Reputedly, some mothers do’ave’em – and here’s betting Carmelo Carnevale’s was rather glad to spawn such a sublime chef. Now Novikov’s Italian top talent is keen to share his skills in a series of masterclasses running at the London restaurant.
Launching with lamb, the first class teaches the tentative trainees to cook a roast as ravishing as that served at Novikov’s own weekly Sunday feast. Participants can slip into gear at a pleasant pace, kicking off with a welcome breakfast of fresh bread, jam, cornetti and cappuccino.
Looking rather more lively, the group will watch Carmelo prep up a triumvirate of lamb-y lovelies – slow cooked shank, slow cooked in clay, and butterfly roasted in a wood oven. To flesh out the meat, dishes of radicchio, polenta and Sicilian fregola.
This is one class to really put meat on your culinary bones, adding antipasti of marinated aubergines and a vegetable-and-cheese tart to the recipe mix. Sicilian ricotta mousse keeps everyone sweet, even those looking somewhat sheepish at the back.
Novikov’s sommelier will also be bleating about the best drops to pair with each course, offering his advice on sourcing, decanting and, of course, drinking. As the class culminates, friends and family are invited in to share spoils, and play guinea pig to their newly skilled-up loved one.
Carmelo Carnevale’s masterclass is priced at £75pp to include lunch paired with wine, coffee and petits fours. Lunch-only guests pay £25pp.
Future classes will take place at the Italian Restaurant on the last Saturday of each month. Programme content will be announced shortly.