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Dig, Cook, Feast: A Day with Franco Fubini & Rachel De Thample at River Cottage
Dig, Cook, Feast: A Day with Franco Fubini & Rachel De Thample at River Cottage
£245.00 Inclusive
11:30 - 20:00
Nutrition & Science of Flavour with Franco Fubini
Set in the heart of the River Cottage farm, join us for an immersive day that celebrates flavour. You’ll harvest produce straight from the kitchen garden, cook with Natoora’s unique varieties, and explore how we can revive lost flavours and, in doing so, radically transform the food system.
Through a series of hands-on workshops culminating in a spectacular four-course communal feast hosted by the River Cottage kitchen team, you’ll discover how flavour can be a powerful tool to restore health to both our plates and to the planet.
This is a rare opportunity to cook alongside two of the most passionate voices in sustainable food, make meaningful connections and leave with the knowledge and inspiration to shape change from your very own kitchen.
Is this course suitable for me? 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.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
Meet your hosts over a light lunch featuring vibrant, flavour-packed summer fruit and veg, including rare and unusual varieties.
SESSION ONE
Stroll through the Kitchen and Market Gardens with Rachel de Thample, discovering rare and heritage varieties as you gather fresh, flavourful ingredients for the spectacular four-course feast awaiting you.
SESSION TWO
Step into the Cookery School as Rachel guides you through brilliant techniques and simple yet delicious dishes that highlight flavour and maximise the nutritional power of each ingredient.
SESSION THREE
Fire up our wood-fired pizza oven and smoker to create incredible dishes. You'll also craft a delicious ferment with Rachel and Franco, using exceptional Natoora produce—yours to take home. A perfectly matured version of your ferment will be showcased in the evening’s four-course feast.
RELAX WITH A DRINK
While the River Cottage Kitchen team puts the finishing touches on your evening feast, unwind in the garden with a summer-inspired drink and canapés, featuring some of the rare fruits and vegetables you've explored throughout the day.
DINE
Sit down to a spectacular four-course feast with Franco and Rachel, accompanied by an insightful discussion and Q&A on the powerful connection between flavour and health.
TO FINISH
After dinner, unwind with coffee and petits fours—if you can find room—before heading home.
ABOUT FRANCO FUBINI
Franco Fubini is leading a revolution in the way we eat. As the founder and CEO of Natoora, he has spent 20 years redefining seasonality and sourcing, raising the bar on flavour and transforming how top chefs and home cooks approach food across London, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Malmö, New York, LA, Miami, and Melbourne. Driven by his belief that reconnecting people with the true flavour of fruit and vegetables can reshape farming and supply chains, Franco has built a resilient, transparent network based on direct relationships and exceptional produce. A professor of Sustainability Management at Columbia University and a judge for the prestigious Food Planet Prize, he is also the author of In Search of the Perfect Peach: Why Flavour Holds the Answer to Fixing Our Food System.
ABOUT NATOORA
Founded by Franco Fubini in 2004, Natoora is transforming the food system by restoring flavour, transparency, and seasonality. It connects responsible growers with top chefs in London, Paris, New York, Copenhagen, and Melbourne, sourcing unique, seasonal produce directly from farms. Committed to seed selection, traditional growing methods, and exceptional flavour, Natoora champions the artistry of dedicated producers. In 2020, it expanded to home delivery in the UK and New York, with subscription boxes and an app. Londoners can also shop in Natoora’s stores in Sloane Square, Chiswick, and Notting Hill.
Highlights
- A light lunch of seasonal tasters prepared by Rachel and the River Cottage chefs
- Guided foraging in the River Cottage Kitchen Garden
- Hands-on cooking sessions with Rachel de Thample, using heritage fruit & veg
- Canapés & drinks in the garden ahead of dinner
- Four-course feast, featuring Natoora’s rare produce
- Q&A & book signing with Franco Fubini and Rachel de Thample
- Take-home rare seeds to grow your own heritage varieties
Why This Event Matters
- Over 80% of food in the UK is sold through supermarkets, limiting diversity.
- Only 10 apple varieties are widely available—despite 7,500 known varieties worldwide.
- Ultra-processed foods make up 63% of the UK diet, impacting health.
- Agriculture covers half the Earth’s habitable land—how we farm matters.
Can’t find the right date?
Click here
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when new dates are released for this event.
when new dates are released for this event.
