A flour-coated worktop, sponge cakes at the ready and chocolate warming on the Aga. Stepping into Nikki Walsh’s Dublin kitchen is an experience that is nothing but mouth watering. And it’s a kitchen that is filled with family warmth as Nikki’s eight-year-old daughter, Evie, proudly shows off the fruit of her morning’s labour to Irish Country Living.
With an atmosphere where even a stranger feels comfortable shedding their coat and grabbing a pot of tea, it’s no wonder Nikki has utilised what she has, setting up a cookery school in her own home. And the Lady Eve classes are so popular that it’s hard to get a space.
From pharmacies to pastry
Nikki says: “I worked in pharmacy retail for years but, to be honest, it’s hard to go into the same job day after day, year after year when it’s not something you are passionate about. But it’s something you do when you have bills to pay and a family to rear.
“My original plan had always been cooking and I had spent three months in Ballymaloe after school, so when the recession hit, I decided it was time to really scratch that itch. I always loved preparing for dinner parties but it just wasn’t enough, so I looked at what I had and how I could make a living from something I love.”
With a large, homely kitchen, lots of experience in presenting, and the bonus of being a frugal foodie, the idea of setting up a cookery school while doing a small amount of catering on the side was the perfect fit. However, just as she was starting to make her dream a reality, she was stopped in her tracks by none other than singer Lady Gaga.
Lady Aga
“I really am a woman whose life revolves around my Aga cooker. I was in the kitchen one day, brainstorming ideas for my business with my mother and sister, when I turned around to take something out of my oven and they both exclaimed the name ‘Lady Aga’. It was so obvious and perfect for me, so it was decided there and then that this would be my business name.
“However, just as Nikki was setting up her branding, she received a very threatening letter in the post from the pop queen herself (or, more specifically, the pop queen’s influential lawyers) stating that Lady Aga was too similar to the Lady Gaga name and it could impact on her brand.
Nikki says: “I was instructed to change the name immediately and, wrong or right, I was too intimidated by the powers that be to fight the case. After all, she does have the money to hire the best lawyers in the world.”
Cookery classes
However, this stumble was actually the springboard that Nikki needed.
“Next thing I knew, I was getting national coverage over this Lady Aga story and, as a result, lots of people were finding out about my cookery school. Since then, Nikki has had over 25 people in her house nearly every Wednesday night of the year.
“My classes are seasonal so during the summer I teach classes on buffets for communions, summer entertaining or Mediterranean dishes. In the winter, it’s all about hearty stews, canapés for parties or preparing Christmas dinner. I also run a class on cooking on the Aga and even people that have had an Aga for 40 years get new ideas. However, Nikki says one of the classes that is the most fun to run is called Forbidden Fruit, which is a single and mingle night. You bring your own bottle of wine, it’s really relaxed and I’m determined that a couple will meet in my kitchen one of these nights. It goes down great with people that are sick of trying to find someone in a crowded nightclub.”
Taste of Dublin
As a result of the success of her classes, Nikki will be running her own pop-up class, in association with Homestore and more, at the Taste of Dublin this weekend.
“This is going to be a workshop that will really get people laughing. Unlike demos at big events where you just watch, we’ll be getting visitors to roll up their sleeves. Everything from rolling out fondant to piping cakes, creating cupcakes and muffins as well as biscuit popsicles will be covered. I’m going to make it as simple as possible, keep it fun and help people understand that baking doesn’t need to be overwhelming or intimidating. All it takes is a bit of creativity and a sense of fun.”
Lady Eve biscuit pops
These are great little things and so easy and fun to make. You just put the lot into a food processor, whizz up, roll out and bobs your uncle.
170g plain flour
80g unrefined caster sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
110g butter
1 large egg
The topping
White chocolate
Dark chocolate
Sprinkles
Edible glitter
Anything else fun and small that’s edible and colourful
Set the oven to 180oC. You can make the shortbread in a food processor. Put the butter and sifted flour into the processor and whizz up until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and vanilla extract, and then whizz up again for a few seconds. Then add the egg which will bind the mixture.
Turn and roll out on a floured board. You can make them into heart shapes, or any shape you like, with a cake cutter or a steady hand. Make the biscuits about 1cm thick – or thick enough to secure the pop stick. Then line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place the shapes onto the paper and insert a pop stick into the biscuit. Put in the oven for about 15 minutes and they should come out golden but not brown.
In the meantime, melt the chocolate in a bain marie. When the biscuits are cool you can start to decorate them. Dip the pop in the chocolate for it. This is the really fun part so go mad and do whatever designs tickle your fancy. • Taste of Dublin 2014 returns to the stunning Iveagh Gardens from 12-15 June 2014. Tickets start from €15. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.tasteofdublin.ie• For more information on Lady Eve Cookery School, log onto www.ladyevecookery.com
A flour-coated worktop, sponge cakes at the ready and chocolate warming on the Aga. Stepping into Nikki Walsh’s Dublin kitchen is an experience that is nothing but mouth watering. And it’s a kitchen that is filled with family warmth as Nikki’s eight-year-old daughter, Evie, proudly shows off the fruit of her morning’s labour to Irish Country Living.
