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

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
 

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 ...

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.