STUDENTS from a university centre took part in a cookery school session led by professional chefs at an award-winning dining establishment.

The group, from University Centre Sparsholt, attended a three-hour session at Lainston House for free thanks to sponsorship from Harvest Fine Foods.

The aim of the activity was to help teach students how to cook simple and delicious recipes using local and seasonal ingredients even when shopping on a budget.

The extracurricular session was organised as part of the Study+ enrichment programme at Sparsholt College Group which aims to enhance student experiences and encourage them to further their current interests and develop new skills.

Hampshire Chronicle:

A group of 16 got to cook three recipes including spicy onion fritters and runny poached egg, a one-pot butternut squash and five bean dish and finally a berry meringue roulade.

Students left with their dishes and a better appreciation of the potential simplicity of healthy and tasty food.

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Assistant principal for Higher Education, Neil Rippington, said: “The cookery school, hosted at Lainston House, was a great event and something that all partners agreed we should do again soon.

Hampshire Chronicle:

“The students were an absolute pleasure, fully engaging in the event and producing some fantastic results. The aim of the school is to have fun, build social groups and learn some important life skills. The objective is to produce simple dishes that are nutritious, sustainable, affordable, delicious, and inspiring, using and celebrating local and seasonal produce.

“We want this to turn into a seasonal school with the next event in the spring term and an outdoor ‘al fresco’ event on the barbecues to follow in the summer.” 

Lainston House is a country hotel, situated in Woodman Lane in Sparsholt, with facilities including 50 bedrooms, a gym, two tennis courts and the triple AA rosette restaurant.