Fun in the kitchen

MANILA, Philippines - Putting food on the table is no mean feat. That’s why most people regard cooking as a chore and look at the kitchen as literally a pressure cooker.

Not for the quartet of chefs who founded and now operates The Cookery Place, a different kind of cooking school located at the Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Pioneering a new concept called Recreational Cooking, the cooking school fosters a relaxed atmosphere that places emphasis on having fun at the kitchen. 

“As opposed to professional cooking, recreational cooking is an activity for fun, relaxation or a break from one’s usual routine,” says managing chef Rhenee Sy, who founded The Cookery Place along with fellow chefs Jan Viray, Paul Samson and Dexter Que. “The idea for this cooking school came about after we saw the lack of places wherein food enthusiasts or people who want to learn how to cook can go to learn about cooking with others in a fun and relaxed kitchen. It’s a place where people can get together and learn at the same time.”

The ambiance and design of this cooking school is indeed more relaxed compared to others. It is a good venue to foster relationships through cooking. It also has a homey rather than industrial kitchen as its workshop area along with a dining room where students can gather after the class to eat what they cooked, interact with their chef instructor and talk about their class experience.

Kids and adults alike can take lessons at The Cookery Place.

Chef Rhenee says the method of teaching at The Cookery Place is also informal but very much informative. “For cooking classes we can have up to six to 12 students, depending on the nature of the class. We do not go beyond 12 to maintain the “intimacy” of the class so that students can learn more effectively and so that there will be a lower chef to student ratio.”

The varied courses at The Cookery Place are also tailor-made for just about every member in the family from mom and dad to kids to everyone in between. There’s even a househelp demo series that presents househelps with a better opportunity to be more educated in the kitchen.

The school also offers hands-on classes like Chef it Up! and Baking Basics Series.

The Cookery Place also hosts events such as private lessons, cooking parties for adults and kids, teambuilding events, private lunches/dinners and demo dinners. The kitchen/venue is also being rented out for those who need it for a few hours to a few days. They also have a food solution services for individuals/groups who plan to put up their own food businesses.

(The Cookery Place is located at Unit 2GH Kensington Place, 1st Avenue corner 29th St. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. For more information, please call 822-7068.)