Cooking Classes

Join me for a 3 course Pugliese inspired lunch. We will cook and bake 3 meals typical of the Italian region – Puglia. My love of Italian cooking and baking steams from my southern Italian heritage, where both my parents hailed from the Italian region of Calabria.

Saturday, 30 August 2025
10am till 2pm
$220

Whilst I am very familiar with the Italian cuisine of the south, I do love the traditional cooking/baking from all the regions of Italy which I will explore in these Italian Regional cooking classes!

In this regional Puglia cooking class, we will start with Focaccia Barese con Burrata e Olive (from the Bari, Puglia), then we will make the popular pasta shape Orecchiette with a seasonal sauce (I hope to have cime di rapa growing in my garden for a typical Pugliese pasta sauce) , and to finish, we will bake the very popular Lecce treat called Pasticciotti (crema pasticceria with a hint of lemon which is encased with pastry and baked).

This class has some demonstration & is mostly hands-on.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Saturday, 9 August 2025

10am till 2pm
$220

SOLD OUT

There is nothing I love more than cooking & baking Italian comfort food during the cold Winter months! Join me for a cosy day where the outdoor fire will be on and we will stay warm in my kitchen studio cooking and baking a hearty 3 course Italian lunch; Zuppa con Fagoli (Soup with Beans) to start, Osso Buco con Pappadella Pasta for our main dish, and to end, Lemon Budino dessert. Three classic Italian dishes to warm our bellies and souls! Together we will prepare these dishes from scratch and then sit down by the fire to enjoy the fruits of our labour!

This is a hands-on cooking class with some demonstration.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

This will be a hands-on class with some demonstration where you will learn to make pasta dough and shape two popular and traditional Italian filled pasta: Tortellini & Agnolotti del Plin. We will also learn about stocks & broths; we will make a hearty chicken brodo (broth) to serve with our handmade tortellini, and then a vegetable stock for a soup that we will bath our Agnolotti del Plin. A perfect winter comforting workshop. We will then sit to enjoy our hearty bowls of filled pasta in brodo!

Saturday, 26 July 2025
10am till 2pm
$200

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

This is an Italian Seasonal Winter Pranzo (Lunch) Workshop! Join me as we create a 3-course authentic Italian lunch menu using Winter produce. We have such a bounty to choose from; apples, pears, mushrooms, mandarins, rhubarb, beetroot, broccoli, Jerusalem Artichoke, beans, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, citrus, and on and on the list goes. Winter is another favourite season of mine to cook and bake with and I am looking forward to sharing this with you!

Saturday, 28 June 2025

10am till 2pm
$200

There will be Italian home-style cooking and baking involved, with lots of chatting, laughing and learning along the way. We will then sit together to enjoy the fruits of our labour sampling our authentic Italian fare with a glass (or two) of vino.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Saturday, 31 May 2025
10am till 2pm
$220

Join me for a 3 course Napoli inspired lunch. We will cook and bake 3 meals typical of the Italian region – Naples. My love of Italian cooking and baking steams from my southern Italian heritage, where both my parents hailed from the Italian region of Calabria.

Whilst I am very familiar with the Italian cuisine of the south, I do love the traditional cooking/baking from all the regions of Italy which I will explore in these Italian Regional cooking classes!

In this regional Italian cooking class of Napoli, we will start with the popular street food known as Pizza Fritta, then we will make our own spaghetti for one of my favourite dishes, Spaghetti alle Vongole, and to finish, we will bake the very popular Napoletana Carnevale torta called Migliaccio (a ricotta & semolina cake).

Join me for a wonderful day of cooking and baking Napoletana style!

This class has some demonstration & is mostly hands-on.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Saturday, 7th June 2025

11am till 3pm

$250

I am heading back to Soldiers Point, Port Stephens for a third workshop at Bayhues with Fiona & Jay Jay.

This time, I will be cooking & baking a Winter Italian Long Lunch with hostesses Fiona, Jay Jay & Tara of Simpsons Cottage.

