Let the games begin...
Rodney Trotter eat your heart out - very Jamie Oliver
Up the stairs to discovery
Where all the action takes place
Very kitsch decor, love love love the stripey poles and mix of candy colours

Happy Sunday everyone! I was never really a huge fan of Sundays when I was younger, I didn't really understand the point of them particularly as my family always insisted on staying in and lounging at home - not shopping and running errands like on a Saturday (wonder why I loved that so much?) Now I'm older I adore Sundays - seeing family, devouring a roast dinner and spending a little too long in loungewear is my idea of heaven, I'm currently rocking the later. If you've been living under a rock you may not know that the boy and I enjoyed a long weekend in London just a mere seven days ago to celebrate him turning 26, we had a lovely chilled out weekend and even took pictures of Buckingham Palace. 

London again you may be wondering? Well the main reason I chose London as a birthday break for the boy was Jamie Oliver's Recipease, billed as a social food community experience I was intrigued. Researching further I was impressed by the variety of things you can do at a Recipease from taking a cookery lesson, enjoying breakfast, lunch or evening bites whilst watching one of the many cookery lessons or you can simply pick up a ready meal to take home which have been made by the professional chefs on site. I thought a cookery lesson would be perfect for the boy as he fancies himself as a bit of a Jamie Oliver/Gordon Ramsay hybrid (it can be a happy yet sweary kitchen) and as not a day goes by without him mentioning a need to make his own pasta I booked us both onto the unbeatable filled pasta class to get the professional pasta low down.

Who doesn't love a bit of bunting?
An excitement boy, ready for our lesson to begin
The basic pasta recipe - 100g flour and one egg per person 
Our pasta taking shape

On arriving at Recipease in Notting Hill I wasn't disappointed - the whole place had a really open and welcoming feel, the interior was a real mix of rustic and modern perfection with a whole load of bunting thrown in for good measure, my kind of decor. We were quickly shown upstairs to a table at the back of the huge space, right next to a well equipped cooking island - I knew it wouldn't be long until the games commenced as we were handed aprons and drinks orders were taken. Thanks to my penicillin I plumped for a glass of Adams ale (I hope it's not just my mum and I who say this) while the boy went for a locally brewed beer with dark chocolate which smelt heavenly. After a few sips of our beverages and a swift yet fleeting wobble of confidence from me (something on the lines of will I be able to make this bloomin pasta) we were asked to gather round the main workstation.

Two professional chefs led our class, talking us through the aim of the game before breaking each section of the recipe down into manageable chunks. They'd show us how to make the dough and then it was our turn - this was the perfect format for me as taking in any more than ten minutes of chat at a time means I'll forget the first couple of minutes! I was beyond proud when my dough came out at the desired texture and loved using the pasta machine to roll out the pasta - a great bicep work out, take that gym. After making our pasta separately the boy and I came together to assemble the filling - hello spinach and ricotta with a touch of nutmeg and lemon. Shaping the pasta and popping in the filling was easily the most time consuming and fiddly part, this is when the boy excels and I have to try my hardest. Thankfully our pasta didn't look too dissimilar and before I knew it we were cooking on gas (not literally it was an electric hob) so it wasn't long before our dish was complete - spinach and ricotta ravioli and tortellini made by our own fair hands.

Ta-dah!
Too tasty to stop for a photo
The market style shopping area
There's always time to shop

If I do say so myself our pasta was rather delicious and absolutely hit the spot after an hour or so of hard graft - that pasta maker was a killer. While we cooked our pasta a reserved dining table has been swiftly prepared so the class could take the weight off and chow down on our pasta. While discussing our newly acquired skills both the boy and I vowed to make fresh pasta again - it tastes so much better than the fresh pasta you buy from the supermarket. As we debated what sauce we'd make to go with our pasta (talk about rock and roll) I took stock - excuse the pun, of our lesson. From the word go the whole team had made our lesson enjoyable, from the ease-you-in drink at the beginning to the chefs coming round and checking on your progress (yes I needed help with the pasta shaping) the lesson was a real success.

So whether you fancy yourself as a bit of a Delia or you don't know the difference between tortellini and ravioli there's a class with your name on it at Recipease, I've got my eye on the Mexican street food class. If you're still not convinced then pop in and see for yourself - the menu looked pretty heavenly plus the dining tables are scattered around the outside of the huge cooking space so you can eat and watch a lesson from afar or work your way up to one by giving one of the cook books a read. I love how Jamie is striving to achieve a real social community feel with Recipease and I think this couldn't of come at a better time as over 62% of adults in England are overweight or obese - it's time for serious health shake up! If only people could be educated on healthy eating and cooking from scratch... My only complaint with Recipease is that there isn't one up north, sort it out Jamie! Having said that I don't know if I'd have any pennies left if there was but hey I'd have the cooking repertoire of a professional chef....I think I could just about manage with that pay off. Recipease I'll be back.