As I'm sure you guys already know there's nothing more the boy and I love then rolling up our sleeves, throwing on an apron and going all Jamie Oliver in the kitchen. Well when I say we I mean mainly the boy, I'm more about the 'sampling' so when my brother and his girlfriend gifted us with a half day cooking course at the Milestone restaurant for Christmas the boy (and I) were excited. 

The Milestone restaurant in Sheffield is fairly well known to locals as a quality foody gastro pub where real consideration is put into the sourcing of produce, while dishes are simple yet full of flavour and quirky twists - the Milestone even won Gordan Ramsays Best British Restaurant in 2010, well if it's good enough for Ramsay... The boy and I arrived in plenty of time and were warmly greeted before being shown to the bar to enjoy a pre lesson beverage. While the boy plumped for cider I decided a clear head was the way forward if there was any chance of out cooking him and decided on a virgin mojito. The bar staff were so lovely and even made me a second drink after I slurped my way through the first one so quickly, it was that good!

Shortly after getting my second mojito we were shown upstairs to the cooking school space where we met our chef Rob - easily the most down to earth and helpful chef I've ever met plus the other four cooking schools attendees. The size of the classes are a real selling point (kudos Milestone) as you can easily chat one to one with your chef, follow the demonstrations really easily and get any help you need, especially if you're struggling - I'd like to say this was someone else but no it was me. ''I'll give you this one to practice on'' said the ever patient Rob about an onion, much to the boys amusement!

Our course centered around fish and we made a total of four dishes (take that Recipease) including mussels cooked in cider with leeks and pancetta, a chickpea Thai green curry with sea bream and two dishes which we prepared but cooked at home - a whole mackerel and a beautiful chocolate fragipani for dessert. My favourite dish of the day was easily the mussels cooked in cider which I devoured there and then, they were just far too delicious to pop in the take home tupperware which was provided. At the end of our lesson we told to ask as many questions as possible before being provided with print out copies of all the recipes we'd learnt - I've already made the Thai green curry with sea bream for friends and they bloomin loved it! Sorry there's no foody pictures guys but I was far too eager to consume my creations, definitely a testament to the Milestone.

Whether you haven't a Scooby-Doo what to gift a loved one for a fast approaching birthday or whether you just fancy brushing up on your cookery skills I would highly recommend checking out the Milestone for their recently launched cookery classes. If you're more about the eating than the actual cooking, book yourself into the restaurant instead and enjoy a serious British feast with a twist, I know which one I'll be doing next...

Would you ever go on a cookery class to brush up on your skills?