Simpsons Cookery School

Trevor gets taste of life in the kitchen

Trevor Land may spend most of his days promoting eating out in the Midlands but he also has found time to find out what life was like at the other end of the dining experience.

Trevor, who co-founded the Midlands' discount dining card The Gastro Card, spent a day in the kitchens of the Michelin-starred Simpsons restaurant in Edgbaston when he attended a cookery school run by top chef Luke Tipping.

L'Ecole de Cuisine at Simpsons is a chance to see how the professionals really work and is proving extremely popular with enthusiastic amateurs from throughout the Midlands and further afield.
Guests are greeted by Luke, who chats to them over coffee about how a top class kitchen really works and what they could expect from the day, before taking them into the cookery school and getting things started - with a glass of Champagne!

'Everything was very relaxed and informal but as soon as Luke started cooking we could also tell it was a very serious business,' explained Trevor.

'We helped with some things but on the whole we watched, listened and learned - everyone was absolutely fascinated.'

Luke prepared sea bream with potato scales and smoked caviar sauce ,which the visitors were later served for lunch. He also prepared slow-cooked salmon fillet, roast rack of lamb with braised baby gem lettuce and Brioche French toast with apple &blackberries.

Students were encouraged to sample each dish and were also served an appropriate wine by the Sommelier who talked about the suitability of different wines to different dishes.

Then they enjoyed an excellent lunch in a private dining room before being taken on a tour of the Simpsons cellars.

To end the day Luke had another informal chat giving advice on various aspects of cookery, including which equipment gave the best results.

'It really was a superb day and I think everyone learned a lot as well as enjoying superb food. It would make the perfect present if you were looking to give someone something that little bit special,' says Trevor.

The cookery school package cost £90 per person.

For further details CLICK HERE or visit www.simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk