Hi all,

For anyone interested in the environment, both Facebook and Twitter have been inundated by posts to do with genetically modified foodstuffs.  The jury is still out on what, if any long-term effects that are regarding health hazards of these foods, but more and more proof of long-term effects is starting to surface.  So how do we know if what we’re eating, is slowly killing us?  The best is to get to know where your food comes from.  Ask the supermarket manager questions, or better still support small suppliers and produces that are ethical.

This week’s cookbook, Hawksmoor at Home, explores how to get the best out of your meat, from choosing the correct breeds, to what the meat eats and how it is hung and cooked, a definite must read for anyone who enjoys a good meat.

As ever, we have a wide selection of cooking classes for the next few weeks, see our programme for June and July.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter – just search for Wickedfood and you will find us. We update the blog on a daily basis and publish it through Facebook and Twitter.

Looking for info on food?

If you have any food-related questions, or a dish that you just can’t get right or even a certain recipe that you are looking for, but just can’t seem to find, then contact us and we will do our best to answer it as soon as possible. Click Here for more information. Hope to hear from you soon.

Wickedfood Cooking School news

The Cooking class programmes for June and July are up on the internet, and bookings are now open. Wickedfood Cooking School runs cooking classes with a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 12, giving everyone hands-on experience and keeping the cooking class small enough for maximum learning. These cooking classes are conducted by our senior instructors who have extensive experience in the food industry and share a variety of additional cooking tips throughout the cooking class.

• Monday 24 June at 6pm – Classic Portuguese dishes (R430pp). At the heart of Portuguese cuisine is the use of quality ingredients prepared simply to preserve their distinctive flavours. Portuguese food is renowned for being lusty and robust. Because Portuguese cuisine is easy to prepare, and uses very basic equipment, it is often described as peasant food. The use of seasoned pork, strong olive oil, garlic and onions contributes to the image of strongly flavoured, simple cooking. This is Sunday dinner fare designed to satisfy the appetite and reinforce the bonds of home and family. Dishes in this Portuguese cooking class include pickled tuna, chickpea soup, grilled chicken and molotov pudding.

• Sunday 30 June at 4pm  –Sweet treats – the art of baking (R430pp). Baking holds a certain mystique and is often associated with disastrous stories. Unlike most areas of cooking where just a basic knowledge of food science is sufficient, baking requires a broader understanding of food chemistry and how and why dessert recipes work. Successful dessert making requires precision, patience, and strong attention span. Join us in our baking cooking class, for an introduction into baking which includes cupcakes, Black Forest chocolate cake, cheesecake, crunchies and quiche.

• Monday 01 July at 6pm – Mexican flavours (R430pp). The history of traditional Mexican food is a long and complex one, and every bit of the complexity is reflected in the sheer variety of flavours in Mexican cuisine. Present day Mexican cuisine has evolved into something truly extraordinary. Join us in this Mexican cooking class as we blend the exotic flavours with that of the new world flavours which includes melted cheese with mushrooms, coriander soup, lamb in a chilli sauce, and rice pudding.
  
• Monday 08 July at 6pm – Indian class (R430pp). Indian food is a diverse and extraordinary one, reflecting a complex layering of cultures through history and based on religious beliefs, geography, climate and availability of ingredients. India’s range of cuisine can amaze even a connoisseur. Different regions in India offer their own specialties with their very own taste, subtlety and aroma. The exotic tastes, hues and textures of Indian food have ensured a steady growth in popularity in the West. Join us in discovering these incredible dishes in our Indian cooking class Authentic Indian dishes including lamb kofta, fish in a yoghurt sauce, vegetarian biryani, parrathas and carrot halva.
  
• Sunday 14 July at 4pm  –Making flavoured pasta, shapes and sauces (R430pp). Making pasta is really easy, and fresh pasta tastes better too. Learn the secrets to making pasta from scratch in this pasta cooking class. We also include fillings and sauces for these unique pasta shapes and flavours. Dishes include pepper fettuccini with an Alfredo sauce, chilli tagliatelle with a seafood cream, beef filled spinach ravioli and fried sweet pasta with grappa.

Cookbook of the week

 Hawksmoor at Home

Not just a cookery book, it’s history book, instruction manual and love letter to truly good beef, all rolled into one – the finest steaks, burgers and roasts – with simply prepared seafood, distinctly British puddings and an award-winning cocktails. … Click here to read more.

Click Here for reviews of all our cookbooks.

Food quote of the week

“Hamburgers make great comfort food. They satisfy. You get a meat hit. You relax. You recover. And they don’t cost the earth. You don’t even need a knife and fork. You can eat them on the go. There’s even something naughty about them, something a bit erotic. People won’t admit to it but it is true!”  – Tom Byng, Byron Hamburger

Recipe of the week

 Best Burgers, the Hawksmoor Recipe

Hamburgers are undoubtedly one of the ultimate fast foods, and every celebrity chef has his take on the ultimate burger.  This is Hawksmoors, perfect burger, truly giving fast food the Slow Food treatment. …. Click Here for all our recipes.

Wickedfood Cooking School runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built Johannesburg cooking studio. Cookery classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – teambuilding cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference. Our cooking lessons are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and team building cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients. We’ve just launched a new and exciting class, Wickedfood Master Cook. Think Master Chef with a fun twist.