What a month May has been!

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WHAT A MONTH MAY HAS BEEN!

I managed to sneak away for a week at the end of April, this time just across the border to Southwold and a cottage a stone’s throw from the sea, under the beam of the famous lighthouse and every day was malt-flavoured thanks to Adnams!

Back at The Assembly House, love and the end of eras were being celebrated as we hosted wonderful weddings, proud proms and brilliant UEA balls.

Throughout it all, the cookery school was an oasis of calm – well, mainly. We held a fantastic corporate cookery day with Shell UK, had sold-out classes featuring fresh fish and gluten-free pastries and pasta and I loved doing a demo to raise funds for Priscilla Bacon Lodge at which I tried, with varying levels of success, to recreate Mark Mitson’s raspberry soufflés!

I also got to support the King of Rock and Roll, Mr Elvis Presley, for one night only on guitar…but that’s another story altogether!

There is a lot to get involved with in June, including a chance to enter the second Norfolk Home Chef of the Year, which the cookery school is sponsoring once again as part of the EAT Norfolk Food and Drink Awards.

And look out for the recipe for my Mum’s famous Strawberry and Lavender Pie in the July edition of EDP Norfolk Magazine, which includes my memories of her in the strawberry fields when I was a child. We lost Mum at the end of March, so I’m glad we have so many lovely recipes to remember her by.

Hope to see you soon!

Richard

ENTER THE EAT NORFOLK HOME CHEF OF THE YEAR 2019

- Proudly sponsored by The Richard Hughes Cookery School!

We had SUCH a good time at last year’s Home Chef of the Year competition that we’ve decided to do it all over again, and we’d like you to join us!

Open to amateur cooks from across the county, entrants will produce a two-course meal for two people showcasing local produce or a local recipe if they get through to the cook-off at the Richard Hughes Cookery School on August 11.

We’re looking for home chefs, not master chefs – last year we had a great time tasting some fabulous food including a bread and butter pudding we’re still talking about, a whole roast dinner in a pie (genius idea!), strawberry and buttermilk ice cream and, of course, winner Mark Fitch’s lobster thermidor.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER >

Entries must be made by June 23rd.

STEVE THORPE'S BRILLIANT GLUTEN-FREE BAKING!

One of the highlights of this year has been the introduction of Steve Thorpe to our growing team of teachers. Steve had already sold out his Gluten-Free classes, so we’ve added more!

JULY 9: SWEET GLUTEN-FREE DOUGHS

Learn how to make the sweet and enriched doughs which are the base for doughnuts, Chelsea Buns and Devonshire Splits to name just three, as well as making a traditional rum baba. At the end of the day, you’ll have a selection of gluten-free treats to take away with you as well as fun memories of a great day!

ALL THINGS VEGGIE

Just £125 for two people to join us for The Vegetarian Cookbook on June 27!

It Takes Two! The Vegetarian Cookbook

Quick and simple supper delights including caponata, sweet potato gnocchi, arancini, beet bourguignon, and shallot and apple Tarte Tatin. You’ll never be stuck for ideas with this flavour-packed course filled with vegetarian dishes that even the most committed carnivore will want to try. A fun way to spend an evening with a partner or a friend! £125 per couple, from 6.45pm to 9pm.

BOOK ONLINE >

Plant-based cooking with The New Vegan on July 6

At our The New Vegan Hands On Saturday Morning Class, you’ll have a crash-course in animal-free food, whether you’re already sold on the plant-based and vegan lifestyle or you’d like to learn how to embrace a diet that involves less meat, dairy and eggs (or want to know how to cater for a loved-one who eschews animal products) we can help you cook feel-good food that doesn’t skimp on flavour. Join us for one of our brand-new vegan classes as we cook some old favourites which have been brought bang up-to-date for the plant-based diet. Make beet bourguignon with smoked potato, rogan squash, flatbreads, sticky toffee pudding and chocolate truffles. Buy one place for £160.00 or buy two for £200.00

BOOK ONLINE>

North African Cookbook: Tuesday, July 2 – just £45 per person or £80 for two!

An Arabian proverb has it that “food for one is enough for two, and food for two is enough for three”. If you’re longing for guaranteed sunshine this summer, we’ll provide it on a plate. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia offer dishes of warmth, colour, spice and generosity; all the ingredients of a truly beautiful cuisine. Buy one place for £45, buy two tickets for £80.00.

Cookbook of the month:

Ripailles: Traditional French Cuisine by Stephane Reynaud.

I find myself returning to this cookbook time and time again in the same way that I find myself returning to France year after year. This is the book that I buy chefs as a gift and the one that I can lose myself in for hours. It’s not only a fantastic sourcebook for recipes, but it’s also fun and fascinating to read, especially if you’re a Francophile. There are anecdotes and gorgeous photography, wine pairings and it tells you how to smoke a cigar, open an oyster and sing the French national anthem (not all at the same time!).

Recipe of the month:

Recipe of the month: Roast Tomato Tart with Chilli ice-cream

We are awash with terrific tomatoes of all colours, shapes and sizes that are grown locally. My wife’s favourite dish is tomatoes (raw!) on toast with fresh basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, rock salt and olive oil – she’s making me prepare it three times a week at the moment and I can’t say it’s a trial. If you want to take it a step further, make this easy-peasy tomato tart and if you want to show off, top it with the chilli ice-cream

VIEW RECIPE >

Five of the best things I’ve eaten this month:

1. Fish and chips at The Swan at Southwold: My old Imperial Hotel friend from the 1980s Steve Duffield runs the kitchen at The Swan and serves his superior fish and chips with his own curry sauce, mushy peas, a pickled egg and a picked gherkin. So it’s a glorious full house! Enjoyed on my best friend’s rather refined stag party.

2. Pizza Margherita at Enzos in Southwold: What a find and what a character! Enzo has been making pizzas since the late 1970s and boy has he mastered his art. Not only does he make the pizza, he takes the booking, seats you, delivers the drinks, serves your table AND talks to you about football. Perfection from this one-man band.

3. Loganberry Bakewell Tart from The Crown and Castle at Orford: My apologies for a largely Suffolk-centric list this month, but there’s a lot to shout about over the border. I’ve long wanted to visit Ruth Watson’s famed restaurant and I’m so glad I finally made it. A simple tomato salad with olives and garlic was also pretty spectacular!

4. Eccles Cake from Pump Street Bakery, Orford: Yes, after eating three courses at The Crown and Castle, I walked over the road and bought an Eccles Cake. I can see what all fuss is about – a beautiful bakery, café and wonderful service from this landmark bakery.

5. Peanut butter chocolates at the Richard Hughes Cookery School, made by Strattons of Swaffham’s head chef Julia Hetherton as part of our two-ready patisserie course: Back in the day, Julia used to make all the chocolates that were served from the old cigar box at The Lavender House. I’d almost forgotten how great they were, but one bite transported me right back to Brundall!

Food quote of the month:

“Do not be afraid of cooking, as your ingredients will know, and misbehave. Enjoy your cooking and the food will behave; moreover, it will pass your pleasure on to those who eat it.”

Fergus Henderson, St John Restaurant, from the book Nose to Tail Eating.

Richard Hughes Cookery School, The Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1RQ
Tel: 01603 626402 | enquiries@richardhughescookeryschool.co.uk