Our food learning programme inspires people to cook with, learn more about, and enjoy to eat plants.
Our diverse programme includes hands-on ‘cook and eat’ sessions for local kids, families, community groups who come along together, and open to all adult specialist masterclasses.
Through our sessions we hope to nurture an improved relationship with food, through experiences that link food and cooking with enjoyment and social connection. As well as encouraging confidence to try new things and learn new skills
Sessions take place in our beautiful purpose built learning studio kitchen, overlooking the Museum’s courtyard garden.
We’ve been running the food learning programme since 2017, and since then have run over 350 sessions. As well as cooking with many local families and adults we welcome in community groups. We have regular sessions with groups from Oasis Play Nature Garden, Ashdon Jazz Academy and run a socially prescribed course for patients from our local doctors surgery / North Lambeth Primary Care Network.
We base our recipes on seasonal vegetables and fruits and like to include botanically inspired foods such as edible flowers and herbs. Where possible we take inspiration from items in The Museum’s own collection, gardens or the temporary exhibitions. You can try out some of our recipes by checking out our food learning resources below.
If you organise or are a member of a local community group within the borough of Lambeth and would like to enquire about visiting the Garden Museum for a cooking session please get in touch with our Food Educator, Ceri Jones on ceri@gardenmuseum.org.uk.
Sow Grow Eat
Are you aged 13-17 and based in South London?
Are you interested in dipping your toes in the career of a gardener, food grower or chef?
Do you want to explore the life cycle of vegetables from seed to plate?
We are looking for up to eight teenagers to join our FREE ‘Sow, Grow, Eat’ programme, which involves spending one Saturday each month for ten months with us at the Garden Museum, sowing, growing, cooking and eating. No prior experience necessary, just an enthusiasm for plants!
Cooking sessions at the Museum
Our next available cooking sessions are below.
Our classes are for family, kids or for adults, make sure you book onto the right one;
- Family classes are for young children aged 5-7 years (and older) old who attend with their parents or guardian (parents are invited to get stuck in with the cooking also).
- Kids classes are for children aged 8-12 (and older) who attend without parental supervision. Parents can drop off their children and then enjoy spending time in the Museum or Garden Cafe while we cook. We do ask parents to stay on-site for the duration of the class.
- If a class isn’t specifically labelled for family or kids it’s for adults. Anyone aged 18+ with an interest in food is welcome to attend. No prior experience necessary!
Masterclasses
At our monthly masterclass series, you can learn from our expert food writers, chefs and teachers and leave with in-depth knowledge in a new type of cooking each month. From the botanical to the international, all classes are based on vegetarian produce, and take place in our learning studio kitchen.
More classes for 2024 will be announced soon, led by experts in Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Mexican cuisines, as well as Italian pasta shaping.
All classes are very hands-on, with an element of demo from the teacher. Maximum 6 participants per class.
All profits from the series will be put towards equipment for the studio as well as covering food costs for our community programmes.
Things to do at home
Check our our food learning resources page for recipes and recipe videos to watch, enabling you to cook our recipes from home.
Family Learning Newsletter
Sign up to receive our fun family activity newsletter, and details about upcoming family and community events
Food Learning Volunteers
We occasionally take on volunteers in Food Learning please see our volunteering page for current vacancies.