Ashburton Cookery School's Cookery Diploma is a 20 day, practical cookery course designed for those looking to take their cookery skills to a professional level.

Typically students that join our diploma have had another career, or broad life experience, and are looking for comprehensive, practical cookery training that takes their cookery skills to a professional level without them having to pursue an unnecessary NVQ route at a catering college for young students which would take a year of vocational assessment.

Typical ambitions of students that come on our Diploma course include:

• launching a career in catering as a chef;
• opening a bistro or restaurant;
• working as a chalet or yacht chef;
• launching a corporate/outdoor catering business;
• personal cookery skill development;

We cover all the skills that are required in a professional catering environment. Over a four-week period, we train you to the standard of cooking expected at NVQ Level 3 (but better!). Whilst this course will contain the necessary components of theory to develop your knowledge, this is a very practical, hands-on course and the amount of time you will be cooking is maximised.

You will not spend hours of your day washing up, or weighing flour and peeling potatoes as you will do at most other cookery schools - we take care of that. The essential ingredients for the day are pre-weighed and prepared for you to maximise your cooking time (unless it is an essential aspect of the training. i.e if you are learning to fillet a flounder, you will get a whole flounder.)

Over the course of the 4 weeks you will work with five different, highly experienced chef tutors, all of whom have a wealth of experience in catering, and with small group sizes, you will receive plenty of personal attention.

We are blessed with some of the countries finest produce in Ashburton, and your cooking will benefit from the quality of the ingredients, and the high quality of the tuition. With a strong focus on presentation also, you will be amazed at the range of restaurant quality food you will be producing daily.

Your lunch and early evening dinner menus will feature the recipes you are working on that day, so you won't be leaving the course hungry!

This course is run in the Garden Kitchen at 76 East Street, Ashburton which offers a peaceful and intimate setting for a maximum of 10 students (average 8) for the full 20 days.

Week 1

• Theory
• Stocks, basic soups and sauces
• Vegetable cuts
• Basic Butchery and fish filleting techniques
• Pastry making and basic desserts
• Seafood
• Butchery - chicken, lamb, pork

Week 2

• Theory
• Preparing and cooking beef including slow and quick cooking methods
• Preparing and cooking duck, venison, rabbit
• Desserts / Patisserie
• Further Fish & Seafood Prep

Week 3

• Theory
• Pastry
• Catering for Vegetarians
• Asian cuisine
• Canapes
• Seasonal game (Partridge, Quali, Pigeon)

Week 4

• Theory
• Mystery Box
• Wine tasing & food matching
• Making 3 course dinner and canapes under assessment
• Sushi & varieties
• Healthy Eating
• Mediterranean cuisine
• Theory recap & exam
• Certificate presentation

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Booking this course

You can secure your place on a Cookery Diploma with a £500 non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is payable 6 weeks prior to the start of the course.

Residential Pricing

Most students stay with us during their diploma. We offer special accommodation pricing for Diploma students of £999 for 20 nights (Sun to Thurs) B&B accommodation (£49.95 per night). Click here to see the rooms. Please call us to enquire about availability.