SCHOOL OF COOKERY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1415, 28 August 1878, Page 2

SCHOOL OF COOKERY.

Miss M. A. Fidler, a lady who has been delivering lectures on the art of cookery very successfully in the South, gave the introductory lecture of a course yesterday at St. Michael's schoolroom. There was a large attendance of ladies, the gentlemen being decidedly in the minority. The Rev. Mr Penny, prior to the lecture commencing, in a few words introduced Miss Fidler to the audience. On the dais, at the end of the room, Miss Fidler had a gas stove, with the usual display of saucepans, stewpans, &c, and the various condiments were placed upon the side tables. In front of the audience was a larger table, upon which the lecturer mixed her ingredients. Miss Fidler seems to be thoroughly an fait at her work, the various processes being performed with great deftness and celerity, whilst her explanations are exceedingly lucid, and given in the plainest possible terms, so as to be thoroughly understood by the Btudents. Being merclj of an introductory character, and only intended fco> show the general scope of the lessons, that given yesterday afternoon merely dealt with a few illustrations. With one exception, th» articles produced were, strictly speaking, more of the ornamental kind of cookery than the useful. This, howover, considering the character of the audience, was only what might have been expected, and Jli-s Fidler is to be congratulated upon the success which has attended her debut in Christ* church in the character of a lecturer. The examples comprised lessons in the art of making stock for soup, beef olives, apple charlotte, soda biscuits, and orange fritters. At the conclusion of the lessons the variousi articles cooked were closely examined by those present, and pronounced excellent. In the evening a second series of lessons was given. Today the classes start to work in earnest, and Miss Fidler has been very successful in obtaining a number of scholars. A request has bean made to her on behalf of the ladies of Lyttelton to give a series of lessons there, and it is also proposed that she Bhall give some lessons to the elder girls of the Orphanage,