Cooking Classes by Cooking on Witta

I recently learned about cooking classes held by Chef Kim Broad, from Cooking on Witta. And given how close they are to home, I immediately contacted Kim to see if I could interview her about her new venture. But, instead of an interview she invited me to come along to the next class which as luck would have it, was the following Monday. Now who’s going to say no to a generous offer like that!

I arrived a little after the start of the class, expecting to walk into a group seated around a bench with Kim teaching, like most cooking classes. What I walked into looked more like a group of good friends hanging out and having lots of fun preparing a meal together. (you know the way we used to before the introduction of social media and other disruptions to our lives). It was in fact, an Italian cooking class where a group of avid food enthusiasts learned how to make fresh Gnocchi, Ravioli, 3 different sauces and 2 desserts. The smells were incredible, and the laughter and loud chatter made it clear that everyone was having a fantastic time.

A petite bundle of energy, Kim had organised everyone into groups at different stations to learn different skills and was moving between groups with enthusiasm. You could clearly see this was her passion! Her delight was infectious, setting the tone for a day filled with learning, laughter, and, of course, delicious food. I honestly had no idea there were such tantalizing cooking classes near me. I would have enrolled long ago!

Culinary School Just outside Maleny

The location of this culinary school is stunning. Nestled in the gorgeous green hills of Witta, just outside the town of Maleny in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. You could be forgiven for thinking you had been transported to a lush green province in Italy.

From the wrap around veranda, you can glimpse amazing views across the range and beyond. The peace and quiet makes you feel like you have truly escaped the rat race as resident cattle graze and the king parrots join in the fun on their feeding station just out of arms reach.

But back to the food. Mouth watering smells from the burned sage butter and the blue cheese sauce were a hint of things to come, as students got the full experience of preparing and then sitting and enjoying the dishes they created earlier. All this is paired with the perfect wines if you fancy indulging, making it a day to remember.

If that isn’t enough to convince you to enrol, these cooking classes are deliberately kept intimate in size. By keeping the classes small, Kim can provide a more customised experience for each of the students.

There is plenty of time to ask questions, practice what you are learning and even share how you did it with other members of the class. Kim loves to make a point of having the students demonstrate what they’ve learned to the others. What a great way to reinforce their learning.

Emphasis on Fresh

Being a devoted gardener, it warmed my heart to hear Kim’s emphasis on the importance of always using the freshest ingredients. She often adapts  a recipe to allow for seasonal produce. We were provided with fresh ingredients sourced from Cooking On Witta’s citrus orchard and vegetable patch, as well as locally grown produce from the area. That’s always going to get a big tick from me. Fresh ingredients, reduced food miles and much better nutritional value!

Chef Kim emphasized the importance of using only the freshest ingredients, and it was clear that she took great pride in the quality of the ingredients used in her recipes. The difference in flavours was unmistakable and really showed just how important quality ingredients are to the end result.

Kim brings over two decades of experience to these classes and it is so obvious that she is consummate professional at what she does.

Her ability to pass on her knowledge is surprisingly unique in my experience. So often experts really struggle to translate their knowledge into bite sized (pardon the pun, no don’t, I meant it!) usable steps and end up just overwhelming their students. But Kim left us feeling like we already knew how to do everything she was teaching us and she was simply reminding us how to make the most amazing fresh Gnocchi with burned sage butter. And pumpkin and feta ravioli with blue cheese sauce. That takes skill!

Subtle flavours and Beautiful food

One of the guests that day, was adamant she hated blue cheese and wouldn’t be eating that sauce, well, 10 minutes after we started to feast on the morning’s creations, she admitted it was absolutely beautiful. All the flavours were subtle without any overpowering ingredients. It all just worked.

Kim has studied under some world class chefs found in prestigious locations such as The Rock Pool Bar and Grill in Sydney, and Lorraine Godsmark who went on the create The Queen of Tarts.  “Lorraine taught me more about cooking than any other Chef” Kim said. “She was a perfectionist, so organised, and her pastries and desserts were a reflection of her perfectionist attitude”.

Unlike a lot of chefs, Kim has somehow managed to maintain a light and breezy and incredibly inviting approach to food preparation. You won’t find any Gordon Ramsey tendencies in Chef Kim. When we were chatting between courses, she mentioned she was still in touch with apprentices she trained many years ago. Now that is the sign of someone who genuinely loves people and sharing her skills with them.

More than just a Pasta Class

If you are a lover of Italian food, attending a pasta making class should be on your bucket list, but I’d be insulting Kim to reduce what she offers to pasta lessons. She teaches how to appreciate the ingredients, to take your time and immerse yourself into the creative side of preparing and cooking exquisite meals for your friends and family. She makes it an art form and one you can take joy in.

But Kim offers much more than Italian cooking classes.

She also offers ‘Mediterranean to the middle East’ Mezze (small dishes eaten as appetizers if you aren’t familiar with the term) classes. This one is next on my list, think Spanakopita, Dolmades, Tzatziki and Basbousa and you know why this is a must for any foodies cooking class bucket list.

And don’t get me started on the ‘Just Dessert’ classes. Crème caramels, Chocolate Torte, Panna Cotta to name just a few.

Book your Cooking Classes direct

You can book your next culinary experience via Kim’s website, cookingonwittamaleny.com.au or email her at kim@cookingonwitta.com

Cooking on Witta also provides private cooking classes for special events like birthdays, baby showers, corporate events or any celebration you want to share with friends.

What a fun and unique way to celebrate. Kim is a delight and will make it a truly special experience for you.

Thanks Kim for bringing your amazing skills to our beautiful town, you will fit right in.