Majors Lane Cooking School
ProHighlights
- Private classes for groups of 6 to 18, from smoked brisket and ribs to Thai and Greek menus
- Around three hours of hands-on cooking, then lunch together with a drink included
- Held in a covered courtyard on a 100-acre Lovedale property, so rain won't cancel it
About Majors Lane Cooking School
Majors Lane Cooking School is the teaching side of Lovedale Smokehouse, a café and deli on a 100-acre property among the Lovedale vineyards. Classes are led by owner and pitmaster Ben Sales, a qualified chef who has cooked in the Hunter for three decades and has taught every class the school has run. Sessions take place outdoors in the café's covered courtyard, where fountains, music and garden views set a relaxed pace, and they go ahead whatever the weather. There are four menus to choose from. Two are low and slow barbecue masterclasses on a Traeger smoker: one built around brisket and wings with slaw and mac and cheese, the other around pork ribs with a Louisiana-style red sauce, smoked potato salad and smoked corn. The Thai class works through a red curry with a paste made from scratch, an omelette, jasmine rice, a warm beef noodle salad and pork laab, while the Greek class covers pita, tzatziki, a village salad, souvlaki, lamb keftedes and prawn saganaki. Between steps, Ben tells stories from his travels and explains the why behind each technique. For hens and bucks parties, work teams, family gatherings and wine-tour groups, the school runs private classes for between 6 and 18 people. These are held on weekdays and most Sunday mornings, take about three hours and finish with lunch made from what the group has cooked, along with a drink. Each guest leaves with an apron and recipes, and leftovers can be packed to take away. Special diets can be catered for with notice.
Inclusions & amenities
Activity type
Price range (per person)
Setting
Pricing
Food
Beverages
Availability
What's Included
Frequently asked questions
How many people can join a private class?
Private cooking classes need at least 6 people and can take up to 18, which suits most hens, bucks and work groups.
How much does a class cost?
Each class is listed at $170 per person, which covers the hands-on lesson, the meal you cook, a drink, a souvenir apron and the recipes.
When can a private group book?
Private classes are offered on weekdays and on most Sunday mornings into lunch. Bookings for private sessions close seven days before the class.
What happens if it rains?
Classes are held in the café's covered courtyard, so they run in wet weather as well as fine. Allow around three hours from start to finish.
Can the school cater for special diets?
Yes. Dietary requirements can be catered for as long as the school is told in advance, so mention them when you book your group.
Where we are
Suitable occasions
Beth KW
7 months ago
Thai cooking class was brilliant, our teacher was so knowledgeable and the pace of the class was perfect, loved it!
The Derry Kidd
4 years ago
My wife and I did the low n Slow BBQ school today, we both absolutely loved it. Ben (the instructor / owner) really knew his stuff, and talked us step by step through the process and left us with an amazing lunch / dinn…
Margo K
4 years ago
If you're looking for something filling, tasty, casual and messy, then this is the place for you. We had the ribs and chicken wings and thoroughly enjoyed this while looking at the beautiful views. There is also the opti…
Karen Hayhurst
4 years ago
Wow, what a day! Eight of us on a girls weekend went to the cafe for lunch and did the Thai cooking class with Ben. All our lunches were delicious. Lovely vibe and interesting gourmet food shop. The cooking class was gre…
Is this your business? Claim this listing
Related listings nearby
From $155pp