11:30 - 20:00
|
from £245.00
Proudly Accredited & Award-Winning
Proud to hold the ICSA Centre of Excellence award, we uphold the highest standards in culinary education.
Nutrition & Science of Flavour with Franco Fubini
Set in the heart of the River Cottage farm, join us for an immersive day that celebrates flavour. You’ll harvest produce straight from the kitchen garden, cook with Natoora’s unique varieties, and explore how we can revive lost flavours and, in doing so, radically transform the food system.
Through a series of hands-on workshops culminating in a spectacular four-course communal feast hosted by the River Cottage kitchen team, you’ll discover how flavour can be a powerful tool to restore health to both our plates and to the planet.
This is a rare opportunity to cook alongside two of the most passionate voices in sustainable food, make meaningful connections and leave with the knowledge and inspiration to shape change from your very own kitchen.
Is this course suitable for me? 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.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
Meet your hosts over a light lunch featuring vibrant, flavour-packed summer fruit and veg, including rare and unusual varieties.
SESSION ONE
Stroll through the Kitchen and Market Gardens with Rachel de Thample, discovering rare and heritage varieties as you gather fresh, flavourful ingredients for the spectacular four-course feast awaiting you.
SESSION TWO
Step into the Cookery School as Rachel guides you through brilliant techniques and simple yet delicious dishes that highlight flavour and maximise the nutritional power of each ingredient.
SESSION THREE
Fire up our wood-fired pizza oven and smoker to create incredible dishes. You'll also craft a delicious ferment with Rachel and Franco, using exceptional Natoora produce—yours to take home. A perfectly matured version of your ferment will be showcased in the evening’s four-course feast.
RELAX WITH A DRINK
While the River Cottage Kitchen team puts the finishing touches on your evening feast, unwind in the garden with a summer-inspired drink and canapés, featuring some of the rare fruits and vegetables you've explored throughout the day.
DINE
Sit down to a spectacular four-course feast with Franco and Rachel, accompanied by an insightful discussion and Q&A on the powerful connection between flavour and health.
TO FINISH
After dinner, unwind with coffee and petits fours—if you can find room—before heading home.
ABOUT FRANCO FUBINI
Franco Fubini is leading a revolution in the way we eat. As the founder and CEO of Natoora, he has spent 20 years redefining seasonality and sourcing, raising the bar on flavour and transforming how top chefs and home cooks approach food across London, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Malmö, New York, LA, Miami, and Melbourne. Driven by his belief that reconnecting people with the true flavour of fruit and vegetables can reshape farming and supply chains, Franco has built a resilient, transparent network based on direct relationships and exceptional produce. A professor of Sustainability Management at Columbia University and a judge for the prestigious Food Planet Prize, he is also the author of In Search of the Perfect Peach: Why Flavour Holds the Answer to Fixing Our Food System.
ABOUT NATOORA
Founded by Franco Fubini in 2004, Natoora is transforming the food system by restoring flavour, transparency, and seasonality. It connects responsible growers with top chefs in London, Paris, New York, Copenhagen, and Melbourne, sourcing unique, seasonal produce directly from farms. Committed to seed selection, traditional growing methods, and exceptional flavour, Natoora champions the artistry of dedicated producers. In 2020, it expanded to home delivery in the UK and New York, with subscription boxes and an app. Londoners can also shop in Natoora’s stores in Sloane Square, Chiswick, and Notting Hill.
Highlights
- A light lunch of seasonal tasters prepared by Rachel and the River Cottage chefs
- Guided foraging in the River Cottage Kitchen Garden
- Hands-on cooking sessions with Rachel de Thample, using heritage fruit & veg
- Canapés & drinks in the garden ahead of dinner
- Four-course feast, featuring Natoora’s rare produce
- Q&A & book signing with Franco Fubini and Rachel de Thample
- Take-home rare seeds to grow your own heritage varieties
Why This Event Matters
- Over 80% of food in the UK is sold through supermarkets, limiting diversity.
- Only 10 apple varieties are widely available—despite 7,500 known varieties worldwide.
- Ultra-processed foods make up 63% of the UK diet, impacting health.
- Agriculture covers half the Earth’s habitable land—how we farm matters.
Can’t find the right date?
Click here
to receive an alert
when new dates are released for this event.
when new dates are released for this event.
5 / 5
(4 ratings)
Great food and all fresh and local, fabulous staff, we picked up plenty of tips
Well organised, relaxed, great environment to learn – I enjoyed the course and it was inspiring too!
“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.”
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.