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Food, Inside Story

South Melbourne Cooking School gets a German Facelift

In the heart of the South Melbourne Market, the South Melbourne Cooking School has offered people the opportunity to learn kitchen skills from some of the top chefs in and around Melbourne. Together with German manufacturer, NEFF appliances, the school has re-launched as NEFF Market Kitchen, offering a new state-of-the-art facility for all food-lovers alike.  A global leader in kitchen appliances, NEFF is the new sponsorship partner of the hugely successful and extremely popular cooking school at South Melbourne Market. The cooking school has been operating at South Melbourne Market for more than four years, and is considered one of Melbourne's best. Randie Anderson from The World Loves Melbourne attended the launch and was inspired by the facilities and the fun nature of the evening.

 

 The NEFF Market Kitchen is supported by some of the country’s best chefs, including Joe Grbac from Saint Crispin, Luke Croston from The Press Club, Tony Twitchett from Taxi Kitchen, Adam D’Sylva from Coda, Tonka, Jesse Gerner from Bomba, Green Park, Añada, Dai Duong from Uncle St Kilda, Philippe Mouchel from Déjà Vue, Daniel Wilson from Huxtable, Huxtaburger, Travis McAuley from Hellenic Republic and Nicky Riemer from Union Dining. Intimate class sizes allow plenty of opportunity to converse with the chef and learn about their areas of specialisation. Some of the chefs, and other notable Melbournians, joined the evening celebration to admire the new venue.

The design is simple and slick.  Adele Bates of Adele Bates Design, did a great job in creating a hybrid of a residential kitchen and a commercial cooking school. Timber, terrazzo and concrete have been used to create a warm and inviting space whilst elements of black give a nod to the industrial styling of the location and add some formality to the overall aesthetic. Add the more than 100 years of kitchen history from NEFF appliances and the result is a timeless, yet modern atmosphere fully equip to create fabulous dishes. 

The NEFF Market Kitchen also offers a range of classes at differing levels of skill and price point, bringing the necessary talent and skill of preparing a gourmet meal in reach of everyone. South Melbourne Market general manager Ross Williamson said the Market and NEFF share a similarly long history. The Market has been a treasured inner city landmark since 1867, while NEFF has been writing kitchen history since 1877, when it was founded by Carl Neff in Bretten, Germany. “South Melbourne Market is delighted to secure NEFF Australia as a partner that’s almost as old as Melbourne’s most permanent market, and also shares the Market’s love of fresh produce and passion for cooking,” Williamson says. “South Melbourne Market is a quintessential village market - a place where people come not only to purchase fresh food, but to meet, eat, drink, shop, discover and connect. The cooking school is part of the City of Port Phillip’s plan for the Market to adapt and meet the needs of the community whilst also staying true to its unique identity. We believe that having the opportunity to learn new skills in such an innovative culinary space will bring cooks out of their home kitchens and down to the Market in growing numbers,” Williamson says.

NEFF Australia Marketing Manager Frances Lynch says the international brand is delighted to partner with the iconic South Melbourne Market. “We really look forward to connecting some of Australia’s best chefs and everyday people who are passionate about cooking in our stunning new kitchen space. We know it’s a dream experience for many to have the opportunity to learn cooking skills from some of the best chefs in the country, and we look forward to continuing that tradition at South Melbourne Market.” The state-of-the-art kitchen has been designed by Adele Bates of Adele Bates Design, who has created an interior that blurs the line between a residential kitchen and a commercial cooking school. Timber, terrazzo and concrete have been used to create a warm and inviting space whilst elements of black give a nod to the industrial styling of the location and add some formality to the overall aesthetic.

Port Phillip Mayor Amanda Stevens and Port Phillip councillor Andrew Bond did the honour of cutting the ribbon into the new kitchen.

Adam D’Sylva was the guest chef testing out the new equipment as he prepared a rich yellow chicken curry with yogurt and coriander. It was so tasty I went back for seconds and thirds! You can get the duck version of this dish at CODA located on Flinders Lane. 

Marketgoers are rewarded with a competition through August, giving one lucky person the chance to win a NEFF oven valued at $4299. The Market will also activate The NEFF Market Kitchen on Sunday August 2 and Sunday August 16 with open cooking classes, and on Sunday August 23, Sally Lukey will run a gingerbread man decorating class from 11am to 12:30pm.

NEFF appliances have been designed by cooks passionate about food and who love spending time in their kitchen. The range includes ovens, steam ovens, microwaves, warming drawers, cooktops, range hoods and dishwashers. The NEFF Market Kitchen is located at Stall 90, Cecil Street, South Melbourne Market, next door to the famous South Melbourne Market Dim Sims, for details www.southmelbournemarket.com.au NEFF is proudly imported, distributed and supported by Sampford IXL, for further information including details and stockists visit www.neff.com.au #NEFFMarketKitchen

So what do The NEFF Market Kitchen cooking classes offer? Well, if you are curious about new foods, are learning how to cook, or just want to polish your cooking skills, these short demonstration-style classes will not only teach you how to make recipes but the techniques that can be used in any cooking setting. Some other features include:

  • Intimate class sizes that allow plenty of opportunity to converse with the chef and learn about their areas of specialisation.
  • A range of classes at differing levels of skill and price point, bringing the necessary talent and skill of preparing a gourmet meal in reach of everyone.
  • Tons of variety! Learn to create food dishes from around the globe with classes in Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, French and German cuisine.
  • Being at the South Melbourne Market you’re able to pick up all your fresh ingredients in one spot.

Make sure to visit http://southmelbournemarket.com.au/cooking-school for the full list of classes and timetable.