The Summer Table: Seasonal Cookery
Learn to Cook Fresh, Flavourful Vegetarian Dishes with Seasonal Ingredients
Celebrate the vibrant flavours of summer in this hands-on vegetarian cookery class using the best summer produce. Our expert tutors will guide you creating three contemporary dishes that showcase the best of the season—ripe vegetables, fresh herbs, and bold, sun-kissed flavours. Perfect for home cooks looking to expand their plant-based repertoire with light, satisfying meals ideal for warm-weather dining.
Recipes you are likely to make include:
Charred Brassica with Pistachio Dukkah, Lemon-Scented Polenta & Herbed Ricotta
A bold, flavour-packed dish featuring seasonal greens, creamy polenta, and a crunchy nut-and-spice topping.
Caramelised Fennel Tarte Tatin with Sage & Walnut Pesto, Beetroot, Puy Lentil & Orange Salad
A stunning savoury twist on a classic French tart, paired with a vibrant salad full of colour, texture, and plant-based protein.
Summer Squash & Courgette Carpaccio with Miso-Sesame Tofu Crumble
A light, refreshing dish with umami-rich tofu, toasted seeds, and delicate ribbons of seasonal vegetables.
Above recipes are subject to availability of ingredients.
You’ll be able to make the recipes you learn on this class at home, time and time again. After your cookery experience, you will be emailed a pack for you to keep containing all of the recipes you learned on the day.
Available Dates
More info
What is included?
- Expert tuition from a friendly COOK! tutor
- All ingredients, recipes and equipment
- A COOK! apron to wear in the class
- Digital copies of all recipes
- On full day courses you will be having what you cook for lunch
- Complimentary refreshments on arrival (further refreshments will be available to purchase throughout the class)
Do I need any prior experience?
Not at all. Please don’t worry if you are a beginner as this class is completely suitable for all levels. All you need is a willingness to learn and give things a go!
What if I have a food allergy?
If you have any food allergies or intolerances, please contact our friendly team before booking to check whether the course is suitable for you.
Email: cook@vegsoc.org
Call: 0161 925 2000
What to expect on the day
Tutors will guide you through the preparation of various dishes, teaching you essential cooking skills and techniques while introducing you to key ingredients.
You’ll work mainly individually, allowing you to gain hands-on experience.
You’ll enjoy a relaxed and interactive learning environment with plenty of tastings, and you can take everything you make home with you.
What do I need to bring?
Please bring containers for taking food away with you
There will be the opportunity to purchase additional refreshments and merchandise such as aprons.
Please note that we are a cashless establishment and only accept card payments.
Accessibility info
There is a platform lift to the 1st floor where COOK! is located and step-free access to the building
We have lower work stations available for seated use
Blue badge/accessible parking is available on site, please contact us to book cook@vegsoc.org
How to find us
COOK! is based in the heart of Ancoats and is extremely easy to get to:
COOK! with the Vegetarian Society
15 Jersey Street
Ancoats
Manchester
M4 6EZ
If you are driving there are several nearby carparks:
- SIP Car Parks Limited, 27 Gun Street (3 min walk)
- NCP Jersey Street (6 min walk)
If you are attending a class on a Sunday, there is free street parking on surrounding streets (Jersey St, Redhill St, Blossom St)
Nearest Metrolink: Shudehill (12 min walk)
Nearest Train station: Manchester Piccadilly (15 min walk)
Meet your tutor
Grace is a passionate and experienced plant-based chef with a deep commitment to creating food that is nourishing, flavourful, and rooted in the rhythms of the seasons. Her cooking philosophy centres on celebrating produce at its peak, crafting dishes that are both vibrant and sustainable.
Grace first gained recognition as the Head Chef at Black Leaf, a casual fine dining restaurant in the heart of Manchester, where her unique culinary style and bold plant-based menus earned widespread acclaim. Today, as well as heading up the tutor team at COOK!, she runs her own food business known for regularly sold-out supper clubs, collaborations on wellness retreats, private dining experiences, and corporate catering.
Sustainability is at the core of Grace’s food. She champions locally sourced ingredients and cooks with every part of the plant, ensuring her approach is as low-impact as it is delicious.
Through her teaching, Grace aims to make plant-based cooking accessible, exciting, and empowering for everyone. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned cook, her classes are designed to inspire confidence, creativity, and a deeper connection to the food we eat.
Contact COOK!
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our friendly team:
Tel: 0161 925 2000
Lettuce Keep You in the Loop
We are a collective of determined people, connected by our shared belief in a better future for every life on earth. Keep up with our work and sign up to our newsletters...
Follow us on social