Arrival from: 5.50pm

*Please note that we need a minimum on 14 guests for this class to go ahead.

Join us for an evening demonstration class here at the school, based around all things 'pizza oven'. Hosted by guest chef and pizza oven expert Alan Brown. 

Your evening with us:

• An informative session on all things pizza oven: from getting that even temperature to creating beautiful meals to be shared
• Complimentary recipes
• x1 glass of locally sourced wine or craft beer to enjoy 
• Tasters throughout the evening

A bit about Alan Brown

“Life is too short for bad food or wine”

Al’s passion for knowledge and excellence in all things culinary has always been his life force. He has worked in kitchens since the age of 14 working his way up the ranks starting as a plonger (dish washer) in Auckland in the early 1970’s, from Commis to Chef de Partie at the Ritz Hotel in London, to Michelin Star Head Chef at an exclusive UK restaurant by the age of 28 in 1984, ending his international experience as an Executive Chef at the top end of the corporate market.

Returning to New Zealand 17 years later he began teaching at AIT (now AUT University) where he had gained his own first qualification. As a senior chef lecturer in 2013 he celebrated 20 years of teaching and became the recipient of an AUT Vice Chancellor’s Academic Award for Excellence in Teaching. In the same year he was also awarded the prestigious London City and Guilds International Medal for Excellence, in recognition of outstanding performance as a lecturer in the culinary arts, something never before achieved by a New Zealander.

His lifelong passion for all things culinary means leisure activities centre around up-skilling and ‘tinkering’ with techniques, knowledge and gourmet experiences including wine, cheese and sausage making, hot and cold smoking, his wood fired oven, sourdough breads, distilling, food photography and culinary travel experiences within New Zealand and abroad. He most recently returned from a culinary tour of West coast North America, Vancouver to LA, funded by his teaching award. 

Closer to home he is well known for his motorcycle ‘breaks away’ armed with knife, whisk, peppermill and occasionally a 1-group coffee machine as he explores NZ’s ‘gourmet’ landscape cooking where he stops, with whatever is at hand, in exchange for a bed. 

Alan also released his own cookbook The Complete Kiwi Pizza Oven