With an atmosphere where even a stranger feels comfortable shedding their coat and grabbing a pot of tea, it’s no wonder Nikki has utilised what she has, setting up a cookery school in her own home. And the Lady Eve classes are so popular that it’s hard to get a space.
From pharmacies to pastry
Nikki says: “I worked in pharmacy retail for years but, to be honest, it’s hard to go into the same job day after day, year after year when it’s not something you are passionate about. But it’s something you do when you have bills to pay and a family to rear.
“My original plan had always been cooking and I had spent three months in Ballymaloe after school, so when the recession hit, I decided it was time to really scratch that itch. I always loved preparing for dinner parties but it just wasn’t enough, so I looked at what I had and how I could make a living from something I love.”
With a large, homely kitchen, lots of experience in presenting, and the bonus of being a frugal foodie, the idea of setting up a cookery school while doing a small amount of catering on the side was the perfect fit. However, just as she was starting to make her dream a reality, she was stopped in her tracks by none other than singer Lady Gaga.
Lady Aga
“I really am a woman whose life revolves around my Aga cooker. I was in the kitchen one day, brainstorming ideas for my business with my mother and sister, when I turned around to take something out of my oven and they both exclaimed the name ‘Lady Aga’. It was so obvious and perfect for me, so it was decided there and then that this would be my business name.
“However, just as Nikki was setting up her branding, she received a very threatening letter in the post from the pop queen herself (or, more specifically, the pop queen’s influential lawyers) stating that Lady Aga was too similar to the Lady Gaga name and it could impact on her brand.
Nikki says: “I was instructed to change the name immediately and, wrong or right, I was too intimidated by the powers that be to fight the case. After all, she does have the money to hire the best lawyers in the world.”
Cookery classes
However, this stumble was actually the springboard that Nikki needed.
“Next thing I knew, I was getting national coverage over this Lady Aga story and, as a result, lots of people were finding out about my cookery school. Since then, Nikki has had over 25 people in her house nearly every Wednesday night of the year.
“My classes are seasonal so during the summer I teach classes on buffets for communions, summer entertaining or Mediterranean dishes. In the winter, it’s all about hearty stews, canapés for parties or preparing Christmas dinner. I also run a class on cooking on the Aga and even people that have had an Aga for 40 years get new ideas. However, Nikki says one of the classes that is the most fun to run is called Forbidden Fruit, which is a single and mingle night. You bring your own bottle of wine, it’s really relaxed and I’m determined that a couple will meet in my kitchen one of these nights. It goes down great with people that are sick of trying to find someone in a crowded nightclub.”
Taste of Dublin
As a result of the success of her classes, Nikki will be running her own pop-up class, in association with Homestore and more, at the Taste of Dublin this weekend.
“This is going to be a workshop that will really get people laughing. Unlike demos at big events where you just watch, we’ll be getting visitors to roll up their sleeves. Everything from rolling out fondant to piping cakes, creating cupcakes and muffins as well as biscuit popsicles will be covered. I’m going to make it as simple as possible, keep it fun and help people understand that baking doesn’t need to be overwhelming or intimidating. All it takes is a bit of creativity and a sense of fun.”
Lady Eve biscuit pops
These are great little things and so easy and fun to make. You just put the lot into a food processor, whizz up, roll out and bobs your uncle.
170g plain flour
80g unrefined caster sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
110g butter
1 large egg
The topping
White chocolate
Dark chocolate
Sprinkles
Edible glitter
Anything else fun and small that’s edible and colourful
Set the oven to 180oC. You can make the shortbread in a food processor. Put the butter and sifted flour into the processor and whizz up until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and vanilla extract, and then whizz up again for a few seconds. Then add the egg which will bind the mixture.
Turn and roll out on a floured board. You can make them into heart shapes, or any shape you like, with a cake cutter or a steady hand. Make the biscuits about 1cm thick – or thick enough to secure the pop stick. Then line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place the shapes onto the paper and insert a pop stick into the biscuit. Put in the oven for about 15 minutes and they should come out golden but not brown.
In the meantime, melt the chocolate in a bain marie. When the biscuits are cool you can start to decorate them. Dip the pop in the chocolate for it. This is the really fun part so go mad and do whatever designs tickle your fancy. • Taste of Dublin 2014 returns to the stunning Iveagh Gardens from 12-15 June 2014. Tickets start from €15. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.tasteofdublin.ie• For more information on Lady Eve Cookery School, log onto www.ladyevecookery.com 
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