Cooking classes on menu for food week

Cooking and baking masterclasses and sumptuous food competitions will be on the menu for the third annual NT Food Week at Charles Darwin University’s Palmerston campus next week (Oct 2-5).

Bakery lecturer David Barker said the four-day event would provide the perfect opportunity for foodies of all skill levels to brush up on their culinary techniques.

“We’ll show people the art and science of making gourmet sausages, how to make a basket of party pastries and how to prepare a fresh Barra into a delicious two-course meal,” Mr Barker said.

“We’ll also run Kids in the Kitchen, a fun program where children between the ages of eight and 12 years will make a healthy two-course meal and a fruit drink, which they’ll get to eat in the Karawa Restaurant.”

Mr Barker said food week was also about culinary excellence.

“The NT culinary competition is designed for the Territory’s top chefs and cookery students to demonstrate their knowledge, skill and ability to present portions of a quality you’d expect in a top restaurant.

“We expect to see exquisite entrees, main courses cooked to perfection and the highest quality desserts, cakes, loaves and pies.”

Mr Barker said two $500 prizes were on offer: one for the most outstanding chef and the other to the most outstanding student. Prizes of $250 are also on offer in the bread, cake and pastry sections.

He said CDU also would host two regional Worldskills competitions – bread baking and open cookery – on Tuesday 3 October.

“This is a big test of knowledge and skills for our apprentices, trainees and students with the winner being awarded a place in the national final next year,” Mr Barker said.

NT Food Week will be held at the commercial kitchens and bakery at Palmerston campus next week from 2-5 October. Classes will range from two-to-five hours and cost between $20 to $40. For more information call 8946 7842.