Eurotoques, the best chefs for good food  

ALIX GARDNER’S COOKERY

71 Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 
Tel. 01 668 1553    E-mail dublincookery@yahoo.com

What's New:
The Cookery School is yours!!  Have a one off special private  daytime or evening class just for you and one or more friends.  Choose any two course menu, take it home or eat it here with a bottle of wine.  Why not bring the book club!  Cost from €80 per head, min 2 people, Max 16.  This can be a great evening cookery class in dublin for couples, learning together.  Call or email Alix for information on available dates.  We can also bring the school to your home - arrange cookery classes in Your kitchen for a group of friends. 

  Private Classes Corporate Classes Your Call!!  

Sports & Social Clubs, Book Clubs, Hen Parties, Birthday Parties

Private dinner parties from €330     or     Maybe you would prefer a private chef 


HANDS ON COOKERY CLASSES WITH A MAXIMUM OF 8 PARTICIPANTS
 5 week classes  €350  3 week classes €180

  Cook a meal  for two and take it home to enjoy with a friend and a bottle of wine -  all ingredients provided.

Practical, fun, and informal cookery classes, in the heart of Dublin 4, just around the corner from The Burlington Hotel.

Click here for location map of the cookery school, in the heart of Dublin

& OUTSIDE CATERING FOR PARTIES & RECEPTIONS

We either offer set courses, see timetable below, or special lessons and courses for groups of friends, office social societies, and corporate entertainment.  Gift vouchers available for Presents - e-mail for details

Alix Gardner set up the first practical cookery school in Ireland over 20 years ago in the heart of Dublin and has taught more than 2,500 students how to cook. She herself trained at The Cordon Bleu Cookery School & Leith’s in London but has since then cooked and studied food from Canton to California and has run Irish food festivals in restaurants such as The Mandarin in Hong Kong.  Many famous chefs have demonstrated in her school including Paul & Jeannie Rankin, Lloyd Grossman & Sophie Grigson.  She has Owen Conroy a cookery school teacher in Dublin been a member of Eurotoque, the European association of chefs committed to quality and natural ingredients since its foundation in Ireland in 1989.  She has written on food extensively for Irish and International magazines and has had regular columns in Social & Personal, IT, and Image Magazines.  Television work includes The Country Houses of Ireland and Super Cook.

Owen Conroy trained as a chef in Galway and for the last 20 years has run restaurants, worked as a location caterer for film companies and taught at our Dublin Cookery School as well as catering for our private clients.  In between times he is an actor and singer.

 

Learning at The Dublin Cookery School Described by the Sunday Tribune as "A good range of carefully structured courses", the lessons are designed to be enjoyable as well as informative and take place in the informal atmosphere of Alix’s family kitchen; we offer, in the words of Marilyn Bright in The Irish Independent "Inspiration, encouragement & know how".

The format of the evening classes is a course of  practical cookery classes once a week from 6.30 - 9.00.

The small classes are taught in the informal atmosphere of a large family kitchen in Ballsbridge, Dublin, which has been specially built to provide 4 double workstations, allowing for a maximum of 8 students per course. We are renowned for our practical, down-to-earth approach to good food and because the class sizes are so small they are suitable for everyone from experienced chefs to those who have never cooked.  We provide you with the skills you need to translate raw ingredients into delicious dishes.

Cookery School in Dublin

Cookery classes in Dublin

The 5 night cookery courses cost €350. The 3 night cookery courses cost from €180. Saturday day classes (10:30 - 13:00) cost from €65 to  €75.You cook for two, take the food home, eat and enjoy it (the food is included in the price of all courses).

No bookings are confirmed without a €75.00 deposit. Saturday classes must be paid in advance.  The balance of the fees are due 7 days before the course starts.  Payment by credit card is subject to a 3% booking fee.  Please give your address and telephone number with your booking deposit.  At the time of booking please advise if you are vegetarian, celiac, allergic to nuts or any other foods, or on a low fat diet.

An attendance certificate is awarded at the end of the course.

Students missing a lesson can send someone else along to replace them.

