Sofia Gallo Delivers Cookery Workshops to Camphill MK Residents

Nov 11, 2024

Sofia Gallo, MasterChef UK contestant, private chef, and food writer, delivered three workshops for our residents to teach cookery skills.

Sofia first approached Julia, who looks after our workshops, to ask for guidance around setting up as a CIC. Her idea is to open an artisanal pasta and macarons laboratory, by teaching and ultimately creating employability for adults with various learning disabilities. Julia kindly offered the opportunity to host workshops at our premises as a pilot/case study. Sofia decided to host three full cookery classes of three different levels of abilities.

Sofia told us, “I had a wonderful experience and it has been incredible to see how learning a new skill like pasta making was very well received by everyone, but also the confidence of the attendees increased over time, as well as their pride and self-esteem.”

It’s true! By day three, everyone felt so confident they would ask to be involved without instruction. Sofia added, “I left with my heart overjoyed, and I promise to be back for more. I am already thinking about how well-being and food choices can be introduced, and maybe I can turn my attention to teaching a few dishes by utilising the gardens or by going to a local allotment to pick our own produce and cook a meal.”

We want to thank Sofia for delivering her fantastic workshops, being so passionate about food, and making cooking accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities.

Discover her cookery classes here.

Resident Tamsin said, “Sofia was so calm and friendly. She showed us how to make the products and let us have a go. I really liked using a piping bag to make the macarons. They tasted lovely, and I shared them with all my friends; they liked them, too.”

Resident Anna said, “Out of this world! I had never experienced Italian cooking before. I learned a lot and enjoyed eating what I made. I learned about the different flour types and how to roll our pasta using the machine.”

Bakery Workshop leader Maria said, “It was very interesting for the participants to learn new things. Sofia was able to teach them skills according to their abilities by adapting techniques, so they were able to work independently creating tasty pasta with sauce and sweet treats.”