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.

Quiet and Contemplative: a day of connection and understanding through observational drawing.

Join Ryan Brearley as he guides you through a series of drawing exercises designed to make you visually aware of the world around you and expresses your response to it.

Using simple drawing materials you will discover a joy in looking and find how quickly you learn to draw things as you see them. There will be a focus on drawing objects, both natural and manmade, but time will be made to discuss and demonstrate responses to landscape too.

Ryan will have the day to instil within you a desire to continue your drawing tuition and to lean into other artistic mediums of creativity.

Bookings for this class will close on the 9th of April

In this workshop you will learn the calming technique of coil basket weaving, working with beautiful Madagascan raffia.

You will create an original piece to take home, shaped by your own instinctive style. The day offers generous time for learning and making, with pauses for lunch and teas.

Coil basketry is a practice that unfolds slowly. As you work, your hands find their own rhythm, guiding the form of your basket and allowing it to become something truly unique — a piece shaped by both skill and intuition.

Bookings for this class will close on the 20th of April

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