Off to University
Five Day Intensive Course
The Off to University course is designed for school leavers and undergraduates who are about to move away from home and cook for themselves for the first time. The course is intensive and each fun packed day concludes with a dinner party.
The course is designed to boost confidence and develop students’ culinary skills and knowledge of cooking, giving them the ability, inspiration and enthusiasm to whip up delicious, affordable meals for flatmates, family and friends.
The meals we cover are quick, easy, healthy and affordable. Students learn a huge variety of dishes, including: how to cook mince and all the meals you can make with it (spaghetti bolognaise, cottage pie, lasagne); a roast meal; soups; salads, curry; fish pie; pasta bake; omelettes; cakes; biscuits; ice creams and sorbets; meringues; cheese cakes etc. and a few fun meals like Mexican fajitas and a cheese fondue.
We also cover:
Students take away a hard back coloured cookery book full of recipes (over 420) and a goodie bag.
Many of our Off to University students have helped to fund their way through University by cooking/catering during their holidays and free time. To date, the record earned is £1,500 in a week!
Students can add to their training and experience by doing the Online course before they come. Students who do the online course receive a £200 discount on the course fees of the residential course.
The course qualifies for the Residential Project of The Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
The course is designed to boost confidence and develop students’ culinary skills and knowledge of cooking, giving them the ability, inspiration and enthusiasm to whip up delicious, affordable meals for flatmates, family and friends.
The meals we cover are quick, easy, healthy and affordable. Students learn a huge variety of dishes, including: how to cook mince and all the meals you can make with it (spaghetti bolognaise, cottage pie, lasagne); a roast meal; soups; salads, curry; fish pie; pasta bake; omelettes; cakes; biscuits; ice creams and sorbets; meringues; cheese cakes etc. and a few fun meals like Mexican fajitas and a cheese fondue.
We also cover:
- Easy entertaining so students can cook dinner parties for friends and family, as well as earn money cooking during University holidays
- Menu planning
- Hygiene and safety in the kitchen - avoiding food poisoning!
- Shopping - what, where and when to buy
- Storing food
- Healthy eating
- Portion control
- Coping with disasters
- Cooking for one can be expensive, so we cover cooking in larger quantities and making use of the freezer
- Wine tasting with a cheese board (an optional extra available on most courses)
Students take away a hard back coloured cookery book full of recipes (over 420) and a goodie bag.
Many of our Off to University students have helped to fund their way through University by cooking/catering during their holidays and free time. To date, the record earned is £1,500 in a week!
Students can add to their training and experience by doing the Online course before they come. Students who do the online course receive a £200 discount on the course fees of the residential course.
The course qualifies for the Residential Project of The Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
In The Press
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The Times... "Time to Get Fresher with Chef" Nick Wyke
"A course to fast-track students from clueless to cool in the kitchen ensures a healthy start to life away from home…
The shiny clean, well-equipped kitchen is a hive of activity. Saucepans are bubbling with farm-fresh vegetables, golden chicken breasts sit ready to be sliced, a bunch of herbs from the old trough outside the back door are being finely chopped and chocolatey aroma wafts from a briefly opened oven door. Timers buzz and James Blunt croons in the background. Eight freshers-to-be, feeling a blend of stress and excitement, are applying the finishing touches to a three-course meal…"
The shiny clean, well-equipped kitchen is a hive of activity. Saucepans are bubbling with farm-fresh vegetables, golden chicken breasts sit ready to be sliced, a bunch of herbs from the old trough outside the back door are being finely chopped and chocolatey aroma wafts from a briefly opened oven door. Timers buzz and James Blunt croons in the background. Eight freshers-to-be, feeling a blend of stress and excitement, are applying the finishing touches to a three-course meal…"
Edge Magazine... Learn To Do More Than Just Cook
"The Bomford sisters have set out to inspire, motivate and encourage young people to take control of their lives and invest in their future – through the art of cookery..."
"Isabel and Lucy have devised the perfect course to prepare teenagers for university, teaching them to cook healthy cost effective meals."
"Through a doorway in the wall of the garden, lies a stunning kitchen garden where students have the opportunity to see how the fresh produce used at the school is grown. Orchards Cookery School provides fantastic opportunities for anyone wishing to become a better cook but particularly for young people who want to gain experience and learn the necessary skills for their gap year and university ventures."
"Isabel and Lucy have devised the perfect course to prepare teenagers for university, teaching them to cook healthy cost effective meals."
"Through a doorway in the wall of the garden, lies a stunning kitchen garden where students have the opportunity to see how the fresh produce used at the school is grown. Orchards Cookery School provides fantastic opportunities for anyone wishing to become a better cook but particularly for young people who want to gain experience and learn the necessary skills for their gap year and university ventures."
Thank You Letters
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"He had a fabulous time with you – thank you – in fact I think it was the best investment!!"
Gill Faldo
"Just to thank you all so much for having Jamie and his friend Alex on the above course [Off to University Course] - although I have yet to catch up with them both in person to hear a full account, they obviously both had a really great time and you have saved me, as jamie's mother, a great deal of anxt by teaching them to look after themselves nutritionally - something I'd had several failed attempts at doing.
By contrast, Jamie's text on returning said that he'd had an 'awesome' week (the ultimate accolade indeed!) and said it had been his best birthday present. Many many thanks to all concerned."
By contrast, Jamie's text on returning said that he'd had an 'awesome' week (the ultimate accolade indeed!) and said it had been his best birthday present. Many many thanks to all concerned."
Claire Wilson
"I just wanted to write to with the positive and enthusiastic feedback I have had from James having been on a cooking course with you recently. To quote him he said it's one of the best weeks he has ever had!"
Fiona Barton
"Thank you so much for the most brilliant week at Orchards....In one week I never expected to learn so much! It was a wonderful week of incredible food fabulous teaching and so many laughs”
Hayley Wood
Dates & Prices
(£1,145 - £1,345)
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14 October 2024
- 18 October 2024 (£1,345)
21 October 2024
- 25 October 2024 (£1,345)
28 October 2024
- 01 November 2024 (£1,345)
16 December 2024
- 20 December 2024 (£1,295)