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The Art of Sabrage at Coghlans

The art of Sabrage is a technique that is used for opening a bottle of Champagne with a sabre – usually on ceremonial occasions. It involves sliding the sabre along the body of the bottle with the blunt side up, in a perfectly nice rhythm, breaking the top of the neck away, leaving it open and ready to pour!   The technique first came to light in France when the army of Napoleon were celebrating spectacular victories across all of Europe. The cavalry would open the bottle with their sabres during these celebrations, with Napoleon known to have said…  “Champagne! In victory, one deserves it; in defeat one needs it!”   SEE how it is done, after a demonstration at...

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Cake, cake and more cake!

It is well known that we here at Coghlans Cookery School are experts in high class, professional catering. We have been catering for many different events such as Weddings, Anniversaries, Parties and other Celebrations for years, and are very good at it! Something that makes us so special and unique, and also what we pride ourselves on, is the fact that we cater for all kinds of requirements and needs, and even just special requests - such as CAKE!   Our superb Resident MasterChef of Great Britain, Simon Lilley, has a knack for producing fantastically tasting food, but making it look spectacular at the same time...   This is no different when it comes to making specially requested cakes for...

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The Rookie-Cook Review: Coghlans Indian Cookery Class

The Rookie-Cook Review:  Coghlans Indian Cookery Class - I have recently had the very fortunate experience of attending Coghlans Indian Cookery Class. Coghlans is a cookery school, situated between Sheffield and Chesterfield, which runs full-day, half-day, and weekly cookery courses. They range from learning to cook Thai food, to Gastro, to French, to Macarons; and classes even stretch all the way to Knife Skills and Butchery. Courses are run by resident chef Simon Lilley, one of only 120 Master Chefs in Great Britain. But you probably knew all of that already. And what you may not know about your chosen cuisine, Coghlans can teach you. Our class comprised of 8 people at varying levels across the cooking-spectrum (I shame myself...

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Father's Day Blog

Father’s Day Suggestions - We all know it’s a bit of a toughie to know what to get your dad on Father’s day. After a year or two you find that you’ve exhausted all the gift possibilities: socks, best-dad-in-the-world-mug, slippers, aftershave. Luckily, here at Coghlans, we’re here to offer a new suggestion: why not try a Coghlans cookery course? Be not fooled, Coghlans courses remain fun and light-hearted, while at the same time educational. Get your old fella trying his hand at a Braised Lamb Shank in Herb Jus on our ‘Gastro’ course, or Lemon Grass and Coriander spiced Salmon Fillets from our ‘Thai’ cooking class. He can even have a bash at making some Macarons if he wants to....

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Saint Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day Flowers, heart shaped truffles and cards with fancy writing. Valentine’s day has been a popular holidays for centuries that has been celebrated on the 14th of February. People exchange gifts with their loved ones and spend a romantic weekend away together. Some people even send love notes to each other. It’s that one day a year where you show your utter affection for the one you love.   But where did this all begin? Valentine was a bishop of Terni (Italy). He was known for performing weddings for couples that were not allowed to get married (because their parents did not approve). He also gave couples flowers from his gardens, which is why flowers are such a popular...

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