Where

Best Food Writing 2016

Laura writes and photographs a monthly food column with recipes in Cambridge Magazine, and restaurant reviews for olive  magazine.  She formerly wrote a food column for Cambridge News.

Her work is also published in Best Food Writing 2016, edited by Holly Hughes (Da Capo Press).

 

Blog: Crumbs on the Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try Laura’s recipes and read her stories about food on her blog, Crumbs on the Table, which was shortlisted for the Guild of Food Writers Food Blog of the Year, 2015.

Teaching:

Laura teaches cooking privately, and in 2016 and 2015 also shared her favourite recipes and tips teaching hands-on cookery at Baythorne Hall Cookery School, near Halstead, Essex. 

Classes for 2016 included fish, shellfish, three pastry workshops, and casual entertaining French bistro style, as described below.  If you are interested in these or other classes, please contact Laura.  

2016 classes

Fish Fundamentals

Saturday 21st May 2016 (10am-4pm)

This all-day hands-on class will give you the skills to prepare fish confidently and cook it to perfection.  I will teach a variety of versatile oven and stovetop methods that can be adapted for many types of fish, to ensure moistness and flavour. The class also covers exciting sauces that will dress up any weeknight fish supper or make a special occasion meal.

Shellfish Cookery

Saturday 11th June 2016 (10am-4pm)

This full-day hands-on class will give you the knowledge and confidence to buy shellfish, store it safely, prepare it for cooking, and cook it to perfection using techniques and exciting recipes you can use again and again as you expand your seafood repertoire.

Healthy Eating: Great Meatless Meals

Saturday 30th July 2016 (10am-4pm)

This all-day hands-on class offers a selection of outstanding dishes for days when you want something delicious, quick, wholesome and meat-free. Whether you are a meat-eater looking for satisfying ways to eat less meat, or you need inspiration to cook for vegetarians, or whether you are a committed vegetarian looking for new ideas, this class will give you some keepers that you can use again and again to make part of a healthy diet.  All are straightforward dishes you can put together with a few easily available ingredients.

Pastry Skills, Class 1: Tarts, Sweet and Savoury

Thursday, 1st September 2016 (6pm-9pm)

This is one of three evening classes on the classic techniques of pastry, where the focus is on mastering a range of techniques that will equip you to create some spectacular sweet and savoury creations.  This class teaches you the principles of that most fundamental and versatile pastry, the short crust pastry: the foundation for pies and tarts we know and love, and for a world of others you’ll want to explore and invent. You will make two of the most useful types of short crust pastry and create a pair of masterpieces to bring home:  indulgent savoury crab tartlets with a savoury herb and cheese crust; and a beautiful tart au citron – the classic lemon tart that endures as one of the most irresistible pastry desserts in the classical pastry canon.

Pastry Skills, Class 2: Choux pastry

Thursday, 8th September 2016 (6pm-9pm)

This is one of three evening classes on the classic techniques of pastry, where the focus is on mastering a range of techniques that will equip you to create some spectacular sweet and savoury creations.  In this class you will master the magic of éclairs, cream puffs and profiteroles, learning how to shape these wonders of gastronomy, and making two fillings – a crème mousseline  (a lighter crème patissière) and a chantilly pralinée  (lightly whipped cream with caramelised nuts), as well as a delicious chocolate sauce.  You will taste the difference with these homemade creations.

Pastry Skills, Class 3: Puff pastry

Thursday, 15 September 2016 (6pm-9pm)

This is one of three evening classes on the classic techniques of pastry, where the focus is on mastering a range of techniques that will equip you to create some spectacular sweet and savoury creations. This class demos how to make this super-light and flaky pastry from scratch, and gives you time to make two wonderful creations to take home, using good ready-made all-butter puff pastry: fabulous tomato, herb and prosciutto tartlets; and a fresh plum tart: two absolute showstoppers you can vary endlessly.

Casual entertaining, French bistro style

Saturday, 15th October 2016 (10am-4pm)

This all-day hands-on class will give you some ideas for easy entertaining around a French-inspired menu of delicious foods that people really enjoy getting together to eat.  Convivial, colourful and comforting, these are inspired do-ahead dishes that leave you time to enjoy your own party.  Practical tips on freezing, storing and prepping like a pro will be covered so you can apply that knowledge to constructing other easy entertaining menus as well as today’s feast. We’ll also look at wines, constructing a cheese board, and a few extra touches that make your party that bit more special without the need for heroics.

 

Feb Mar 2015 046Laura is no longer selling at the lovely Wyken Vineyards Farmers’ Market near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.  A huge thank you to all the loyal customers who supported Cottage Garden Cookery at this beautiful venue through 2015, and to Wyken Vineyards itself and my fellow stall-holders for their extremely generous support and encouragement.  It’s my favourite market in the East of England, in the most charming setting with beautiful grounds, excellent shopping and an award winning restaurant (plus the best coffee I’ve had in Britain).

If you wish to stay in touch, do please contact me.  

 

Past events

Wyken Vineyards Farmers Market

Saturday, 5 December, 9am-1pm, Wyken Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk.

Saturday, 7 November, 9am-1pm, Wyken Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk.

Saturday, 31 October, 9am-1pm, Wyken Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk.

Saturday 3 October, 9am-1pm,  Wyken Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk.

Saturday 31 October, 9am-1pm,  Wyken Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk.

Saturday 7 November, 9am-1pm,  Wyken Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk.

Saturday 5 December, 9am-1pm,  Wyken Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk.

Linton Easter Market 2015

Linton Easter Market

Saturday 28 March, 10-3 pm, Linton Market Square, High Street, Linton, Cambridgeshire CB21 4HS

Laura joined other artisanal producers and Steak and Honour for the delightful Linton Easter Market hosted by The Linton Kitchen, held on the market square on Linton High Street, right next to The Linton Kitchen.  This is always a charming event on just the right scale, with quality goods and gifts to take home, delicious cakes and  tea with Gemma, and a phenomenal burger from the boys in the cute van.

 

2014 in review

Cottage Garden Cookery had a very busy and happy 2014, thanks to the many receptive customers, retailers, event organizers, and friends near and far, who supported Laura and like what she does.  Highlights included:

  • Linton Christmas Street Market, organised by The Linton Kitchen, in the company of other small producers including Steak and Honour, Cambridge Gourmet Mallows, and OOO Olive Oil.
  • Featured Guest Producer at a special Tasting Day and participation in 2-day Festive Food Show Case at the Gog Magog Hills Farm Shop.
  • Grantchester Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair, Grantchester, in the company of artists in the Cambridge Open Studio network.
  • Monthly  Farmer’s Markets in Linton and Impington, Cambridgeshire.
  • Oxford Annual Food Symposium 2014, examining the theme of “Markets,” historical and present day.
  • Speciality and Fine Food Fair 2014, London.

 


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