Christmas Gifts - OPEN XMAS EVE

Are you facing the usual Christmas Gift problems.  Beat the post and the rush with one of our personalised gift letters and gift vouchers.  We are open right up until Christmas Day and can send a personalised gift letter direct to the inbox of your loved one or friend.

Just email us on: vouchers@hartingtons.com or give us a call on 01629 888 586

Make it a happy and stress free Christmas for all and give them an experience they will love.

Merry Xmas

Chris & Julie xxx

Cookery Courses Derbyshire

Baslow Christmas Food Fair nr Chatsworth

Hartingtons final Food Fair in Baslow nr Chatsworth will have a real Christmas feel this weekend so why not come along on Sunday 9th December?  Chatsworth looks magnificent at this time of year.  Julie and I are going along to the preview of 'Elemental Force' this Tuesday and can't wait to see Chatsworth in all it's festive glory.

Our line up for our Christmas Food Fair at Baslow (nr Chatsworth) has a real festive feel.  Here are just some of the fantastic food producers we have on offer so do come along and why not combine it with a visit to Chatsworth House and their grounds.

Artisan Stallholders on the day will include:

Heavenlies - delicious cakes including gluten free items
Halls Home Produce - charcuterie, pates, terrines, mushy peas
Olive Oils from France - both olive oils and home produced honey
Fruit and Herb Co - oils, dressings, chutneys, Derbyshire Oatcakes
Muffin Topps - delicious cupcakes, cake pops, cakes in a jar, unusual Christmas gift ideas
Greenside Deli - jams, preserves and gift packs
The Loaf - artisan bread, stollen, mince pies and other seasonal products
Liberty Foods - artisan pork pies in a range of flavours
Heavenly Cheesecake Co - seasonal cheesecakes
Domaine du Pyre - Beaujolais wine from own vineyards
Nonnas - pop up Italian mercato - Italian mulled wine, deli items, salami, pasta, wine, beer and gift hampers

The National Trust will also be highlighting food events at their properties in 2013 and outside all day will be......

Hopsons - wide range of coffees served from their cute converted piaggio van
Moss Valley Fine Meats - award winning sausages and bacon and hot sandwiches
Dawsons Yard - fresh foliage Christmas Wreaths, planters, culinary and gardening gifts

Come and try our new Hartingtons chutney and hear about the exciting new courses we have for 2013!

Derbyshire Cookery Courses

Bakewell Christmas Weekend is here!

Well Christmas is fast approaching and it's nearer than you think.......in fact it's happening this weekend in Bakewell!

Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November is the Bakewell Christmas Weekend and here at Hartingtons we are celebrating in style. We have got a fabulous weekend planned for all you foodies out there.

The mill be transformed into a fantastic Italian Mercato courtesy of our friends from Nonna, we will have hot wine and a brass band playing in the courtyard. Nonnas chefs will be giving free biscuit and panforte making demos on Saturday and Artisan Breadmaker, Mick Saxton will be giving free bread making demos on Sunday, with everything made available for sale fresh from the oven.

Chris and I will be launching the new 2013 course schedule and will have a range of gifts for sale including the Hartingtons new plum chutney.

Below is the schedule for the weekend and as we are undercover..... come rain or shine the School is likely to be "buzzing" all weekend so do come along, say hello and join in the fun!

Hope to see you there!

Julie


Schedule for the Christmas Weekend

Saturday 24 November

• Italian Mercato all day - authentic Italian food and drink and fabulous gift hampers for Christmas.
• Vin caldo in the courtyard all day
• Brass band playing seasonal music from 12 noon to 2.00 p.m.
• Free demonstrations of how to make Panforte and Italian Christmas biscuits throughout the day
• Launch of Hartingtons 2013 artisan food and drink courses and more traditional cookery courses. Ideal Christmas presents! Special offers on selected courses and free prize draw. 
• Launch of Hartingtons new plum chutney and a selection of artisan bread making courses for sale.

Sunday 25 November

• Italian Mercato all day - authentic Italian food and drink and fabulous gift hampers for Christmas. 
• Vin caldo in the courtyard all day
• Artisan breadmaker, Mick Saxton, will give free bread making demos throughout the day and sell his artisan bread and spicy Christmas buns fresh from the oven......went down a treat last time. He couldn't make his bread fast enough! ........make sure you come along early before he sells out!
• Launch of Hartingtons 2013 artisan food and drink courses and more traditional cookery courses. Ideal Christmas presents! Special offers on selected courses and free prize draw. 
• Launch of Hartingtons new plum chutney and a selection of artisan bread making courses for sale. 

Derbyshire cookery courses

Gourmet Supper Club - Christmas Menu Revealed

Hartingtons Gourmet Supper Club reveals its menu for its 'Alternative' Christmas Feast.  The select band of Gourmets will reconvene in Hartingtons converted saw mill on the 7th of December for an informal tasting of 6 gourmet food courses along with a tutored wine tasting of 6 of the very best seasonal wines. The wines are carefully selected by John Hattersley Wines in Bakewell to perfectly compliment each of the stunning dishes.

This unique menu prepared by Robert Stordy, the University Chef of the Year for 2012, draws on some of the classic Christmas seasonal flavours and gives them a unique and surprising twist.  Spaces for the Gourmet Supper Club are strictly limited and sell out each time so please contact us to reserve your place.

The menu for the 'Alternative' Christmas Feast' is as follows:

Christmas bacon and egg & prawn cocktail canapes
++
Pumpkin and ricotta gnocchi with roasted squash and sage butter
++
Salad of smoked salmon with peashoots and cream of horseradish
++
Elizabethan spiced beef with braised red cabbage and a seasonal selection of locally grown vegetables
++
Hazelnut cake, pistachio ice cream and toasted almond cream
++
A serving platter of Cropwell Bishop Stilton

Please join us for a night of fun, food and not least merriment.
The event starts at 7.00 p.m and finishes between 9.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. Food and drink are  provided by Hartingtons, with all wines and food being included in the £40 ticket price.

Hartingtons - Events

Bread making and Cheesemaking Courses in the Peak District

 
Since Chris and I started the School of Food in Bakewell in January this year our two most popular courses have been Bread making and Cheesemaking and with the festive season fast approaching we now have just 3 bread making courses and 1 cheesemaking courses before Christmas.

