The Kilkenny School of Food, Thomastown is a unique rural development initiative, funded through LEADER, with support from Kilkenny County Council and others.  Its mission is to be a chef training hub in Ireland, to provide the hospitality industry with professionally trained staff.  It offers accredited courses in Culinary Skills and professional chef training as well as classes for the amateur.

Evening and weekend courses range from ‘Tuscan Pasta and Sauces’ to ‘Raw Foods’ and includes such topics as Indian Spices and Japanese cooking.

Groups can be catered for – hen parties, company days out, team bonding.  

The School also has an Incubation kitchen for small start-up food businesses to prepare and cook their product to bring to market. 

The School of Food has developed a one acre Market Garden beside the school.  A wide selection of vegetables, fruit, herbs and salad crops have been planted for use in the Chef Training and Cookery classes. The produce is available in Supervalu, Thomastown and in a selection of local fruit and vegetable shops.

A portion of the garden has been dedicated to rare and unusual vegetables such as sweet potato, oca and yacón. These nutritious crops will be used to teach students new ways to prepare simple meals.

Upcoming 2017 Courses (more to be added)

• Afternoon Tea Party | Sat 8th April

• Easter Teen Camps | Tuesday 11th & Thursday 13th April

• Easter Kids Camps | Tuesday 18th & Thursday 20th April

• Practical Cookery for Beginners: 4 Week Course | Tues 25th April to Tues 16th May

• Living Food with Mary Butler | Sat 29th April

• Fantastic Fish Workshop with Gail | Wed 10th May

• Fermented & Cultured Foods: An Introduction | Sat 20th May

• Tapas & Paella | Wed 31st May

• The Honest Project Demo | Sat 10th June

• Amazing Salads | Wed 14th June

• Simple Summer Suppers | Wed 28th June