The Devils Menu Boutique Cookery School

The Devils Menu Boutique Cookery School is a small, personal cookery school in Tinnahinch, County Carlow, close to the River Barrow on the Carlow–Kilkenny border near Graiguenamanagh. Classes take place in the home kitchen of chef John Whelan, giving the experience an intimate, domestic feel rather than that of a large commercial teaching venue.

John Whelan trained and cooked at Quaglino’s in London, where he worked under head chef John Torode, later of MasterChef. At the school he focuses on modern Irish cooking with classical roots, making use of local ingredients. The style leans towards accomplished, restaurant-standard dishes prepared on a scale suited to home cooks.

Classes cater to a range of abilities, from beginners through to more advanced master classes, and the school also offers private and corporate sessions and cookery demonstrations on request. Because places are limited and sessions are arranged around the chef’s home kitchen, it is best to contact the school directly through its website to check availability and current offerings.