One of the courses is completely sold out and just a few places remain on the other three courses:



Thursday 8 November - Intro to Artisan Bread making Courses - SOLD OUT
Saturday 11 November - Intro to Artisan Bread making Courses - 2 PLACES LEFT
Tuesday 13 November - Intro to Artisan Cheesemaking Courses - 4 PLACES LEFT
Sunday 2 December - Intro to Artisan Bread making Courses - 6 PLACES LEFT

If you are a complete novice or are a regular breadmaker but are looking to improve your breadmaking skills these bread making courses are for you!

And as the saying goes "man cannot live by bread alone"........ so why not learn how to make cheese?

The cheesemaking course is taken by Chris Ashby, who has over 40 years experience in the Industry and delivers the same course for Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall at River Cottage. This course is ideal for people who are simply curious about cheesemaking as well as people considering making cheese on a small scale. 

All four courses are likely to sell out quickly so if you are interested don't hesitate or you're likely to miss out!

Learn from an expert

Food Fair in Baslow nr Chatsworth

Hartingtons Food and Drink Fair returns on Sunday 4th of November to Baslow (nr Chatsworth) after a short Summer break with over 20 artisan food producers from Sheffield and the Peak District. Some of the gourmet delights on offer will be traditional desserts, artisan bread, potted meat, jams and preserves, cheesecakes, pates, dressings, oils, cakes, charcuterie, pork pies and speciality teas.

If you are going to Chatsworth for a walk or a wander why not pop in (it's FREE).

A highlight of the Baslow Food Fair will be a pop up Italian Mercato from Nonnas selling Italian delights including fresh pasta, antipasti and a wide range of authentic Italian goodies from the Nonnas larder.  Outside hot bacon and sausage sandwiches will be available all day courtesy of award winning Moss Valley Fine Meats as well as gourmet coffee and an exotic range of culinary and garden plants from Dawsons Yard.

Sunday 4th November from 10.30 am - 4.30 pm at Baslow Village Hall (DE45 1SP).

FREE ADMISSION and exclusive show offers on artisan food & cookery courses and lots of free tastings. There will also be a free prize draw to win a cookery course at Hartingtons new School of Food in Bakewell. Further info about the event at www.hartingtons.com or 01629 888586.


Derbyshire Cookery Courses

Seasonal food & drink courses

Well the Summer is fast becoming a distant memory (did it actually happen at all?!)

Hartingtons is already embracing the new season of Autumn with a whole range of unique seasonal food and drink courses.  How about learning to make artisan cider with Ray Blockley an award winning cider maker from Nottinghamshire.  Ray will show you have to make a great use from all those lovely apples that are growing on your fruit trees and are getting ready to be picked.

What about learning to make a real English classic for Christmas.  The pork pie course taken by Jacqui Marsden who comes from a family of pork pie makers and is a acclaimed maker of her own pork pie will show you all the tricks of the trade and how to customise your pies to create your own 'classic'.

After selling out on there Tuscan Autumnal Feast we can announce that Nonnas and Hartingtons are pursing their 'Passion for Pasta'.  Learn how to make three fantastic fresh pastas along with the perfect authentic pasta sauce.

If you like eating gourmet food as well as creating it yourself how about the forthcoming Alternative Christmas Gourmet Feast?  This event which will be the culmination of our journey of experiencing gourmet food and drink.  Not a slice of turkey or nut roast in sight!  Just ground breaking exquisite gourmet food & wine carefully selected to fire up your taste buds!

We can't reassure you on what the weather will be up to this Autumn but one thing you can guarantee is that you will be taught by an expert and each of the seasonal artisan food & drink courses will be led by inspirational tutors.

Hartingtons - MORE Experts...MORE Fun!

Wild Food & Foraging Coming to Hartingtons

We are so looking forward to the first Wild Food and Foraging Course by world renowned food forager Chris Bax. Chris is unusual in that he is also an accomplished chef. As well as his interest in the natural world and flora Chris looks to use his foraged food to add and enhance peoples everyday cooking. After a 3-4 hour forage in the glorious Peak District on the edge of Bakewell Chris will come back to Hartingtons School of Food and demonstrate how to make:

"Goats cheese, sweet cicely and pickled blackberry toast,  Pressed lamb shoulder with ground ivy and wild herb choux potato dumplings,  elder rob mousse crumble as well as a Hedge Jelly preserve to take home.

I for one can't wait.

For more details of the Foraging Course as well as many other innovative and exciting food based courses please check out our website.

Cookery courses Derbyshire

Award winning chef joins team of over 20 experts

Robert Stordy, multi award winning chef, is the latest expert tutor to join the team at Hartingtons School of Food in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Robert will be cooking up a French Autumn Feast for the second of the acclaimed Gourmet Supper Club, with people travelling from all over the country to attend this evening of exquisite food and wines.

Chris Horne, co-owner of Hartingtons School of Food, comments: "We are so pleased to have Robert working with us at Hartingons. Robert, a classically trained chef & expert on fine dining, will also be delivering a course on Canapes leading up to Christmas, which will be ideal for those looking at entertaining over the Festive Season".

A team of experts

Robert joins the team of over 20 artisan food and cookery experts delivering courses at Hartingtons School of Food in Bakewell.  Chris Horne of Hartingtons explains: "When Julie and I set up Hartingtons our vision was always to get in the leading experts in each of the areas we run courses.  We simply don't believe that one "in house" chef can be an expert in all areas of cooking and artisan food production. We are so delighted that we have been able to work with some of the leading food experts in their chosen area. This probably helps to explain why people are now travelling to us from all over the country to take part in our artisan food and cookery courses. We even had one couple fly over from Dublin to learn how to make an artisan pork pie!"

Hartingtons has been delivering artisan food and cookery courses since January and is rapidly gaining a national profile for the quality of its artisan food courses and cookery courses.  For more details visit www.hartingtons.com.

Hartingtons - More experts ...more fun!

The Gourmet Supper Club - are you in the know?

