The smoke, fire and flavours of American barbecue will come to Windsor next month with a hands-on cooking class at Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley.
The American BBQ Low and Slow Cooking Class will be held on Saturday, September 12, with two three-hour sessions available.
Participants can choose between a morning class from 10am to 1pm and an afternoon session from 2pm to 5pm.
Led by the hotel’s experienced chefs, the class will teach participants how to prepare smoked brisket and pork ribs, make pulled-pork sliders and cook confidently over flame.
The experience will finish on a sweeter note, with chocolate brownie also included on the menu.
Learning the low-and-slow method
American-style barbecue is built around time, temperature and smoke rather than simply placing meat over high heat.
Large cuts such as brisket and pork ribs can be tough if cooked quickly. Slow cooking at a controlled temperature allows connective tissue to break down while the meat absorbs flavour from smoke, seasoning and rendered fat.
Achieving the right result requires more than owning a smoker.
Cooks need to understand temperature control, fuel selection, airflow, seasoning, moisture and how to judge when the meat is properly cooked and rested.
The Windsor class is designed to make those techniques accessible to home cooks.
Participants will cook, taste the dishes and learn practical skills they can use at home rather than simply watching a demonstration.
The hotel describes each session as relaxed and social, with an emphasis on sharing knowledge in an easy-to-follow format.
What is on the menu?
Across the three-hour class, participants will learn how to:
- smoke beef brisket;
- prepare low-and-slow pork ribs;
- build pulled-pork sliders;
- manage cooking over flame; and
- finish with a chocolate brownie.
Each participant will also take home a branded apron and gourmet prize pack so they can continue experimenting after the class.
A Hawkesbury food experience
The event has been included in the official Discover the Hawkesbury tourism calendar, positioning it as more than an ordinary cooking lesson.
Food-based experiences can give visitors an additional reason to spend time in the region, particularly when combined with accommodation, heritage attractions, gardens, farm-gate visits and the Hawkesbury’s established food and produce sector.
Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley promotes the hotel as a base from which guests can explore the Hawkesbury River region and its history and heritage.
A specialist class of this kind also appeals to visitors seeking an experience they can participate in and take home with them.
The date falls on a busy spring weekend for the district. Other attractions operating on September 12 include the Richmond Good Food Market, Bilpin Markets, Wildwood Garden’s spring opening and the Hawkesbury Writers’ Festival.
A Father’s Day gift, with a delayed payoff
Although the class takes place the weekend after Father’s Day, the hotel is promoting it as a gift for someone who enjoys cooking, entertaining or spending time around the barbecue.
It may also appeal to people who have bought a smoker but remain uncertain about temperature control, cooking times or how to achieve consistently tender results.
The ticket price is $199 for one person, or $370 for two people.
Bookings are essential.
Event details
What: American BBQ Low and Slow Cooking Class
When: Saturday, September 12
Sessions: 10am–1pm or 2pm–5pm
Where: Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, 61 Hawkesbury Valley Way, Windsor
Price: $199 for one ticket or $370 for two
Included: Three-hour practical class, food tasting, branded apron and gourmet prize pack
Bookings: Essential
Further information and bookings are available through the Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley events page, or by telephoning the hotel on (02) 4577 4222.
