I’m not entirely sure which category this post should fall under. I eventually decided to put it under General because it just doesn’t belong anywhere else. I have only posted once before on cooking courses (here) and that was a while ago. Interestingly, that has been one of the most hit posts on Relax with Dax and the one with the most comments. It seems there are a lot of people out there who are interested in cooking courses. The comments on that post included the details of a number of cooking courses in Cape Town, it seems there are quite a few. It’s quite arduous to read through all the comments to try and find the suitable options, so I have decided to collate the information here, in one comprehensive list.

If there are still others which I have left off the list, then please post the details in a comment. Also, if you have been on any of these courses, please post a comment on your experience and tell how it rated on value, fun and informativeness. I have just recently attended Sense of Taste cooking school and you can read that review here.

Please bear in mind that the course details and prices are current at time of writing but will definitely change over time. To avoid surprises or disappointment, you are advised to call and confirm the details and pricing.

Kitchen Cowboys
The impression I get is that this course is for men only. The course is run by Peter Goffe-Wood, a chef well known to Capetonians and indeed, South Africans. According to their website: “All of the workshops are based on seasonal recipes and each session will include what to buy and where to buy it – how to stock the pantry wat skrik vir niks, wine pairings, top tips, rescue techniques and honing those culinary skills.”
Length: 6 Weeks (Tuesday evenings, 6pm to 9pm)
Includes: Ingredients, meal, drinks, apron, Kitchen Cowboys recipe book, recipes/course notes, 1 year subscription to GQ magazine
Cost: R3500
5 Portswood Rd, V&A Waterfront, www.kitchencowboys.co.za

Sense of Taste
This course is run by chef Peter Ayub, who may not be as well known as Pete Goffe-Wood, but he is no new comer. With many years of experience in restaurants, catering and teaching, Peter is highly qualified and very personable. Sense of Taste’s motto is “for life, for living, for the joy of cooking” and one can see that they enjoy cooking. I attended a course at Sense of Taste, you can read my full review here.
Length: 4 Weeks (Tuesday evenings, 6:30pm to 10:30pm)
Includes: Ingredients, meal, drinks, apron, recipes/course notes
Cost: R1600
Maitland – 021 511 0426 – www.senseoftaste.co.za

Superfoods
This is probably the healthiest option of all. Straight from their website: “The Program teaches people about raw food principles and most importantly HOW to prepare delicious tasting raw food meals so that you can practically go about transforming your health. We take some of the best of our Raw Food recipes, and present them to you so that you too can discover and embark on the raw food transitional and transformational journey.”
Length: 2 full days (over a weekend)
Includes: Ingredients, meal, juice, recipes & course notes
Cost: R1250
12 Price Drive, Constantia – 021 794 7793 – www.superfoods.co.za

Giggling Gourmet
Jenny Morris is quite a well know South African personality. Her CooksCourse (not presented by herself any more) covers a wide range of topics including starters, desserts, working with chicken, fish and meat as well as making bread. I’ve done one class in their kitchen and it’s well equiped, with a work station for each pair of aspirant chefs. They also offer each night of the course as a once off lesson.
Length: 6 weeks (Monday evenings, 6:30pm to 10pm)
Includes: Ingredients, meal, drinks, recipe book, spice pack, apron
Cost: R2695 or R450 per evening
Bree Street, Cape Town CBD, 021 425 3000 - http://www.gigglinggourmet.com
(Will be moving back to premises in Cape Quarter in 2009)

SA Chefs Academy
This is Garth Stroebel and Paul Hartmann’s chef school, which is highly respected. For a while they offered short courses but from what I understand, their full time course is too busy for them to do short courses at the moment. They do offer a one evening session for groups of 16 or more (good for a corporate function), presenting a menu of your selection.
Length: 1 evening (6:30pm to 10:30pm)
Includes: Ingredients, meal and drinks
Cost: R500
Black River Park, Fir St, Observatory – 021 447 3168 – http://www.sachefsacademy.com/

Back to Basics
Nikki Green offers various classes such as Beginners courses, an Entertaining course (starters, main course and accompaniements and puddings), also courses for Domestics and youngsters/teens in the school holidays. This year once off cooking classes have been introduced, i.e. How to debone and stuff a chicken, East meets West, Moroccan etc… Minimum of 3 students and max of 8.
Length: 4 weeks or once off (days and times vary to suit requirements)
Includes: Ingredients, meal, recipes
Cost:R200 (once off class) to R800 (4 weeks)
Class are run from Nikki’s home in Fish Hoek – 021 785 7572 – nikkigreen@telkomsa.net

