cookery school

VALENTINE'S ROMANTICS COOK
IT WITH LOVE AT LUCYCOOKS

Divine Lake District cookery school, LucyCooks, is coming to the rescue of those lacking the courage to pop the question in a leap year, by helping to remind them that there's no love like food love.

To help lovers woo through food, persuade through the palate and tantalize by toying with the taste buds, it has announced details of a course with all the ingredients and potential to ensure a romance-fuelled Valentine's night in.  Cooks on the February 12 Dinner Party Dishes For The One You Love course will tackle three romantic dishes that truly 'say it' with food. The timing is perfect as, after a practice run, all attendees will be confident enough to reconstruct the dishes for a February 14 extravaganza Eros himself would applaud.

The first dish on the agenda of the 9.30am to 4pm course is Red Rose Melon - a delightful dish visually resembling a rose, thanks to the clever cutting of three different melons and a little Cupid-inspired culinary construction work!  The floral symbol of love will be served with delectable red rose syrup, also prepared by course attendees.  This extravagant entree will teach 'pupils' knife skills, presentation techniques, reduction and the knack of furnishing food with flavour.

A Lover's Purse of Scottish Salmon, served with a champagne sauce, will be the next sure-to-melt-the-heart dish prepared.  A fillet of salmon wil be fashioned into a purse pocket and stuffed with a mouthwatering mousseline of prawn, bringing delegates up to speed with fish preparation in the form of filleting, boning and then blending two different food textures.  Learning about reductions, emulsions and adaptations will all add to the romance-fuelled fun. Accompaniments will be roasted Hasselbach fanned potatoes and a julienne of carrots and green beans, parcelled with a 'lover's knot' formed from leek.

Rich chocolate brandy mousse served with heart-shaped shortbread is the scrumptious dessert that should ensure supper seduction.  This mousse will be made without gelatin and by blending dark chocolate, eggs and cream, while baked shortbread hearts will provide the final loving touch.  Techniques learned during the creation will be folding, working with chocolate and pastry making.

All three courses should melt the heart of any lover, particularly a food lover - and LucyCooks is expecting a flurry of calls from loved-up ladies and gents hoping to create the ambience required for a Valentine's proposal.  To be part of this romantic proposition, look and book at www.lucycooks.co.uk or make sure you will be the one cooking by calling 01539 822507.