Celebrity chef helps to satisfy appetite for learning to cook

The Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School at Southburn, near Driffield, aims to offer people of all abilities the chance to learn more about cooking.

The school at Highfield Farm will offer a variety of one-day courses and three-hour demonstrations, taught by in-house chef, Ali Bilton. Bed and breakfast is available in converted farm buildings nearby.

People can look at the school and its accommodation at an open event from 10am until 2pm this Saturday.

The business was set up by JSR, one of the UK's largest family-owned farming companies, after they spotted a gap in the market for what is the East Riding's first cookery school.

Marketing manager Bev Gibson said there were courses for every level of ability. "We go from someone who can barely boil an egg to someone who's at home with cordon bleu."

The company will also be looking to recruit people to its tasting panels to sample varieties of pork and beef.

Ms Bilton, who has run her own catering businesses in the UK as well as abroad, said: "In the run up to the launch I have been working with a number of local suppliers to source some great quality, seasonal produce for my menus. It's important to me that the school supports the local farming industry and buys direct from Yorkshire-based suppliers whenever possible."

One course will cover cooking for a Christmas dinner party.