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.

Could be a work do, or a thank you to staff or a group of friends who want to gather together around some food

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

FUN WITH FIRE 2026

Wood fired cookery
Summer fun with fire
Elevate simple to sensational

January 10th 2pm
January 11th 10am
January 17th 2pm
January 18th 10am
January 24th 2pm
January 25th 10am
February 7th 2pm
February 8th 10am
February 14th 2pm
February 15th 10am
February 18th 10am
February 21st 2pm
February 22nd 10am
February 25th 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

The autumn harvest 2026

Saving summer for a rainy day
Preserving the garden abundance
Drying bottling smoking curing
Fruits meats and vegetables

February 28th 2pm
March 7th 2pm
March 8th 10am
March 11th 10am
March 14th 2pm
March 15th 10am
March 18th 10am
March 21st 2pm
March 22nd 10am
March 25th 10am
March 28th 2pm
March 29th 10am
April 1st 10am
April 4th 2pm
April 5th 10am
April 8th 10am
April 11th 2pm
April 12th 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

SIMPLE SEASONAL SENSATIONAL SNACKS 2026

Harmonicas… food on the bone
Eating with your hands
Seasonal ingredients simple techniques
Vegetarian and meat

April 25th 2pm
April 26th 10am
April 29th 10am
May 6th 10am
May 9th 2pm
May 10th 10am
May 16th 2pm
May 17th 10am
May 20th 10am
May 23rd 2pm
May 24th 10am
May 27th 10am
May 30th 2pm
May 31st 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

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

$130 per person
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

$115 per person

Recipes supplied
Simple lunch prepared and shared
Classes approx 4 hours
BOOK A CLASS and get a fermenting workshop for $60

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

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

“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

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.

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

Pete and June