
We made some individual pork pies which we ate while they were still warm with a pint of beer and then we made a larger pie to take home and bake and jelly once they’d cooled.

If you are interest in this course or any others you can view the current course schedule online at www.shirescookeryschool.com

Or you can contact me via email [email protected]

Best wishes to you all, have a fabulous Summer..!!

Hi All,

It's been a while since my last post for which I apologise, a lot has been happening behind the scenes.
As from November 2021 Nick and Ren (owners of the Business at the Red Lion, my landlord and friends) have decided not to renew their lease with the Brewery (Charles Wells).
Not a decision they took lightly but felt they had no choice under the circumstances they found themselves in.

I'd like to take the opportunity to wish them well in their future venture and know they will do well in whatever they decide to do.

How does this leave myself, my customers and the Cookery School you may ask..!!

Earlier this month I was severed my notice as I sub lease the school from Nick and Ren, so it is with great sadness I will be looking to close the doors of the school from the start of November 2021.

The future of the Shires Cookery School..!!

While the School at East Haddon is closing I am hoping to continue the school in some guise until a premisses can be found. Wether that will take the form of online classes (Zoom) or a pop up cookery school or private classes within the customers own home Covid regs permitting, these are some of the options I am investigating.
Long term I am looking at the feasibility of creating a school at home though that may take sometime.

If you have vouchers to use please contact me at your soonest connivence to book your course. You can view the present course schedule online at the website at www.shirescookeryschool.com

Kind regards,

James

Shires Cookery School - Do you want to cook like a pro? Shires Cookery School is based at The Red Lion, East Haddon Northamptonshire. Our classes open up a world of delicious, fresh and healthy food to people of all ages and levels of culinary expertise.

Great to be back in the school all be it reduced in number, socially distanced a wearing a mask. Thank you to all on Thursday’s Pizza and beer course and Sunday’s British Baking course, it was so lovely to be tutoring once again.

If you are interested in any of the courses at the Shires Cookery School you can view the downloadable Spring, Summer and Autumn course schedule online at www.shirescookeryschool.com

Best wishes to you all,

James

Hi All,

I hope you are all keeping well during these strange times, I’ve been busy working on my new course schedule and cooking up a storm in my own kitchen trying out some new dishes that may feature on the up and coming courses this year.
The New downloadable Spring, Summer and Autumn course schedule has been published online on the website at www.shirescookeryschool.com for anyone who’s interested in booking up a course this year.

Stay safe and I hope to see you soon..!!

James

Shires Cookery School - Do you want to cook like a pro? Shires Cookery School is based at The Red Lion, East Haddon Northamptonshire. Our classes open up a world of delicious, fresh and healthy food to people of all ages and levels of culinary expertise.

Great to be back in the school this month, last night we had a group making the classic Christmas Favourite "Yule Log" on the Pudding Club course.

To book courses or purchase gift vouchers go to the website at www.shirescookeryschool.com for all other enquires you can call Shires Cookery School on 07801572758

I seem to have two automatic pedal bins now..!!

More photos of the venison carcass being broken down for the weekends Taste of Game and Venison Masterclass, see previous posts for more information.

Skinning a white fallow pricket for the “Taste of Game” and Venison Masterclass this weekend, check the previous post for more info.....

Preparing a white fallow pricket for the “Taste of Game” and Venison Masterclass this weekend.
Rabbits are in the fridge and I’m picking the partridges up tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to preparing Rabbit and smoked pancetta pies, roast Partridge stuffed with quince membrio and thyme wrapped in prosciutto ham and a seam butchery demonstration on a haunch of venison.

And on Sunday we’ll be preparing venison meatballs in Arabiatta with Parmesan polenta, venison and horseradish sausages (venison shoulder)
Venison Wellington (saddle) and seam butchered venison haunch rubbed in sage, rosemary, garlic and olive oil.

Anyone with a keen eye my notice that a piece of Hyde is missing from the haunch before I skinned it this is being used by a dear friend for tying his own flies for fly fishing.

For all other course check the website for downloadable course schedule at

Shires Cookery School - Do you want to cook like a pro? Shires Cookery School is based at The Red Lion, East Haddon Northamptonshire. Our classes open up a world of delicious, fresh and healthy food to people of all ages and levels of culinary expertise.

I'm pleased with the results..!!

Just a quick update with some new content for the Artisan Bread Level 2 baking course 2021 "Dumph noodle"

A Swiss/German pudding similar to our own bread and butter pudding but also quite different. This sweet brioche like dough is gently baked and glazed with cream and butter and served with lashings of creme Anglaise (English vanilla egg custard sauce)

I first had the dish at the "Dinner by Heston" Resturant in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel London and I was struck by its simplicity and delicious moorish taste, simply heavenly to eat..!!

The recipe I found was from a Resturant I went to in California back in 2004 called the "French Laundry" I've made a few tweaks to the recipe to make the dough a little easier to hand for mere mortals like myself and added some soaked sultanas and a little honey in the glaze.
I've also increased the prove time and reduced the oven temperature and bake time and I'm pleased with the results.

For all the latest courses check out the website at www.shirescookeryschool.com