Natural Dye Workshop + Lunch
Come to my home for a beautiful gathering of crafting and eating.
My guest teacher is Liz Baltesz, a natural dyer, knitter and craft tutor. Liz will enlighten you on the craft and culture of natural dyeing in the UK and I will tell you about how natural dyeing has been used historically in Ukraine.
The first 2.5 hours is a hands on workshop where we will dye yarn using plants, some from my garden, some foraged. We will also use kitchen waste and fermentation brines.
You will be able to use your naturally dyed threads to make a felt Christmas tree decoration, and of course for any projects you will make at home. We will give you plenty of ideas on how to use the yarn creatively, if you don’t knit.
While we are crafting, a delicious lunch will be slowly cooking in my wood-fired oven. Expect Ukrainian and Georgian flavours, beautiful produce and organic wine.
The workshops at my house are never simply workshops. After the class, we will sit down at my long kitchen table, and will share food and stories. It is an informal, soulful kind of thing - a perfect afternoon spent with a partner or colleague, or as a gift to self.
Come to my home for a beautiful afternoon of crafting and eating.
My guest teacher is Liz Baltesz, a natural dyer, knitter and craft tutor. Liz will enlighten you on the craft and culture of natural dyeing in the UK and I will tell you about how natural dyeing has been used historically in Ukraine.
The first 2.5 hours is a hands on workshop where we will dye yarn using plants from Liz’s and my gardens. We will also use kitchen waste and fermentation brines.
You will be able to use your naturally dyed threads to make a felt Christmas tree decoration, and of course for any projects you will make at home. We will give you plenty of ideas on how to use the yarn creatively, if you don’t knit.
While we are crafting, a delicious lunch will be slowly cooking in my wood-fired oven. Expect Ukrainian and Georgian flavours, beautiful produce and organic wine.
The workshops at my house are never simply workshops. After the class, we will sit down at my long kitchen table, and will share food and stories. It is an informal, soulful kind of thing - a perfect afternoon spent with a partner or colleague, or as a gift to self.
I will consider allergies and dietary requirements, just let me know, everyone welcome.
Linocut Workshop + Lunch
Come to my home for a beautiful gathering of crafting and eating.
My guest teacher is Veronika Prykhodko - a Ukrainian artist. Join us for a special linocut workshop inspired by the beauty and storytelling of food and Christmas.
From seasonal produce to treasured festive recipes and favourite ingredients, you’ll create your own food-inspired linocut and print a series of handmade prints to take home. You could use this linocut over and over to create hand-made Christmas cards for years to come.
Throughout the session, Veronika will guide you through the process of designing, carving, and printing your linocut, while Olia shares stories of Ukrainian Christmas traditions and serves a delicious homemade lunch made in her wood-fired oven. Together, we’ll explore how food can become a source of artistic inspiration, transforming everyday ingredients into bold graphic prints.
No previous printmaking experience is required. All materials will be provided.
Come ready to carve, print, eat, drink organic wine and enjoy, and leave with your own unique artworks printed on hand-made paper.
Come to my home for a beautiful afternoon of crafting and eating.
My guest teacher is Veronika Prykhodko - a Ukrainian artist. Join us for a special linocut workshop inspired by the beauty and storytelling of food and Christmas.
From seasonal produce to treasured festive recipes and favourite ingredients, you’ll create your own food-inspired linocut and print a series of handmade prints to take home. You could use this linocut over and over to create hand-made Christmas cards for years to come.
Throughout the session, Veronika will guide you through the process of designing, carving, and printing your linocut, while Olia shares stories of Ukrainian Christmas traditions and serves a delicious homemade lunch made in her wood-fired oven. Together, we’ll explore how food can become a source of artistic inspiration, transforming everyday ingredients into bold graphic prints.
No previous printmaking experience is required. All materials will be provided.
Come ready to carve, print, eat, drink organic wine and enjoy, and leave with your own unique artworks printed on hand-made paper.
