Basic Ingredients: As the name would suggest, this is all about plundering the natural surroundings – in this case, the charming Berkshire village and home of the late Egon Ronay, Yattendon – for seasonal, edible bounty. Chef Patron, Mike Robinson, lives and breathes game and is clearly very passionate about what he describes as healthy, sustainable and superior-tasting food. So there are Essential and Advanced game courses, a specialist venison course, Smoking and Curing, Wild Mushroom Foraging and bread, pasta and fish lessons. Courses are one-day, last six hours and cost between £185 and £260. The school’s emphasis is on preserving old-fashioned techniques, taught from a thoroughly modern, high-tech kitchen that accommodates up to 12 students. Fittingly, all lessons culminate with a grand game feast in their hunting lodge-style dining room. Half-day demonstrations cost £75.
They say: When cooking game less hanging and more sympathetic cooking produces a result that everyone will adore. Let us show you how.
We say: Try the ultimate game course, The Full Venison, which they describe as the ‘wildest course’ and learn everything about the different species and various flavours. As they say, “this is ‘field-to-table’ cooking in the truest sense but it isn’t for the faint hearted!” The school also teams up with Chocco Mallow Coco to offer a programme of seasonal cake making and decorating courses for all abilities.
01635 200 200; www.gamecookeryschool.co.uk
