Welcome to The Table

The sign for The Table Culinary Studio

     This was one of my favourite activities that we did in Prince Edward Island. We took a cooking class at the The Table Culinary Studio. The Table is located in a renovated church. The pews have been replaced with a long dining table with small seating areas around the perimeter of the room. The kitchen is open to the room only divided by a counter which houses fine china and is used as a serving and prep area.

This old church in New London has been renovated into
a lovely restaurant and culinary studio

     We took a cooking called Canada 150 -- A Taste of the Past. This year Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary so we stepped back in time and prepared a menu of traditional Island dishes and recipes from bygone days. While food was cooking, we visited the birthplace of Anne of Green Gables author L. M. Montgomery to see what life was like at the time of Confederation. During the class we used locally grown organic vegetables and fresh meats to create our taste of the past. Once the meal was cooked, Al and I sat at the long table and ate from antique china. What a delight! 

Menu was:

Buttermilk biscuits

Baked Beans with Herbs

Mock Duck (Stuffed Pork Tenderloin)

Carrots

Pommes Duchess (Potatoes)

Sticky Toffee Pudding

     To our surprise, we were the only two participants in the class. Derrick (a chef as well) and Christine, owners, were on hand to assist Chef Michael and take some photos. We were treated well and they accommodated some of our food limitations wonderfully. Although Chef Michael is quite young, he is a wonderful chef and teacher. The things I learned from him were amazing and I have been cooking at least two times longer than he has been alive. He has a wonderful future ahead of him in the culinary world. Derrick and Christine come "from away" in Ontario and Derrick actually worked in Newmarket (where we lived for 28 years). So we had lots to talk about from back home.

Tea and coffee is waiting for you upon your arrival

Fine China is displayed for all to see

Part of the kitchen. Nice and open

The other half of the kitchen

A beautiful tea wagon. I always wanted one of these.

One of the sitting areas in the dining space.

Beautiful quilts made by a local quilter.

Unique wall art.

Chef Micheal is starting the class with Buttermilk biscuits

Getting our hands dirty.

Stir, stir, stir!!

Al rolling out the dough

My turn!

Don't waste any of the dough!

Looking good!

Breaking an egg with one hand

Putting on the egg wash

The finishing touches

Ready for the oven

Nice and golden!

Chef Michael shows us how beans are cooked.

Biscuits and beans are ready for eating

Yummy!

All finished

Whipping up the Sticky Toffee Pudding

Paying attention to all instructions

Al showing his skill at breaking an egg with one hand

Al's favorite cooking tool -- the whisk!

Oiling the cute little dessert pots

Ready for the oven.

Chef Michael showing us a tip concerning preparing a water bath for pudding

Pudding is ready and it is served with caramel sauce

A lesson on knife skills

How not to cut your fingers

Chopping herbs. We did a great job.

Preparing the stuffing for the Mock Duck

Stuffing for the Mock Duck. Very colourful!

Chef Michael showing us how to cut a hole for the stuffing

We each get a turn at stuffing the tenderloin

Making the Pomme Duchess -- Fancy!

Mock Duck after it has been cut.

Dinner is ready to be served

Nicely done! It was very delicious!

     We had a great day, exploring the foods of the past. I would highly recommend that you sign up for a cooking class with Derrick and his team of chefs. The charm of the building added to the atmosphere. Apparently, during the summer season they also serve one sitting of dinner each day so space is limited as you eat family style at the huge table. What a culinary delight!