Blue Bowl Brown Sugar

In light of TV shows such as Masterchef, Hell's Kitchen and My Kitchen Rules, people are forgoing expensive meals in dim-lit restaurants and returning to the kitchen. With Blue Bowl Brown Sugar cooking classes, the kitchen is a far cry from Gordon Ramsay's 'hell'. Taught by Patricia Phillips, who has worked with the likes of Kylie Kwong, Bill Granger and Neil Perry, the classes are relaxed, informal and most importantly, educational.

The classes feature cuisine that ranges from Italian, French and Spanish to Greek, Moroccan and Asian. Group classes are held at the Southern Highlands Winery, but they also provide cooking experiences in Sydney and the surrounding areas. Upon arrival at the winery, you are greeted with a frothing glass of champagne, a Blue Bowl Brown Sugar apron and an in-depth, intimate cooking tutorial. Once you have completed cooking, you are treated to a sit-down meal (complete with a selection of local wines) in which you can reap the benefits of your hard work in the form of a delicious three course meal.

For Patricia and sister Kristal, starting cooking classes seemed like a natural way to do what they loved. "Being Greek, my family spent most of the time in the kitchen. There was always food on the table and we always associated it with family and fun," says Phillips.

Blue Bowl Brown Sugar cooking school features a wide range of locally produced ingredients; gourmet foods such as duck from Thirlmere poultry farm, assorted mushrooms grown in a local, unused railway tunnel in Mittagong and cheeses from the local dairy small cow farm in Robertson.

"Buying fresh, local, seasonal produce is important to us because we believe it's an important way to support our local community. We also find that it gets us the best results when cooking. The flavours are always so much more deliciously intense when they are in season and it's a great way for our clients to sample ingredients they may not otherwise have the chance to taste," says Phillips.

Blue Bowl Brown Sugar has several types of class on offer, such as:

• Private classes are held on a one-on-one basis in the comfort of your own home. A great gift idea for your spouse! (RRP $480.00)

• Group classes are held at the Southern Highlands Winery and have approximately 8 people in each. (RRP $160) For an extra-special experience, you can try Blue Bowl's Market to Table class which is held on the second Saturday of every month at Bowral Food Markets. This is cooking from start to finish - purchase the food, prepare it and eat it! Ideal for couples, friends or individuals interested in kick-starting or developing their cooking skills. (RRP $185.00)

• Kids classes teach kids to make everything from pizza and pies to pasta and salads and are followed by a sit-down meal. They're a fantastic idea for kids' birthday parties as the mini-chefs are treated to a colourful chef's hat and apron, full colour recipe book and party favours, as well as all ingredients and equipment. (RRP $100.00 per child with a minimum of 8 kids.)

• High teas treat kids to a fancy day out, where they get to dress up and drink hot chocolate or juice like the little ladies they are (or we want them to be!). Mini sandwiches, biscuits, mini pies and quiches are just a few of the tasty treats on offer. (RRP $65.00 per child with a minimum of 12 kids.)

• Corporate classes are held in Sydney and the Southern Highlands and are a great way to encourage bonding among colleagues. Generally, the group is split into teams who rotate between having a tour of the winery (when the class is held in the Highlands), a wine tasting and a cooking class. These classes are a unique way to encourage office bonding and team-building. (RRP $205.00+)