You may remember Katie from the TV series which chronicled the couple’s trip to Tuscany to rediscover Giancarlo, her husband’s, culinary roots, and set up a cooking school.

In The Italian Cookery Course she has collated recipes, techniques and ingredients to create a unique compendium of Italian food. The book will guide you through the vast collection of famous recipes and lesser-known regional dishes, with clear instruction on how to replicate them at home. Each chapter contains ‘masterclasses’ on technique, revealing the practical secrets of Italian cooking and giving the reader new confidence in the kitchen. It has some great sections including:

• Italian breads – how to make your own starter dough, perfect ciabatta, Focaccia, and pizza;
• a great chapter on antipasti, including a guide on Italian cold meats cuts, demystifying various hams from Italy and even how to make your own Bresaola;
• Making pasta – adding colour and filling, as well as some mouthwatering sauces;
• a good section on Italian cheeses and how to use them; and
• An formative section on preserving.

Even if you have a host of other Italian cookery books, this book is well worth the purchase.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Wickedfood Cooking School, SUNNINGHILL

Information & bookings (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Hi all,

Wickedfood Cooking School is running a competition this week. The prize is a Cooking class for two for a Month. On completion of our survey (which can be found by clicking here) you will be entered into the draw. By completing this quick survey you will be assisting us in finding out what you want from this newsletter as well as our blog and website. Our aim is to supply you with the best product possible and what better way than in asking you, our loyal reader.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter – just search for Wickedfood and you will find us. We update the blog on a daily basis and publish it through Facebook and Twitter.

Wickedfood Cooking School news

Our March individual cooking class programmes are up on the internet – click the relevant month for the programme March.

Wickedfood Cooking School runs classes with a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 12 as this gives everyone hands-on experience  and keeps the class small enough for maximum learning.

• Sunday 28 February at 4pm – North African feast (R370pp). How to prepare a delicious North African feast including a selection of salads, Moroccan frittata, chicken tagine, 7-vegetable couscous and roasted fig parcels.
• Monday 1 March at 6pm – Jamie’s America – … on Tex-Mex food (R370pp). Jamie Oliver’s latest book is based on his recent travels through the USA. We reinterpret some of the dishes, and put them together into a themed menu including green chilli, tortilla soup, chicken mole, courgette salad, chilli cheese cornbread, and pecan pie.
• Monday 8 March at 6pm – Quick & easy 30 minute meals for entertaining (R380 pp). This class is based on Gordon Ramsey’s book Cooking for Friends. We reinterpret 6 of the dishes, all easy to make in under 30 minutes and great for entertaining friends; chilled cucumber soup, linguine with lemon, feta and basil, poached fish, quick fish curry, pork fillet stroganoff and baked berries.
• Sunday 14 March at 4pm – Easy to prepare Indian dishes (R350pp). Authentic easy Indian dishes including potato patties, tandoori chicken, pumpkin cream curry, pulao and sago pudding.

Please contact the school should you wish to make a booking:

Looking for info on food?

If you have any  food-related question, or a dish that you just can’t get right or even a certain recipe that you are looking for, but just can’t seem to find, then contact us and we will do our best to answer it as soon as possible. Click Here for more information. Hope to hear from you soon.

Cookbook of the week

You may remember Katie from the TV series which chronicled the couple’s trip to Tuscany to rediscover Giancarlo, her husband’s, culinary roots, and set up a cooking school.  In The Italian Cookery Course she has collated recipes, techniques and ingredients to create a unique compendium of Italian food. … Click Here for more.

Click Here to see Wickedfood Cooking School’s top 10 food-related books for 2009.

Recipe of the week:

Watermelon, Feta, and Olive Salad

In this summer Watermelon salad, from Saveur Issue #113, watermelon is a sweet counterpoint to the briny pungency of feta and olives.

… Click Here for the recipe

The Wickedfood Team

Wickedfood Cooking School runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studio. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and team building cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

In this summer Watermelon salad, from Saveur Issue #113, watermelon is a sweet counterpoint to the briny pungency of feta and olives.

3 cups loosely packed arugula or rocket

1. In a large bowl, toss together the arugula, parsley, and mint. Divide greens between 4 serving bowls or plates.
2. In a medium bowl, toss together watermelon, olives, jalapeño, and onion.
3. Spoon the watermelon mixture, with its juice, evenly over the greens.
4. Sprinkle each salad with some of the feta and drizzle with olive oil.
5. Squeeze 1 lime half over the top of each salad and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Serves 4

For more great salad recipes, click here

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Q: I would like a recipe for Mango Atchar please.

A: Mango Atchar consists of shredded green mangoes, mixed with spices, left to stand from a couple of hours, to a few days in order to become soft and tender. It is then blended with oil.

1kg unripe mangoes
3t salt

1t coriander seeds
1t  cumin seeds
1t tablespoon mustard seeds
1t tablespoon ground garlic
2T to 4T chilli powde

1. Wash the mangoes and wipe dry. Cut into 1cm blocks.
2. Mix the salt into the mangoes and allow to stand for about 2 hours.
3. Fry  the seeds in 1/2 cup of the oil until they are light brown.
4. Remove from the oil and grind to a smooth paste. Set aside.
5. Put the rest of the oil in a saucepan and heat well. Add all the ground spices and stir for 1 minute. Add the mangoes.
6. Stir together over the heat very briefly and remove.
7. Place in sterilized jars and seal.
8. Use after 2 weeks.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Q: Thank you for the newsletter and the website. I absolutely love it. I am planning a dinner where I want to serve ostrich steaks. I have never done this before and I have gone through your site and have not found anything about ostrich. Please assist me with a recipe.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.