There will be an Art Exhibition with two incredible artists from Melbourne. These artists, Jessie Feitosa and Parita Thakkar, will have pieces on display and for sale.

Explore this glorious home and wonderful pieces of art while sipping cocktails, then come help me make a comforting Winter Italian pasta dish!

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BOOKINGS – Only a few tickets left! Please click here to book you spot. Please contact Fiona Ward for further details.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: The Village Cooks Gift Vouchers are not redeemable for this event.

SEE MORE DETAILS BELOW

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

This is a Autumn Italian Lunch cooking class! Join me as we create a 3-course authentic Italian lunch menu using autumn produce. We have such a bounty to choose from; mushrooms, quinces, chestnuts, pears, persimmon, apples, fennel, silverbeet, eggplant, mandarins, citrus and on and on the list goes. Autumn is a favourite season of mine and I am looking forward to sharing this with you!

Saturday, 29 March 2025
10am till 2pm
$200

There will be home-style cooking and baking involved, with lots of chatting, laughing and learning along the way. We will then sit outside (alfresco style weather permitting) together to enjoy the fruits of our labour sampling authentic Italian fare with a glass (or two) of vino.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Saturday, 1st March

10am till 2pm

$220

It’s the season for preserving TOMATOES! In this workshop, you will learn how to preserve tomatoes in traditional Italian ways: Salsa di Pomodori (Tomato Passata), Pomodori Pelati (Bottled Peeled Tomatoes), and other tomato preserving products . You will no longer need to purchase tinned tomatoes or bottled tomato passata. You will be thrilled at how easy & simple it is to preserve and produce these wonderful tomato products.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

READ MORE BELOW

Saturday, 14th December 2024

10am till 2pm

$220

SOLD OUT

This cooking class is always a hit for so many reasons; it’s the last class of the year, there is always a tremendous lunch menu planned, and well, it’s Christmas – a time to be festive and gather with friends & family!

In this cooking class, Angela with share her love of creating an Italian Christmas lunch – where she will be influenced by her Southern Italian heritage, her extensive experience and knowledge gained from many years of study (Angela is a trained pastry chef), her work experience in commercial kitchens, and her overall love of Italian cooking & baking!

This Italian Christmas Lunch with include the following menu – ‘Peach & Prosciutto Antipasto’ to start, ‘Lobster & Prawn Ravioli’ for our main, and to end ‘Zuppa Inglese (Italian Trifle)’!

There will be morning tea served on arrival, a glass of bubbles to help along the way, and of course, a glass (or two) of vino for the sit-down lunch – where the fruits of labour will be devoured and enjoyed!

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Saturday, 7 December 2024
10am till 2pm
$200

This is a Summer Italian Lunch cooking class! Join me as we create a 3-course authentic Italian lunch menu using summer produce. We have such a bounty to choose from; peaches, nectarines, berries, tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, zucchini, cherries, mangoes, stone fruits (including my favourite apricots) and on and on the list goes. Summer is a favourite season of mine to cook and bake with and I am looking forward to sharing this with you!

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Requirements for a Private Cooking Class –

Saturday, 30 November 2024
10am till 2pm
$200

SOLD OUT –

THIS IS A PRIVATELY BOOKED COOKING CLASS.

If you would like to book your own Private Cooking Class, please contact Angela at angela@thevillagecooks.com.au.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

SEE MORE DETAILS BELOW

Saturday, 9 November 2024
10am till 2pm
$200

SOLD OUT

You will learn to bake three popular Italian dolci; Tiramisu, Cannoli & Struffoli.

Tiramisu – you will learn how to make this classic Italian treat from scratch! We will bake our own savoiardi biscotti, and make mascarpone, along with Italian meringue.

Cannoli – Sicilian Cannoli are such a wonderful treat! You will learn how to make the cannoli shell and fill with flavoursome fresh homemade bufala ricotta.

Struffoli – A Neapolitan sweet dough treat! Deep fried small dough balls are formed into a wreath secured with honey and coloured with sprinkles. It’s the perfect Christmas wreath!!!

