'The best of British'

“ A friend and I went on the two day gastro plus course. Both married to organic farmers who run a farm together producing their own vegetables and meat just up the road from the cookery school, we wanted to try to find out how to make the most of the lovely produce they provide us with. We do our best, but neither of us have admittedly ever won any awards for home cooking, so we were really pleased with the recipes and menus we learned at the cookery school which emphasised local and seasonal produce. Darrin and the other staff were clearly passionate about the seasonality and provenance of the food they use in the courses and they proved that with the best of British you can create some really special menus. In fact most of the produce was sourced from within Devon itself so less food miles & enviornmental impact. The course was run to the highest of standards but also in a relaxed and down to earth environment with lots of banter to see us through the tricker menus. „ Coddie

'Expert, Enthusiastic Chefs'

“ I have undertaken 3 different types of cookery days at Ashburton Cookery School - French, Italian & Fish. Even though I do a lot of cooking, each cookery day has given me more information, skills, and of course superb tastings with excellent ingredients. I am looking forward to chosing my 4th cookery day later this year. Instructions in all areas of the cooking have been delivered by expert, enthusiastic chefs who are passionate about their work, giving all participants encouragement in making the delicious menus, and therefore pleasure, both in the learning experience, and the eating! „ Alex

Foundation Cookery Course

“I am writing to thank you, and all members of your staff with whom I came in contact, very much indeed for providing me with such an exceptional experience at your cookery school last week.

Let me highlight some of the aspects of your operation that gave me so much enjoyment and made the week such a special and worthwhile birthdat present.

• The quality of instruction by your chefs
• The smiling faces that were everywhere. Clearly your staff enjoy working for you in the environment that you have created for them.
• The preperation of the essential paperwork that is required daily.
• The very well conceived and delivered syllabus and programme of instruction.
• The magnificent support provided by your ever cheerful kitchen assistants.
• Very comortable and well appointed accommodation
• Excellent breakfast

Thankyou very much for providing an environment that made learning so much fun... „ PL

Express Dinner Parties

“Just a note to thank you for an excellent Course which I attended on Wednesday 29th October. I found the Course most enjoyable and have already used several of the recipes and will be recommending this to my friends plus considering next year a Beginners Course for my husband. I had been afraid that there would mainly women and that he would have been reluctant but talking to the men on our Course I found that this was not the case and the ones who had attended a previous Course had enjoyed and benefited from it. Again many thanks.„ AY

Modern Vegetarian Plus

“I just wanted to say thank you to Joe who was an inspirational tutor - he was easy to understand and he loved what he was doing. His enthusiasm for food shone through and we made some fantastic dishes. The course content was excellent, I learn't so much and it has had a life changing effect on me. Having always loved to cook, I had got into a rut and my confidence was simply not there anymore. If it came in a box out of the vegetarian freezer section that did me! However, that all changed after my weekend at Ashburton. I am now always whipping up easy but very tasty vegetarian dishes now. I take more pride of my kitchen and have bought lots of useful things that I never had before. I've rearranged my kitchen so it's a place of comfort but I can still work effeciently in it. I am now doing a cookery course at college and whilst it does not come anywhere near the excellent stadards experienced at Ashburton I'm really enjoying it. I know it's quite a dramatic thing to say but my life in many ways has been improved significantly since experiencing the Vegetarian Plus weekend. it's reawakend a passion into my life that I had forgotten, and you will never find me in the vegetarian freezer section again! Thanks and best wishes.„ CRQ

Gastro Plus

“Hello, I came to your Gastro Plus course last weekend and firstly I would like to say how much my friend and I enjoyed the course. I have Creme Brulee in the oven as we speak !!!! We stayed in your accommodation and the cleanliness was impeccable, which I have rarely been able to say anywhere else I have ever stayed, so I will definitely recommend the whole package to anyone I think may be intererested.„ LH

Express Dinner Parties

“I felt as if my appreciation of the 'express dinner parties' one day course was inadequate.. a quick thanks and then off we trotted. I would simply like to say how much I enjoyed the day (as did my mother) which was a huge surprise for me as I am neither a keen nor capable cook. The professionalism of your school and staff shone through from beginning to end and did not pass unnoticed, nor indeed did the kindness of your chef. In particular, he dealt with my baulking at dealing with the duck (I'm a bit squemish with meat) silently which was hugely sensitive to my wish not to make a fuss having attended the course to accompany my mother who frequently cooks it. Please pass my appreciation on to all involved in the day including the young lady who so capably kept the kitchen spotless so allowing us to learn without interruption. I wish you all success despite the difficult present economic climate. I will of course do all I can 'word of mouth-wise' to encourage others to experience your courses.   My very best wishes.„ SG

Express Dinner Parties Extra

“Many thanks for a very good day, for teaching and guiding us -me, through the Express Dinners Extra course. I learned a lot AND enjoyed eating the results - excellent. I have done a couple of the recipes - the lamb and butter bean pancetta, now I would like to have a go at the Coconut and chilli sorbet. Again, thank you for broadening my horizons.  My very best wishes.„ PC

Cookery Diploma

“Dear All at Ashburton. Just wanted to drop a line to say thank you for all your help during my Diploma Course. I have got myself a job working at a Mayfair Hotel in London as a Commis. I will start by preparing the staff meals in the main kitchen but hopefully move across to the restaurant side with a bit more experience. Many thanks once again.„ NO

Cookery Diploma

“I thought you might be interested to know that I have finally taken the plunge and am now working as a commis chef at The Kingham Plough. Three weeks in and I'm just about holding up with the long hours. It's a small kitchen headed by EW...lots of sous vide and low temperature cooking. So far I've been working mostly on the pastry section, but as there are only 3 or 4 chefs on at any time I'm seeing a bit of everything. The menu is focused on local, seasonal produce and the kitchen uses lots of traditional recipes, but with modern methods; we are also making our own bacon, hams, and sausages, so it's a fascinating place to be learning.

Thanks to you folks at Ashburton Cookery School for laying the foundations that enabled me to make this career change - it's great to be putting some of that leaning into practice.„ R

Butchery

“Many thanks for a brilliant day yesterday. I feel much more confident to wield a knife at a piece of meat now. I shall add a boning knife to my collection and will enjoy fashioning impressive things out of cheap cuts of meat. I look forward to experimenting with sausage recipes too. My family look forward to enjoying eating the results! Your good-humoured and approachable, but very professional style makes for a good learning atmosphere and the high teacher/pupil ratio was really helpful. You're good too, at keeping everyone on track without telling them off! I meant to say thank you to the washerup but failed to. I want one of those. Heathe Duffin

Thanks to you folks at Ashburton Cookery School for laying the foundations that enabled me to make this career change - it's great to be putting some of that leaning into practice.„ R