Kitchen Angel
From the website: “Experienced chef , Lynn Angel, now shares her “Five Senses” cooking philosophy with you in a fun, relaxed and stimulating environment.   Lynn shares her life-long passion for food and her deep knowledge of the cuisines she has learnt first-hand on her travels around the world.  Lynn trained under Michelin acclaimed master chef Raymond Blanc in London. Her food styles combine a classic background with an eclectic sensibility.”
Length: 1 evening
Includes: Ingredients and notes
Cost: R380
3 Fig St, Fernwood, Newlands – 021 683 5318 – www.kitchenangel.co.za

Top Nosh
According to the website, Nadin Demmler has a lot of experience at some well renowned restaurants. She teaches courses in a fully equipped kitchen, catering for a maximum of 8 people. There are quite number of courses to choose from: The basic course (6 lessons), the more advanced course (4 lessons) or just a fun evening for an occasion. They also offer a course for domestics.
Length: 6 (Mondays) or 4 (Tuesdays) lessons
Includes: Ingredients, meal, recipes
Cost: R1550 (6 lessons) or R1250 (4 lessons)
082 782 3622 – www.top-nosh.co.za

Love Green Food
Another option for those wanting to learn how to cook and eat responsibly. Larissa Green offers workshops in which she teaches people how to prepare and cook vegetarian meals (including a lesson on fish) which are tasty and not boring. She uses only organic and ethical produce.
Length: 3 midweek mornings (9am to 1pm) or a full weekend (10am to 4pm)
Includes: Ingredients, 2 recipe books, R100 voucher for organic produce
Cost: R1800
021 434 1559 – www.lovegreenfood.co.za

Capsicum Culinary Studio
Capsicum offers full time training for people wanting to become chefs but also offers individual topics as once off lessons, over the course of the year. Classes are a maximum of 24 people.
Length: 1 Evening (6:30pm to 10:00pm)
Includes: Ingredients, meal, drinks and gift bag
Cost: R300
Pinelands – 086 010 5954 – www.capsicumcooking.co.za

Pick ‘n Pay cooking school
There is a whole host of courses on offer here. From the 8 lesson ‘Executive Survival’ course to the 4 lesson ‘Pacific Rim’ course as well as single evening sessions and even ’singles’ evening sessions for those who are looking for a cooking partner for life (just kidding, or maybe not). They also offer courses for domestics. Each course is taught by a different person.
Length: From 8 lessons to 1 evening session
Includes: Ingredients and meal (to take away)
Cost: From R1900 (8 lessons) to R300 (one evening session)
Cnr Campground & Main Rd, Claremont – 021 658 1162 – www.picknpay.co.za

Conrad Gallagher
Another chef personality and owner of Geisha restaurant and Sundance coffee shops. This sounds more like a cooking demonstration than a course. It’s two hours in which Conrad demonstrates how he prepares several dishes, this is followed by lunch (prepared by his kitchen).
Length: 10am to 2pm, Saturdays (2 hours demonstration and 2 hours for lunch)
Includes: Apron, recipe booklets, meal incl. wine
Cost: R995
http://www.conradgallagher.com/pages/services/cooking-school.php

Custom Cuisine
Brett  Nussey of Harbour House fame, offers 1 or 2 evening sessions for small groups at his home in Hout Bay. The classes are hands on an cover a range of topics. He has just opened Deli Delish in Hout Bay so the courses are currently on hold, but depending when you are reading this, they might be on again.
Length: 1 or 2 evenings, depending on topic (6:30pm to 10:30pm)
Includes: Ingredients and meal
Cost: R250 per session
Lessons take place at Brett’s house in Hout Bay – 021 790 7165 – customcuisine@worldonline.co.za

Cyril Naicker
Cyril used to teach at Silwood Kitchens and now does lessons for individuals or small groups. He teaches South Indian cuisine in a home cooked style, as opposed to gourmet cooking. Things you will learn to cook are: Samoosas, curries (chicken, vegetable, fish), briyani, as well as breads (roti, puri and paratha).
Length: 1 or more evenings (depends on how much you want to learn)
Includes: Ingredients (apart from meat) and meal
Cost: R350 per session
Lessons are conducted at his home in Claremont – 021 683 1678 – cyril@perceptionevents.co.za

Original Post: Cooking courses in Cape Town