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Aug 2020

Last Updated: 21/08/2020

Business

Rise in demand for cooking lessons in Harrogate post lockdown

by Ami Miller Lifestyle Reporter

| 22 Aug, 2020

Fed up with eating the same dishes during lockdown? One Harrogate chef says she seen an increased demand for cooking lessons across the district as people got fed up with eating the same food every day.

https://youtu.be/qNI177cD7cs

A Harrogate chef says she has seen an increase in demand for cooking lessons after lockdown.

For over 3 months during lockdown, restaurants were either closed or offering limited services, so people spent more time cooking at home.

For some, it was a total disaster, yet for others, it was the start of new love affair with cooking.

Michaela Hanna, a freelance private chef from Harrogate has told the Stray Ferret that she has seen a rise in people wanting to improve their culinary skills, after feeling they were just eating the 'same few dishes each week.'

' My go-to solution in lockdown was a meal delivery service, I created 'meal of the day doorstep drop-offs.' People often don't know of the different foods out there and how easy it can be to tweak a dish to make it from a different country or slightly healthier etc. Now I am able to go out to people's houses, there has been a lot of people who tried my drop off meals in lockdown and now want to learn how to do it themselves.'

The Stray Ferret went along to follow one of her cooking lessons.

James Tapster, who lives in Knaresborough connected with Michaela during lockdown trying many of her home delivery meals, and has since started having some lessons.

'I have always had an interest in cooking but Michaela has really broadened my knowledge. We lead a busy life so it's great to master some healthy, quick and tasty dishes that I can make and then use for a couple of days.'