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Master the Essential Skills of Professional Cooking, At Home

Learn the essential skills and techniques that will lead to a lifetime of restaurant-quality cooking, with Leiths 24-week Professional Online Cooking Course and Certificate.

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"Leiths School of Food and Wine has "seen oodles of students start up their own businesses or work in Michelin-starred restaurants."

– The Independent

Master the essential foundations of cooking

Training with Leiths is all about developing your culinary skills as an individual, to fulfil your goals and ambitions.

Our Essential Cooking Certificate online course is designed for aspiring cooks who want to refine their skills and learn the essential foundations of cooking. This course will equip you with the timeless culinary skills and techniques needed for a lifetime of confident cooking or for a career in the food industry.

Through a thorough combination of fundamental cooking techniques and a diverse, exciting range of recipes, you will develop a rounded, professional skill set in the kitchen, deepen your understanding of cooking theory, and expand your knowledge surrounding food.

On completion of this accredited course, you can look forward to unlocking a whole world of new career and personal opportunities; such as cooking for private clients or supper clubs, developing recipes, planning your own food business, or simply enjoying a lifetime of competent, confident cooking at home.

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The online Essentials Course gave me a chance to learn at my own pace, whilst being connected with other individuals like myself who wanted a new future in food or to expand their repertoire. The course members were from all over the world and of all different abilities.

– Elainea Emmott, Online Essential Student 2019/20

Learn from Leiths expert teachers in your own home

Learn a vast variety of professional cooking skills, techniques and practices from the world-renowned Leiths School of Food and Wine

Access your step-by-step, video guided cooking sessions anywhere on mobile, tablet or on the web

Learn alongside a class of likeminded aspiring cooks and receive real feedback on your cooking sessions from your dedicated class mentor

The learning experience

Our online course is brought to you in collaboration with Leiths’ tech partner; Workshop. Workshop app is an online learning platform which allows you to access all of your course materials anywhere, anytime, on mobile, tablet or the web.

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Leiths is the Oxbridge of the Food World.

– Tim Hayward, British Food Writer & Broadcaster, Restaurant Critic – FT Magazine

Essential Cooking: 24-Week Professional Online Course

Course Summary How it Works Curriculum

This 24-week course will guide you through all the fundamental cooking skills, techniques and practices that every cook needs to thrive in a modern professional kitchen.

Each week, you will unlock a new batch of video-based sessions that take you step-by-step through the process of cooking everything from choux pastry to shellfish. With Workshop’s unique hands-on method of learning, you’ll be cooking from day one with no need to read pages of theory in advance.

By joining the course, you will have access to the following through the Workshop app:

  • 24 units, unlocked weekly, guiding you through ~3 hours of cooking time each week
  • 54 individual cooking sessions
  • Expert guidance and one-to-one support from your class mentor
  • Collaborative group chat with your own private class and mentor
  • Feedback on your dishes from your class and mentor via a private in-app feed of photo uploads
  • A final assessment to earn your course Certificate of Completion

In addition to the core aspects of the course, you will also get:

  • Downloadable Leiths recipes and theory notes for you to keep
  • Access to your course dashboard for a total of 12 months after your start date
  • The opportunity to earn the full Leiths-accredited Essential Cooking Certificate at an additional two-day practical assessment in London

Average cooking time: 3 hours per week

  1. At the start of each week, you will be prompted to schedule 1-5 practical sessions and to gather all the kit you’ll need to start cooking.
  2. In every session, you will follow a Leiths teacher through a series of step-by-step videos in your own kitchen, learning directly through your experience.
  3. After each session, you will be asked to upload photos of your creations for discussion and feedback from your classmates and mentor.
  4. At the end of the course, you can take a final assessment to earn your Certificate of Completion. To earn the full Leiths-accredited Essential Cooking Certificate, you can take an in-person assessment in London for an additional fee.

Assessment

To receive your Certificate of Completion, you can undertake a 3-part assessment covering skills you have learnt during the course.

If you are opting for the full Leiths Essential Certificate, your mentor will review your progress to determine whether you’re ready for the practical two-day exam taking place at the school in London. This accreditation comes at an additional cost of £600, and provides the same certification as the £3,330 Essential Cooking Certificate: Daytime Course and Evening Course offered in-person at Leiths School of Food and Wine.

