Bluebell Croft, 15 Anaheilt, Strontian, Ardnamurchan, Scotland UK PH36 4JA Tel 01967 402226
Home-Smoking and Aga Cookery Courses
After two articles in February '08 in the Guardian and Sunday Times - 'staggeringly lovely fare', demand for Bill's Smoking Courses has far exceeded expectations!
This article in the Sunday Times by Jeremy Lazell -is right at the bottom - 14 of the best cookery courses in the world - and we are the only one in Scotland.
Smoking Courses
The smoking course covers all the basics of home-smoking, from building the smoker and generating the right kind of smoke to brining and curing fish and meat, turning it into succulent smoked food and then, most importantly, eating it! We smoke salmon, trout, haddock, mackerel, various other white fish, mussels, cheese, garlic, eggs, venison and pork sausages, venison and beef, pork for bacon and ham. We can teach you how to build a smoker.
We charge £350 (including accommodation and all food) for the first participant with a partner or friend sharing a room and on the same course paying just £300. That partner can skip the course but join you for meals and accommodation for £200. You will take home a side of smoked salmon per couple plus other goodies.
This is a 2 day course with all tastings, lunch and dinner on day-one and a long late lunch on day-two, plus two or three nights bed and breakfast and supper the night before the course starts in one of our 5 star cottages - Honeysuckle with a hot tub (help yourself to breakfast from ingredients we supply mostly from the croft and Fairtrade). 50% payment for the course is due on booking with the remainder paid on departure. Bring some wine to enjoy at dinner/supper if you like as we do not have a license. You could even consider staying for a week's holiday in the other cottage Rose.
For the first time in 2009 we organised a hugely successful Smoking Course (taught by Bill) and a Cookery Course (taught by Sukie) at the same time. Please ask if you are interested, we can usually organise a course for 4 friends and add any others who are keen to join in - the next date for this May 5th/6th 2012.
The next Smoking/Cookery Course is to be held on May 5th/6th 2012 (still plenty of space).
Cookery courses
Sukie is a former Scottish Rural Chef of the Year and their restaurant, 'Old Pines' won the coveted VisitScotland Flavour of Scotland award, a Restaurant of the Year from the Good Food Guide and many others. These cookery courses offer a practical guide to producing simple, tasty food on either an Aga or conventional cooker.
An amazing array of dishes are produced (and eaten!) over the two-day course all of which are bound to impress your friends when you get home.
Courses can be arranged to suit individuals or groups of friends. Please phone Sukie to discuss - the courses vary depending on what the participants want to learn. Other dates can be arranged to suit you.
Costs are £350 for each participant including two or three nights accommodation and all meals, see above.
Next course Cookery/Smoking (at the same time) May 5th/6th 2012.
These courses make perfect and unusual presents.
New in 2011 - basket making.
We have just added a new course - basket making by Jane who has taught us several times on Muck to make the beautiful log baskets in the houses. She has kindly agreed to run a course at Bluebell Croft on November 24th and 25th 2012 arriving on the evening of the 23rd and staying in Honeysuckle. Please contact us for details.
How to build a smoker »
Foraging for wild, free food
Guests frequently join us on informal foraging sessions.
At the right time of the year, we show you how to safely identify various edible fungi, berries and leaves.
