Valentine’s Day Picnic Fare

In this intimate demonstration class, Rosa guides you through dishes suited to picnics, garden gatherings and relaxed summer occasions. With February in the air, there is a quiet nod to romance woven through the menu.

We will enjoy small tastings in a sit-down, picnic-style luncheon. As Rosa cooks, she draws on her Sicilian ancestry, sharing stories that bring her island home to life and infuse the class with a sense of place.

Expect inspiration for effortless summer entertaining and those quietly memorable moments under warm skies.

Bookings for this class will close on the 11th of January

In this intimate hands-on cheese making class with master cheesemaker Kristen Allan you will learn how to make milky soft pillows of mozzarella and the best of the stretched curd cheeses including: burrata, stracciatella and the creamiest and dreamiest buttermilk ricotta. We'll also explore creative ways to use the leftover whey, ensuring nothing goes to waste and how to incorporate our freshly made cheese into a shared lunch, celebrating the flavours of the season and the satisfaction of food made by hand.

Bookings for this class will close on the 10th of February

In association with the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Learn to make seasonal desserts, taste local wine and observe local art techniques

Enjoy an inspired afternoon overlooking Swan Bay at Marthadale – an inviting property brought to life by Jennie and John Sloan. Acclaimed pastry chef Darren Purchese will present a live demonstration of desserts, inspired by the gardens of Marthadale. Each creation will be paired with a tasting of Circulus Wines from Portarlington – cool-climate, maritime-influenced drops that capture the elegance of the Bellarine Peninsula.

Celebrated local artist Ryan Brearley will create on canvas in real time, revealing the rhythm, process, and energy behind his works. Together, they offer a truly one-of-a-kind collaboration: three masters, each exploring beauty through their craft.

Tickets on sale from Thursday 27 November, 10am.

Limited to 20 places.

Step inside the Marthadale kitchen for an intimate culinary experience with Celebrated Chef, former restaurateur, and food creative Cath Claringbold.

With a career spanning over 40 years Cath brings deep knowledge and an instinctive understanding of ingredients that only decades in the industry can teach.

In this Marthadale workshop, Cath will share a curated selection of her favourite dishes – recipes shaped by seasons, stories and the seasonal produce grown just metres from the kitchen door. Expect a demonstration-style class with a little hands-on, perfect for home cooks who want to learn chef-level tricks without losing the joy and ease of cooking.

Drawing from the Marthadale kitchen garden and the surrounding Bellarine Peninsula, Cath will show how to transform beautiful ingredients into generous, flavour-driven food you’ll want to cook again and again.

Bookings for this class will close on the 13th of July

Join acclaimed pastry chef, author, television judge and flavour-obsessed craftsman Darren Purchese for an immersive deep-dive into one of the great foundations of patisserie: puff pastry.

In this intimate Marthadale workshop, Darren will demystify the process of making exceptional puff pastry from scratch. You’ll learn the science behind lamination, how to work dough for perfect lift and texture, and how to transform those golden layers into elegant sweet and savoury creations. Expect a demonstration-style class with a little hands-on — ideal for curious home bakers, seasoned cooks wanting to finesse their pastry game, or anyone who simply loves buttery, flaky perfection.

Darren will showcase a selection of dishes inspired by seasonal produce from the Marthadale kitchen garden and the surrounding Bellarine Peninsula, highlighting how great ingredients and proper technique elevate each other.

Bookings for this class will close on the 4th of May