Hartingtons held its first ever Gourmet Supper Club (GSC) in our converted saw mill in Bakewell on Friday. For those NOT in the know there seemed nothing special about the dimmed lights and flamenco beats coming from the first floor of the historic Rutland Mill on the banks of the River Wye but for a small group of enthusiastic foodies who were in the know....what a way to start the weekend! Fantastic food, sumptuous wine & inspiring company all in a beautiful setting. As our Facebook page shows our School of Food could have almost be mistaken for a little part of Catalonia just for the evening.

Authentic tapas were provided by El Toro courtesy of their Spanish Chef Eddie Morales and each of the fantastic six food courses were carefully matched with a scintillating wine selected especially by John Hattersely Wines to provide the perfect accompaniment to each dish.

For those that have missed out on the first Gourmet Supper Club our next one is on the theme of a French Autumn Feast and will take place on the 26th October.  The food will be created by multi-award winning chef Robert Stordy who will also demo how he created several of the dishes.  Again a tutored wine tasting, this time of French wines. will take place.  Places are limited so please if you do read this blog keep it to yourself - it's our little secret!

For more details email:  gsc@hartingtons.com

World First Bakewell Pudding Cup Cake launches in Bakewell

The World's first Bakewell Pudding Cupcake premieres at Hartingtons School of Food this Saturday the 21st July.  For lovers of the Bakewell Pudding this modern twist of the classic Bakewell dish will be an interesting addition.  Not only will visitors to Hartingtons School of Food be able to sample this World first but they will also be treated to a 'pop up gallery' featuring the antics of Sheffield cartoon character 'Pearl'. Pearl has pretensions to be the "New Tart in Bakewell" and will guarantee to shock and amuse visitors to the converted Rutland Mill in Bakewell.

So why not pop in to our 'pop up' in Bakewell and feast yourself on Bakewell Tart and Cupcakes and check out Hartingtons latest cookery and artisan food courses (with show offers available only on the day!)

Cookery courses in Derbyshire

Food foraging course in the Peak District

Food foraging has become incredibly popular.  Foraging for food involves people using the natural world as their own larder finding edible, nuts, berries, plants, fungi and even tree sap.  In our case students will venture into the fabulous Peak District to look for unique natural foods growing wild and which most of us would just ignore.  With some expert guidance from Chris Bax who has become one of the countries foremost experts in food foraging you will be shown how to forage food safely and harvest some of natures most interesting natural flavours.  Chris regularly appears on TV and in the media as an expert on food foraging.  Originally a chef, Chris will then demonstrate his culinary skills to show you how to use the foraged food to make distinctive but easy to create dishes.



Food foraging courses in the Peak District

Artisan bread making courses - MORE experts

Hartingtons of Bakewell prides itself on getting in experts to deliver its artisan food and cookery courses.  We think this way we get real experts who are passionate about the courses they are delivering and we can give our students greater variety in terms of tutor styles and backgrounds.

Take for example our artisan bread courses.  Hartingtons are fast gaining a national reputation for our artisan bread making courses.  I don't think that there is any other School of Food in the country that has four different artisan bakers delivering artisan bread making courses at the same time.  We think variety, choice and expertise is good.  From a glance at the reviews on Tripadvisor it seems that our students agree.

Have a look at our range of expert tutors and find an artisan bread making course that suits you.  Bread making will never be so much fun and your bread will never have tasted so good!


Artisan bread making courses - fun and truly inspirational

Cup cake making in Bakewell

Great baking and Bakewell are made to go together -  it's in the name!

It's no surprise that the first ever cup cake making class at Hartingtons School of Food SOLD OUT within days of being announced.  The cup cake making course will be taken by Emma Mitchell who provides the cup cakes for the world famous Chatsworth House Farm Shop. Emma will take aspiring cup cake makers through the steps of decorating your cup cakes with fondant and butter cream. You will also be treated to a tutored cup cake tasting and will take away four beautifully decorated cup cakes at the end.

Due to the phenomenal demand for places on this cup caking making course Hartingtons has just announced an additional date of the 19th August so why not treat yourself to a fun Sunday morning out in Bakewell learning about the intricacies of cup cake making.

Fathers Day Gift? - Beer Brewing Day in Bakewell in the Peak District

If you're fast running out of time to find a unique Fathers Day gift for your Dad then why not treat him to a Beer Brewing Day at Bakewell on 23rd June?

This full day "hands on" course includes all refreshments, a Peak District Ploughmans Lunch and a tutored tasting of local beers.

Paul Taylor our 'Brew Meister' will take Dad through all the stages necessary to create his own unique beer using pure natural ingredients; demonstrating how to set up a 'brew' using basic home brewing equipment. Paul is one of the founder members of the Nottingham Brewers Group, he heads up the Lab at Murphys & Son (one of the UK's leading suppliers to the UK micro brewery sector) and was also on the judging panel at the SIBA National Beer Championships.

Along the way he'll talk Dad through:
* The brewing process
* The ingredients: malt, hops, yeast and the importance of 'water'
* How to bottle beer successfully including some useful tips from an experienced brewer.

Paul will explain and show the 'sparge and boil'' so that Dad has a clear understanding of the full home brewing process.  At the end of the course he will have the skill and knowledge to be able to create his own varied and professional tasting beers at home with just basic home brewing equipment.

JUST 4 PLACES LEFT NOW...........

WE CAN EVEN E-MAIL YOU A PERSONALISED GIFT LETTER TO GIVE TO DAD THIS SUNDAY INVITING HIM TO THE EVENT!

Things to do this weekend in the Peak District - Visit Baslow Food Fair and Chatsworth House

Our very popular Peak District -  Baslow Artisan Food and Drink Fair makes a welcome return this weekend and showcases 20 of the best Artisan Food and Drink producers from in and around the Peak District.

The Fair takes place this Sunday 17^th June in Baslow Village Hall (with ample parking in the pay and display car park next to the Hall). Doors open at 10.30 a.m. and the event is on until 4.30 p.m. Make sure you come early and have your pick of the fantastic produce on sale.

