Cooking Classes
in Melbourne

This is a selected list of cooking classes available in Melbourne in 2002.

Elizabeth Chong

Elizabeth has been teaching Australians about Chinese food for longer than she cares to remember. She put it like this in a 1996 interview with Mietta - "For many years now, I've been watching and filtering perceptions and tastes back and forth from both sides. I feel that I've been an ambassador, and that I've educated both the public and the media. Both are now much more adventurous. In all the talk today of East meets West, it's all about breaking tradition, of breaking down barriers and mixing of the two cultures. My position is rather West meets East, in that I bring westerners into the eastern kitchen. I feel loyal to my roots, I feel it is very important to present and to retain the traditional style."

The Elizabeth Chong School of Cooking is in Hawthorn. She can be contacted by telephone on 03 9819 3666.

She specialises in Authentic Chinese Cooking. Also, there may be special sessions which could include seafood, regional food, winter cooking. Ring for dates and details.

Meera Freeman

Meera, an ex-restaurateur and current caterer, is an aknowledged expert in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Her classes are

Regular 4 week courses are held in Italian and Thai and Vietnamese cuisines. These may be held on 4 consecutive Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 7.00pm to 9.30pm at 71 Barry Street, Carlton 3053 Victoria, please phone for dates and availability - Tel: 9348 2221, Fax: 93482224, email: meera@meerafreeman.com.au, website: www.meerafreeman.com.au

For additional information CLICK HERE.

Beverley Sutherland Smith

Beverley Sutherland-Smith has been the food consultant to David Jones, she edited Benson & Hedges' Australia wide restaurant guide, she was the Melbourne contributor to the Fodor Guide and, The Wall Street Journal Gold Book, she has written many books on food, she has writing on food for Age Epicure for over twelve years and she contributed to the AGFG for its first eleven years.

Beverley Sutherland Smith Cooking School is at 29 Regent St, Mt Waveley 3149, Ph: 03 9802 5544, Fx: 03 9802 7683

Marieke Brugman - Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat

Marieke Brugman and Sarah Stegley founded and run the Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat at Howqua Dale near Mansfield. A beautiful property, wonderful food and cooking lessons with Marieke and other great Australian chefs - what more could anyone want. When Sarah and Marieke aren't in residence they conduct food tours. Details can be found on their web site - http://www.gtoa.com.au.

Diana Marsland Cooking - country Cooking Classes

Diana Marsland Cooking is one of Victoria's leading cooking schools, and is now 22 years old. Diana relocated in June 1997 to Woodend, in the beautiful Macedon Ranges, to "The Gables", an 1860s Victorian country house.

Diana Marsland has been teaching cooking for 22 years to a wide variety of ages from nine year olds to 80 years plus. She studied in London at the Cordon Bleu School and later returned to Prue Leith's School of Food and Wine in London. She attended William Angliss College in Melbourne and has a wide knowledge of local food products and ingredients.

Her convivial classes are conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Following class, everyone sits down to eat and drink in the dining room. Classes are both hands-on and demonstration. These course are not residential, but a list of local accommodation is available.

Diana Marsland Cooking, "The Gables" 19 Brooke Street, Woodend 3442. Ph/Fx: 03 5427 1155, email: diana348@ozemail.com.au.