Indulgent, Cookery based Hen Parties

For a delicious and indulgent hen party, why not make like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba and Kylie Minogue and book a delicious and engaging cookery class.  For the first time, Venturi’s Table in London’s Wandsworth Town will offer three hour long Italian cookery events tailored for brides-to-be and their hens. In gorgeous, private kitchens you will have fun creating delicious, authentic recipes effortlessly while sipping fine Sicilian wines. At the end of your ‘hard labour’ you will then enjoy the restaurant-quality meal you have had a hand in creating and the bride may have even learnt some tips she can wow her new hubbie with!

A hen party cookery experience at Venturi’s Table costs £95 per person + VAT which includes recipes to take home and a free copy of Anna Venturi’s recipe book ‘Secrets from an Italian Kitchen’ for the bride-to-be. An Italian wine tasting session is also available for an additional £45 per person + VAT.

Venturi’s Table is famous for its first class cookery events, normally only open to top professionals and leading business brands. From February 2009 however, and for the first time, the centre will allow groups of hens and stags to experience its exclusive cookery experiences as a wedding planning treat. Hens and stags will enjoy a hands-on cookery class with expert chefs in kitchens worth over £150,000 each, kitted out with cutting edge technology and showcasing the best of Northern Italian design. The centre’s approach is bespoke and indulgent with menus tailored for each group, using only the best ingredients sourced from specialist Italian suppliers.

The hen party cookery experience

The emphasis is on fun, relaxation and enjoyment. Rather than mindless amounts of chopping or arm-straining mixing, participants are invited to ‘sip and stir,’ enjoying fine wines as they cook in a state-of-the-art kitchen. At the end of their session, hungry and fully relaxed, the group will sit down together and be served the gourmet food they have created themselves. Nothing is prepared in advance in order that the pleasure of the cooking process is fully experienced. Different levels of culinary skill are accounted for, with seasoned cooks exposed to trade secrets and beginners able to get stuck in to well structured recipes. A team of chefs and waiting staff are also provided for each group to ensure the creation of the meal is both enjoyable and effortless.

The Italian menu

Contemporary Italian is the centre’s signature menu, devised by its Managing Director Anna Venturi. Anna has been teaching Italian cooking for over 15 years and runs Venturi’s Table with her daughter Letizia Tufari. She has been featured as an Italian cookery expert in the Telegraph Magazine, the Observer Food Monthly, Waitrose Food Illustrated, Olive magazine and on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. Each recipe within the menu will offer an interesting combination of classic Italian cooking with a modern twist, giving participants a fresh look at an enduringly popular cuisine. Homemade pasta, stuffed pork fillet with fresh herbs and sun-dried tomatoes and caramelised oranges with toasted almonds and Limoncello are just some of the recipe options groups will enjoy.

Wine tasting

For a more complete gastronomic experience, groups can also enjoy a wine tasting tutorial with an expert at the end of their meal. The tasting provides an overview of Italian wines, looking at regional variations in taste and smell. Participants are then invited to sample an edited selection of fine reds and whites and finish with a blind taste challenge.

Goodie bags

The group will leave with each of the recipes they have cooked and the bride-to-be will receive a free copy of Anna Venturi’s new recipe book ‘Secrets from an Italian Kitchen’ published by Pavilion. ‘Secrets from an Italian Kitchen’ is full of approachable, fail-safe Italian recipes, perfect for new cooks or new wives keen to impress!

Event timings

Hen party cookery experiences (without a wine tasting) last three hours with timings designed to suit each client. Morning and evening slots are the most popular, allowing groups to work towards an hour long lunchtime or evening meal.

For more information about Venturi's Table or to book a cookery experience for your hen party please call 020 8875 7488 or e.mail enquiries@venturis-table.com

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