Hi, I’m Dominique. I’m a pastry chef and baker who has spent many years cooking in some of the UK’s most respected kitchens, but what I love most is teaching people how to cook beautiful food in a relaxed and friendly way.

I trained under the Roux brothers and have since worked in kitchens where I have cooked for celebrities, royalty and prime ministers. These include Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant, Le Pont de la Tour, Manchester House with Michelin chef Aiden Byrne and 13 years as Head pastry chef at the Houses of Parliament. I have competed in the highest level, winning gold medals at the International Salon Culinaire in London for individual and team entries including the Grand Prix. All this experience has taught me skills and techniques to shape the way I cook today.

In 2011 I left London restaurants and moved north where I opened an award-winning guest house and small cookery school in the Forest of Bowland. It was there that I continued to develop my love of cooking with wild ingredients, foraging and using seasonal produce. That experience plays a big part in everything I create. I believe food should be joyful, honest, full of flavour and that the best dishes come from simple, high-quality ingredients.

Now I teach small cookery classes at the Esse Kitchen in Barnoldswick. My aim is to make cooking feel enjoyable and achievable for everyone. My courses are hands on, relaxed, and designed so you can learn real techniques without any pressure. Whether you want to bake sourdough, create beautiful pastries, or explore wild and seasonal cooking, I will guide you step by step and give you the confidence to try it again at home.

If you prefer something more personal, I also offer private cookery days where I tailor the whole experience to you, your friends, or your family. It is a lovely way to cook together, learn new skills, and enjoy a memorable day in the kitchen.

I hope to welcome you soon and share some of my favourite dishes, techniques, and stories with you.