Hampden Deli Dining & Cooking Class

Juicy mushroom bruschetta, silky smooth risotto and sweet and tangy finger lime meringue. Hungry yet?

This was all on offer at the first cooking class at the new Hampden Deli Dining and Cooking School in Kangaroo Valley. A new addition to the small but beautiful town of Kangaroo Valley; Hampden Deli is a foodies dream with homemade pastries, loaves of bread, meals to take home and organic coffee all on offer. It does not disappoint!

A mother’s day treat on a cold, wet May Sunday, it was the perfect gift to give to our mums. We are always searching for something unique and special to thank our mums for all that they do and this cooking class definitely ticked the box!

Under the close guidance of Nick Gardner, a top chef in the industry having worked at ‘Tetsuya’s’ and ‘Zest’ in Sydney and more recently, ‘Eschalot’ in Berrima, all 12 of us in the class produced a stunning pumpkin and spinach risotto. A dish often thought of as gluggy or stodgy, this risotto certainly was not! Showing us a few ‘chefs’ secrets and easy tricks, in just half an hour a silky, smooth risotto was produced.

Nick then explained how to make a juicy mushroom bruschetta and the importance of using quality ingredients. We were then treated to an Italian feast which included bruschetta, risotto, and finger lime meringue. Bursting at the seams it was time to say our goodbyes.

It was a fabulous 2.5-hour experience of home-style cooking, and an experience well worth the journey to the beautiful town of Kangaroo Valley.

We highly recommend booking into a cooking class or even dropping by for coffee and pastry.  We offer wonderful accommodation options nearby so you can walk home after a wine or two.

Kangaroo Valley Accommodation for Cooking School

Kookaburra Hill

Located within easy walking distance to Kangaroo Valley Village, Kookaburra Hill is an award-winning architect designed home set on 5 acres with beautiful gardens, a pool and breathtaking views of Wedding Cake Mountain and beyond. Help yourself to delicious produce from the garden and cook up a meal inside or outdoors (there is a wonderful outdoor kitchen with Ilve stove, a large sink, refrigerator and dishwasher).

Lemon Tree Cottage

This Enchanting cottage has been beautifully renovated by the owners and no detail spared. Set on 11 acres of both paddock and bushland with a natural running spring however only 5 minutes drive from the centre of the Village. The kitchen is equipped to the highest level so that you can prepare for any culinary delight!

For those wanting a unique escape in the mountains, kitchen to practice what they learned with local produce, we recommend you give us a call so that we can match according to your preferences! Call 0428 155 818