Cooking Classes

My Tauranga cooking classes have a strong focus on wood fired, out door cookery, especially in the warmer summer months.

Your class, your content and date

Grab a group of friends or work colleagues and get in touch
Content and dates to suit yourselves.
Some ideas below

Wonderful ways with seafood
Tapas style sharing plates
Cooking with wood
Perfect platters
Summer salads
Winter soups
What’s in season in the garden
Relish and chutney

Book now

Spring has sprung 2026

New seasons harvest
Wonderful ways with asparagus
Seasonal ingredients simple techniques
Vegetarian and meat

September 26th 2pm
September 27th 10am
October 10th 2pm
October 11th 10am
October 17th 2pm
October 18th 10am
October 31st 2pm
November 8th 10am
November 14th 2pm
November 15th 10am
November 21st 2pm
November 22nd 10am
November 28th 2pm
November 29th 10am

$130 per person
Recipes supplied and food created is devoured
Classes approx 4 hours
Garden and orchard are key part of classes

Book now

SENSATIONAL FESTIVE FARE 2026

Celebration food done simply
What can be done in advance
Less is more
Tasty festive treats

December 10th 2pm
December 11th 10am
December 12th 2pm
December 13th 10am
December 17th 2pm
December 18th 10am
December 19th 2pm
December 20th 10am

$160 per person/ 4 people minimum
Standard voucher will have $30 surcharge
Recipes supplied and food created is devoured
Classes approx 4 hours
Garden and orchard are key part of classes

Book now

ONE pot winter wonders 2026

Low and slow
One pot simplicity
Less is more
Utilizing leftovers

August 8th 2pm
August 9th 2pm
August 15th 10am
August 16th 10am
August 22nd 2pm
August 23rd 10am
August 29th 10am
August 30th 2pm
September 12th 10am
September 13th 10am
September 19th 2pm
September 20th 10am

$130 per person
Recipes supplied and food created is devoured
Classes approx 4 hours
Garden and orchard are key part of classes

Book now

All about knives

Sharpening and maintenance
Using your knives
Knife knowledge and good habits
Create a shared meal
The first Saturday of the month

Add bacon every second month
Curing/smoking/cooking/eating

February 7th 10am
March 7th 10am/bacon
April 4th 10am
May 2nd 10am/bacon
June 6th 10am
July 4th 10am/bacon
August 1st 10am
September 5th 10am/ bacon
October 3rd 10am
November 7th 10 am/ bacon
December 5th 10am

$125 per person/ $150 with bacon
Food created is devoured
Classes approx 4 hours
Options to buy and or make a knife

Book now

FERMENTING AT TE PAHI

Introduction to salt and fermenting
Fermented vegetables
How to make vinegar
The first Sunday of every month

January 4th 10am
February 1st 10am
March 1st 10am
April 5th 10am
May 3rd 10am
June 7th 10am
July 5th 10am
August 2nd 10am
September 6th 10am
October 4th 10am
November 1st 10am
December 6th 10am

$120 per person

Recipes supplied
Simple lunch prepared and shared
Classes approx 4 hours
BOOK A CLASS and get a fermenting workshop for $70

Book now

“We had a wicked time at James’ wood-fired cooking class!! We loved wandering around his garden, picking fresh produce, and learning the best ways to use a pizza oven and smoker. He shared many great tips on how to whip up delicious meals and we came away with lots of new recipes. James himself is an amazing guy and we 100% recommend booking a cooking class with Te Pahi!!”

Brydie and Joseph

A group of 8 of us attended Te Pahi as a social club event in April.

We all had a variety of cooking abilities ranging from very little, to a couple of real foodies.

The entire experience was planned extremely well, very informative, relaxed, interactive, and genuinely fun.

Our host is an absolute man of passion that is a master of his craft.

The afternoon we spent was thoroughly enjoyed and the meal and leftovers were too 😊

Deborah R.

“James is executive chef at Ridge Country Retreat where he cooks for international Guests, wedding groups for up to 120 persons, corporate clients (where he also takes cooking classes) and for health and wellbeing guests who have special food requirements. James is a team leader and has a wonderful way with people of all ages. He is passionate about food and that shows in his presentation”

Jo – Ridge Country Retreat, Tauranga NZ

I was gifted a voucher from my ex work colleagues at Waimakariri District Council for a cooking class with James Broad of Te Pahi. Some time had passed since receiving the voucher and James was really great about being able to use the voucher for an upcoming class. Being someone who dabbles a bit in cooking I was really looking forward to the class and I was not disappointed. The class covered a whole menu including gathering produce from James’s vast garden.

These ingredients were used in a variety of dishes with James guiding the class members in preparation of the produce and then encouraging us to each make part of the meal. I really like learning by doing and this was a great way to learn things about the various menu items. I am now pretty good at making flatbreads which was one of the items on our menu.

At the end of the class all class members sat together and ate the meal we had all helped create. I found the class really good with James being really knowledgeable and encouraging answering all manner of questions from the class members. I highly recommended these classes.

Kees Swanink

Had a great day at Te Pahi covering seasonal summer salads. great class, informative, fun and well put together. Thanks James

Pete and June