:: the perfect way to learn, have fun, and relax...in beautiful countryside!

We have established The Fine Food School as a new enterprise dedicated to promoting good food, local producers and sustainable living.  We offer a huge range of classes and course to people of all backgrounds and all levels of experience. We have designed a built a dedicated teaching space that is different to so many others.

At The Fine Food School you get a real opportunity to learn at first hand, not just by watching, but by doing.

In beautiful North Dorset, set in rolling farmland our new centre is an ideal location for getting away for a day or two and relaxing in a fun and interesting environment. 

There are loads of lovely places to stay nearby and many options for dinner and we can always assist you in making arrangements.

But The Fine Food School isn't just a cookery school...

:: more than just a cookery school

As dedicated foodies and after years of experience in the world of commercial food service we’ve noticed that cooking and knowing about food can be two entirely different things! 

It’s all very well learning how to follow a recipe (or even "pierce the foil and zap for two minutes") but at The Fine Food School we believe that’s only part of the picture.

Certainly we can teach you how to cook and follow instructions but surely it’s better if at the same time you get to know what is going on in the pan, or in the oven, or in the sauce.   That way you’ll be able to apply your skill and try new things.

If we just teach you some recipes then that’s all you’ll walk away with.  But if we teach you all about food then you can cook from any recipe you like, and even invent your own.

:: what’s special about the fine food school?

At The Fine Food School you don’t pay good money just to watch someone else cooking.  We offer a real hands-on, enjoyable, relaxed environment running classes based on our three core values:

a passion for food

a taste for life

a thirst for knowledge

These are not just classes where you gather round a table in someone’s kitchen and follow a couple of recipes.  Instead we have a spacious, fully-equipped teaching kitchen, enabling everyone to follow and participate in every part of the course.  With a maximum class size of 12 you can be sure of ample attention and involvement throughout.

Our courses are arranged by skill-level and content, but do not worry if you and your friends have never cooked before but really fancy attending a more specialist class.  Most of our courses can be tailored to the skill levels of small groups.  So, let’s say the six of you have never cooked but are mad about curry…give us a call and we can put on a beginners’ curry class.  We love to hear your suggestions so get in touch and we’ll see what we can do!

:: so who's the geezer in the white jacket?

Well, that's me.  Hello everyone, I'm Paul Blake. 

Once upon a time when Katie and I were corporate business types in the bizarre world of information technology we decided to quit the rat race and follow our hearts.  Having been cooking all my life and with a real love of good food (and hopefully a modicum of talent) I ditched the business suit for the chef's whites and together we set out in pursuit of a new adventure. 

We bought a hotel, a restaurant and finally synthesised everything into what has become The Fine Food School.

Katie is a brilliant organiser and manager and it is her business administration skills that have always kept us on the straight and narrow and going from success to success.

As for me, well years ago I used to run technical training courses, customer service classes and have always had love of teaching and learning.  I have been a professional public speaker and have even been known to wear a gold sequinned jacket! 

So The Fine Food School combines what I know and love the most, good food, learning new things and enjoying life, and that's where those three core values came from:

a passion for food

a taste for life

a thirst for knowledge

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I can't teach you absolutely everything...who could?  There will be some classes where we'll be teaching eachother and where some of you will show me a thing or two. And, do you know what?  I can't wait!

If you fancy a chat then, if I'm on-line you can log in to the chat room and we can have a natter.

Cheers!