  1. Stock Making & Knife Skills
  2. Eggs: Emulsifying and Cooking
  3. Shortcrust Pastry
  4. Vegetable Cooking
  5. Pan Frying: Meat and Pan Sauces
  6. Meringues & Sugar Syrup
  7. Fish: Preparing & Cooking
  8. Choux Pastry and Creme Patisserie
  9. Shellfish: Crustaceans and Molluscs
  10. Time Planning & Roasting
  11. Pasta
  12. Bread
  13. Stewing & Slow Cooking
  14. Whisked Cakes and Rubbed-in Cake
  15. Creamed Cakes and Melted Cakes
  16. Caramel, Custard & Ice-Cream
  17. Gelatine
  18. Jointing Chicken
  19. Butchery and Meat Cooking
  20. Brunch
  21. Baking for Dietary Requirements
  22. Dinner Parties
  23. Presentation and Food Styling
  24. Assessment

Leiths School of Food and Wine, on Workshop

Leiths School of Food and Wine is an industry-leading cookery school offering professional chef diplomas, enthusiast courses and online cooking courses. We have been equipping aspiring cooks with the skills to flourish in the food world since 1975.

With a philosophy grounded in teaching the individual within a close and collaborative community, we have put immense efforts into ensuring that our online courses reflect our core values.

With Workshop’s unique learning experience, we’re now able to teach hands-on cooking skills to people in their own homes, providing in-depth feedback and a close community network just as we do at our school in London.

FAQS

Do I need to complete sessions at specific times?

Your class will be moving forward at a pace of 1 unit per week, however after each unit is unlocked you have the freedom to complete each session entirely at your own pace. You will also have the ability to schedule your sessions for times that suit your lifestyle.

This course has been carefully designed to make sure the advantages of real-world learning experiences are still embraced online. You will therefore be taken through the subject matter week-by-week to give you the chance to digest what you’ve learnt whilst progressing at a steady pace alongside your classmates. Unlike a real-world course though, you will also have the opportunity to revisit sessions and practice whenever and wherever you like!

What if I miss a week?

There’s no need to worry if you have a holiday booked or have to miss a week or two during the course. You’ll have access to your course dashboard for a total of 12 months from your start date, and so you’ll have plenty of time to catch up if you need to.

How will I interact with my class?

Shortly before your course start date, you will be invited to introduce yourself to the rest of your class via messaging on the Workshop app.

Each week, your class will unlock a new unit encouraging you all to cook the same dishes within the same week. At the end of every session, you will be asked to upload a photo of your dish, which your class and mentor will be able to view, like and provide feedback on.

Can I try before I buy?

If you would like a taster of the step-by-step online video format, we recommend you try the Leiths workshop “Mastering Sauces: Hollandaise”, which you can accessfor £9.99 here.

This simple workshop is representative of the way in which you will complete cooking sessions on the course.

How much contact will I get with my mentor?

You can contact your mentor directly through the app at any time, and will receive a response within 48 hours. Your mentor will also be able to grade and comment on your photo uploads with any feedback they may have.

When will I get to meet my class?

You’ll be able to log into the Workshop app and access your class group discussion shortly before your start date so that you can chat away and get acquainted!

What is the typical workload per week of the course?

With 1-5 practical sessions to complete each week, you can typically expect to be cooking for a combined total of about 3 hours a week.

Will I get a list of all the cooking equipment I’ll need for the course ahead of time?

Yes, we’ll send you a full equipment list after you have purchased the course. Make sure to keep an eye on your emails (including your spam folder) for this!

What is your cancellation policy?

If you book your place over 30 days before your course start date, you can cancel your booking and claim a full refund within 30 days of your purchase.

If you book your place within 30 days of the course start date, you can claim a full refund within 14 days of your purchase.

How long will I have access to the course?

You’ll have access to your course dashboard for a total time of 12 months after your start date.

Units (including video sessions and supporting materials) will become available week-by-week as your class progresses through the course.

How does the assessment work?

Your Certificate of Completion will be awarded if you pass a 3-part assessment at the end of the course.

This assessment will challenge you to replicate skills you have learnt throughout the course with minimal assistance. You will be asked to upload photos at different stages of the process and your mentor will grade and give feedback on completion.

Can I earn the full Leiths Essential Certificate through this course?

This course can directly award you with a Certificate of Completion, but it is also possible to earn the full Leiths Essential Certificate with the skills you learn in this course.

At the end of the course, your mentor will review your progress to determine whether you’re ready for a practical two-day exam taking place at the school in London. This accreditation comes at an additional cost of £600, and provides the same certification as the £3,330 Chef Skills: Evening Course offered in-person at Leiths School of Food and Wine.

If you have any questions, please call (+44) 208 749 6400 or email onlinecourses@leiths.com.

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