Top Five Food Activities To Spark Connection This Year | Savoury Edition

When’s the last time you’ve done something for the first time?

Writer Annie Dillard once said, ?how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives? and yet, so much of our time is spent working we forget to play. We forget to connect - with ourselves and those we love.

But, what if we didn’t? What if we committed to doing something new, just a little more often?

This was my first ever cooking masterclass. It took my dad nearly 20 years to teach me how to make the perfect gnocchi, but he never got tired of trying.

As we get older, we tend to forget that the joy of cooking is in the process, not the final result. This photo is always a good reminder for me to follow curiosity instead of chasing perfection. With the first edition of my newsletter, I wanted to encourage you to do the same.

Cooking is a daily act of love, even if you just do it for yourself. So, why not turn it into a whole new experience this year - a chance to connect with yourself, your friends, your team or someone you haven’t yet met?

To get you started, here are my top food activities picks for you. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Pasta Masterclass with Chef Roberta ?? Pasta Evangelists

This is hands-down my favourite pasta masterclass in London! Chef Roberta is truly a force of nature – an incredible host, wonderful chef and gifted teacher. During this class, you’ll learn to make pasta ‘fatta a mano’ (hand-made pasta) guided by a team of talented Pasta Academy chefs. Each Pasta Evangelists’ class explores regional recipes and time-honoured traditions, teaching you to prepare unique pasta shapes and cook with local ingredients – try the ‘Taste of Rome’ class to make the perfect fettucine or choose the ‘Taste of Amalfi’ class to prepare delicious ricotta and lemon ravioli. This experience includes unlimited Prosecco and a tasty Italian starter upon arrival and it’s perfect for all pasta lovers – especially beginners! Corporate classes are available on demand!

Address: 14 Bonhill St, EC2A 4BX (Moorgate) & 62-63 Long Ln, EC1A 9EJ (Farringdon)

Email: [email protected]

Duration: 2hrs

Price: ￡68-￡85 per guest

Website: Pasta Academy

Instagram: @pastaevangelists

Mexican Cooking Class with Karla ?? Mexican Food Memories

Karla's cooking class has been on my wish list for a while now! For starters, her class is hosted in her beautiful home, and I don't know about you, but I can't think of a cosier experience! In this class, Karla will teach you how to prepare the classic Baja Fish Taco from scratch, helping you make your very own corn tortillas and tostadas, paired with a side of fresh prawn ceviche and smoky salsa. Can't make one of her classes? Join Karla for her Mexican Supper Club, a private dining experience priced at ￡69 per guest - perfect for a small group of friends (up to 8) or an extra special team social!

Address: East Finchley

Email: [email protected]

Duration: 3hrs

Price: ￡130 per guest

Website: Mexican Food Memories

Instagram: @mexicanfoodmemories

Sushi Masterclass at TOKii ?? The Prince Akatoki

Home to TOKii is the 5-star luxury hotel 'The Prince Akatoki' - a beautiful space set in the heart of Marylebone, designed to celebrate the elegance of Japanese hospitality. In this Sushi Masterclass, you'll get to enjoy a delicious miso soup upon arrival and a glass of traditional sake while you learn the art of sushi-making and prepare tasty nigiri and sushi rolls. Classes are available Friday through Monday at 3pm. Not quite right for you? Try TOKii’s Koto Afternoon Tea, accompanied by a live music performance, or their exclusive Omakase Experience - an 11-course seasonal tasting, priced at ￡100 per person.

Address: 50 Great Cumberland Place, W1H 7FD (Marble Arch)

Email: [email protected]

Duration: 2-3hrs

Price: ￡90 per guest

Website: TOKii

Instagram: @tokiilondon

Chinese Dumplings & Bao Cooking Class ?? Borough Kitchen

This experience was just gifted to me for my birthday – undeniable proof that my friends know me very well! In this class, recently featured on the Evening Standard as one of the best cooking classes to take in London, you'll learn skills that will last you a lifetime! You'll make Chinese dumplings and pillowy-soft bao buns entirely from scratch, learning a variety of folding techniques to knead your dough, while refining your knife skills and learning to balance Chinese condiments to make the perfect fillings. Hear that? That's the sound of all the money we could be saving on take-out from now on! ?

Address: Battersea, Chiswick, Hampstead & Islington

Email: [email protected]

Duration: 3hrs

Price: ￡125 per guest

Website: Borough Kitchen

Instagram: @boroughkitchen

Pizza Cooking Class ?? La Scuola, EATALY

Just minutes away from Liverpool Street station is EATALY, home to 'La Scuola', the perfect setting for a wine, pizza or tiramisù masterclass! Equipped with its own private kitchen, EATALY's cooking school is simply ideal for hosting private dinner parties and team building events or to treat that client you've been trying to impress to an exclusive Italian meal (with up to 16 guests). In their pizza masterclass, you'll learn to make handmade pizza dough, crafting the perfect pizza by choosing your favourite ingredients, all while enjoying a glass of Prosecco!

Address: 135 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3YD (Liverpool Street)

Email: [email protected]

Duration: 3hrs

Price: ￡60 per guest

Website: EATALY

Instagram: @eatalylondon