Have you ever tried your hand at making a three-course Spanish dinner? Well – thanks to the guidance of chef Andrew Haskins from 3seeds – School | Store | Canteen – this is now one of my newly acquired skills! On the mouthwatering menu was: a flavourful chicken & chorizo paella; pork shoulder cooked slowly in a wood fired oven (with the most delectable crackling); & a sweet santiago tart to finish!
3seeds is a hands on cooking school at the Fyshwick Markets. The cooking school operates from a very fancy purpose built kitchen with induction Electrolux cooktops, Circulon pots and pans and luxe ingredients.
I arrived for the class at 6pm – armed with apron in hand and a growing appetite – and was greeted by a glass of Spanish Tempranillo which immediately put me at ease.
Photography: Sophia – So Frank
Andrew kicked off the evening by giving an overview of the menu, the ingredients and issued our first instructions. The intimate class then broke into small groups of four to prep our pork shoulder for the wood fired oven.
My team was a group of enthusiastic cooks (and eaters) – we quickly split up the tasks and got to work. It was also quite a treat to cook in a wood-fired oven because of the incomparable smell and smokiness enhanced the entire experience.
Photography: Sophia – So Frank
Once the pork was in the oven, Andrew turned our attention to the paella – I was very much looking forward to this – and again my group of four set to work, stopping to ask each other and Andrew advice on the next steps and for the all important taste testing. This is really my kind of cooking – the smell and colour of the saffron, the sizzle of the chicken on the paella pan and the aroma of it all! It was a very nurturing way to learn new recipes – we weren’t a slave to the recipe and Andrew was there the whole time to advise us when we needed it.
Photography: Sophia – So Frank
Lastly, we set to work on the santiago tart. I am a pretty competent cook, but dessert (and especially pastry) I find intimidating. Andrew guided us through the process with a step by step demonstration which very much demystified pastry for me. Not to brag, but I was quite chuffed with the outcome.
Photography: Sophia – So Frank
Throughout the lesson, our wine was refreshed by the two lovely assistants at timely intervals. They cleared benches, washed the dishes and changed over the required ingredients – I really want to take them home with me……
We ended the evening by devouring our creations at a long table. Some students had also arranged to bring guests to show off their newly acquired culinary skills to.
Andrew sent us off happy, full and with leftovers – not only did I pick up some new skills but had a really social evening chatting and cooking.
So who wants to come to my house for dinner and road test what I learned?
For your own culinary cooking experience or to buy a gift voucher for the budding chef in your life contact 3seeds:
Address: Fyshwick Markets Cnr Dalby & Mildura St ACT 2609
Phone: 02 6295 7722
Email: info@3seeds.com.au
Website: www.3seeds.com.au
*Sophia was a guest of 3seeds at the class and enjoyed every single minute