If you are in Sydney there are many places to enrol. TAFE, evening and community colleges often have courses that are held for two or so hours a week, over several weeks. Check your daily and local papers, as well as telephone directory for details.
Accoutrement Cooking School. This is a specialist cookware shop as well as having up to 100 three-hour classes between February and October, conducted by top Australian and overseas chefs at its Mosman store - accoutrement@bigpond.com.au.
Convivial Times has Taste Workshops and a Chef's Table Programme that allows you to dine with a top Sydney chef - lfurber@ozemail.com.au, www.convivialtimes.com.au.
Herbie's Spices. Ian and Elizabeth Hemphill's specialist herb and spice shop, Herbie's, at Rozelle, has a earned a well-deserved reputation for having almost any thing you could think of in the spice line. There are herb and spice appreciation classes and workshops conducted about three times a month - herbie@herbies.com.au, www.herbies.com.au.
Le Cordon Bleu. This branch of the very famous and prestigious French culinary college is located at Ryde College of TAFE. Here you may join professionals for a day or a year of studies - australia@cordonbleu.net, www.cordonbleu.net.
Nilgiri's Cooking School. Ajoy and Meera Joshi's Indian restaurant, Nilgiri's at Crows Nest is a popular place to dine, and many diners want to learn the secrets behind their great meals. There are private or corporate classes for 10-12 students - sales@nilgiris.com.au, www.nilgiris.com.au.
Paris International Cooking School. Laurent Villoing's school at Stanmore offers a full range of cookery, including the use of indigenous foods in both long and short courses - pic_achool@hotmail.com.au, www.geocities.com/Pariscookingschool.
Simon Johnson. If you think of Simon Johnson as simply a Purveyor of Quality Foods, think again. The Pyrmont store has a demonstration kitchen and there are regular short classes featuring guest chefs. victoria@simonjohnson.com.au, www.simonjohnson.com.au.
Sydney Seafood School. What better way to learn about seafood than at the Sydney Fish Market in Pyrmont? Here at single-session hands-on seafood cookery classes, often conducted by guest chefs, you can learn, then buy your ingredients at the markets - www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au.
Then there are teachers who welcome students into their own home.
Penny Hurley's Good Food School, in Rozelle, operates weekly classes at Penny's home, and the classes are tiny - just four students, so you have lots of personal attention - pennyf@ozemail.com.au.
Johanna Minogue Cuisine, offers hands-on evening classes in Johanna's Paddington home, although day classes are held in her school on the Northern Beaches. She has overseas cooking classes planned for Italy in May and September, 2003 - johannam@cia.com.au, www.johannaminoguecuisine.com.au.
Lisa Lintner Cooking School. Lisa Lintner's Bilgola Plateau home is the venue for combination demonstration and hands-on classes for up to 12 students - lisalintner@bigpond.com
Snowball and Pemberton Food Workshop. Some classes have an interesting twist. Growers' market tours on the first and third Saturdays of the month are led by Kathy Snowball and Syd Pemberton, and finish at Snowball's Chatswood house with a cooking class and lunch. There are also Tuesday evening hands-on classes for eight - handson@spfoodworkshop.com.au.
Maybe not quite a cooking school, but chock-full of food and cookery information are Carol Selva Rajah's Day Trips to Cabramatta and Chinatown. - carol.s@bigpond.net.au.
Country places have lots of cookery school options to explore. The attraction here too is that some offer accommodation, and all are located in places where you (and maybe your partner) can happily spend a few extra days as well.
Redlands Cooking School. Michele Scamps' elegant Southern Highlands home set in extensive gardens is a delightful venue for day cooking classes - redlands@acenet.com.au,
Elise Pascoe's new Jamberoo home is an ideal spot to learn from this highly experienced teacher or one of her guest chefs. There are a number of local bed and breakfasts too where students may stay - elisepascoe@cookingschool.com.au, www.cookingschool.com.au.
Hunter Resort. There are hands-on cooking classes with a growers' market tour included, and Elite Chefs Weekends conducted in a professional kitchen, with accommodation included at the Hunter Resort Country Estate - cooking@HunterResort.com.au, www.HunterResort.com.au.
KAS Country Kitchen, Cobbity. Head for the hills for a Friday to Sunday cookery weekend, run about once a month. The style is modern Australian, with a leaning towards country style cookery. Phone: (02) 9664 7041 or 0419 238 059.
The Olive and the Grape, located in the Hunter Valley at the Sandalyn Wilderness Estate, can suggest local accommodation. Day classes run every Saturday. Private groups of six to 12 may book for any day - bookings@theoliveandthegrape.com, www.theoliveandthegrape.com.
Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, conducts cheese courses about four times a year dealing with how to make cheese at home whilst maintaining strict hygiene - cheese@csu.edu.au.
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