Clean and bright kitchen, good range of dishes covered. found two breaks with tea/ coffee, scones and a five course lunch a bit tough going over five hours. Negative was that the food your two man team prepared was "pooled" and therefore it was difficult to know how you could tweak your efforts in the future. A lot of bread wasted at the end. No one knew whose was whose so no point in bringing it home :((
Everything about Belle Isle is surperb....from their beautiful clean cosy self catering cottages to the expert cookery school with Joe and his able helpers Ruth and Erin. We could not recommend Belle Isle cottages and cookery school enough. We will definitely be back. Pat & Jean from Comber
We attended a full day Food for Friends Course. The instructor, Chef Joe Kelly demonstrated each dish and then let us get on with preparing our own versions. We made focaccia bread, a chicken ballotine, root vegetable gratin, granola/yogurt snack, chocolate and pear frangipane tart and then got to eat it all. The really good bit was that the back-room staff, Ruth and Sydney, did all the basic prep work and all the washing up. The school does a wide range of one-day and longer courses and I would recommend it.
Have been here several times for cookery courses and have enjoyed every one of them. The facilities are marvelous and the instruction super and fun. You get to eat the food you cooked at the end and everybody has a laugh.I'm looking forward to my next cookery course which is on fish. Appeals to all ages no matter how experienced or uninitiated you are!
We attended a day long course at Belle Isle cooking school. Stayed on the estate in the self catering cottages. These are beautiful. Location, food & staff were just fab. Can't recommend enough. Massive thanks Joe, Ruth & Erin. We had a ball. Joe made us all feel at ease from start to finish. Joe demonstrated everything first before we attempted. We will be back for sure..xx
I have just returned from a weekend at Belle Isle, and despite its spectacularly beautiful location, the school is managed and the learning process delivered in a fantastic manner.This was my second visit and as an Xmas gift, the first for my wife. The two day corse involved the preparation of around 12-15 different dishes in a very homely culinary classroom setting which was carried out with the enthusiastic assistance of all the staff involved.Special credit to the tutor / chef Joe Kelly who delivered the course content in a very casual, easy going and enjoyable pace which maximised the enjoyment and interaction of all the students present. Imaginative yet achievable dishes which were not only enjoyable to create but also to consume.This is a course where you eat what you make and in a very convivial dining setting where students can interact and share time and experiences. This was a very enjoyable experience and I have no hesitation in recommending the school to anyone else.Thanks Joe and all your staff.
60th birthday present for my husband from the kids. He came back with the biggest smile on his face and most of what he had cooked, having eaten the rest!!! Made his first cake and bread and wants to go again!! Very impressed with school and staff.
Enjoyed a day at Belle Isle on the Delicious Deserts course and am now 2 stone heavier!! We made 4 deserts,watched Chef Joe make ice cream and wheaten bread and had a wonderful lunch. The price is not mad,the cooking fun and we were shown exactly what to do before we had a go ourselves. Joe Kelly and his staff are lovely people and I could only recommend you go here as nd try it.
attended one day cookery course. Really enjoyed the day and learnt how to cook Indian food and ate it for lunch afterwards.An excellent Christmas present
We had a relaxing, interesting learning experience with chef Joe Kelly in Belle Isle Cookery school. It's our second time this year-1st was "Cooking for Friends" & yesterday we a day themed "Family Favourites". We were greeted with tea & freshly made scones- recipe included with our folder of recipes for the day. Joe demonstrated in short sections & then we repeated. He added oodles valuable tips & constantly circulating to guide & advise.We cooked our own lunch & dinner (including dessert) and made some lovely apple & cinnamon soda bread. .....And got to bring home what we didn't eat!! It's definitey recommended- I'll be back