During the class, Gill took us out to forage for blackberries to mix into our bread, and herbs and wildflowers to add to our butter. I could not have been happier if I’d have met Hugh himself. Okay, so that’s a lie, but it was just amazing.
The cooking school is gorgeously furnished and extremely well equipped. We each had our own refrigerator and an oven between two, and the shelves were stacked high with spotless boards, bowls and instruments for the culinary arts.
After our session we headed out for a little food styling and another look around for those of us who were curious to explore every inch that we could. When we were told “access all areas”, we headed to the kitchen as fast as it looked respectable to do so – although most of us hung around at the doorway like we were at the headmaster’s office, waiting to be told off. It was like forbidden territory and so completely captivating watching them work.
A little wander found one of the rooms in which the filming takes place for River Cottage, with the most gorgeous aga that made me immediately homesick for Wales.
We picked golden raspberries as after-lunch treasures and gazed at the clouds of sweetpeas that engulfed parts of the garden walls, until it was time to go inside for a final session together and head home.
It was a truly memorable and completely unforgettable experience to spend the day at River Cottage HQ. It was my first visit – but it certainly won’t be my last [sorry Gill]. Thank you for a wonderful day.
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