What services or products do you offer?
I teach baking and cooking. I also sell jams, relishes, sourdough bread and raw honey. Sometimes, we do pop-up restaurants. We will be doing one for Valentine’s week on February 16. Claire’s Cooking Classes runs from Oakhill Avenue, Berea, East London (parallel to Devereaux).
When did your business start?
Claire’s Cooking started in February 2017.
How did the idea come about?
I first started out making cordials and jams before moving on to making and selling home-made meals. Soon, I had some young ladies in our church asking me to teach them how to make nice food, so I started the first class and then offered them to the public.
What do you focus on in your classes?
I focus on simple food done right. I want to empower and build confidence in all who come through my kitchen. Most classes are three hours.
What type of culinary experience is necessary to conduct cooking classes?
I am self-taught and taught from young by mom and gran in a farm kitchen. I aim to teach anyone, no matter how inexperienced or experienced they are.
How many people/staff do you work with?
Just myself and I sometimes rope my hubby in to teach the couples’ classes.
What satisfaction do you get out of the work that you do?
I love feeling like someone has grown in confidence and now feels like trying something new or retrying something they previously felt they failed at.
Who are your classes targeted at?
I offer a huge variety of classes, about 100 standalone classes. Then I offer nine months’ worth of the courses. I have taught chefs and cooks at game lodges, golf clubs, B&B’s, hostels, as well as a few handicapped young ladies who were not able to attend an everyday school. I have assisted folk who said they could only fry an egg or would usually burn rice. If you are just honest about what you can do or what you want to be able to do, I can then I slot you into the right group or class.
What goals are you working towards?
I would love to have some online classes available at some stage and a recipe book. But for now, I will keep trying to make sure all of East London knows about what I offer and that there is a consistent steady stream of people being empowered and starting their own little business or being upskilled.
What advice do you have for anyone starting their own business?
Know what you can offer and what you will say no to. Have a consistent standard and high quality in whatever you do as word of mouth is huge, especially in East London. Start small and let your confidence grow as your business grows.
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
I really do appreciate a written message or voice note on WhatsApp or even an email, as I also do other work on the side and do not take calls in general.
Where can our readers find you? (contact details/social media)
For more information on the dishes Claire can help you make, and all her pricing information: Phone: 066-223-5038, email: clairescookingclasses33@gmail.com
Facebook: Claire’s Cooking Classes.
