Mothers day is about giving your mum a break from everyday life and making her feel special but it’s not just about gifts, for a lot of mum’s spending quality time with her children is the best gift.

Whatever kind of mum you have, from creative mum to foodie mum, GoLearnTo.com can help you find the perfect course that you’ll both enjoy doing together.

Perfect for Foodies

Cooking holiday in Tuscany
Spend 3 nights in the pretty village of Cortona in Tuscany on this gourmet cooking holiday. Stay in a former monastery with stunning views over the rolling hills and meander through the cobbled streets discovering the local shops and cafes and then spend 3 evenings learning the secrets of Italian cooking from a professional Chef who is passionate about all things Italian.

£420 per person
Including 3 nights accommodation, meals, 3 cooking lessons with wine

For Chilled Out Mum’s

Yoga & Pliates holiday in Fuerteventura
Go learn to practice pilates and yoga on this unique wellbeing holiday set amongst dramatic and energising volcanic scenery, deserted beaches under the warm soothing Fuerteventura sunshine and return home feeling relaxed and revitalised.

£463 per person
Including 7 nights accommodation, breakfast, daily yoga & pilates sessions

For Creative Mum’s
Unleash the creative within on a fabulous painting weekend in Spain where you and your mum will spend 3 nights at an amazing eco-chic retreat in the Andalucian countryside learning to paint and draw the dramatic scenery all around. Enjoy healthy, organic and locally sourced food all cooked by your hosts and indulge your passion for art on this painting holiday with a conscience.

£297 per person
Including 3 nights accommodation, meals, painting lessons and equipment daily

For Sporty Mum’s
Discover the breathtaking activity of Hill Walking in the tranquil Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland on this 3 day, 2 night beginners learn to hill walk course. With the aid of expert instructors you’ll be given guided trips of the area to develop your skills and get the most out of your course.

£245 per person
Including 2 nights accommodation, hill walking guides and survival instruction

To book: www.GoLearnTo.com
Tel: 08445 020 445

Treat mum to an exciting hands-on cookery course this Mother’s Day with a gift voucher from the new Ashburton Cookery School in South Devon. Designed to inspire, there are over 40 courses from which to choose such as Express Dinner Parties for home entertaining, Chef Skills for the more advanced and family dinners – a new one-day course ideal for busy mums juggling work with looking after the home.

With a gift voucher mum can select a course and date to suit her lifestyle. Valid for nine months, they can be purchased for the one, two or five day courses, which are priced from £99 per person. Alternatively, vouchers are available in denominations of £25 upwards and can be put towards the cost of any course. You can choose to have a printed voucher sent to either yourself or the recipient direct, while for last minute gifts you can send a voucher via email from the school’s website.

Ashburton Cookery School has just moved to a new, ultra-modern building with three superbly equipped teaching kitchens. The hands-on courses, which are split into five levels of ability, teach fundamental techniques that can be applied when cooking at home, entertaining family and friends or working in a professional kitchen. The popular one and two day course include canapés, desserts, fish and seafood, gastro and modern vegetarian. There are also courses inspired by a country’s cuisine such as Italian, French and Thai.

To order a gift voucher call the Ashburton Cookery School on telephone 01364 652784 or visit www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.ushe sk. B&B accommodation is available at the school from £59 per night.

In celebration of the rise in interest in quality British cooking, The Grill at The Dorchester will be honouring  St. George’s Day on Friday 23 April 2010 with a special menu.

Making the most of local produce, the menu will be available for lunch bookings and features beautifully cooked  classic British fare such as pressed terrine of Cornish lobster, Angus beef with Yorkshire pudding or Roasted rump  of lamb, priced at £55 per person.

The Grill at The Dorchester is one of London’s longest-standing traditional dining rooms. Head Chef, Brian Hughson  demonstrates a strong passion for sourcing quality, organic produce from around the British Isles wherever  possible. Together with Head Sommelier Jason McAuliffe, the British duo and their team create a welcoming, relaxed  atmosphere in which to enjoy classic British cuisine.

To make a reservation, please contact Restaurants at The Dorchester on +44 (0) 20 7629 8888 or email  restaurants@thedorchester.com.

St. George’s Day Menu

Wild Scottish smoked salmon and home cured gravadlax,carved at the table
or Carpaccio of beef, celery leaves and black truffle salad or Pressed terrine of Cornish lobster and tomato, sour cream dressing or Broccoli soup with Stilton beignets and red wine pears

Angus beef with Yorkshire pudding and seasonal vegetables or Roasted rump of lamb, confit tomatoes and courgette flowers or Potato and onion pie, wild mushroom and chervil cream or Roasted Pollack, lemon puree and brandade

Selection of Artisan British cheeses or Lemon tart with clotted cream ice cream
or Apple turnover or Bread & butter pudding with Baileys and chocolate ice cream

£55.00 per person
(Price inclusive of VAT at 17.5% and exclusive of 12.5% service charge)

Budding chefs and food lovers have a packed menu to choose from over the next few months in Eastbourne as the resort’s Culinary Arts Studio introduces new evening demonstrations designed to set taste buds alive.

