Learn to Cook at Lainston House

For the love of cooking! Learn to make world-class dishes at their award-winning Season cookery school in their state-of-the-art kitchens at Lainston House, Hampshire. 

Or head out into the great outdoors to their kitchen garden, where barbecuing and woodfired classes come to life. 

Whatever your skill level, their award-winning chefs are ready to take you on an adventure of gastronomic proportions.

For the explorers, the food lovers and the do it differently-ers, their Cook and Stay packages at Lainston House serve up the perfect recipe for adventure. 

Tuck into a refreshing escape with bed and breakfast at 25% off their flexible B&B rate, plus a hands-on cookery class at Season.

From fire-fuelled feasts to skill-sharpening sessions, choose from four mouth-watering options: Taster, Discover, Inspire, Signature or Masterclass. Reinvent the way you get away at our elegant yet experimental country house hotel. Ready to stir up something special?

Skills and passions: Souffles

Class Duration: 10am - 1pm

Date: 30th January 2026

About: Roll up your sleeves and put theory into practice as you learn how to select the finest ingredients and master the essential technique of making a souffle. 

Fluffy, light and delicate, soufflés might look gentle enough, but this showstopping dish is the mark of a true culinary technician. In this class, we give you all the skills and techniques to add both a sweet and savoury spin on the soufflé to your repertoire.   

World cuisine: Indian Street Food

Class Duration: 10am - 4pm

Date: 31st January 2026

About: Always wanted to learn how to whip up a satisfyingly spicy snack or authentic Indian dish? Join them on a culinary odyssey through India’s incredible street food and learn how to make traditional, flavourful dishes to impress your friends.

World cuisine: Thai Lunch Cook Along

Class Duration: 10am - 1pm

Date: 07th February 2026

About: Forget takeaways – learn how to make delicious, fragrant Thai food from the comfort of your own home! 

Their talented chef will lead a cookalong, sharing tips and tricks to help you learn how to strike the perfect balance of flavours. You’ll cook your very own Thai green curry and tiger prawn pad Thai, then, you’ll leave with detailed notes and all the skills you to recreate these flavoursome dishes back home.

Skills and passions: Dinner for two

Class Duration: 10am - 4pm

Date: 14th February 2026

About: Change up the usual chocolate and flowers this Valentines day and treat your significant other to a date day at Season cookery school. Paired up on a workstation, spend the day enjoying demonstrations from their expert chefs before venturing off to whip up a three-course dinner after which, you will enjoy eating in The Wellhouse restaurant.

To learn more or to sign up please visit https://www.exclusive.co.uk/cookery-school/

That's Food and Drink believe the above courses would make excellent Christmas gifts for the foodie who wants to learn more about cooking or who wants to hone their own cookery skills.

Pandemics, wars, and recessions shape our food choices differently

Different economic shocks, whether through pandemics, wars, or financial crises, have different influences on how we eat and buy food, finds new research from Corvinus University of Budapest.

The researchers analysed 112 research papers across almost 70 countries to explore the impact of economic shocks (disease-related, financial, geopolitical and price) on food consumption behaviour. 

They found common features - panic buying, cheaper substitutes, and preference for local sources and online purchasing, but exact response patterns varied:

Disease-related shocks (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) initially trigger emotional reactions such as stockpiling, followed by sustainable adaptations such as increased online shopping and more careful use of food resources.

Financial crises (e.g., recessions) cause slower, more persistent changes. Households switch to cheaper brands and compromise on the quality of food.

Geopolitical conflicts (e.g., the Russia–Ukraine war) trigger inflation and impact supply chains, which then boosts demand for local substitutes.

Price shocks in the food sector arise from global and domestic economic pressures, supply chain disruptions, and policy changes, forcing especially low-income households to reduce food purchases, switch to cheaper substitutes, or self-produce, increasing poverty and welfare losses. 

This underlines an urgent need for resilient and equitable food policies to mitigate the impact of future crises.

“Targeted support, such as food aid, cash transfers, or free school meals, can help protect vulnerable groups in the short term. In the long term, investments in domestic agriculture, support for local producers, and diversifying supply chains are more effective, as these steps improve the resilience of the food system,” Zalán Márk Maró, lead researcher and Assistant Professor from Corvinus University told That's Food and Drink.

These findings were first published in the journal Trends in Food Science & Technology.

https://www.uni-corvinus.hu/?lang=en

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Angus & Oink Unveil Two New Salts: Cajun Salt and Vegan Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt

Angus & Oink, the bold Scottish brand famed for its strong line-up of seasonings and sauces, has expanded its seasoning range with two new flavoured salts: Cajun Salt and Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt. 

Cajun Salt is crafted as a finishing or cooking salt rather than a traditional seasoning. It can be used just like regular salt and pepper, but it's full of additional flavours - it's perfect for fries, meat and seafood. 

Cajun Salt is inspired by time spent deep in the heart of Louisiana, where co-founders Scott and Malissa Fraser explored everything from the smoky backroads of Lafayette to the bustling kitchens of New Orleans. 

“We travelled from Houston down through Louisiana, stopping at local eateries and roadside smokehouses,” Scott told That's Food and Drink. 

“We fell in love with the gumbos, crawfish, boudin sausage and that magical blend of bell pepper, onion and celery that's the base of so much Cajun cooking. Cajun Salt captures that authenticity – it's bold, versatile, and packed with the spirit of the South.”

Angus & Oink Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt. 100% Vegan - £8.99 / 250g

The second new arrival, Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt, is a nod to Australia's cult-favourite chip shop seasoning, a staple that Angus & Oink has reimagined. Bursting with umami notes, garlic, and onion, this vegan-friendly salt promises next-level chips and adds magic to chicken, roast potatoes, burgers, and popcorn alike.

“Chicken Salt, mate… straight outta the land of BBQ dreams,” says Scott. “We've pimped up humble sea salt with a riot of spices and our signature A&O flavour magic. One taste and you'll be cluckin' hooked!”

Founded by Scott and Malissa Fraser after more than a decade of barbecuing and travelling the world, Angus & Oink has built a reputation for authenticity, creativity, and flavour. Each product in the range tells a story, from their travels across America's Deep South to the food stalls of Asia and beyond. With these new salts, Angus & Oink continue to celebrate the global barbecue and street food loving community and bring adventurous flavours to everyday cooking.

Both Cajun Salt and Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt are available now at www.angusandoink.com.

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