Penny delivered her high professional standards to a newcomer to cooking like me,with patience,professionalism and person-ability.
She made preparing and delivery of high quality cuisine a seamless exercise transforming the rank amateur into a cook that can and does deliver very acceptable dishes to all tastes.

It is difficult to recommend her to highly as  given her role as chef to the aristocracy, she is still able to summon the humility and patience to teach those who hitherto have had little clue as how to cook semi-professionally.

Therefore i should like to recommend Penny as the all-round master chef that can and will prepare and teach high class cuisine to one and all thus bringing down any barriers to those wishing to prepare and deliver high quality food without intimidation.

Learning under Penny has been a life-changing experience for me and I would recommend her qualities without reservation or hesitation.

with thanks,

Ben Maxted

Waitrose is delighted to be involved with The Culinary Cottage, particularly as we both share a real passion for quality food. Penny’s calm approach to preparing excellent meals is an inspiration to all who cook with her.

Waitrose looks forward to a long and happy relationship with Penny and The Culinary Cottage.

Waitrose ABERGAVENNY

My friends Louise and Julia and I have been to two of Penny's cookery days (so far): Entertaining Made Easy and, just last weekend, Temptingly Thai. We were fortunate enough to have Penny all to ourselves on both occasions, and what a great time we had. Penny is extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and imparts that knowledge and enthusiasm with a smile and great patience! The Thai dishes we prepared were so flavoursome and fresh, and we left not only full of delicious food but also full of ideas and good intentions to buy lots of gorgeous Thai ingredients and have a go ourselves - though how we will fare without Penny's expert guidance remains to be seen ...

I would like to nominate Penny Lewis of the Culinary Cottage in Abergavenny South Wales for the best cookery school award. I have attended several courses with her in her delightful school and have been encouraged by Penny to try skills which I thought way beyond my capability.

Her teaching and guidance is excellent in that she is friendly but very constructive and encouraging! Penny has not only succeeded in making me a better and more enthusiastic cook but she has changed the way I feel about feeding my family and my approach to food.
I was a somewhat timid cook and now can look at a few lack lustre ingredients in my fridge and concoct a meal! Goodbye ready meals! I have Penny to thank for this,her Cookery School is simply the best!

Kind Regards

Cheryl Davies

Of course, I’ll be delighted to offer something by way of a testimony but it’s a question of how to cram so much into a small space!
I guess what I’d like  to say is based upon my own much-valued measurement in business…

The only possible reason that you’d pay to go along twice is if you think you’ve had value-for-money. I’m looking forward to the 5th session!!
Simply put, 10 hours have never passed so quickly. Many things to learn every time in a really friendly and productive environment’.

Penny, I’m not suggesting you put up your prices (please don’t!) but if you consider a 90 minute football match - £50, a 3 hour music concert - £80, a I hour music lesson - £20, then it’s difficult to imagine why it’s not value for money. You buy all the ingredients, you feed me twice in the day (no mean feat!).

Oh, yes, and I’m a better cook! It’s a no-brainer.

Grant Barlow