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Saturday, 9 November 2024
10am till 2pm
$200

Preserving fruit & vegetables (and other ingredients) is an ancient art form, born out of necessity (not trend). When refrigeration and a good steady income were few and far between, preserving homegrown produce was essential. It also allowed for out-of-season ingredients to be enjoyed yearly! My Southern Italian parents knew this all too well and carried on with preserving traditions when they migrated to Australia from Calabria, Italy in the early 1960’s. Whilst I didn’t appreciate this process as a child, I absolutely value it now! Today, not wasting produce is imperative for reducing costs and waste in landfill – so imperative for our future!

Join me for a great day of preserving like an Italian. I will share the basics of preserving and various ways one can do so! There is preserving under oil, brine and salt; pickling; jamming; drying; syruping, and much more! There is much information to cover and I will summarise it all in an easy format which will see you preserving like an Italian every season!

This is a hands-on cooking class with some demonstration.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Nonnie is an Interior Stylist based in the Blue Mountains of NSW and her stunning home has been featured in Lifestyle magazine ‘Country Style’! We are so lucky that Nonnie is opening up her home and kitchen for us to cook and bake Italian style together!

Saturday, 19th October 2024

10am till 4pm

SOLD OUT

Join me for a special 3 course Italian Spring Lunch in the beautiful home of Nonnie Aldridge (Interior Stylist) in Leura, Blue Mountains NSW.
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Join this fun day around Nonnie’s very large wooden kitchen bench where we will create together a scrumptious Italian feast! We will have all of the glorious Spring bounty to play with (which I will source from my kitchen garden in Sydney and sustainable farmer’s markets) and be sure that you will leave this day with an Italian filled belly, wonderful Italian recipes, lovely new connections and joyous food memories!

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This will be a hands-on workshop with a few demonstrations.

THE VILLAGE COOKS GIFT VOUCHERS are not redeemable for this workshop!

Requirements for a Private Cooking Class –

Saturday, 7 September 2024
10am till 2pm
$200

SOLD OUT –

THIS IS A PRIVATELY BOOKED COOKING CLASS.

If you would like to book your own Private Cooking Class, please contact Angela at angela@thevillagecooks.com.au.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

SEE MORE DETAILS BELOW

Saturday, 24 August 2024
10am till 2pm
$200

Angela is very excited to be continuing her series of Italian Regional cooking and baking workshops for 2024 to celebrate her Italian heritage!

Join me for a 3 course Calabrese inspired lunch. We will cook and bake 3 meals typical of the Italian region – Calabria. My love of Italian cooking and baking steams from my southern Italian heritage, where both my parents hailed from the Italian region of Calabria. Whilst, I am very familiar with the Italian cuisine of the south, I have an interest in the traditional cuisine of all Italian regions – north, south, west, east and everything in-between! But in this class, I have the opportunity to share the food I loved growing up in my Calabrese home!

In this regional Italian cooking class of Calabria, we will commence our three course lunch with ‘Antipasti con vedura sott’olio’, then we will hand-make fresh ‘Fusilli pasta con sugo al ragu’ – one of my childhood favourite! And to finish, we will treat ourselves to ‘Cuddruriaddri’ – Calabrese Doughnuts!

Join me for a wonderful day of cooking and baking Calabrese style!

This class has some demonstration & is mostly hands-on.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Join me for a great day making authentic Gnocchi, where you will learn to make two varieties of gnocchi and fresh homemade ricotta!

Sunday, 19 May 2024
10am till 2pm
$200

You will learn how to make two authentic gnocchi doughs; the traditional and ever popular potato gnocchi, along with ricotta gnocchi, using homemade ricotta. You will learn how to make fresh ricotta in this cooking class. In addition, we will prepare sughi (sauces) to compliment our gnocchi dishes. We will end the day by sitting alfresco style to enjoy the fruits of our labour (our gnocchi) with a class of vino.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Sunday, 22nd October 2023

10am till 4pm

Kas Wren (Wordsmith, Renovator, Airbnb Owner) of Wren and Whippet has asked (begged) me to return as the country folk from Coolah, Mudgee and the nearby small towns love to cook & bake Italian fare! I am so looking forward to returning to this wonderful spot to share my love of Italian fare with Kas, partner Kate, and all else who will be joining us!

