It turns out they really weren't kidding about this being an intensive course.
For those of you not in the know, I have signed up for a 12-week French cookery course set on a beautiful 100-acre organic farm in Ireland. And yes, I have already heard more potato jokes than you could poke a spatula at. There are 60 students from 13 different countries, many of whom are thinking of a career in the food industry, many others who are just wanting to learn to cook. I have no idea where this may lead me, but I guess that makes it more exciting.
The day began at 8.30am (which incidentally, feels like about three weeks ago) with breakfast and then a two-hour walk through the gardens and greenhouses where all our herbs, fruit and vegetables are grown. We were also introduced to the school's chickens who reside in the charmingly named 'Palais de Poulets'.
This was followed by lunch, which was a veritable feast of local organic produce. Dessert was a generous dollop of ice-cream and a slice of pavlova ... I can already hear the seams of my checkered chef pants whimpering.
In the afternoon cookery demonstration we were shown how to make: homemade lemonade, flavoured syrups, vegetable soup, carrot soup, mushroom a la creme, roux, oatmeal biscuits, wholemeal bread and rhubarb crumble. There were more recipes we didn't get to. Seriously. So by 5.15pm, 60 rather shell-shocked students stumbled out of the demonstration kitchen, excited but also slightly terrified at the rapid pace ... and we haven't even cooked anything yet ...!!
P.S. My husband, The Editor, and I are residing in a charming little cottage called The Rocket House in the fishing village of Ballycotton. Despite the fact that it is (technically) almost summer in Ireland, the temperature soared to 2 degrees last night and the gale force winds gave the impression that our cottage was going to be swept out to sea. All going well, tomorrow's blog will not be written as I cling hopelessly to the remains of our kitchen table, bobbing in the Atlantic.