From combining flavours and spices with Pan Asian Cooking to Eating Humble Pie, and from learning how to use all of the meat with Butchering and Cooking Meat to a Mystery Basket, an evening finding out how to produce wow factor dishes with a versatile mix of ingredients. Eastbourne will be hosting a series of exciting evening events from March to May this year, with those attending invited to learn from the best with professional Chef Steven Cooke leading the demonstrations with lots of tasters, recipes, and questions and answers throughout.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Susan Morris said “The new cookery demonstrations from the Culinary Arts Studio are a fantastic idea for the spring months ahead and the perfect excuse for a fun evening out, while learning some great culinary skills at the same time! The Studio is a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and anyone attending will be able to view top techniques up close, before taking recipes home to try out for themselves.”

With spring fast approaching and the evenings getting lighter the new evening demonstrations offer an alternative night out for both residents and visitors.

Located at the Eastbourne campus of the University of brighton, the Culinary Arts Studio is located in a beautiful position at the foot of the South Downs and offers a unique experience for anybody visiting the town.

Taking place on Wednesday evenings from 6.30pm – 9pm the courses make a great excuse for a mid-week break and leave visitors with the day free to explore the seaside resort.

By day, budding chefs can be inspired by a vast selection of local restaurants including the award-winning Hungry Monk at Jevington, famous for inventing the Banoffi Pie, or explore local food and drink makers including the nearby English Wine Centre or Middle Farm, home to the National Collection of Cider and Perry.

The Culinary Arts Studio evening demonstrations cost just £25+VAT and include the chance to sample dishes, take recipes home, and pick up tips from Chef Steven Cooke.

To book visit the online shop at www.visiteastbourne.com or telephone the Studio on 01273 643361.

Plus the demonstrations are also available to book online from www.cookery-holidays.com with a stay at an Eastbourne hotel.

If music be the food of love then it’s game on at the Copthorne Hotel Sheffield.

The four star hotel is hosting a Spring Jazz event on Saturday 6th March at 7.30pm which is set to attract music and food lovers alike to the award winning 1855 restaurant.

Clare Hingott and the Graham Watkins Jazz quartet will entertain diners with a selection of jazz classics from the likes of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington while they enjoy a four course dinner.

With fabulous food, great music and good company, the evening promises to be a treat for couples or groups of friends alike. The event follows the hugely popular Movies to Movies event in January and is the second in a series of special nights being hosted by the Copthorne in 2010.

The four course set menus are presented as platters for sharing and include a vegetarian option for each course. The sumptuous starters include Cajun spiced chicken breast or smoked salmon with a salad of baby gem hearts, anchovies, garlic croutes and a creamy Caesar dressing.

The main course options are gumbo of marinated king prawns, pork chorizo in a tomato, herb and okra sauce with red beans, rice and rustic cornbread or wild mushroom and leek strudel with creamed spinach and crispy sage with a champagne sorbet to follow. A sharing platter of vanilla beignets with cinnamon cream and Southern Comfort syrup completes the dining experience.

Tickets for the Spring Jazz event are priced at £34.95 per person with booking essential to secure your place. For more information about this or future events, or to book, call 0114 252 5480 or visit www.milleniumhotels.co.uk/copthornesheffield

ASHBURTON COOKERY SCHOOL, SOUTH DEVON

Treat mum to an exciting hands-on cookery course this Mother’s Day with a gift voucher from the new Ashburton Cookery School in South Devon. Designed to inspire, there are over 40 courses from which to choose such as Express Dinner Parties for home entertaining, Chef Skills for the more advanced and family dinners – a new one-day course ideal for busy mums juggling work with looking after the home.

With a gift voucher mum can select a course and date to suit her lifestyle. Valid for nine months, they can be purchased for the one, two or five day courses, which are priced from £149 per person. Alternatively, vouchers are available in denominations of £25 upwards and can be put towards the cost of any course. You can choose to have a printed voucher sent to either yourself or the recipient direct, while for last minute gifts you can send a voucher via email from the school’s website.

Ashburton Cookery School has just moved to a new, ultra-modern building with three superbly equipped teaching kitchens. The hands-on courses, which are split into five levels of ability, teach fundamental techniques that can be applied when cooking at home, entertaining family and friends or working in a professional kitchen. The popular one and two day course include canapés, desserts, fish and seafood, gastro and modern vegetarian. There are also courses inspired by a country’s cuisine such as Italian, French and Thai.

VALENTINE’S WEEKEND AT THE COMPLEAT ANGLER, MARLOW
CANDLELIT DINNER, B&B FROM £449 FOR TWO

Whisk your loved one away for a Valentine’s weekend of romance at the stylish Macdonald Compleat Angler Hotel beside the Thames at Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The special Valentine’s package starts from £449 for two including two nights B&B and dinner at Bowaters riverside restaurant plus champagne, chocolates and strawberries in your room on arrival. With its stunning river views, candlelit dining rooms and four-poster bedrooms and suites, this incredibly romantic hotel is sure to set the mood for love.

On Friday, 12th February the two AA Rosette Bowaters Restaurant will be hosting a three-course dinner with live jazz entertainment, while on Saturday there is a special four-course Valentine’s menu created by head chef David Smith – and a red rose for every lady. There is also time to enjoy the pianist in the bar and take afternoon tea or lunch in Aubergine.

