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Wednesday 22 April 2009

George’s, a Perfect Culinary Experience!


George’s on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula offers a unique travel experience, combining luxury accommodation with onsite professional cooking courses.

Seated atop Arthur’s Seat with sweeping views overlooking magnificent Port Phillip Bay, George’s was created on the concept of the famous international live-in cooking schools of Italy & South of France. This stylish B&B offers quality accommodation and hands on cooking classes for Australia’s growing culinary market.

George’s is the brainchild of Peter Schofield, who noticed there were few ‘live in’ culinary retreats in Australia. Peter believed the concept would be attractive with the increasingly food-savvy Australian market, and by locating his facility in a major tourism region, there was also scope to maintain high occupancy rates between the themed food courses.

‘I believe it’s a unique product in Australia, and having done close to 20 cooking courses now proves the formula is working…..guests thoroughly enjoyed the cooking course with upmarket accommodation. We’ve found that private groups work best, as then they get to choose one of 8 cuisine themes - Classic French; Flavours of SE Asia; Are You Game; Patisserie; Fresh Ocean Produce; Health Conscious; Americas; Mediterranean Escape’ Peter said.

George's 2 and 3 day culinary courses with Executive Chef, Duncan White-Robertson are purposely limited to 8 participants to give each ‘foodie’ an equal opportunity to finetune their cooking skills and learn kitchen techniques from sharpening knifes through to hygeniene procedures and the use of fresh herbs in food dishes, etc.

Duncan White-Robertson is a star chef on the rise. Tagged by media as Australia’s answer to Jamie Oliver, George’s is thrilled to have him as Executive Chef. Feedback from class participants already confirms Duncan as the perfect instructor. His immense global cuisine experience over 20 years, extensive teaching in the field of culinary arts and training as an actor have all contributed to his persona.

George’s culinary courses include everything gastronomic. The 3 day cooking course comprises of: 2 nights lavish accommodation in a designer suite with private balcony; ‘hands on’ cooking lessons with Chef* * all meals & beverages ; cooking equipment; worksheets; recipes; pre-dinner wine tasting with Sommelier; 4 course degustation dinner with matching wines presented by Chef; 30 minute natural spa at Peninsula Hot Springs; local produce & winery tour; transfers to & from local activities; insurance cover; and a gift pack!

Priced at AUD$850 per person for a 2 day course or AUD$1,300pp for 3 days (maximum/minimum 8 participants). George’s next 3 day culinary course is 16th, 17th & 18th June 09.

When participants arrive, they welcomed with a kit comprising of the program, along with a complimentary bottle of Mornington Peninsula wine and other freebies. After ‘donning’ the aprons by the Chef, they are then escorted into a state-of-the art stainless steel commercial kitchen to commence the ‘cooking program’ under his supervision.

In essence, the food cooked on Day 1 morning creates a casual lunch, and the food cooked that afternoon forms a fine dining degustation dinner menu. Upon arrival, they are greeted by a Sommelier from Elgee Park Wines (local winery) for a wine tasting…..then seated for a more formal 5 course degustation dinner with matching wines, the food dishes presented by the Chef. The following day includes a cooked breakfast, followed by cooking classes to form another casual lunch. A host is also included in the program to meet’n’greet guests, offer tea/coffee, serve the food dishes and wines for each meal and virtually to spoil each individual!

‘I’m always so impressed with each retreat, especially when I serve the guest food dishes for the degustation dinner matched with matching wines…and to see the looks on their faces, at just how good it is. It’s wonderful being a cooking teacher, I love to fill people with joy’ Duncan said.

If you book a culinary course by the end of June 09, then participants receive AUD$150 gift voucher which can be redeemed at George’s towards accommodation or a cooking course. Live the cuisine dream!

Less than an hour from Melbourne, George’s is just minutes away from Mornington Peninsula’s premier attractions. Leading wineries are literally around the corner, and golf courses, markets, Safety Beach Marina and the Peninsula Hot Springs are only a stone’s throw away.

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