Bookings will be confirmed when deposits have been received. It might be wise to check availability by telephone first. If we are away from the phone please leave a message as to which course you want to join. On enrolment please give your address and telephone number. You will need to bring apron, tea towels & dishes in which to take the food home. Please use the garden entrance which leads directly into the kitchen. Bank holidays are made up at the end of the course or on an evening convenient for the whole class.  After the final lesson certificates are presented and we generally have a small celebration.

2010/2011

alix gardner cookery school ireland Mon 20 Sept Cooking for Beginners (5 nights)   €350 learning to cook in dublin
Tues 21 Sept The Cookery Toolbox (5 nights) €350
Weds 22 Sept Around the World (5 nights) €350
Thurs 23 Sept

Baking 3 nights

€180
Mon 1 Nov  The Cookery Toolbox (5 nights) €350
Evening Classes 2009   Tue 2 Nov  Easy Entertaining (5 nights) €350 Click on cookery course title for details
(Saturday Classes below)   Wed 3 Nov Taste of Italy (5 nights) €350 Click on cookery course title for details
   Taste of Italy Thurs 5 Nov Baking 3 nights

€180

Call  for details
        

  

       
Evening Classes 2011 Mon 24 Jan Cooking for Beginners    €350 Call  for details
      Tues 25 Jan 

The Cookery Toolbox (5 nights)

   €350 Click on cookery course title for details
   Wed 26 Jan Around the World (5 nights)    €350 Click on cookery course title for details
   Thurs 27 Jan Baking(3 nights)

€180

Call  for details
              
  Thurs 24 Feb

Baking(3 nights)

€180 Call  for details
  Mon 28th Feb The Cookery Toolbox (5 nights) €350 Click on cookery course title for details 
    Tues 1 Mar Easy Entertaining (5 nights) €350 Click on cookery course title for details 
    Wed 2 Mar  Taste of Italy (5 nights) €350 Click on cookery course title for details 
    Thurs 3 Mar Baking- Muffins, Cupcakes & Cookies  (3 nights)

€180

Call  for details
  Mon 4 Apr Vegetarian (3 nights) €180 Click on cookery course title for details 
   Tues 5 Apr Baking (3 nights) €180   Call  for details  
   Wed 6 Apr Deserts €180   Call  for details  
  Tues 3 May

The Cookery Toolbox (5 nights)

     Click on cookery course title for details 
  Weds 4 May Around the World (5 nights)        Click on cookery course title for details  
     Thurs 5 May Baking(3 nights)   Call  for details

Week Long Courses

June-July Children's Courses    

Around the World & The Cookery Toolbox are both to the same level of skill.  The Cookery Toolboxhas slightly more emphasis on cooking methods, e.g.: the use of gelatine, yeast, etc. Around the World has more emphasis on modern trends and cooking ingredients, coconut milk, exotic fruit & vegetables, etc. On both courses the menus will change from year to year and season to season.

The School is yours for the day or the evening!!  Have a one off special day or evening class just for you and one or more friends.  Choose any two course menu, take it home or eat it here with a bottle of wine.  Cost from €80 per head

 

The Cookery Toolbox, Part I Recipes from Around the World Recipes from Around the World
For those who know where the cooker is! Become a confident & adaptable cook mastering the professional’s fundamental techniques & recipes.

Dishes with  a difference -  experiment with new tastes!  

A course of exotic recipes using fresh ingredients and a variety of techniques, from Africa, India and the Orient through Europe to the Americas .
Smoked Salmon Paté, Potato & Leek Soup Roasted Red Peppers Piedmont,

Roast Butternut Squash Soup

Hummus, Quiche Lorraine Bruschetta with Avocado and Goat’s cheese, Hummus, Guacamole
Beef Bourguignon, Chicken Cacattori,  Focaccia, Caesar Salad,
  Salmon in Filo Pastry Parcels Crab Cakes with Chilli Jam & Aioli, Paella
Chocolate Mousse Basque Pavlova, Pofiteroles Hazelnut Roulade Couscous with Apricots and Pinenuts, Chinese Beef with Tangerine Peel 
Part II Red Thai Chicken Curry Chicken Masala
Garlic Mushrooms/Mussels  Chicken Liver Paté  Fishcakes

  Thai sweet and sour Vegetables,

Beef Tagine
Caribbean Chicken Hungarian Goulash Beef and Cumin CasseroleDuck Teriyaki, ........ Sticky Toffee Pudding
Pork Normande Sole with Prawns and Mushrooms Pecan Pie, Tarte Tatin
Smoked Salmon Quiche, Pavalova Roulade,  Chocolate Roulade...........
Cheesecake with Berries   Apple and Almond Tarte, Raspberry Fool Hot Chocloate Fondant......
 

