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 ...

The Culinary Cottage is a wonderful cookery school, located at the foot of the picturesque Sugar Loaf mountain in Wales.  Set up and run single handily by the very enthusiastic Penny Lewis.

I have been on three courses so far and always come away inspired and looking forward to the next.
Penny has built up the reputation of her school by regularly giving demonstrations at local food festivals.  Forging links with suppliers and manufacturers such as Waitrose and Aga ensuring that she is linked with companies that share her vision for excellence.  She has also had articles in publications.

Her organisational skills are as impressive as her cookery skills.  The administration of this small and intimate cookery school is impressive and effective,  it could be used by much larger concern.  She has developed a very professional website and produces personalised cloth bags (used for students to take samples home) and recipe binders full of the wonderful recipes followed on the course.  Her advertising flyers are also of a superb quality.  She maintains her very high standards throughout all aspects of the cookery school.

A testament to Penny's wonderful cookery school is that I am always excited when booking a course.  It feels like such a treat/indulgence.  I count down the days as if going on a holiday.  I have enjoyed the courses so much that I have booked them for friends as a present.
The day is packed full of cooking ideas and tips, Penny's wealth of experience in catering for some very important clients and functions are reflected in the dishes.  Your day starts with a binder so full of recipes that you hardly believe all can be achieved on one day, but indeed we do. Penny has the talent of making the most difficult recipe simple.  She always provides such superb clear and relaxed encouraging guidance that the cooking is completed seemingly effortlessly.

You leave with a binder full of recipes (many of which have become firm favourites, used over and over) and a goody bag bulging with tasters of the food prepared on the day.  Your day can then be shared with partners/loved ones who are always delighted to see one of Penny's cloth bags full of treats.

Lisa Dutton
 

Having attended a few famous name Cookery schools, I was intrigued to sample The Culinary Cottage which was just a few miles away from my holiday home in Abergavenny.

Well, to my delight, I learnt more in that day than I did at all the others put together!!!

Penelope's cottage cookery school is as divine as she is delightful, I can see why she is in hot demand to the rich & famous - her repertoire could not fail to impress, one that she freely shares along with all the 'tricks of the trade'. She is not too 'chefy' either, I left the class with genuinely useful recipes and skills. 

The culinary cottage is beautiful all round - literally! Beautiful place,host,surroundings & of course food! Well done Penelope for pursuing your dream and sharing your secrets!

Tania Fossey

A Tasting Time - Morrocan and Thai.  A fantastic cookery course run by Penny at the Culinary Cottage and I have come away with lots recipes that I will be trying again at home.  My favorite dishes included Spiced Tuna Steaks, Saffron & Cardamon Creme Caramel and Asian Chicken Soup.  Penny's cookery courses offer excellent value for money,  always enjoyable and suitable for all levels of cooking experience.  I look forward to returning again and again.........

Thank you Penny for another wonderful day at the Culinary Cottage.