Courses are designed so that we can train groups of mixed abilities, making all courses suitable for both complete beginners and more experienced cooks. Our short courses have proved to be extremely successful - short enough for students to remain focused and enthusiastic about cooking but long enough to turn a complete beginner into a competent cook. The One Day Course starts at 9.30am with a brief introduction, followed by knife skills and then preparations for a five – six course lunch (sample menus below). The lunch party starts with a glass of bubbly and canapés, wine is served during lunch and the meal concludes with cheese and port followed by fresh coffee and petits fours. After lunch there is a tour of the kitchen garden, for those who are interested. During the afternoon students can bake cakes, biscuits etc. to take home. Our five day and two week courses qualify for The Residential Project of The Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We are an Approved Activity Provider for the D of E

We will show you short cuts and pass on valuable tips of the trade, teach you how to handle disasters and equip you to cope with the unexpected problems you may come across while cooking at altitude (exploding cakes being the most memorable one!). The extensive kitchen garden where we grow our own herbs, fruit and vegetables. Most other ingredients are sourced from local suppliers. Students are taken on a tour of the kitchen garden to see how some of the produce they use during their course is grown and harvested. There is a MUGA (multi use games area) for students to play tennis, football, basketball, netball etc. The Two Day Course in an intensive course andstarts at 9.30am with a short introduction, followed by knife skills and then preparations for a three-four course lunch (sample menus below). After lunch break there is an opportunity to bake cakes for afternoon tea together with preparing food for the dinner party in the evening. The six course meal starts with a glass of bubbly and canapés and concludes with cheese and port, followed by fresh coffee and petits fours.

Students can do the Level2 Award in Food Safety in Cateringwhile on the course (an optional extra on the two week course only) which is recommended to students who may want to earn money with their new skills. Henry’s Avalanche Talk. Henry is well known and experienced Mountain Safety expert in Val d’Isere and he has prepared a bespoke training video for Orchards students to introduce them to the real risks of skiing off piste and the dangers of avalanches. The course fulfils the creativity requirements of the CAS of the International Baccalaureate Diplomaprogramme Designed specifically for ski season Chalet Cooks (although the course is a good all-round course for those who want to learn to cook), the course will boost your confidence, develop your culinary skills and knowledge of cooking and give you the ability and inspiration to create your own masterpieces in the kitchen. Students take home their freshly baked cake or biscuits and a goodie bag including an Orchards Cookery book, apron, tea towel, mug and a pen.

Coffee (cappuccino, espresso, latté etc,) & petite fours : Chocolate Fudge / Strawberries dipped in White Chocolate Courses qualify forThe Residential Project of The Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (we are an Approved Activity Provider)Continental breakfast (for those staying at The Orchards), mid-morning tea, coffee and refreshments, four-five course lunch, afternoon tea and four-five course dinner with wine. The following year in 2006, two additional kitchens were built in beautifully converted Bidford-on-Avon stone stables, so twenty-four students could be trained at the school. In 2015 (after many years of working with planners and builders!) the farm courtyard was developed expanding the school further so forty-eight students could be trained in six separate kitchens. The addition of Hoppers Bar (including a dancefloor!) has been enormous fun for both staff and students so any additional calories consumed during the day can be shaken off on the dancefloor! The courses are suitable for both beginners and experienced cooks who are after new ideas and for individuals or group bookings.