Stallholders at this event include:

Heavenlies – exquisite cakes and other treats

Dawsons Yard – interesting selection of herbs, edibles such as lettuce and courgettes, herbaceous perennials, ferns and shrubs and planted seasonal containers for summer colour  

The Loaf – artisan bread and bakery products

Muffin Topps – cupcakes and cake pops

Tea Man – wide range of teas and gift packs

Fruit and Herb Company – home made oils, dressings and preserves as well as Derbyshire oatcakes

Nonnas - gourmet food and drink from the Italian deli

Home Kitchen Produce – cookies in a jar

Domaine du Pyre – Beaujolais wines from family vineyard

Halls Home Produce – great range of pates, potted meat, charcuterie and mushy peas

Tindalls of Tideswell – fantastic range of sweet and savoury items

Liberty Foods – artisan pork pies with a modern twist!

Greenside Deli – wide range of bespoke preserves

Heavenly Cheesecake Company – delicious hand made cheesecakes

Hartingtons School of Food – artisan food courses, food events and food tours

And outside all day Lee Capille will be serving gourmet Italian Coffee and his authentic home made chicken and chorizo paella.

FREE ADMISSION

Baslow Village Hall is situated right next to the Chatsworth House….. so why not combine a visit to our Peak District Food Fair with a visit to one of the nation’s best loved stately homes which recently featured in a BBC three part documentary and has already made stars of some of the Chatsworth staff!

Peak District Cookery Courses

Weekend Sourdough Bread Making Course - Sells Out!

Some artisan bread makers would insist that there is only one 'real bread' and that is bread   made with a natural leaven such as sourdough culture. Sourdough bread baking pre-dates bread making with bakers yeast and uses Lactobacillus culture to leaven the bread. The popularity of making your own bread at home has revived interest in artisan bread making and in particular bread baking using sourdough cultures.

We are delighted to have Mick Saxton (the image is of one of his sourdough loaves) who has his own home bakery in Sheffield coming along to teach the ancient art of sourdough to a full class of eager student bakers in June. Mick has trained at the world renowned Artisan School of Food on the Welbeck Estate and has honed his bread making techniques over several years of intensive training and practice. For those who are eager to learn how to make bread with a sourdough culture then we also have Andrew Auld from the Loaf in Crich coming along in July with another brilliant sourdough course. Have a look at these images on Facebook of Andrew in action demonstrating his wet dough kneading technique.


Sourdough Bread Making Courses

Cheesemaking comes to Hartingtons in the Peak District

Hartingtons in the Peak District brings the ancient art of cheesemaking back to the Peak District but only for the day.

Hartingtons School of Food in Bakewell held it's first ever cheesemaking course on the 30th May for an enthusiastic group of 16 novice and curious cheesemakers.  The students travelled from far and wide to the Peak District (the furthest had popped in from Santiago, Chile admittedly via Cardiff ) to gain some expert tuition in cheesemaking from cheesemaking expert Chris Ashby

During the day students learned how to make three types of soft cheeses.  A camembert style cheese, a roulade lemon cheese and a mozzarella.  A fantastic days cheesemaking and a great way of bring the ancient art of cheesemaking back to Derbyshire and the Peak District.

Interested in learning how to make cheese?  Sign up for one of our forthcoming cheesemaking courses.


Artisan Food Courses - Peak District

Derbyshire Food & Drink - show offers

Derbyshire Food & Drink promises to be bigger and more popular than ever this year.  If you are a 'foodie' why not pop along to stand 39 at the Derbyshire Food and Drink Fair and say "hello" to Julie and Chris.  During the 2 day "festival of food" at Hardwick Hall Hartingtons will be unveiling some fantastic festival offers on some of our cookery courses and artisan food courses.  Come along and find out what's going on.


Derbyshire Food & Drink - cookery courses

Bakewell Farmers Market - shop and cook

We are delighted to announce our first "Farmers Market Shop and Cook" day with the delightful TV celebrity chef Stephanie Moon.

The event takes place on Saturday 25 August and promises to be a great day for those passionate about cooking with the best of local produce. After all what could be better than going to the local Farmers Market and then returning to our School of Food next door before you start cooking!

Refreshments will be provided on arrival at the School of Food and you will have time to meet your fellow students and Stephanie Moon before you head off to Bakewell Farmers Market, which is extremely popular with "foodies" and is now the second largest Farmers Market in the UK.

Stephanie will take you round the Market to source and buy outstanding local ingredients. Then return to the kitchen at our School of Food in a converted mill on the banks of the River Wye and learn under her expert tuition how to transform your purchases into wonderful dishes.

As well as using some of your purchases to create some very original canapes you will also make:
* A starter of pan fried soda bread with homemade chive butter and local cheese with crispy bacon and local salad leaves, homemade vinaigrette.
* Local steak, local vegetables and gratin dauphinoise with tips on cooking steak and how to get the most out of your vegetables and how to make a mustard grain sauce.
* A full assiette of desserts

Lunch will consist of a tasting of some of the dishes you prepare in the morning and at the end of the day you will have 2 portions of each of the courses prepared to take home and enjoy later with friends and family.

The day concludes with a recipe handout and discussion on the days findings along with some essential tips from Stephanie on how to improvise when needed.

If you are a bit of a "foodie" and are passionate about cooking with the best local produce then check out this course which is likely to be very popular!

Cookery Courses - Peak District

Tapas & Spanish wine - in the Peak District

Tapas and great tasting Spanish wine are meant to go together.  I've been on some fantastic holidays to Spain and have spent some very enjoyable evenings sipping a lovely Rioja and nibbling on a range of mouth watering Tapas.

Why not join us at Hartingtons in Bakewell for our first Gourmet Supper Club on Friday 10th August? You will be treated to a series of 6 different wines and authentic Spanish Tapas to go with each tasting.  The tutored wine tasting by John Hattersley Wines of Bakewell will banish the misery of the British Summer and bring some sunshine and the Spanish fiesta to the weekend.

Talking of tapas.......If you are interested in learning how to cook authentic tapas in the Peak District under the expert tuition of David Neville, owner of El Toro in Sheffield, we have just booked in a new Authentic Tapas Course on the 7th October. His first tapas course in April was a complete sell out and this new date promises to be just as popular!

