WITH quite a few foodie plans in the pipeline, I am delighted to be able to say that on May 16, Malton Cookery School opens in Saville House, Saville Street.

Its home, an old congregational chapel, has been transformed into this new "Temple to Yorkshire Gastronomy". Sound a bit grand, sound a bit special? Well it certainly is. Come and see for yourself - it is one beautiful kitchen.

For the first time in years visitors and locals alike can come to town and spend a few hours, or a whole day, enjoying themselves in a visitor attraction that is actually slap bang in the centre of Malton.

Can I come with no cooking experience at all? Yes. Can I come if I am scared to pick up a whisk? Yes. Can I come if I already cook well? Yes, Yes, Yes.

Even if you are a beginner, or a keen amateur, you will be able to add new techniques to your repertoire, hone old ones and feel relaxed doing it. In fact, this school is aimed at everyone who enjoys cooking in a calm homely kitchen where the emphasis is on having a great time.

The idea is to crack open a glass of wine, or a Malton-brewed beer, and learn with your friends. I recently did a course at Rick Stein’s cookery school in Padstow, a real inspiration for Malton Cookery School, and in the words of my mother “it were just fab”.

Run in conjunction with the Talbot, I am thrilled that Gilly Robinson will be the head tutor. Gilly ran the Swinton Park Cookery School for 10 years and was Rosemary Shrager's righthand woman there. She is a great teacher, comes with an enormous amount of experience and with many hilarious stories, too. After all she has cooked with likes of Rosemary, Brian Turner, Rachel Allen, Sophie Grigson, Tom Kitchen and Malton’s own James Martin.

The chef’s table will be an exciting part of the school, too. Twelve seats set around a purpose-built counter where chefs from James Martin’s Talbot Hotel restaurant will cook dinner in front of your eyes. The chef will explain how each dish is created before you get to do the most important part - eat it. Sit back with a glass of bubbly and watch dinner appear before your eyes.

On the evening of May 16 Craig Atchinson, James Martin’s head chef will be cooking an amazing four-course dinner including risotto, black bream, duck and rhubarb. Make sure you are one of the lucky 12 chef’s table diners and book now.

While the Talbot Hotel is very traditional, the Malton Cookery School is more up-to-date with a rustic feel suitable for a place where you can learn to cook with the best of Yorkshire ingredients. Yorkshire baking, Yorkshire shellfish, Yorkshire game and Yorkshire beer - it really is a new Yorkshire gastronomic mecca and the walls will be decorated accordingly with famous products and kitchenalia.

Anyway, come and see us in the school soon and check out our new website at maltoncookeryschool.co.uk or book through the Talbot Hotel. With only a few spaces on each course it is getting booked up fast.