Georgian/Kartuli Cookery Class
Join me on Saturday 27 June, 2026, for a hands-on workshop where I will teach you all about Kartuli cookery.
You will learn how to make Ajaran Khachapuri (the one with the egg!) and you will also make Kartuli-style fermented tomatoes with garlic, chillies and lovage, then take them home to enjoy.
I will demo rhubarb tkemali and Kartuli walnut paste.
We will then feast on the breads you made, which will be cooked in our wood-fired oven, accompanied by Gurian fermented cabbage and walnut paste.
There will also be some wine tasting from Ukrainian Wines, who will present us with Ukrainian wines made from Georgian grapes.
Equipment and ingredients are all provided for you.
We can accommodate most things apart from gluten intolerance.
Cost is £135 per person and is all inclusive.
Dumplings and Ferments Workshop with Olia
Join me on Thursday 4 June, 2026 for a hands-on workshop where I will teach you how to make Ukrainian ferments and dumplings. We will then sit down together and enjoy a feast of home-made ferments, salads, and the dumplings we have made. Organic wine will be on offer. After the class, you will receive a full pack of recipes. Kilner jars will be provided for you, so you will be going home with ferments of the future.
We can accommodate most things apart from gluten intolerance.
Cost is £135 per person and includes all ingredients and dinner.
Dumplings and Ferments Workshop with Olia
Join me on Thursday 7 May, 2026 for a hands-on workshop where I will teach you how to make Ukrainian ferments and dumplings. We will then sit down together and enjoy a feast of home-made ferments, salads, and the dumplings we have made. Organic wine will be on offer. After the class, you will receive a full pack of recipes. Kilner jars will be provided for you, so you will be going home with ferments of the future.
We can accommodate most things apart from gluten intolerance.
Cost is £135 per person and includes all ingredients and dinner.
Dumplings and Ferments Workshop with Olia
Join me on Saturday, 18 April, 2026 for a hands-on workshop where I will teach you how to make Ukrainian ferments and dumplings. We will then sit down together and enjoy a lunch feast of home-made ferments, salads, and the dumplings we have made. Organic wine will be on offer. After the class, you will receive a full pack of recipes. Kilner jars will be provided for you, so you will be going home with ferments of the future.
We can accommodate most things apart from gluten intolerance.
Cost is £135 per person and includes all ingredients and dinner.
Dumplings and Ferments Workshop with Olia
Join me on Thursday February 2026 for a hands-on workshop where I will teach you how to make Ukrainian ferments and dumplings. We will then sit down together and enjoy a lunch feast of home-made ferments, salads, and the dumplings we have made. Organic wine will be on offer. After the class, you will receive a full pack of recipes. Kilner jars will be provided for you, so you will be going home with ferments of the future.
We can accommodate most things apart from gluten intolerance.
Cost is £135 per person and includes all ingredients and dinner.
Dumplings and Ferments Workshop with Olia
Join me on Thursday 12th February 2026 for a hands-on workshop where I will teach you how to make Ukrainian ferments and dumplings. We will then sit down together and enjoy a lunch feast of home-made ferments, salads, and the dumplings we have made. Organic wine will be on offer. After the class, you will receive a full pack of recipes. Kilner jars will be provided for you, so you will be going home with ferments of the future.
We can accommodate most things apart from gluten intolerance.
Cost is £135 per person and includes all ingredients and dinner.
Dumplings and Ferments Workshop with Olia
Join me on Saturday 17th January 2026 for a hands-on workshop where I will teach you how to make Ukrainian ferments and dumplings. We will then sit down together and enjoy a lunch feast of home-made ferments, salads, and the dumplings we have made. Organic wine will be on offer. After the class, you will receive a full pack of recipes. Kilner jars will be provided for you, so you will be going home with ferments of the future.
We can accommodate most things apart from gluten intolerance.
Cost is £135 per person and includes all ingredients and dinner.
Filo Workshop with Olia and Meni
Join Olia Hercules and Meni Valle at Olia's London home on Thursday, 16th October 2025, at 6.30 pm, for an evening of making filo pastry from scratch and turning it into beautiful dishes with Olia and Greek pies from Meni's new cookbook Thessaloniki.