Cookery Courses in The Peak District

Cup cake making courses in the Peak District

Hartingtons is proud to present not one but two cup cake making courses at our new School of Food in Bakewell.  We have an Introduction To Cup Cake Making where you will learn the icing and decorating skills to customise your own unique looking and tasting cup cakes.  For those who want to develop their own cup cake masterpieces we are also putting on a Cup Cake Making Masterclass to be hosted by expert cake baker Emma Mitchell, who supplies the Chastworth Estate with her cup cakes.  During this full day masterclass in cup cake making you will explore some of Emma's favourite flavour combinations and then proceed to bake your own cup cakes.  After lunch you will be shown how to make your own butter cream topping and then use fondant icing to make your own sweet sensations. On both courses you will take away a box of your own sensational cup cakes.

If you love cupcakes but want to taste them rather than make them then why not come along to our free "private view" featuring Pearl in "Bakewell Get's A New Tart" on the 21st July.  Not only will there be some fantastic new art work from Sheffield artist Wildago but you will also be able to taste and buy a selection of Emma Mitchell's irresistible cup cakes.  It's a festival of cup cakes, all in the lovely setting of our converted saw mill in Bakewell.  Delightful!

 Cup cake making courses in the Peak District

Sourdough Bread Making Course In The Peak District

Our first ever sourdough bread making course takes place in our School of Food in the Peak District today with Master Baker Andrew Auld from the Loaf in Crich.

We are looking forward to the lovely smells and tastes associated with this naturally leavened bread.

Sourdough bread is truly an artisan bread, being far more difficult to produce on a large scale as it uses natural yeast rather than bakers yeast and therefore the results tend to be far less predictable than the Chorleywood style of mass bread production adopted in the 1960's.

If you are interested in learning about sourdough bread making in the Peak District we have a number of artisan bread making courses coming up so check out the details.

Artisan bread making courses in the Peak District.

Bakewell Food Festival Showcases Artisan Bread Baker

The first Bakewell Food Festival in Bakewell this week will show off some of the best food producers from in and around the Peak District.  Hartingtons, the new School of Food in Bakewell, will open its doors on Saturday (28th April) from 9.30 am to showcase Mick Saxton of Saxton's Home Bakery.  Mick, who is one of the expert tutors delivering artisan bread courses at Hartingtons, will be demonstrating the art of artisan bread making using natural leven cultures.  His speciality is sourdough bread and he will be demonstrating how to make this great tasting artisan bread on the day.  Visitors to the School of Food. which is located on the first floor of Rutland Mill on Rutland Mews, will also be able to buy Mick's freshly baked artisan bread to take away and enjoy.


Artisan bread courses in the Peak District

Stephanie Moon Peak District Cookery Course

Stephanie Moon, the Harrogate based Celebrity Chef, is appearing this week on the Great British Menu. Anyone who is into cooking can't fail to be gripped by her innovative ideas and passion for cooking great tasting food. If you have been inspired by Stephanie Moon's Great British Menu then why not come along to her cookery masterclass in the Peak District.

The one day Fish Masterclass with Stephanie Moon will show cooks and "foodies" how to create some great tasting fish dishes and you will also learn the technical knife skills that will enable you to fillet,  cook and even smoke fish.

Come to the Peak District and learn how to cook fish - one of the best tasting foods - with Stephanie Moon.

Peak District Cookery Courses

Peak District Food Fair - gets plaudits.

The Baslow Food Fair in the heart of the Peak District is getting a growing reputation amongst foodies and visitors to the Peak District. Baslow itself is set in a beautiful spot adjoining the magnificent Chatsworth House and is in an ideal location for our Fine Food Fair.

One of our most recent stallholders Lewis Hunt from the brilliant Grandpa Lews has written a lovely piece in the new publication Taste the Seasons.

Are you a regular visitor and like food? Why not pop along to one of our Peak District Food Fairs and take a look for yourself.

Peak District Cookery Courses

Italian Bread Making Course in the Peak District

Visiting the Peak District and love Italian Food?

Well......we have a great Italian Bread Making Course on Sunday 20th May in Bakewell in our new School of Food . So why not come along and learn how to make fantastic foccacia, ciabatta and pizza with expert breadmaker, David Neville.

These artisan bread making courses are proving incredibly popular so if you've checked your piggy bank and you really can't afford to go to Italy this Summer don't despair......you can still recreate your own Italian ristorante at home.

Once you've mastered the art of making foccacia, ciabatta and pizza.......come July you'll be able to put on a Pavarotti CD, grab a glass of vino to accompany your Italian delights and and enjoy the long Summer nights in your own "Italian Riviera" ..........it will be so authentic you won't even realise you are in your own back garden!!

The course is on Sunday 20th May and costs £75. Refreshments and lunch are included and everything you make on the day is yours to take home and impress your loved ones and friends.

Check it out! Ciao for now!

Peak District Cookery Courses

Who ate all the pies?......Michael Parkinson?

Well our very first Artisan Pork Pie Making Course takes place on Monday 23rd April at our new School of Food in Bakewell.......and what could be a better day to make this great English classic than St Georges Day?

Just 4 places remain on this unique course when you will learn how to make a true artisan Pork Pie under the guidance of acclaimed pie maker, Simon Barnes.

Simon, of Liberty Foods Farm Shop in Totley, on the outskirts Sheffield, has non other than former chat show host Michael Parkinson as a 'devotee' of his pork pies. Legend has it that whenever 'Parky' is in the area he sends out for one of Simon's pies!

Simon regularly sells out his delicious pies at our Fine Food Fairs in Baslow so rest assured you are being taught by a master!

So..... like pies? particularly like pork pies? .......then snap up one of the last few places and celebrate St George's day in style!

The course which costs £65 is on Monday 23rd April from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. You will get to make your own customised pork pie to take home and impress family and friends. Refreshments and a Peak District ploughmans lunch are also included in the price. Enjoy!

Artisan Food Courses - Peak District

Cheese making courses come to the Peak District

Cheese making courses will make their debut in Bakewell in the Peak District this Tuesday when renowned cheese maker Chris Ashby takes the first Introduction to cheese making course at Hartingtons School of Food. Chris has been delivering the cheese making courses at 'River Cottage' for several years.