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BOOKINGS – Kas has notified me that all tickets have sold on Sunday 22 October.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

SEE MORE DETAILS BELOW

Saturday, 7 October 2023
11:30am till 2:30pm
$125

This is not a cooking class, but a gathering of people, known or unknown, connecting over a 3-course lunch!

I was listening to an episode from The Imperfects podcast recently, when this idea came to me! Over the years, since the increase of social media use and especially since the covid pandemic, levels of isolation, loneliness and disconnect amongst humans has increased dramatically! It was very disheartening to hear that these levels are at their worst ever! And it occurred to me; organise a gathering for lunch here at The Village Cooks – not a cooking class – but an assembly of people around my table where we can sit and chat and connect together over a glorious Italian lunch which I have prepared! This is right up my ally as I love people, I love to cook & bake, and I love to entertain!

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

It would have happened earlier, if it won’t for covid, but here we are now and very excited to have you join us! We will cook & bake Italian style together, with a glass of vino by our side at the wonderful home of vintage collector, artist & airbnb owner, Georgie Stuart in Edith, Blue Mountains.

Saturday, 9 September 2023
10am till 4pm

Being early September, there will be a crossover of late winter and early spring produce. Georgie tells me she should have rhubarb, cavolo nero, Jerusalem Artichoke, radish, and wild spring leaves in her patch, whilst mine will include beetroot, peas, silverbeet, fennel and possibly broad beans (I planted these guys late this year, so maybe not!). Between us both, plus the help of farmers market, we will have a bountiful selection to create a feast! I can’t wait! We will endeavour to eat on a long table outside, weather permitting of course, however there is a plan B – a lovely table indoors by the fire! Perfetto!

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

It’s tradition; every Father’s Day, I bake Italian Cornetti (Italian Croissants). They are my hubby’s favourite, and he loves them for breakfast on Father’s Day morning. So we will be just in time with one week before the Aussie Father’s Day. Or then again, we can just learn to make Italian Cornetti for ourselves!! Ha!

Sunday, 26 August 2023
10am till 2pm
$200

I have had many requests for this class in the past and have decided to proceed. It will definitely be a challenge to squeeze three days worth of ‘cornetti’ pastry preparation into four hours, however, I have a plan to achieve baked cornetti for everyone to try and take home!

This cooking class is mostly hands-on, with some demonstration.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

This is an Italian Vegetable cooking class! Join me as we explore the many wonderful ways to cook and bake with seasonal vegetables the Italian way!

Sunday, 21 May 2023
10am till 2pm
$180

There will be Italian home-style cooking and baking involved, with lots of chatting, laughing and learning along the way. We will then sit outside (alfresco style) together to enjoy the fruits of our labour sampling our authentic Italian dishes made with vegetables and with a glass (or two) of vino.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Join me for a great day of making fresh pasta (two different types of pasta dough – one with egg, and one without). We will do this all by hand!

Friday, 28 April 2023
10am till 2pm
$175

You will learn how to shape both pastas in two very authentic Italian shapes – again all done by hand. In addition, we will prepare sughi (sauces) to compliment our pasta dishes. We will end the day by sitting alfresco style to enjoy the fruits of our labour (our pasta) with a class (or two) of vino.

TO BOOK USING GIFT VOUCHER: Please email angela@thevillagecooks.com.au with your contact details and voucher number. Angela will reply with booking confirmation or if extra payment is required.

Sunday, 28 February 2021

11am – 2pm

PLEASE SEE CORNERSMITH WEBSITE FOR BOOKINGS
https://cornersmith.com.au/workshop/pasta-by-hand-2/

Friday, 8 April 2022
10am till 2pm
$165