How to Master Your Cooking Skills This Christmas

Christmas is a time for gift-giving, having family get-togethers and enjoying delicious food and beverages. With the opportunity to enjoy meals and dishes that we wouldn’t normally eat at any other time of the year, many budding chefs take pride in presenting their dinner or Christmas party guests with festive treats that are out-of-this-world.

Taking the season as an opportunity to showcase their culinary skills, what better time than to perfect those cooking skills this Christmas, but how? Here are a few tips for enhancing your cooking skills this Christmas, whether you consider yourself to be a seasoned chef or a novice cook:

Acquire skills & knowledge, not recipes

Cooking skills are something that you can take with you through life, whereas mastering a recipe isn’t so impressive. With the right skills and knowledge behind you, you’ll be able to get creative and create your own festive meals and recipes this Christmas. Be the stand-out Christmas party with unique festive creations for your party guests to nibble on.

If you’re wondering how you can acquire professional cooking skills, then think about attending some expert cooking classes in London. Here at School of Wok, we have a complete range of different cookery courses available, imparting specialist advice and expertise so that you can elevate your culinary skills at home.

Present your food professionally to impress your Christmas party guests

When it comes to presenting people with meals, buffets and even side dishes, part of making it look as appetising and as irresistible as possible is to make sure the presentation is second-to-none. While you might be thinking that you simply don’t have the time to make every dish look impeccable, it’s more simple and straightforward than you might have otherwise thought, especially if you know where to learn those skills.

While you can search for hints and tips online, it will be nothing compared to the presentation skills you’ll learn on a professional cooking course in London, such as the ones we have available here at School of Wok. All of our cooking classes in London are hosted by expert chefs, meaning that you’ll learn everything there is to know about professionally-cooked and presented dishes.

Invest in your kitchen equipment & tools

Making sure that you have the right equipment and tools at your disposal is more important than you might think. Without that, your cooking this Christmas can’t get off the ground. As such, make sure you’re investing in quality kitchen equipment and utensils, including kitchen knives, bamboo serving spoons, spatulas, tongs, baking trays, knife sharpeners and more.

You’ll be able to purchase all of the aforementioned from our online store, with absolute peace of mind that all of our kitchen equipment and utensils will stand the test of time. It’s also imperative that you know exactly how to use those tools and pieces of equipment. Again, this is something you’ll learn when embarking on our cooking classes in London.

Our top chefs will be able to teach you how to use specialist knives, for instance, enabling you to expertly fillet a piece of fish or chop stir-fry vegetables. If you know how to use those specialist tools, the world is your oyster in the world of cooking this Christmas. Whether you’re looking to cook savoury or sweet dishes this festive season, you can count on the School of Wok to help.

Always taste your food before you serve it

Here at School of Wok, we will always encourage you to taste your food before you serve it at one of our many Asian cooking classes in London. Whether you’re cooking a selection of Dim Sum or are looking to impress your Christmas party guests with delicious, innovative dishes considered to be Asian delicacies for a unique spin on Christmas party food, make sure your food tastes and looks incredible. Remember to taste your food in a sanitary and hygienic way, ensuring you only use a clean spoon or fork with every taste - never use the same utensil again.

Put an Asian twist on Christmas classics by experimenting with different flavours & aromas

Christmas is known for the same traditional foods, such as mince pies and roasted turkey, but why not give your Christmas dinner a unique and aromatic spin this festive season? Asian cuisines have never been more popular. In fact, there’s been a surge in the opening of Oriental restaurants in recent years as the demand for Asian food rises, with 80% of those who enjoy eating Oriental dishes doing so in a restaurant, claims one source.

But what if we told you that the same restaurant-quality Asian food can be achieved easily at home? All you have to do is attend one of our Asian cooking classes in London. With the skills and knowledge acquired from our cookery courses in London, you’ll be able to confidently experiment with Asian flavours, spices and herbs to put an Oriental spin on festive favourites. Some of the Christmas classics you can create with an Asian spin could include the following things:

Oyster-glazed turkey - an Asian spin on a classically-roasted Christmas turkey
Roasted szechuan peppercorn stuffed duck with sticky rice - an oriental alternative to a conventional roasted Christmas turkey with all of the trimmings
Kabocha pumpkin mochi cake - an Asian take on a traditional pumpkin pie
Chinese eggnog tarts - a delicious Chinese take on mince pies, these take Chinese egg tarts to a new, festive level
Prawn cocktail with tamari honey sauce - combining honey, ginger, chilli and garlic to create an aromatic prawn cocktail sauce that packs a punch, this is a show-stopping Asian alternative to one of the nation’s favourite festive starters

If you’re looking to expand your repertoire when it comes to authentic Asian dishes that you can create for your Christmas dinner guests, then you’ll always be able to count on us here at School of Wok to impart specialist advice and guidance, as well as a recipe or two that you can use in the comfort of your own kitchen this Christmas. All of this is possible when you choose to come on a culinary journey with us through one of our Asian cooking classes in London. We have a wide range of different Asian cookery courses in London available for you to choose from, such as:

Learn the art of Dim Sum for an innovative, aromatic Asian spin on traditional Christmas grazing tables

When we think of food on a Christmas grazing table, we conjure up images of mince pies, sausage rolls, cheese, crackers, olives, cooked hams, breadsticks, dips, mozzarella sticks, bitesize meat pies and so much more. However, what you might not think of when it comes to traditional Christmas party food is Dim Sum, but why not?

Dim Sum is an authentic, innovative spin on classic foods you might find on a Christmas buffet at a festive knees-up. Instead of sausage rolls, why not serve up dumplings with different fillings, such as Har Gow (shrimp dumplings) or Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings)?

Instead of burger sliders, plate up bao buns filled with different meats and vegetables, like Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork-filled buns). Rather than shop-bought spring rolls, try your hand at making your own spring rolls or Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls). The world is your oyster when it comes to choosing Asian Dim Sum to serve. But how can you learn those skills? Look to the School of Wok.

We have Dim Sum cooking classes in London available to those wanting to make the best, most authentic Asian Dim Sum that the cuisine has to offer. We will teach you how to fold, fill and steam your Dim Sum selection, making your Asian nibbles the talk of the Christmas party. Put an Asian twist on your usual Christmas grazing table this year, instead adorning it with some beautifully-made Dim Sum that everyone will enjoy.

School of Wok can always be counted upon to deliver expert advice and guidance when it comes to teaching and enhancing your cooking skills this Christmas. From professional cooking classes in London to providing a wide range of quality kitchen tools and utensils for specialist results, we’ll be able to meet your every culinary need and exceed your expectations every single time. If you’d like further information about our cookery courses in London, get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team today - you can give us a call on 0736 526 6695 or email us via [email protected].