During this artisan cheese making course students will learn how to make a camembert style soft cheese. After a lunch sampling some delicious local cheeses, in the afternoon students will go on to make a lemon cheese and if time permits a mozzarella cheese.

We have a number of artisan cheese making courses taking place in our School of Food this year and given the number of early bookings they are proving to be very popular.

Hartingtons have obtained all our supplies from Moorlands Cheesemakers Ltd who have been fantastically helpful in setting up our new venture. If you do need any cheese-making supplies they are a really good place to start.

Cheese-making courses - Peak District

Visiting the Peak District......

If you're visiting the Peak District over the Summer months and are looking for something a little different to do.....why not come along to one of our Artisan Food Courses or events at our recently opened School of Food? We are located in a beautiful converted sawmill on the banks of the River Wye, right in the heart of Bakewell, in the glorious Peak District.

We have a wide range of inspiring courses and events this year. Some of the highlights over the next few months include:

Sun 22 April - Sushi Sunday with Tomo Hasegawa of Edo Sushi

Mon 23 April - Intro to Artisan Pork Pie Making with acclaimed pork pie maker, Simon Barnes

Sat 28 April - Our Open Day at Rutland Mill as part of Bakewell's inaugural Food Festival. Free artisan breadmaking demos and freshly baked bread for sale. All welcome. FREE ADMISSION

Sun 29 April - Authentic Tapas with David Neville, owner of El Toro Tapas Bar

Sun 6 May - Introduction to Beer Brewing with beer "guru" Paul Taylor

Fri 11 May - The Ultimate Tea Experience with renowned tea expert James Pogson

Sun 20 May - World Bread Tour - Italian Breadmaking with David Neville

Tues 29 May - Intro to Artisan Cheesemaking with cheese judge and enthusiast Chris Ashby, of River Cottage fame

Thurs 7 June - Intro to Artisan Breadmaking with master baker Andrew Auld

Weds 20 June - Seasonal Vegetarian Course with chef Frank Boddy

Sun 24 June - Intro to Sourdough Breadmaking and Oatcakes with Mick Saxton

Weds 27 June - Fish Masterclass with celebrity chef Stephanie Moon

Thurs 12 July - Intro to Sourdough Breadmaking with master baker Andrew Auld

Sat 21 July - Bakewell has a new tart! Come and meet the outrageous Pearl at our pop up event. Art and cupcakes....what could be better? All welcome. FREE ADMISSION

Thurs 16 August - Intro to Artisan Breadmaking with master baker Andrew Auld

Sat 25 August - Farmers Market Shop and Cook with celebrity chef Stephanie Moon (will be on website shortly, taking telephone bookings now)

If you are visiting the area as a group (maybe family or friends hiring a cottage together?) then why not consider coming along to our School of Food as a group and have your own cookery course or demo right in the heart of the Peak District? We can provide any of our usual cookery courses for individual groups or if you prefer we can tailor make a course especially for you with discounts for large groups.

Food for thought hey?

Peak District cookery courses

Celebrity chefs at cookery school in Peak District

Well.......we are absolutely delighted to welcome not one......but two Celebrity Chefs to our School of Food in Bakewell, in the heart of the glorious Peak District.

Rachel Green, fresh from filming a programme for Channel 4 with Jimmy Doherty, will be giving her Flavours of Chatsworth Masterclass on 17th October. This is a full day "hands on" course where you will learn to make six dishes which showcase the best of the Peak District's produce. Dishes include herb crusted rack of Derbyshire lamb with pea, mint and shallot sauce and her delicious Chatsworth hot fondant puddings with cherry compote.

Rachel's bubbly personality and anecdotes, her enthusiasm for the Peak District and local food and her expert tuition make this a day not to be missed. At the end of the day you will take home all the dishes you have cooked along with a signed copy of Rachel's bestselling "Chatsworth Cook Book". The day also includes a light lunch and drinks. Places are limited and are proving very popular so if you are interested make sure you book now!

Stephanie Moon, a much loved regular on TV cookery shows and most recently on the Great British Menu, is putting on two masterclasses for us, both of which showcase her innovative and modern approach to cookery.

Steph will be delivering her Fish Masterclass on 27 June. This is a full day "hands on" course showing you how to fillet and cook various fish and make delicious accompaniments. Dishes will include mackerel with celeriac, fennel remoulade and pea salad as well as red mullet with ratatouille, chive crushed new potatoes and basil green olive salsa verde. She will also teach you how to smoke fish at home using apple wood chips. You will take home a range of exceptional fish dishes at the end of the day giving you real confidence to cook with fish in the future! A light lunch and drinks are included. Booking now at www.hartingtons.com

The second course is her Farmers Market: Shop and Cook on 25 August. Our School of Food is literally in the shadow of the Bakewell Agricultural Centre, which houses the 2nd largest Farmers Market in the country, selling food from in and around the Peak District. To start the day accompany Steph on a tour round the Farmers Market where you will shop for the freshest, finest local produce. Once you have bought your provisions you return to start your day of cooking under Steph's expert tuition.

With her guidance you will make a series of dishes from produce bought on the day; some will form part of your lunch and the remainder you will take home at the end of the day. Lunch and drinks are included. This is a very unique day and places are limited. The cost is £135 per person. Full details will be on the website shortly but we are taking telephone/e-mail bookings now.

Peak District cookery courses

Food Fair at Baslow nr Chatsworth this weekend

Well..... it is our first Food Fair of 2012 this Sunday 1st April and we have a fantastic range of artisan producers lined up at Baslow Village Hall from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Admission is free, there is a large car park at the side of the Hall and the pedestrian entrance to the magnificent Chatsworth House is just a few steps away.......so why not combine a visit to the Food Fair with a stroll through the Chatsworth Estate!

