As the evenings start to cool our thoughts turn to warm home cooked menus and hours sifting through cookbooks for inspirational new recipes.  This week we want to share two special locations and their upcoming Regional Cooking Classes.  These are the perfect opportunity to speak with your Lifestyle Manager and book that weekend away! Capelodge3Cape Lodge, Margaret River Located  just a 3 hour drive or a 45 minute flight from Perth, Cape Lodge is set in its own vineyard in the picturesque Margaret River Wine Region.  As you enter the property, you get the sense you will be staying at your own private Country Estate.  During your stay at Cape Lodge visit some of our favourite Margaret River wineries, that happen to be in the neighbourhood –  Vasse Felix, Laurance, Moss Wood, Pierro and Cullen. The lodge has 22 elegantly appointed rooms, a 2 bedroom Cottage and a stunning 5 bedroom private luxury Residence. The Cape Lodge Restaurant where the cooking schools are hosted, has been voted in the ‘Top Ten in the World for Food’ in Conde Nast Traveller’s Gold List and is described as “one of Australia’s finest new generation dining establishments.

Cape LodgeCOOKING WITH MICHAEL ELFWING

The Lodge’s French culinary trained, Executive Chef Michael Elfwing, has worked in some of the World’s best kitchens including Heston Blummenthals’ Fat Duck and Mathias Dahlgren Stockholm’s Grand Hotel.  Michael’s enjoys modern regional cuisine creating a calendar of Cooking Classes for you to learn how to present a superb three course menu which can easily recreated at home.

Working with seasonal local produce discover some of Michael’s kitchen tips, recipes and how to choose the best ingredients before sitting down to  a superb three course Long Table Lunch served in the Cape Lodge Restaurant.

Cooking Class and Long Table Lunch : $145.00 per person

Class commences at 11am-Lunch served from 1pm to 2.30pm COOKING SCHOOL CALENDAR 16 May-Margaret River Beef 20 June-Chocolate Class 18 July- French Bastille Celebration 15 August- Cooking with Truffles 12 September- The Art of Soufflé 10 October- Spring Lamb 07 November- Desserts, Pastry, Baking 12 December- Festive Season Menus

CAPE LODGE COOKING CLASS PACKAGE

  • Two Night’s Accommodation
  • Daily Gourmet Breakfast
  • Cooking Class with Michael Elfwing
  • Long Table Lunch

Garden View Room $635 per person Superior Spa Suite $675 per person Forest Spa Suite $825 per person The Residence $835 per person (Minimum 6 Guests)

Note: The above rates are  per person twin share

Daylesford2The Lake House, Daylesford The Lake House is a tranquil retreat located in the heart of Victoria’s Spa Country and just a 90 minute drive from Melbourne set on the shores of the serenity of Lake Daylesford.  The accommodation includes rooms and suites in waterfront or lodge settings for you to enjoy on six acres abundant and fruitful gardens. 

The Lake House restaurant draws visitors from Australia and around the world to indulge in the modern Australian cuisine menu designed by the talented team working with co-owner and Culinary Director Alla Wolf-Tasker and Head Chef David Green.  To compliment your culinary experience, the restaurant boasts an Award Winning Cellar with an 800-odd reference list of wines from around the world and the Victorian region.

COOKING CLASSES
The Lake operates a regular calendar of Cooking Classes hosted by Executive Chef and Owner  Alla Wolf-Tasker AM in the state of the art demonstration kitchen at the Lake House.  During the course of the year, many of Australia’s top chefs, regional producers and winemakers also participate in the program. These programs are extremely popular with food lovers from all around Australia, so call your Lifestyle Manager to book your day trip or weekend away. Lakehouse2

Autumn Masterclass – Sunday 3 May A full day of demonstrations and foodie discussion with some of Australia’s top chefs and producers, including: Andrew McConnell – Supernormal, Cumulus Inc., Cutler & Co, Moon Under Water & Luxembourg, Melbourne Daniel Wilson – Huxtable, Melbourne Colin Fazssnidge – Four in Hand, Sydney Special Producer demonstration Your day will run from 9.30 am – 4 pm and will be hosted by Lake House Culinary Director, Alla Wolf-Tasker in the state of the art demonstration kitchen at Lake House and will include four demonstrations, recipes, tastings, tea, coffee, baguette lunch and wine. Cost $240 per person

Lakehouse4Spring Cooking Class – Sunday 6 September This will be a ‘hands on’ Masterclass, with an exclusive opportunity to work with two chefs from the Lake House team in producing a beautiful seasonal menu. Spend a few hours in the purpose built Cooking School kitchen dealing with the region’s best produce and get to play with some of their “toys”.

Your day will include a 3 hour cooking session, sit down lunch of dishes produced, wine & folder of recipes. Bookings are limited to 12 guests per class. Cost: $340 per person

Lakehouse3Spring Masterclass – Sunday 11 October This us a full day of demonstrations and foodie discussion with some of Australia’s top chefs and producers, including:

Darren Purchese –  Burch & Purchese,  Melbourne, VIC Scott Huggins & Emma McCaskill – Magill Estate,  Rosslyn Park, SA Ashly Hicks – Circa, Melbourne, VIC The day will be hosted by Lake House Culinary Director Alla Wolf-Tasker in the state of the art demonstration kitchen at Lake House and will include  all three demonstrations, recipes, tastings, tea, coffee, baguette lunch and wine. Cost: $220 per person Why not make a night or weekend of your Cooking School experience, packages start from $870.