Learn to Cook Confidently at Cooking Course, Auckland, New Zealand

Office Daze! Why not bring your team to Main Course? See how well you work together out of the office - You may be surprised at who rocks in the kitchen and who can't take the heat!

This is a 100% tailor-made, fully hands on cooking class. Click on the "Office Daze" tab to your left for more information and if you like the sound of it, email us for an e-brochure (in a PDF format) containing prices, menus and blurb on how it all works.

This is one of our most popular classes offering complete team building flexibility & heaps of fun. It's a wicked way to cater for everyone's team building tastes - What better way to get to know your colleagues or clients than creating a delicious meal together? Cooking is un-intimidating and much more appealing than climbing trees or sitting in a restaurant...... and it's really creative - a great way to allow the analytical brain take a break!

Namaste India The main spices used in Indian cooking will be introduced. The class will include a meat dish, vegetarian dish, dhal or soup, condiments and a dessert. The dishes selected will be from different regions of the Indian sub-continent to showcase the variations in the cuisine.

Date for next class: Thursday 2nd February (class full) & Thursday 9th February 2012. Starts at 6pm.

Cool & Confident Basic Skills Develop a long term love for your kitchen. We'll get you started on the basics in this class in which you'll make three delightful dishes. We'll work on techniques like heat control, knife skills and stuff like timing, temperature and menu planning. Including tips on what to buy, where, how and when, what to cook for various occasions that won't have you melting down and a good giggle about why things go wrong sometimes. A fantastic class for the nervous and novice.

Chocolate Works Back by popular demand, this class is a chocoholic's dream. Dipping, moulding, rolling, tempering and paddling of chocolate is followed by decorating and presentation tips. Our chocolatier will advise on suppliers in Auckland and what you should buy to produce the best quality chocolates or chocolate work.

Very hands on - about 3 hours in duration. Next class to be scheduled late February.

KidzKitchen classes Check out our schedule for children’s classes during the Summer Holidays on www.kidzkitchen.co.nz. Classes are targeted at two age groups and have options for each group. The classes are great fun - the best part is seeing the proud smile on the kid's faces when they show you their very own creations.

Hola Mexico! Mexican food is more than mince meat tacos with grated cheese and sour cream. This class is for people who love real Mexican food and want to make it at home! Authentic Mexican dishes to tantalise your tastebuds, including making fresh maize flour tortillas. Get your sombrero on and bring along your friends for an evening of fun and great food.

Hands on cooking - 3 dishes and about 2.5 hours. Friday 13th January (class full). Friday 9th March. Starts @ 6pm.

A fantastic menu for the evening has been set. If you are a lover of all things Italian then this is THE class for you. What a great opportunity for a date or to share with a mate! Antipasti, pasta making or risotto or gnocchi, Dolce, it's all here, in one night of fun, cooking and romance. Don't miss it!

Next classes: Wednesday 29th February (pasta), Thursday 12th April (gnocchi). Starting at 6pm.

Thai Time! Liking it spicy? This class uses traditional Thai recipes to cook up a 3 course meal with condiments. You'll be making a soup, a Thai salad, green curry and a dessert.

Desserts This is a specialist dessert class. You will prepare a trio of desserts and learn decorative techniques that are the difference between a good dessert and a heavenly one! The emphasis in this class is presentation techniques. The class will be taken by Bjorn Svensson who is a specialist patisserie and chocolatier.

Tapas Experience Spain - Flavours galore! Spain is known for its small plates or tapas served as a varied meal. The dishes are flavoursome and rustic. In this class you will prepare five dishes, four savouries and one sweet, from the various regions of Spain. Great for party food or long afternoons in the sun.

Fully hands on cooking - 5 dishes and about 2.5hrs long. Next class: Monday 23 January (class full). Thursday 23 February. Starting at 6pm.