There are plenty of free tastings before you buy......so do come along and meet the artisan producers

Lee Capille - authentic paella, tapas and panini being served all day on the forecourt
Barry Colenso Chocolates - artisan hand made chocolates
Really Good Cheese Company - superb range of regional cheese, biscuits and single orchard apple juice
Heavenlies - exquisite cakes and other sweet treats
Dawson's Yard - fantastic range of herbs, vegetable plants and unusual garden accessories
The Loaf - Artisan bread and other bakery products
Muffin Topps - cupcakes with the wow factor!
Grandpa Lews - pies and other delights
Fruit and Herb Co - home produced unique oils and dressings. Also home made Derbyshire oatcakes
Mother Goose Puddings - delicious desserts from the Vale of Beauvoir
Halls Home Produce - home produced pates, potted meats, charcuterie and mushy peas
Domaine du Pyre - Beaujolais wines from family vineyard
Foreman and Johnstone - Italian coffee
Liberty Foods - award winning pork pies and deli items
Greenside Deli - wide range of preserves
Heavenly Cheesecake Co - hand made cheesecakes and chuffins
Buttercup Fudge - extensive range of fudge and gift packs

...........and we will also have a stall promoting our new School of Food in Bakewell.

Baslow Village Hall (on the main Sheffield/Chesterfield road in Baslow next to the Cavendish Hotel and opposite Il Lupo Italian Restaurant)
Sunday 1st April from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION

Chatsworth House - this Sunday

If you are in the Peak District this Sunday why not go for a walk in the grounds of Chastsworth House. After a little bit of exercise then make sure you pop in to Baslow next door for the first Artisan Food Fair of the year. Entry to this Peak District Food Fair is free and Hartingtons has the most impressive line up yet with over 20 artisan food producers exhibiting and selling their delicious food on the day.

Sunday 1st April. Baslow Village Hall. 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. FREE ADMISSION.

Hartingtons - Food Events in the Peak District

Another bread making course SELLS OUT!

Another artisan bread making course sells out at Hartingtons School of Food in Bakewell.

This time it's Andrew Auld's introduction to sourdough bread baking.

If you are interested in a sourdough course please email your details through the contact page as we will be announcing further dates very shortly.

There is still 1 space on the introduction to artisan bread making course on the 29th March and a few spaces left on the Italian Breadmaking Course on 20th May.

Let get Baking in Bakewell!

Artisan bread making - we love it!

Bread is in our DNA. We love it at Hartingtons and are enthusiastic supporters of the Real Bread Campaign to get more of us eating and making it.

Our mission is to turn Hartingtons into a centre of excellence for Artisan Bread Baking in the Peak District ......and why not the whole country!

Since we opened the doors of our wonderful converted saw mill back in January we have already put on numerous bread making courses with our renowned bakers.

Our bakers!

Andrew Auld is a self taught master baker with his own commercial bakery The Loaf in Crich. His introduction to Artisan Bread Making has been a huge hit and sells out within days. Andrew is also passionate about Sourdough Bread and it is still possible to join Andrew for his introduction to Sourdough bread making course in May.

David Neville is a chef, restaurateur and consultant. He advises the likes of M & S and Morrisons on how they can make their bread better. He is an expert in bread making on a commercial scale but has lost none of his passion for true artisan bread production. He loves the Mediterranean and especially Spain hence him setting up El Toro a renowned Tapas restaurant in Sheffield. His Italian bread courses have been a great success.

Mick Saxton is a true home baker. He has set up his own artisan bread making business called Saxtons Home Bakery at his house in Sheffield supplying his local community. Mick is living proof that you don't need fancy commercial ovens to produce great artisan bread. Mick will be at Hartingtons on 28 April for the Bakewell Food Festival demonstrating how he makes artisan bread and then selling freshly baked rye and sourdough bread fresh from the oven. Delicious!

To have a look at our recent artisan bread making courses why not check out the photos on our Facebook page.

You can also follow the progress of our own sourdough culture 'junior hartingtons'. Isn't he cute!

If you feel passionate about real bread why not join the Real Bread Campaign and take advantage of our 10% discount on bread making courses for Real Bread Campaign members.

Hartingtons - passionate about artisan bread making!

Gift for Mothers Day......

Well it will very soon be that time of year again when we want to thank our Mums for all the hard work they do. Mothers Day is next Sunday so if you want to give your Mum a fabulous treat this year why not surprise her and tell her she will be having a truly indulgent day on Friday 23rd March?

Treat her to our Ultimate Tea Experience which takes place just a few days after Mothers Day and we can even provide a personalised gift letter for you to give her on Sunday!

Arriving at 11.00 a.m. at our beautiful converted sawmill in Bakewell she can expect a wonderful insight into tea and its history and origins with the charming James Pogson of Northern Tea Merchants.

Next she will be taken on a gentle walk round Bakewell with renowned guide Sally Mosley who will give a fascinating insight into food in the town.

Once she has worked up a bit of an appetite she will return to our School of Food where we will be ready to welcome her for a sumptuous Ritz style afternoon tea exquisitely presented by Lorna from Heavenlies. Lorna's afternoon teas are in great demand and if that wasn't enough......to top it all we will spoil your Mum with a glass of 'fizz'!

The whole event lasts from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. and costs £35 ........so this year why not treat your Mum and perhaps treat yourself as well..........this event is proving really popular and there are only a very few spaces left now so if you do want to reserve a place you might want to book online or give us a call on 01629 888 586

BUY the Ultimate Tea Experience

Trip Advisor - closing in on Chatsworth House!

We may be a new business but Hartingtons is determined to make an impact within Bakewell and the surrounding Peak District.

We are now listed on Tripadvisor and have surged up the rankings from nowhere to be the 3rd highest ranked attraction in Bakewell.

The number one attraction is Chatsworth House set in the glorious Peak District. OK, it might be some time before Hartingtons overtakes Chatsworth in the visitor stakes...but we are closing in!

If you have done a cookery course with us recently why not follow the link below and write a review.

• Write a review of Hartingtons of Bakewell

Good News in British Pie week

At Hartingtons we were absolutely delighted to find out today that our donation of a place on our Artisan Pork Pie Making Course on St Georges Day helped to raise £1500 for St Luke's Hospice at a charity dinner at the magnificent Chatsworth House last Saturday.

Only a few places remain for this artisan course so if you want to celebrate the Best of British on 23rd April be sure to book now.

Mmmmm delicious!!!

Junior Hartingtons in Bakewell

There have been two births at Hartingtons School of Food in Bakewell recently.


