The recently revamped, seriously stylish Deer Park Country House Hotel just outside Honiton in Devon has called on wood fired oven cooking expert, David Jones of Manna from Devon Cooking School, to add another exciting dimension to their utterly fabulous courses. A series of new, outdoor wood fired oven courses will start in April and run through until the end of September 2014.  

During the varied range of exciting new courses, which will take place during the week, David will share his infectious passion and enthusiasm for cooking with The Bushman wood fired oven which has recently been installed at this hugely desirable hotel.  What could be better than learning from wood fired oven specialists in the stunning gardens of a quintessential English country house?

A long standing tradition in many countries around the world, cooking with a wood fired oven has become extremely popular in recent years and is now one of the latest trends to take the UK by storm.  Throughout David's classes you'll be taught all about wood fired ovens and how to prepare and cook with them.  The five hands-on cooking classes (£95 per person per course) are 'The Devon Larder', 'Grill like a Gaucho', 'Pizza and Flat Breads', 'From Coast to Countryside' and finally a 'Deer Park Tandoori' experience.   

Celebrating the county's delicious local produce and wonderful artisan producers, The Devon Larder course will teach you how to create an array of tasty seasonal 'Devonian' dishes including a traditional Homity Pie and souffled crab frittata.

Grill like a Gaucho is the perfect course for meat lovers and those wanting to embrace the char and wood ash of the fire.  Throughout the South American inspired course you'll master how to char grill steaks, sear squid and create the South American chimmichurri steak sauce. 

Situated in Kingswear overlooking the River Dart, Manna from Devon will bring their favourite flavours of the sea to the Deer Park Country Park House Hotel.  Using whole lemon sole, mackerel and John Dory as well as many other tasty fish varieties, during the From Coast to Countryside course you'll learn about each fish and how to prepare and cook it using a selection of mouth-watering recipes.

Keen to share his new found knowledge from Manna from Devon's recent Indian adventure, the Deer Park Tandoori experience will see you grinding spices, marinating meat and cooking traditional Indian recipes including baked samosas, onion bhajis and naan breads. 

Although synonymous with pizzas, wood fired ovens can of course be used to cook a variety of appetizing flat breads. During the Pizza and Flat Breads course David will show you how to make, shape and top dough whilst producing pizza, lavash, pita and pissaladiere (four delicious flat breads from across the world). 

Commenting on the new cooking courses, Mark Godfrey, Managing Director at the Deer Park Country House Hotel, says: "I have known David and Holly Jones from Manna from Devon Cooking School for years. They are both hugely talented. David's cooking courses will bring that extra touch to our mid-week breaks here at the Deer Park." Mark continues: "We have been thrilled with our new Bushman wood fired oven and can't wait to see it being used at its full potential." 

Set in 80 acres of magnificent grounds, the 18th Century Georgian mansion hotel in East Devon boasts beautiful boutique hotel bedrooms, a stunning Italian garden and desirable restaurant.  Influenced by the best of British, the Deer Park Country House Hotel is the epitome of a quintessential English Country House. 'Cooking with a wood fired oven' is just one of the courses in the exciting new series of laid back, informal and fun outdoor courses on offer within the grounds of the recently renovated hotel.  Open to both residents and non-residents, other mid-week courses include 'An Introduction to Falconry', 'Apple Tree Pruning', 'An All Day Country Affair', 'Fish, Find and Flame' and 'Beekeeping'. 

Established in 2005, Manna from Devon Cooking School is run by Holly and David Jones who teach cooking skills to small groups in the relaxed environment of their Victorian home overlooking the beautiful River Dart in South Devon.  In addition to the main kitchen there is a second kitchen in the style of a bakery.  

For further information on the Manna from Devon courses at the Deer Park Country House Hotel please visit http://www.deerparkcountryhotel.co.uk or call 01404 41266.  For further information on Manna from Devon Cooking School go to www.mannafromdevon.com.   

ENDS  

The Deer Park Country House Hotel and Manna from Devon Cooking School are holding a press day on Tuesday 15th April, please contact Hayley Reynolds for further information or if you would like to attend.

Wood Fired Oven Course Dates 2014

April 29th                      The Devon Larder
April 30th                      Deer Park Tandoori
May 13th                      From Coast to Country Side
May 14th                      Grill Like a Gaucho
May 27th                      Pizza and Flat Breads
May 28th                      The Devon Larder
June 17th                     Deer Park Tandoori
June 18th                     From Coast to Country Side
June 24th                     Grill Like a Gaucho
June 25th                     Pizza and Flat Breads
July 15th                      The Devon Larder
July 16th                      Deer Park Tandoori
July 22nd                     From Coast to Country Side
July 23rd                      Grill Like a Gaucho
August 5th                    Pizza and Flat Breads
August 6th                    The Devon Larder
August 19th                  Deer Park Tandoori
August 20th                  From Coast to Country Side
September 2nd            Grill Like a Gaucho
September 3rd             Pizza and Flat Breads
September 16th           The Devon Larder
September 17th           Deer Park Tandoori

"Holly and David run a fabulous cookery school at Manna from Devon, both are extremely accomplished cooks and teachers. The bread course I did was fantastic and I learnt so much and it was great to be able to cook in such a relaxed location and enjoy the fruits of my labour over a wonderful lunch. I would definitely recommend a course at Manna from Devon which I would consider to be one of the best and most unique cookery schools in South Devon."

Mitch Tonks

For further information, photography or an interview with David or Holly, please contact:

Hayley Reynolds at RAW PR and Marketing - hayley@rawprandmarketing.co.uk;

Tel: 07887 474 104