And on the day of romance itself, treat your partner to a traditional Sunday lunch or dinner in the riverside restaurant at £36.50pp.

Throughout this week and leading up to the 14th February we will try to be as romantic as possible……Today we start our journey towards the 14th of February with this wonderful offering. Celebrate St Valentine’s 2010 at this special place in Rome.

Fly out on Thursday 11th February and our chauffeur driven car will be waiting for you. Return transfers to the hotel. Rich buffet breakfast with fresh products and gourmet items served in your room, Marron Glacès and Berlucchi wine in your room on arrival. Red rose petals scattered on your bed. If your budget permits why not have a relaxing massage in your room. Return to the UK on Monday the 15th. Prices subject to availability at the time of request.

14th – 15th August 2010
Now in its 22nd year, the isle of wight Garlic Festival returns this year to showcase the best of local produce, music and entertainment, including a full range of garlic products including the more unusual delights such as garlic beer and garlic ice cream!  Ferry inclusive packages are available through Red Funnel.

http://www.redfunnel.co.uk

New Cookery School Opens At Ashburton, South Devon

A new, ultra-modern cookery school has opened its doors this autumn on the edge of Dartmoor, South Devon with the Ashburton Cookery School’s move to newly built, custom-designed premises.

Three new state-of-the art teaching kitchens, superbly equipped with the latest Siemens appliances, will enable the school to increase the choice of courses on offer and expand the number of student places to meet an ever increasing demand to learn new cookery skills. Students are taught fundamental cookery techniques that can be applied when cooking at home, entertaining family and friends or working in a professional kitchen.

Delighted with the new facility, Chef Director, Darrin Hosegrove said: “Building a brand new cookery school has allowed us to distil years of expertise in cookery training to create a fantastic facility built around the needs of the student. Everything is designed to maximise the quality and enjoyment of the training. We’re really proud of it and the feedback from students has been fantastic”.

Future plans include the opening of a stylish new chef’s restaurant within the contemporary cookery school premises, where the chef tutors can prepare signature dishes for everyone to enjoy with a selection of matched wines.

Over 40 Cookery Courses
With courses running seven days a week in up to four kitchens (three new and one in the former building), the school offers over forty different hands-on courses split into five levels of ability and one to twenty days in length. “Most of our courses are designed for the enthusiastic home-cook, but we also have courses for those with no cookery skills whatsoever. We have had several students start on a beginners’ weekend and work their way up to an advanced course, cooking at a fine dining level”, continued Darrin Hosegrove.

Among the more popular are the one and two day Express Dinner Parties, which teach the art of quick, effective entertaining, and Gentlemen’s Relish – a two-day course intended for men to build-up their confidence and skills in the kitchen so that they really enjoy cooking for guests and themselves. Others include breadmaking, canapés, desserts, fish and seafood, game, knife skills and modern vegetarian; there are also courses inspired by a country’s cuisine such as Italian, French and Thai.

The twenty-day Ashburton Cookery Diploma is an intensive training course for those wishing to launch a career in catering or start their own business. It is highly regarded in the catering industry and past graduates can be found working in Michelin starred restaurants, appearing on television’s Masterchef, or running successful catering companies and bistro’s.

Headed by Chef Director Darrin Hosegrove, Ashburton Cookery School’s chef tutors are qualified lecturers with extensive experience of working in the catering industry. They inspire students to cook with imagination, passion and enjoyment.

The school also prides itself in using only the best quality ingredients and promotes the use of food and drink that has been produced in a way that is organic, sustainable, environmentally sensitive or ethical, and is supportive of local businesses.

Location and Accommodation
The Cookery School is located in the small Georgian town of Ashburton with its many antique shops and cafes to explore and enjoy. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the West Country with Dartmoor’s open expanses and the rolling countryside and sandy beaches of Devon’s glorious South Hams within easy reach. The new building is a few minutes’ drive from the A38, equidistant between Exeter and Plymouth, while the nearest train station with a direct service to London Paddington and Birmingham New Street is at Newton Abbot (about 15-20 minutes by car).

Accommodation is available on a B&B basis in the school’s own 17th century building in Ashburton’s East Street. Alternatively there is a choice of quality B&Bs and guesthouses in the town and surrounding area.

Tariff and Further Information
Cookery courses are priced from £149 per person for one day; this includes a personal workstation with all necessary utensils and ingredients, an apron, course folder with notes and recipes to take home, morning tea/coffee and lunch with a glass of wine, partly comprising the dishes made during the day. Those on courses lasting two days or more may also have supper.

Courses run from 9.30am and finish at either 4 or 6pm with a break for lunch. B&B is from £59 per person (all prices quoted are 2009 subject to increase for 2010).

Gift vouchers, valid for nine months, can be purchased for one, two or five day courses, or be used towards the cost of a more expensive course, while fine-quality cookery equipment and specialist foods are also available via the school’s Cookery Store.

For a brochure or to book a cookery course contact the Ashburton Cookery School on telephone 01364 652784 or visit www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk.