Back to River Cottage Courses

Cheese Making for Beginners

Only 3 dates left

Cheese Making for Beginners

£245.00 Inclusive

Early Bird Discount
Book this course
dates left
03 May
£245.00
24 Jul
£245.00 £196
06 Sep
£245.00 £196
Full
28 Feb
£245.00
1 day
Adult
Close
10:00 - 17:00

Cheese Making at River Cottage with Olly Goolden

Spend the day crafting your own artisan cheeses at River Cottage HQ, guided by award-winning cheesemaker Olly Goolden.

Your day begins with the foundations of great cheese as you learn to transform fresh milk, cultures and rennet into something truly special. From there, you will roll up your sleeves to create a selection of delicious cheeses, each with its own flavour and character.

Make a rich, crumbly Cheddar, shape delicate Paneer for frying or curries, and craft a Tomme with its rustic Alpine charm. Then stretch and shape silky Mozzarella, ready to enjoy soft and warm. Along the way Olly will share his expert tips on curd handling, salting and ageing, giving you the confidence to continue your cheese making journey at home.

This hands-on course celebrates the simple joy of turning milk into magic. With expert tuition, plenty of tasting and a deeper understanding of the cheesemaking process, you will leave inspired and ready to make your own cheese from scratch.

Is this course suitable for me?  This course isn’t suitable for all allergies or dietary requirements. We recommend this course for participants aged 12 and up. Under-16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. These guidelines are in place to ensure the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of all our guests. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or need more information.

ARRIVE

If you choose to walk, enjoy a 10–15 minute stroll from the car park along scenic pathways to the farm, taking in the stunning valley views. A Land Rover lift is available in poor weather or if you prefer not to walk. Once at the cookery school, meet your host and start the day with tea, coffee, and freshly cheesy baked treats.

SESSION ONE

There won't be any waiting around! You'll dive right into making your first cheese: Tomme, a semi-hard alpine-style cheese known for its mild tang.

SESSION TWO

Olly will show you how to create a wax coating for your cheese, an excellent method for preserving its freshness.

LUNCH

Enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our River Cottage chefs, celebrating the star of the day… cheese!

SESSION THREE

Next, you’ll begin crafting your second cheese: Mozzarella, a classic Southern Italian delight that's perfect for pizzas and salads.

SESSION FOUR

Your third cheese is Paneer, often found in Indian style dishes, it has a delicious texture and carries strong flavours well.

SESSION FIVE

In the final session, you’ll put the finishing touches on your cheeses with Olly’s guidance, preparing them to take home.

DEPARTURE

There will be plenty of time to chat with fellow cheese makers and the River Cottage team, sharing tips and stories, before heading back up the hill at 5pm with your three cheeses in hand.

Highlights

  • Hands-on cheese making with expert Olly Goolden learning traditional artisanal techniques
  • Explore the beautiful grounds of River Cottage HQ and take in the seasonal scenery
  • Make three delicious styles of cheese including Paneer, Tomme, and Mozzarella
  • Learn to apply a wax coat using a traditional method that helps preserve flavour
  • Discover how to make cheese at home with simple kitchen tools and everyday ingredients
  • Enjoy a freshly prepared cheesy lunch created by our River Cottage chefs
Artisanal SkillsRiver Cottage Courses
Can’t find the right date? Click here to receive an alert
when new dates are released for this event.
10:00 - 17:00
|
from £245.00
A man pours cream into a large container as part of the cheese-making process, showcasing the art of dairy production.
Woman cooking in the River Cottage kitchen.
A piece of cheese placed on a rustic wooden plate.
The River Cottage Farmhouse accommodation.
A slice of pizza topped with fresh spinach and melted cheese.
A man in a white shirt holds a bag of milk.
A man pours cream into a large container as part of the cheese-making process, showcasing the art of dairy production.
Woman cooking in the River Cottage kitchen.
A piece of cheese placed on a rustic wooden plate.
The River Cottage Farmhouse accommodation.
A slice of pizza topped with fresh spinach and melted cheese.
A man in a white shirt holds a bag of milk.

Proudly Accredited & Award-Winning

Proud to hold the ICSA Centre of Excellence award, we uphold the highest standards in culinary education.

Cheese Making at River Cottage with Olly Goolden

Spend the day crafting your own artisan cheeses at River Cottage HQ, guided by award-winning cheesemaker Olly Goolden.

Your day begins with the foundations of great cheese as you learn to transform fresh milk, cultures and rennet into something truly special. From there, you will roll up your sleeves to create a selection of delicious cheeses, each with its own flavour and character.

Make a rich, crumbly Cheddar, shape delicate Paneer for frying or curries, and craft a Tomme with its rustic Alpine charm. Then stretch and shape silky Mozzarella, ready to enjoy soft and warm. Along the way Olly will share his expert tips on curd handling, salting and ageing, giving you the confidence to continue your cheese making journey at home.

This hands-on course celebrates the simple joy of turning milk into magic. With expert tuition, plenty of tasting and a deeper understanding of the cheesemaking process, you will leave inspired and ready to make your own cheese from scratch.

Is this course suitable for me?  This course isn’t suitable for all allergies or dietary requirements. We recommend this course for participants aged 12 and up. Under-16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. These guidelines are in place to ensure the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of all our guests. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or need more information.

ARRIVE

If you choose to walk, enjoy a 10–15 minute stroll from the car park along scenic pathways to the farm, taking in the stunning valley views. A Land Rover lift is available in poor weather or if you prefer not to walk. Once at the cookery school, meet your host and start the day with tea, coffee, and freshly cheesy baked treats.

SESSION ONE

There won't be any waiting around! You'll dive right into making your first cheese: Tomme, a semi-hard alpine-style cheese known for its mild tang.

SESSION TWO

Olly will show you how to create a wax coating for your cheese, an excellent method for preserving its freshness.

LUNCH

Enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our River Cottage chefs, celebrating the star of the day… cheese!

SESSION THREE

Next, you’ll begin crafting your second cheese: Mozzarella, a classic Southern Italian delight that's perfect for pizzas and salads.

SESSION FOUR

Your third cheese is Paneer, often found in Indian style dishes, it has a delicious texture and carries strong flavours well.

SESSION FIVE

In the final session, you’ll put the finishing touches on your cheeses with Olly’s guidance, preparing them to take home.

DEPARTURE

There will be plenty of time to chat with fellow cheese makers and the River Cottage team, sharing tips and stories, before heading back up the hill at 5pm with your three cheeses in hand.

Highlights

  • Hands-on cheese making with expert Olly Goolden learning traditional artisanal techniques
  • Explore the beautiful grounds of River Cottage HQ and take in the seasonal scenery
  • Make three delicious styles of cheese including Paneer, Tomme, and Mozzarella
  • Learn to apply a wax coat using a traditional method that helps preserve flavour
  • Discover how to make cheese at home with simple kitchen tools and everyday ingredients
  • Enjoy a freshly prepared cheesy lunch created by our River Cottage chefs
Artisanal SkillsRiver Cottage Courses
Can’t find the right date? Click here to receive an alert
when new dates are released for this event.

Reviews (10)

Comments are closed.

4.9 / 5 (10 ratings)
9
1
0
0
0
  1. Diana
    –

    “Our chef teacher was enthusiastic, friendly and very helpful and informed. I love cooking and I really enjoyed myself. However long you’ve been cooking you can always learn new things and the dishes we made were all delicious.”

  2. Francesco
    –

    Thank you so much Ollie for the wonderful day. Your epxertise and knowledge made cheese-making an approachable and really enjoyable activity.

  3. Francesco
    –

    “Thank you so much Ollie for the wonderful day. Your epxertise and knowledge made cheese-making an approachable and really enjoyable activity.”

  4. Jeanette
    –

    Great food and all fresh and local, fabulous staff, we picked up plenty of tips

  5. Nicky
    –

    The course was brilliant, I really think I will be able to make cheese at home now. Looking forward to putting my skills to the test

  6. Simon
    –

    The course was well prepared and set-up ready to start. Teaching was relaxed and fun. Achieved 3 successful cheeses; eaten 2 and the 3rd still maturing

  7. George
    –

    Brilliant chef for the day, it was amazing thankyou, and really appreciate the hard work and effort that must go on behind the scenes everyday to organise all you do, as well as to do the day itself thankyou.

  8. Zoe
    –

    Well organised, relaxed, great environment to learn – I enjoyed the course and it was inspiring too!

  9. Simon F
    –

    “The course was well prepared and set-up ready to start. Teaching was relaxed and fun. Achieved 3 successful cheeses; eaten 2 and the 3rd still maturing.”

  10. Clare
    –

    Olly was brilliant, very informative and patient. It was a lovely friendly and enjoyable day