PRESS PACK

The Vic North Cookery School offers a unique combination of practical courses in the restful retreat of Manor Deifi. Nestled in glorious North Pembrokeshire, participants not only enjoy learning new skills and improving their techniques with dedicated and experienced bakers, chefs and artisans, but have the opportunity to ‘get away from it all’, for a couple of hours, a day or even a weekend.

About the Cookery School

vicnorth.co.uk

Vicky North grew up in North Wales and, after studying and working in

the South of England (and beyond, as cabin crew with British Airways), she settled with her family in North

Pembrokeshire . One of Vicky’s earliest memories is baking a

Victoria Sponge, so it was almost inevitable that a visit to a thriving

local producers market would inspire her to don her pinny and start up a micro-bakery. That first market experience has taken Vicky on a

journey to the creation of the Vic North Cookery School where she shares her passion for ‘real’ food

from the heart, in the heart of her home, the kitchen at Manor Deifi.

About Vic North

Vicky began selling handmade bread and cakes as ‘Vic North Bakes’ at the

Cardigan Local Producers Market in August 2011.

Vicky held her first workshop, from

Cardigan’s Small World Theatre in April 2013. She began running the workshops from her home, Manor Deifi, shortly thereafter.

The Vic North Cookery School was formed in 2014, coupled with an expansion of the courses beyond baking. The Vic North Cookery

School currently offers 18 different courses.

Key Facts

vicnorth.co.uk

Vicky bakes her loaves using a commercial, 7 tray fan oven, carefully baking each loaf in a pre-heated clay brick to mimic the effects of stone lined, steam injected deck oven.

Vicky runs many of the courses herself, and is delighted to have guest course leaders Margaret Ferazzi, who has 25 years’ experience cooking in private kitchens in LA, and Tom Bean, local forager and wood-fired oven expert, on board.

Residential courses are a new development for 2014. Participants can take advantage of onsite luxury holiday accommodation, the Dovecote.

Visited local producers’ market in Cardigan

First stall in local producers’ market

Trained with Andrew Whitely (Bread Matters, Cumbria)

Internship at E5 Bakery, London

Joined the Real Bread Campaign

Bake Club set up to coincide with Real Bread Makers Week 2013

First workshop

First Do lectures bread workshop

Cardigan River Food Festival

Dovecote opened to guests

Our story so far...

Jul 2011

Aug 2011

Oct 2011

Dec 2012Feb 2013

Feb 2013

Apr 2013

May 2013

Aug 2013

vicnorth.co.uk

Woodfired oven built

Ffres visit to Puglia, insight and understanding of Italian baking heritage and culture

Guardian Cook Supplement to coincide with inaugural lighting of the oven

Slot on Eleri Sion Show, BBC Radio Wales

Establishment of Vic North Cookery School with extension of accommodation to provide for up to four extra guests

Do Lectures Bread Workshop

Newcastle Emlyn Food Festival

First nude wedding cake delivered!

Demo at Lampeter Food Festival

Sept 2013

Oct 2013

Feb 2014

Apr 2014

Jun 2014

Jul 2014

The workshop programme is constantly evolving with a range of half day, day and residential weekend courses on offer, from back to basics to technical baking:

Bread making | French & Italian baking | Pasta workshops | Gluten free baking | Micro bakery startup | Cupcake masterclass | Yoga retreats | Build & cook with a fire oven | Residential courses | ‘Crumbs’ children’s workshops

A full calendar of courses currently available can be found here

Workshops

courses calendar

Vic North Cookery Schoolvicnorth.co.uk

Vicky is passionate about baking and cooking with integrity.

Her bread and baking is grounded in the traditions and tastes of the region she is proud to call home, tweaked to take into account the demands of busy modern lives, but also recognising the very real luxury of taking time every now and again to create something fabulous.

Each month, Vicky will be sharing a seasonal bake or recipe on her blog

Recipes

seasonal bakes

Media coverage & partnerships

“Puglia tickles taste buds of west Wales entrenpreneurs”

“Italian food, the Welsh way”

“Bready shenanagins from Real Bread Maker Week and more”

more coverage

“Vicky clearly has a passion for her craft, makes great bread and delivers the best tasting loaf in West Wales”

Scott Davies, Cnwd

vicnorth.co.uk

“It’s been great to have Vicky on board with her knowledge and expertise again this year at the Do Lectures. Everyone had a hugely enjoyable bread making session and were thrilled to take home their very own Do Lecture start-up sourdough after the event.”

Claire Hiett, Do Lectures

I had such a great day learning so many different techniques, laughing and learning. It went too fast and left me wanting more. The family were so impressed with the goodies I brought home. Can’t wait to do another course. Thank you Vicky.

Feedback

“

”

vicnorth.co.uk

I loved the sourdough bread-making workshop Vicky ran. I’ve done lots of baking over the years, but never tried this before as I’d imagined it would be complicated and I wouldn’t have the time to get into a regular bread making routine. However I was amazed by how straightforward it all was and how much fun! Am now a real enthusiast. I have yet to produce a loaf as good as the ones we made in the workshop, but I’ll keep trying! Katie Elliot, Do Lectures workshop 2014

“

”

@OneMileBakeryHuge thanks to @vicnorthbakes for leaving such gorgeous loaves for me @The25Mile - beautiful bread! pic.twitter.com/8Q8KOqXbB7

@TheSaliMali@JaneKelso had an amazing day @vicnorthbakes look what she made! I am going to book on soon!

Residential CoursesSet in the grounds of the house at Manordeifi, Dovecote is a tastefully modernised farm cottage, a 10-minute drive from the bustling market town of Cardigan.

It has the capacity to host 6-8 guests, ideal for course attendees visiting the cookery school on a residential basis.

Dovecote

vicnorth.co.uk

Our PrinciplesMake real food accessible to all

Provide inspiration and the belief that great is achievable

Work with seasonal ingredients, local where possible

Celebrate, preserve and explore our unique British culinary heritage

Work in the community, with our community

Celebrate West Wales and Cardigan Bay

Deliver high quality tuition, bags of hands on experience and follow-on support to our virtual community

Great cake, good bread and memorable food

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

ManordeifiLlechryd

Pembrokeshire SA43 2PN

e: hello@vicnorth.co.ukt: 07974 348878

Contact

vicnorth.co.uk

Resourcesimage library

press updates