Vegetarian I

Easy Entertaining I

More than Nut Cutlets!  Delicious food,  interesting recipes, tips galore,  and inspiration to inspire  you with the confidence to experiment with flavours, and produce exciting vegetarian meals.

The secrets of simple dinner parties – quick, easy and impressive

Moroccan Chickpea Casserole, Potatoes in Peanut Coconut Sauce.

Roast Pepper, Goats Cheese, Rocket Salad

Falafel and Teriyaki Dressing, Courgette and Sweet Corn Fritters with Avocado Salsa

Chicken with Chorizo

Roast Red Pepper and Goats' Cheese Tarte, Vegetable Tempura.

Thai Soup

Red Wine and Walnut Lasagna, Spicy Chickpea Puree

Salmon in Puff Pastry

Thai Curry and Sweet and Sour Vegetables

Spicy Duck Breasts, Mille Feuille.

Vegetarian Sushi, Spinach Roulade

 Tarte de Pomme Normande

Sweet Potato Ravioli with Tomato and Basil Sauce, Warm Lentil Salad with Goats Cheese

Smoked Salmon and Trout Mousse,

Cheese Koftas, Vegetable Biryani

Spicy Duck Breasts

Onion and Spinach Pakoras with Cucumber Raita, Lentil Bean Burgers

Eton Mess

Courgette and Filo Tarte, Carrot Cake

Chocolate Pots

 

  Italian

   Italian

Traditional classics  - Arte della cucina

Rekindle romance & Mediterranean sunshine

Aubergine with Spinnach & Pinenuts Chicken Cacciatore
Pizza , Tiramisu Risotto
Seafood Casserole Pesto and Pasta Sauces
Chicken with Mozzerella & Parma Ham Baked Cheesecake
Italian Meat Balls with Ricotta Cheese & Pinenuts Plum & Limoncello Tart

 

We also cater for dinners, buffets, receptions, lunches & weddings in the Dublin, Meath, Wicklow & Kildare area.  Click here for more information

Call Alix on 01 668 1553 to discuss your menu

Our Clients

Special demonstrations can be arranged for visiting groups.  Groups of 12 to 20 can be accommodated.  On arrival (generally at about 11.00)  the group are given coffee and biscuits.  A demonstration of traditional Irish favourites follows, including potato cakes, brown bread,  the salmon of knowledge and Armagh apple pie,  is followed by elegant lunch, based on the dishes demonstrated,  in the Georgian dining room.  The group will normally depart at around 2.30.

Some Suppliers of Fine Foods & Wines

Many of my suppliers have no web sites - Clyne's  of Ringsend (668 0456) are one of that rare breed, a master butcher. Fox's of Donnybrook (269 2892) are great for fruit, vegetables, pulses and all sorts of obscure goodies (great stocking fillers for a foody!)  For chocolate I go to Febvre's, a wholesale distributor in Rathgar who also distributes some exceptional wines.  The Asia Market, which is part of the City Market building in Drury Street  is a great source of all things eastern. They stock bulk quantities of rice, olive oil, herbs, curry paste and the like. Massive bags of dried chillis, kidney beans and cashew nuts line the floor underneath the shelves stocking tins of soups and sauces that the Irish cook will never have heard of!  It is one of the few places in Dublin to find the odiferous Durian. Around the corner, the Oriental Emporium on Georges St. also stocks some interestingly exotic foodstuffs.   North of the river, where I venture to check out the Epicurean Food Hall while my son checks out the Warhammer shop, I love exploring Moore Street -  a source of all sorts of exotica now that we have a multi-cultural community.  The Oriental Emporium; 30 Abbey St. Upper, Dublin 1 Tel. 01 8746297 / 874 6310  by the Jervis Street Luas stop is a sister to the Georges Street shop.   Bayanihan Oriental Supermarket - 138 Capel St. Dublin 1 Tel. 01 8146895 is good for  Filipino and Asian food.  Moore Street seems to supply the Eastern European, Russian and Oriental markets.  You have to go a little further North to Parnell Street  for African delicacies, whilst halal and Arabian ingredients can now be found, rather ironically, in that area of the South Circular Road near Camden Street once known as Little Jerusalem.  When I need a touch of NY Deli I go to Fallon and Byrne, 11 Exchequer St, Dublin 2 (01) 472 1010.   Foxrock does very well for suppliers with Fothergills  (01) 2890016  and Thomas's (01) 2894101 both on Brighton Road.  

