If you have been inspired by Celebrity Masterchef and now want to learn how to cook, or you wish to learn how to make cupcakes for the next social gathering, the fastest and best way to learn is by going back to school.
There are several excellent cookery schools in Essex where you can learn to bake and prepare fantastic meals which will impress the chef at the best restaurants in Essex. Here they are, in no particular order:
Braxted Cookery School
The Cookery School at Braxted Park has several courses run by award winning chefs, including Paul Boorman, Mark Webb, William Grinsted and Peter Bayless.
They also run individual classes to learn to cook specific cuisine. Examples:
- Authentic Indian Cuisine with Padmaja Kochera
- Modern British Food with William Grinsted
- Tastes of the Mediterranean with Peter Bayless
Guy Moore teaches Brilliant Baking and there is a cooking for beginners course too, run by William Grinsted.
Contact details:
- The Cookery School, Braxted Park Estate, Witham, Essex, CM8 3EN
- Tel: 01621 890300
- Website: http://www.braxtedparkcookery.co.uk/index.cfm
The Mistley Kitchen
The Mistley kitchen teaches one-day recreational cookery workshops for up to 12 people per class. The school started in 2001 by Sherri Singleton. They run a series of specific cooking workshops. Some examples:
- Quick and easy Thai cooking
- A taste of game with the gamekeeper’s daughter
- Tapas, sangria and paella!
- Taste of Mexico
- Hip and healthy meat-free cooking
Contact details:
- Acacia House, High Street, Mistley, Manningtree, Essex CO11 1HD
- Telephone: +44 (0)1206 392 821
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.mistleykitchen.com/workshops/
The Cookery Worskhop
The Cookery Worskhop / Coastalfoods was opened in 2005 by Bryan & Jo Beattie. They owned a restaurant in Frinton on Sea and then started to sell deli products at farmers markets. Now they run a coffee shop and cookery workshop.
Workshops teach five people at a time, and each person gets one-to-one tuition. Sessions last for two to three hours. They also do “Demo and Dine” evenings.
Workshops include;
- Simple Italian
- Children and Parent Cookery
- Fish and shellfish
Contact details:
- The Cookery Workshop, Ashlyns House Fourth Avenue, Frinton on Sea, Essex, CO13 9EB
- Telephone: 07971 100 704
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.cookery-workshop.co.uk/
Just Cook Cookery School
Classes cover a wide variety of cooking styles. They also run classes for children during school holidays, including their own Junior Masterchef workshops. Examples include:
- Evening Thai Class
- Seasonal Italian
- Moroccan Food & Wine Night
- Fabulous but Frugal Festive
- Basics for Blokes
- Easy Entertaining
Contact details:
- 6 The Maltings, Station Road, Newport, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3RN
- Tel: 0800 756 1474
- Email: [email protected]
Baumanns Academy

Run by celebrity chef Mark Baumann (author of Posh Food for the Common Man). Courses include:
- Pasta masterclass
- Alternative Christmas
- Local delights
- The Art of Smoking
Address
- Baumanns Brasserie, 4-6 Stoneham Street, Coggeshall, Essex CO6 1TT
- Tel: 01376 561453
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.baumannsbrasserie.co.uk/