An enticing and engaging holiday experience awaits food-lovers in the new year as Tasmania’s many world-class cooking schools unveil their new-season cooking classes. Hands on cooking sessions are being held around the state celebrating the island’s top provenance – with many conducted in some of the most breathtaking and spectacular locations Tasmania has to offer. A renowned destination for fine food and top quality produce, Tasmania’s cooking schools are an enriching way for visitors to connect with the quality, authenticity and purity of the destination.

The following are a selection of cooking schools and classes that are being held in Tasmania from January to April 2011:

*NEW* TOP OF THE WORLD – COOKING CLASS WITH WAJI
Held in the stunning, architecturally designed Eagles Eyrie lookout, located on a mountain top in the remote surrounds of the South West Wilderness, Top of the World cooking class with Waji is a new cooking class held in a unique location.

What: Six themed cooking classes with acclaimed Tasmanian chef, Waji. Guest chefs for the classes include Brian Ritchie (American Barbeque), Kiri Booth (Tasmanian Game and Tasmanian Crustacean), Scott Heffernan (Modern Australian), Varuni  Kulasekera (Sri Lankan) and Van Lulitanond (Royal Thai)
When: Weekends from 8 January to 20 March 2011
Where: Eagles Eyrie, Maydena  includes transfers from Hobart City, Forestry Tasmania Office, 79 Melville Street, Hobart
Cost: $295 per person. $315 for Tasmanian Crustacean. To book, visit the website.
Inclusions: Hands-on cooking class, food and Tasmanian wine, Hobart-Maydena-Eagle Eyrie transfers, morning tea, apron

THE AGRARIAN KITCHEN
A tranquil farm haven, guests can roam through The Agrarian Kitchen’s five hundred square metre organic and heirloom vegetable garden, large berry patch and orchard to pick fruits and vegetables, and collect the beautiful dark brown eggs laid by the farm’s eleven Barnevelder chickens for their cooking classes. Run by former Tetsuya protégé and ex Gourmet Traveller Food Editor, Rodney Dunn, The Agrarian Kitchen is one of the top cooking schools in Tasmania.

What: Pastry 101 class (March), Tomato Gluttony, Mutton Dressed as Lamb, The Whole Hog (April)
When: The Agrarian Kitchen’s classes run throughout the year. For more details, visit their website.
Where: The Agrarian Kitchen, 650 Lachlan Road, Lachlan TAS 7140
Cost: $285 per person. To book, call 03 6261 1099 or visit the website.
Inclusions: Apron, lunch, wine and the hands-on cooking class

RED FEATHER INN COOKING SCHOOL
Conducted by acclaimed Tasmanian Chef and rare breed pig farmer, Lee Christmas, the Red Feather Inn Cooking School is the most popular cooking school in the state’s north. Here guests can forage, fish and hunt for ingredients for a feast, or take one of the school’s butchery classes.

What: Pork, Smoking & Curing, Summer’s Harvest, Perfect Pasta and The Wild Larder classes
When: January through to March 2011
Where: Red Feather Inn Cooking School, 42 Main Street, Hadspen 7209 TAS 
Cost: Classes start from $195 per person. To book, visit the website.
Inclusions: Morning tea on arrival, an apron, tea towel, lunch & beverages and a recipe folder

COMPANION BAKERY

Where better to learn the art of sourdough bread making then at the Companion Bakery, which has Australia’s oldest restored working mill, Callington (circa 1832), just across the road. Featuring one of Australia’s most accomplished bakers Graham Pritchard, the Companion Bakery in the southern midlands town of Oatlands is a member of the Artisan Baker Association, and uses only the best organic flour and locally sourced ingredients.

What: Introduction to Sourdough and Advanced Sourdough Techniques
When: Class information will be available on the website closer to the date
Where: Companion Bakery, 160 High Street, Oatlands, Tasmania

Cost: $275 per person for the Introduction class and $545 per person for the Advanced class.  To book, visit the website.
Inclusions: Baker’s cap, lunch and sourdough starter.

WURSTHAUS KITCHEN
Set in Salamanca Place, Wursthaus Kitchen is a treasure trove for the best local and imported deli products, charcuterie, wine and cheese in the country, in addition to their celebrated monthly cooking classes.

What: Autumn cooking classes
When: Classes start from February. Class information will be available on the website closer to the date
Where: Wusthaus Kitchen, 1 Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point, Hobart 7004

Inclusions: All ingredients, lunch and wine.

ALPS & AMICI
Run by acclaimed Tasmania chef Daniel Alps (formerly of Strathlynn fame), Alps & Amici offers intimate gourmet cooking demonstrations and cupcake and cake classes with Daniel and his wife Sally.

What: Cooking demonstrations by acclaimed Tasmanian Chef Daniel Alps or hands on cupcake classes with his wife Sally
When: Classes start from March. Class information will be available on the website closer to the date
Where: Alps & Amici, 52 Abbott Street, East Launceston 7250. 
Cost: Cooking demonstrations cost $95 per person and cupcake classes cost $85 per person. To book, call 03 6331 1777 or email.
Inclusions: Food tastings, wine, recipes, a pantry bag (cooking classes). Hands-on preparation and decoration of cupcakes, cakes and recipes (cupcake classes).