We are serious about food and wine, and have always provided recipes and cooking advice to enthusiastic ‘foodie’ guests. In 2015, we wrote the Lord Howe Island Cookbook, but this only encouraged more enthusiasm and questions from avid watchers of MasterChef, My Kitchen Rules, Iron Chef and Great Australian Bake Off.
Now, due to firm and persistent demand from guests, our Executive Chef, Alasdair Nicolson, hosts a weekly cooking class on the Pinetrees verandah. He covers a range of topics and reveals some professional secrets to help take your cooking to a new level. Al wrote the recipes in our Lord Howe Island Cookbook, and has a special knack for converting high-end commercial cooking to home recipes. The best part of the class, unlike TV shows, is that you get to taste everything he prepares. Bring a cup of tea or a glass of wine.
Throughout the year Al switches up the cooking class for an afternoon foraging adventure at some secret, and not so secret spots around the island. You may find yourself gathering sea grapes next to kids swimming in the lagoon, wild rocket next to Wilson’s Hire, saltbush near Old Settlement or nasturtiums by our very own boatshed. In the evening you’ll see your hard work transformed into the dishes on the menu by Al and his incredible team of chefs. It’s a truly educational and rewarding way to experience the abundance of Lord Howe Island, with a perfectly paired Pinot of course!