As my list of suppliers both grows and diminishes - Olio and Farina have gone from Camden Street and are now only in Galway and Limerick.  Thankfully Listons Food Store at25/26 Lwr Camden St Dublin 2, T 01 4054779 continues to flourish.  The  Best of Italy on Dunville Ave, Dublin 6 is always worth visiting when going to Mortons.  

A new lisiting of Artisan producers

The Aughrim Country Fair  runs from 10:00 am to 14:00 every Saturday.  There I found hand cut orange marmalade and wonderful eggs from the Cosbys of Ballycreen.  

Padraic and Brid McMahon of Fieldstown Lamb Farm beside Dublin Airport have a website www.irishfood.ie  offering spring lamb delivered to your door from their farm.  They only have 400 lambs, so order early!  You can get either a full lamb or half a lamb (about 7kg, or one freezer drawer), all neatly butchered and portioned for the freezer, at about €11 a kg T  01 8400793

Malone’s Fruit Farm at Ballon, Co Carlow, on the N80 is a family run business growing a variety of berries on 12 acres. The business started growing strawberries and now also grows raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, loganberries, tayberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, whitecurrants and rhubarb. Fresh fruit is available in the farm shop from mid May to early October while frozen fruit and a full range of homemade products are available all year round.  059 9159477

Last month I had dinner with Fingal Ferguson of the Gubbeen Smokehouse and heard about the intricacies of  spit roasting a pig - if you want one talk to him!

Pots, pans, knives and aprons come from Sweeney O'Rourke of Pearse St (677 7212) or Woods of  Lower Grand Canal Street (6762689).  Occasionally I will also find something at Kitchen Complements in Chatham Street (677  0734).  Thank heavens that I bought all my copper saucepans from Dehillerin.in Paris before Aer Lingus introduced too many weight restrictions!  http://www.e-dehillerin.fr/


Best of Dublin _ The Dubliner

compiled by Brendan O'Connor, Helen Lucy Burke Jessica Majekodunmi, Deirdre McQuillan and Tara McGinn

BEST COOKERY COURSE
Alix Gardner has been saving marriages for 20 years. This is where to go when 'can't cook, won't cook' becomes an act of aggression rather than an endearing failing. Marian Finucane, Lara Jorgensen and many local madams have done the 10 week course. With a maximum of eight people per class, you get to take home the two dishes you create. Choose from Intermediate 1 (Mondays, 6.30-9pm. Sample dishes: sole with prawns and mushrooms, Bœuf Bourguignon, Chocolate Mousse Basque) and Around the World (Tuesdays, 6.30-9pm. Sample dishes: roasted red peppers Piedmont, lamb and cumin casserole, Thai sweet and sour vegetables). If - after all that - you still can't boil an egg, don't despair. Alix caters too.

Travelling to Florence?

Think of "MAGICI SAPORI" Italian Cookery School

 

Or maybe you would prefer a private chef - click here

dublin cookery school location

The school is on the bus routes 10 & 18, and close to the 11 & 46 (Burlington Hotel stop).  Luas & Dart are both a 10 minute walk.  After 6.30 there is parking available on Waterloo Road and Burlington Road.

Corporate & Private Group Classes

Morning, Afternoon or Evening - specially designed for you.

Either team building or individual challenges, and practical or demonstration

Fun, different, interesting, relaxed, enjoyable and constructive  

We are totally flexible - the classes can be from one hour to three hours.  Dine in the school afterwards.

71 Waterloo Road, Dublin 4 

Tel. 01 668 1553    E-mail dublincookery@yahoo.com

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