Cooking Masterclass in Adelaide Australia: A Conversation with Gwendolyn Kestrel

Gwendolyn had the chance to travel to Adelaide Australia for work, so made the most of it by taking a cooking masterclass.

Tell us about yourself! What do you do when you’re not traveling the world? Where do you live? What made you decide to travel to Adelaid and take a cooking class?

I live in the Seattle area and work for an Australian company that matches veterinarian and pet-focused employers with employees, Vet & Pet Jobs.

Sometimes I travel as part of my work and have gotten to visit Australia.  For vacation and general life, I have also travelled to New Zealand (the South Island only thus far), Iceland, Great Britain, France, Canada, Mexico, and many locations in the United States. Most of my travel has been with family and friends, though I travel by myself on a regular basis, including internationally.

What kind of cooking class did you take? How long was it, and where was it held?

With a small group of co-workers, I got to take the Cooking Masterclass at the InterContinental Adelaide. We met in the morning at 10 a.m. and the experience lasted until after lunch, around 2 p.m.

Did the cooking class include any extra activities, such as a visit to a marketplace or a restaurant?

We started with a visit to the local marketplace, Adelaide’s Central Market. Honestly, I wouldn’t have gone there as part of my travel, but I’m so glad the class brought me there! Chef Tony led our expedition. I got to learn about how to select the freshest and best produce and seafood. Before this experience, I would plan out my meals and then go to the supermarket with a list. This made me much more open and sensitive to getting the best ingredients.

The class itself was held in the kitchen of the hotel’s Riverside Restaurant.

What did you learn? What were your most memorable experiences? What were the biggest disappointments?

Before attending the class, I was already a foodie who loved to cook.  I learned a great deal about selecting ingredients, got some tips on my budding knife skills, and gained some confidence in improvising on recipes to accommodate allergies. One of my marketing teammates has so many allergies: nuts, shellfish, spinach (really), and is also lactose-intolerant. Nevertheless, we managed to create a wonderful menu that didn’t feel like it compromised, while accommodating her needs.

My only disappointment is that I took this class while traveling and had to wait until I returned home several weeks later to try out the things I learned.

What do you wish you knew before you went?

I wish I had taken a disposable camera with me.  I was hesitant about getting my iPhone out much (active cooking class and lots of ingredients); I was scared of getting it wet or grubby or breaking it.  A disposable camera would have freed me up to take pictures.  I would have liked to have more pictures.

Would you recommend other women travellers take this cooking class?

I absolutely would recommend that women travelers to Adelaide take this class! You can book it on their website.