Fine Dining @ Home - This is our most popular class. No Stress! It's all about being cool in the kitchen! Learn how to prepare and present an impressive three course dinner for any occasion. Discover the balance of entertaining your guests, enjoying yourself and serving a memorable meal. You will prepare an entrée and a main dish followed by a decadent dessert. Starts @ 6pm.

Next classes: Saturday 21st January (class full). Monday 13th February (class full). Thursday 16th February. Saturday 25th February. Starts at 6pm.

The Modern Vegetarian This class kicks arse with vego attitude! We leave cheese on toast & mung beans in the 70's and smirk at the face of carnivore self-righteousness! A hippy free-zone (no offence hippies) this is a fully hands-on class in which we play with 3 dishes - all nutritionally balanced, all easy to shop for, all heaps of fun to make, with not a tofu burger in sight! This class rocks, do it even if you are a carnivore!

There are three courses offered at Main Course. These are on a set evening over three consecutive weeks.

A comprehensive version of Cool & Confident Basic Skills. Learn all the basics of good home cooking. Boost your confidence, improve your health, develop your creativity and enjoy the world of good food. You'll be all skilled up by the end of it and ready to blast into your kitchen with the expertise of a seasoned cook! You'll work closely with our chefs, all imparting their knowledge, humour and tips. Each class is 2.5 hours long, starting at 6pm and wrapping up at about 8.30pm. The format is true Main Course style, starting with a demonstration then you're into it yourselves using our awesome facilities, afterwards enjoying the fruits of your labour around the dining table with your classmates.

Whether you completed our Complete Basic Skills course or not, this is the ideal progression to those wishing to take the next steps to tasty, well thought out, healthy, nicely presented home cooking. Do not miss this fun, information packed, skilled up class. You'll work on correct preparation and accompaniments with meat, fish & shellfish, learn some of the finer arts of desserts and get back to our roots with some good soul food style dinners. Only twelve places available each season - book now as they won't last long.

Next course: Tuesdays 7th, 14th and 28th February 2012 & Wednesdays 8th,15th and 22nd February 2012 (class full).

You've got all the books, a subscription to Cuisine magazine and you love The Food Channel. You've attended a good selection of our classes (and others) and now you are hungry for more. There's a desire to lift your skill base, show off to your foodie friends and prepare all the posh stuff with a slightly arrogant confidence. From Foie Gras to Mille-Feuille - we'll show you how it should be done, how to make it better and how to earn the adoration of your mates. This course speaks for itself...... it's not for Novices. It's time to step up, step out of your comfort zone (of braised lamb shanks with red wine jus) and challenge yourself. You'll love it so don't miss it.

Need some space? You can hire Main Course........ Click on the "Venue Hire" tab to your left for more information about hiring our wicked, light filled, open & cruisy space for your product launch, cooking demonstration, photo / film shoot, brainstorming session, sales meeting, whatever! Available by the hour you can tailor-make your event to include staff, delicious snacks & yummy lunches. It's private, smart and a whole lot more creative than a hotel conference room! We also offer experienced chefs, assistants, food styling & hand modelling service (additional fee's apply).

Check to see if the date you need is available from our calendar then email us for an e-brochure. EASY!

Retail Cookware If you've been to Main Course before you'll have experienced our awesome range of Infinite Circulon cookware. We like our clients to feel that they can recreate the magic they did during their class here - at home, using these pans. "The Circulon Infinite range of pans is fantastic", Sonya says. She may be a little biased but recent experience with them at the school has converted her into a true fan. The pans used in the school have had a good work out for five years and are still looking great!

They are non-stick, versatile and the most important thing is that they have stainless handles so they can go in the oven too! We use these pans for everything, from roasting to boiling to baking cakes! Their versatility eliminates the need for baking trays, roasting pans and other baking paraphernalia and what's more - your risottos won't stick, neither will your eggs!

Hands on cooking for children. Classes are about 2 hours long. $49.00 - includes all food costs.

Classes & Courses