Home Chef with Poultry Mastery

Overview: Gain expertise in selecting, preparing, and cooking poultry with various techniques. Develop foundational knowledge of stocks, sauces, and soups to enhance flavour depth.

Objectives:

• Understand different cuts of poultry and their best uses.

• Learn butchering and deboning skills.

• Cook poultry using roasting, braising, and pan-searing techniques.

• Learn to prepare essential stocks and broths.

• Master classic and modern sauces.

• Create well-balanced soups with proper seasoning.

Outcomes:

• Participants can confidently prepare and cook poultry dishes.

• Ability to season and pair poultry with complementary ingredients.

• Participants can create flavourful stocks, sauces, and soups.

• Understanding of emulsification and thickening techniques.

Assessment Criteria:

• Properly butcher and debone a whole chicken.

• Prepare a complete poultry dish using a chosen technique.

• Prepare a well-balanced chicken stock or broth.

• Create a sauce with correct consistency and flavour balance.

What You’ll Learn:

• Cook, bake, and taste like a professional chef with guidance from expert instructors.

• Work in small groups to prepare diverse menus, featuring dishes from Melbourne’s multicultural heritage.

• Participate in technical demos and receive close guidance as you cook through multiple recipes.

What to Expect:

• Hands-On Cooking: Active participation in preparing dishes.

• Small Class Sizes: Personalized learning experiences.

• Cultural Storytelling: Learn the history and traditions behind each cuisine.

• Group Dining: Enjoy the dishes you’ve created with your classmates.

• Purpose-Built Kitchen Studio: Experience cooking in a modern, spacious environment designed for optimal learning.

Key Features of the Program:

1. Hands-On Workshops: Participants actively prepare dishes under the guidance of expert chefs.

2. Cultural Storytelling: Each session includes stories of Melbourne’s multicultural communities and their influence on the city’s culinary identity.

3. Local Ingredients: Highlight Victorian produce and multicultural traders from Victoria Street.

4. Networking Opportunities: Encourage community building and connections among participants.

5. Take-Home Recipes: Provide a professionally designed recipe booklet.

6. State-of-the-Art Facilities: Cook in our purpose-built kitchen studio, designed for comfort and efficiency.

Daily Schedule:

Class Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

• 10:00 AM: Meet the chef at Otao Kitchen to begin your cooking class.

• 10:15 AM: The chef highlights today’s special cuisines and presents the day’s menu. Prepare to roll up your sleeves for hands-on preparation of a glorious meal in our purpose-built kitchen studio.

• 2:00 PM: Enjoy the fruits of your labor with an epic feast you’ve created, complemented by local wine.

• 3:00 PM: Conclude the day with a full stomach, a recipe book, and unforgettable memories to share with your family and friends.

Enrol Now: Visit our website or contact us to reserve your spot in the next available module!

10 Dishes to Cook for Poultry Mastery

1. Classic Roast Chicken with Herb Butter – Master the art of roasting a whole chicken with crispy skin and juicy meat.
2. Coq au Vin – A traditional French dish featuring braised chicken in red wine with mushrooms and bacon.
3. Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) – A creamy, spiced tomato-based Indian dish served with rice or naan.
4. Hainanese Chicken Rice – Poached chicken with fragrant rice and traditional dipping sauces.
5. Chicken Piccata – Pan-seared chicken breast with a tangy lemon-caper sauce.
6. Peking Duck with Mandarin Pancakes – Crispy-skinned duck served with hoisin sauce and thin pancakes.
7. Korean Fried Chicken – Double-fried crispy chicken coated in a sweet and spicy glaze.
8. Chicken Marsala – Chicken breast cooked in a rich Marsala wine and mushroom sauce.
9. Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai) – A flavorful stir-fried chicken dish with basil and chili.

About Home Chef Program Overview

Melbourne is a renowned food destination, with vibrant communities shaping its culinary landscape for decades. The beauty of Melbourne’s food scene lies in its gastronomic diversity: each cuisine has unique specialties, ingredients, and recipes. No one merely wants to admire good food—you want to taste it and learn how to prepare it!

The Otao Kitchen Home Chef Development Program is designed for passionate food enthusiasts who want to elevate their culinary skills to a professional level in Melbourne. Our premium program offers a flexible learning approach, allowing participants to join at any stage or select specific modules. The course combines hands-on, in-person training with access to a digital learning platform containing recipes, training videos, and additional resources.

Our Intensive Full Cooking Program is designed to give participants a traditional experience of Melbourne’s love for cooking and genuine food. Each full-day, in-person training session with expert chefs is followed by continued learning through online resources. Participants receive guided demonstrations, hands-on practice, and assessments to track progress. Additionally, an essential food safety, knife techniques, and fundamental cooking methods session will be taught one hour before each module.