The first was junior Hartingtons. As you can see our first ever sourdough culture is now in short trousers metaphorically speaking and is fast growing up to be a proper sourdough culture that we are hoping to use in our first ever sourdough bread making course on the 3rd May. The image shows junior at feeding time as we spruce him up by changing his flour.

The other new addition to the Hartingtons stable was Hartingtons New Ale which was bottled as part of the finale of the first ever introduction to artisan beer brewing course. The course tutored by Paul Taylor was a fantastic event and one which hopefully will inspire a host of new beer makers who realise that they don't need expensive kit to get out there and start brewing their own unique and great tasting artisan beer from raw ingredients. We are already planning a series of beer brewing courses in Bakewell in the Peak District over the coming months so keep watching the website if you are interested.

Also if you are thinking of organising a stag event in the Peak District how about a day learning and producing your own unique beer for your wedding party? For more details please contact us

Artisan Bread Making Course on St Davids Day

For people who want to treat themselves on St. David's Day why not have a go at artisan bread making in the Peak District with our one day course this Thursday?

Due to a late cancellation because of illness we have one space left with acclaimed artisan baker Andrew Auld of the Loaf in Crich.

To book on our one day course contact us now and make St. Davids Day a little bit special.

New beer launches in Bakewell

A new beer is about to see the first light of day as part of Hartingtons School of Food's first ever introduction to artisan beer brewing course in Bakewell on Saturday.

This course is aimed at the curious and those keen to find out how they can brew their own great tasting real ale in their own kitchen all from raw ingredients.

We will prove that you don't need expensive kit to make fantastic tasting real ale.

The tutor for the course Paul Taylor has made his own brew called Hartingtons New Ale especially for the course and will bring along some for the students to bottle at the end of the beer brewing course. The beer promises much. According to Paul this pale ale uses Maris Otter pale ale malt and has been bittered with UK Goldings hops and flavoured with US Cascade hops to give a refreshing pale ale that is perfect for spring and summer drinking. Can't wait to try it.

If you are interested in doing a beer brewing course in the Peak District this Saturday under expert tuition there are still just a couple of places so check out the website for further details.

Hartingtons School of Food ......food for thought

Peak District Cookery Courses coming up.........

Well Spring seems to be on the horizon so I thought I would give you a bit of an update on what you can expect at Hartingtons School of Food over the next few months.

1 March - Intro to Artisan Breadmaking (Just 1 place left. Please ring to book)
3 March - Artisan Beer Brewing
(Couple of places left)
11 March - World Bread Tour - Italian Breads (SOLD OUT)
20 March - Just Canapes
21 March - Mastering Pastry
23 March - The Ultimate Tea Experience
25 March - Intro to Artisan Chocolate Making
29 March - Intro to Artisan Breadmaking (Just 3 places left)
22 April - Sushi Sunday
23 April - Artisan Pork Pie Making
29 April - Authentic Tapas
3 May - Intro to Sourdough Breadmaking (Last few places)
29 May - Intro to Artisan Cheesemaking

Booking soon via the website but we are taking provisional bookings by telephone now.......

23 May - Celebrity Chef Rachel Green's Flavours of Chatsworth
24 July - Student Survival Course
21 August - Student Survival Course

Lots of other things are in the pipeline such as food foraging, young chefs, vegetarian, french bread making, Gourmet Supper Club and a series of pop up events!

Please keep checking the website as we are adding new courses every week!

Hartingtons of Bakewell

Artisan bread making course sells out

Hartingtons Italian bread making course has sold out illustrating just how popular our bread making courses have been. This is testament to the quality of our bread making tutors who are all passionate about real bread making.

Don't worry though we still have a full range of artisan bread making courses available and more are being added daily.

There are a few places left on our introduction to artisan bread making on 29th March or why not try an introduction to sourdough bread making to learn the skill to make your own fantastic tasting sourdough bread.

Lets get bread baking

Hen parties in the Peak District

Hartingtons is a school of food in the Peak District. We also like to entertain!

We have had numerous enquiries over the last few weeks from people looking at organising hen and stag parties in the Peak District.....so if you want to do something different in the Peak District involving your stag or hen party and focused around food why not drop us an email or give us a call.

We can put on everything from sausage making, cup cake decorating to "full on" cookery courses with a celebrity chef. No event is too big or too small. Let us help you put on something a little special for your big day.

Hartingtons School of Food - Bakewell in the heart of the Peak District.

New birth in Bakewell

Hartingtons gave birth to its own mother culture last week. This sourdough starter culture can be used in our future artisan sourdough bread making courses.

We made our culture under the instruction of one of our bread making tutors David Neville who incidentally is off to work with Morrisons, starting this week to help them upgrade their already impressive range of artisan breads. Apparently, Morrisons are the only one of the big supermarkets that have retained genuine bread baking facilities within their stores.

To make you own starter culture all you need is flour, water and some grapes. Leave the culture exposed to the atmosphere and it will pick up the natural wild yeast spores, which then work symbiotically with bacteria to produce the unique sour taste. Each starter has a completely original composition. This made the birth of Hartingtons 'junior' a very special moment in Hartingtons short life.

We are doing a sourdough bread making course in May with Andrew Auld of the Loaf. By then young Hartingtons may even be old enough to play his part.

Artisan Italian Bread Making Course In Bakewell

The latest artisan bread making course took place at Hartingtons School of Food on Sunday.

This relaxed baking course took place in Bakewell in the Peak District with students learning all about the mystery of the biga. It was refreshing to hear our tutor David Neville's first rule was to discard the constraints of a standard bread baking recipe. It was all about feeling the dough!

The students produced a fantastic focaccia and a ciabatta as well as producing their own personalised pizza. In addition to this they also made their own delicious pumpkin soup. Lunch was a bowl of the soup together with freshly made olive and rosemary focaccia.

All the students left inspired by their artisan bread making course.......so if you too want to be inspired why not have a look at some of the forthcoming artisan bread making courses at Hartingtons in Bakewell in the coming weeks.

We can guarantee that learning to make your own artisan bread will inspire you to bigger & better things in 2012.

See images from our artisan bread making courses.