It is pretty much one year to the day since I decided to set up the Jericho Kitchen Cookery School and I can finally say that it is now up and running. When I think back over the past year I realise how much it has changed me.

Growing up, food was very much a ‘necessity’ as my mother was not a fan of the kitchen. It wasn’t until I first visited Italy as an adult that I realised that eating home-grown food and the whole ceremony of sitting down for a long leisurely meal made a difference.

While living in London, I was lucky enough to work for La Cucina Caldesi Cookery School in Marylebone. It was there that my passion was fuelled further by being able to work with a succession of regional Italian chefs from the Amalfi coast, Sardinia and Venice and the seed was sown for The Jericho Kitchen.

I moved back to Oxford several years ago to work for Jamie’s Italian in their first restaurant here. It meant I was the lucky recipient of several one-to-one lessons with the ever youthful and energetic Gennaro Contaldo. He would come and retrieve me from the office to take me to the kitchen – “come on Emma I have a wonderful piece of pork belly – let me show you how we do it in Italy”. His passion was addictive, and I wanted to impart that to all and sundry who would listen.

I am still impatient and drove those around me mad with my lists of things to do before everything is just right, but this adventure has taught me one thing – that while you can certainly determine your path with positive thoughts, what is equally important is making mistakes.

Last February, despite finding two investors and a potential venue in Jericho, hence the name, things got stuck and were not moving at all. Frustrated that nine months in I hadn’t been able to hold a cookery class I decided to use my family home’s state-of-the-art kitchen in Warborough as my cookery school base and I haven’t looked back.

In December, we held our first corporate event with a company who decided on a girls v boys in a Christmas English v Italian-style cook off. It was fabulous to see them enjoying the space and having fun cooking. In the summer, we have an outdoor BBQ and seating area that allows you to eat and watch the sun set over the Oxfordshire countryside.

We are also scheduling classes like mad at the moment. We have Vegetarian Street Food on Sunday, January 24, a Persian Dinner Party on Sunday, February 21, with Madhy whom many of you will know from the Hayfield Road Deli in Jericho. On Sunday, March 5, we have Sumayya Usmani all the way from Glasgow holding a class entitled Tamarind Summers – a preview of recipes from her new book being released later this year. She will take you on a journey through her heritage and cuisine, a real insight into mastering Pakistani cuisine.

With the help of the brilliant Becky Craven who worked at Oxford and the Magdalen Arms, we are planning a series of children’s cookery classes in February to coincide with half term. Her passion for imparting knowledge is outstanding, and she will inspire and guide the next generation into a real appreciation of food.

This has to be the best thing I have ever done and hopefully my energy and passion for good food and fun will encourage you to come and join us. Happy 2016. See jerichokitchen.co.uk

EMMA COLLEN