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'Cooking on the Hill' with Franco Taruschio OBE and Lindy Wildsmith
We are delighted to announce that acclaimed chef and former owner of the Walnut Tree restaurant Franco Taruschio OBE, and writer and expert in regional Italian cookery Lindy Wildsmith are once again presenting their programme of popular cookery courses at The Hill.
"Cook with love - cook with your soul" is Franco's advice. However, be assured that a day with Franco and Lindy is a very down-to-earth and practical experience. You will come away with a menu of authentic Italian recipes and the know-how, confidence and enthusiasm to cook them at home for your family and friends.
Franco and Lindy take great care in choosing the recipes, creating interesting seasonal feasts for you to enjoy at the end of your busy morning's cooking. You will cook with the very best ingredients, locally sourced meat, game and vegetables wherever possible. Add to this all manner of first class Italian produce essential to the creation of authentic regional dishes.
You will work together learning new skills and reinforcing old ones. Depending on the day's theme you may learn to fillet fish, joint poultry and game, or prepare special cuts of meat. Most of our classes include the making of fresh pasta but menus vary occasionally to include risotto.
Halfway through the morning enjoy a short rest, a glass of something reviving and the first taste of the day; freshly fried crescenteor panzarotti or crispy crostini or a savoury pastry.
After lunch linger over a coffee, possibly caretto (laced with an Italian liqueur), some homemade biscotti and an informal discussion with Franco and Lindy.
'COOKING ON THE HILL' COURSE DATES: 2008
Click here for 'Cooking on the Hill' course dates 1st July to 31st December
Franco Taruschio OBE
Franco was born in the Marche region of Italy. He came to the UK in 1961 for a six month period but stayed for a much longer! Three weeks before he was due to return he met his future wife and asked for an extension to his stay. In 1963 he and Ann bought what eventually became the internationally renowned Walnut Tree Inn.
After thirty-seven years he sold the Walnut Tree and since 'retiring' Franco continues to help aspiring young chefs, and has discovered that he derives great pleasure from teaching enthusiastic amateurs cooks.
Over the years Franco has been the recipient of many awards for his services to the restaurant and tourism industries, however in February 2003 he received his greatest honor when he was awarded the OBE in recognition of his services to the culinary industry and to the community in Monmouthshire.
Since 1968, when he first appeared in Take Six Cooks, Franco has appeared on numerous TV food programmes, including a six-part series entitled Franco and Friends.
Franco and his wife have jointly had five cookery books published andthey are currently writing a book on the cuisine of the Le Marche. Franco is also a ‘hands on’ president of St Anne’s Hopspice, Newport. Aposition he is very proud to hold.
Lindy Wildsmith
Lindy Wildsmith is a freelance food and recipe writer, and member of the Guild of Food Writers, and of the Slow Food Movement. She develops exclusive recipes for magazines, the retail trade and for her own courses. She has written features for House and Garden and demonstrates for them regularly at the House and Garden and Spirit of Christmas shows at Olympia.
Her most recent book, Eating Outdoors: Cooking and Entertaining Outside (published by Rylands Peters and Small), is a celebration of summer food. She has also written books on pasta sauces, pasta making and preserves.
Some of her favourite subjects are fish and game, speciality products, seasonal ingredients sourced locally wherever possible, food and travel, the origins and history of food and food styling. Food miles and sustainable fishing are two of her professional concerns. Her food writing is enriched by anecdotes and stories about the people she meets and the atmosphere of the places she visits.
Lindy runs the GTwoClub at Wilton Court, Ross-on-Wye, a riverside hotel on the borders of England and Wales, where she presents her own themed seasonal demonstrations and hosts celebrity cooking events. Since October 2001 she has also been working with Franco Taruschio (formerly of the the acclaimed Walnut Tree Restaurant) staging hands-on lunch party cooking days and weekend courses at the Hill Abergavenny. She also teaches at the exclusively Italian cookery school, Cucina Caldesi in Marylebone Lane, London.
Lindy’s style of food brings together the best of British country and Italian regional cooking and the culinary experiences she enjoyed around the Mediterranean and the Middle East before settling in Britain.
Her recipes are designed for everyday; for people who enjoy healthy balanced eating, cooking and good company. Her dishes adapt equally well to the family table, casual meals and elegant entertaining, and leave the cook time to enjoy the occasion and the company. Her work also reflects her awareness of the many food intolerances suffered as a result of our modern lifestyle.
Lindy speaks fluent Italian, runs Italian courses and has an in-depth knowledge of Italy and Italian food. 'My love of food was born in the English countryside, grew on visits to the Mediterranean and flourished during a seven-year spell in Italy'.
Visit Lindy's website: lindywildsmith.co.uk
THE HILL EDUCATION & CONFERENCE CENTRE, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, NP7 7RP
Tel: 01495 333777 Fax: 01495 333778 Email: Hill@coleggwent.ac.uk