We'll work together in the kitchen, learning the gentle techniques of rolling dough into delicate sheets, then filling and shaping them into golden pies that we'll share over a delicious feast. The evening flows naturally from cooking to eating, with a table full of dishes we've made together, accompanied by organic wine, and Olia's homemade kvas.
It's the kind of cooking experience that feels like visiting old friends - hands busy, conversation flowing, and everyone contributing to something delicious. You'll head home with a collection of recipes and the satisfaction that comes from spending time making real food with lovely people in a warm kitchen. Cost is £160 per person and includes all ingredients and dinner.
Hand-cut noodles & Fermented Tomatoes
Join me at my home in Forest Gate, London and learn how to make my special family recipe - Ukrainian hand-cut lokshyna (noodles). I will show you how to make egg and water dough from scratch (and a vegan version if you are vegan), how to cure the dough and how to cut it by hand. It is the most relaxing, meditative process. You can use these noodles in the future with any pasta sauce that you love.
I will also show you how to ferment tomatoes, and you will be going home with a jar full of “pickles of the future”. You will also be offered to become part of my Fermentation Support WhatsApp group, where you can send me picture and ask me to guide you throughout your fermentation journey..
After the workshop, we will eat the noodles with a delicious sauce served with the fermented tomatoes. The dough that you will learn how to make, can also be used for a myriad of dishes - from chicken or vegetable soup with noodles, to dumplings to lasagne. You will be provided with a digital booklet with all the recipes we’d learnt during the class and more!
Vegans and other dietaries welcome, but sadly I am not an expert in gluten-free dough, so I will not be able to accommodate celiacs and gluten-free this time.
Please come along, and please, spread the word.
Georgian Dumpling & Georgian Ferments
Learn how to fold Gul Khanum and Manty (Central Asia); Varenyky (Ukraine); Khinkali and Kurze (Caucaus).
These are a part workshop and part feast, where I serve you a beautiful lunch or dinner, with lots of ferments and either the dumplings that we’ve made, or, if it’s a fermentation class, a variety of ferments, freshly baked solid malt sourdough, ohirkivka soup and a main. Organic wine and beer and homemade kvas will be on offer too. You will receive a big pack of recipes and will also be able to take some food home. I provide Kilner jars for all the ferments, so you will be going home with the ferments that you’ve made and extra little bits. For the dumplings, we always advise to bring a container as there is plenty left over.
Dumpling Workshop
Learn how to fold Gul Khanum and Manty (Central Asia); Varenyky (Ukraine); Khinkali and Kurze (Caucaus).
These are a part workshop and part feast, where I serve you a beautiful lunch or dinner, with lots of ferments and either the dumplings that we’ve made, or, if it’s a fermentation class, a variety of ferments, freshly baked solid malt sourdough, ohirkivka soup and a main. Organic wine and beer and homemade kvas will be on offer too. You will receive a big pack of recipes and will also be able to take some food home. I provide Kilner jars for all the ferments, so you will be going home with the ferments that you’ve made and extra little bits. For the dumplings, we always advise to bring a container as there is plenty left over.
Dumpling Workshop
Learn how to fold Gul Khanum and Manty (Central Asia); Varenyky (Ukraine); Khinkali and Kurze (Caucaus).
These are a part workshop and part feast, where I serve you a beautiful lunch or dinner, with lots of ferments and either the dumplings that we’ve made, or, if it’s a fermentation class, a variety of ferments, freshly baked solid malt sourdough, ohirkivka soup and a main. Organic wine and beer and homemade kvas will be on offer too. You will receive a big pack of recipes and will also be able to take some food home. I provide Kilner jars for all the ferments, so you will be going home with the ferments that you’ve made and extra little bits. For the dumplings, we always advise to bring a container as there is plenty left over.
Dumpling Workshop
Learn how to fold Gul Khanum and Manty (Central Asia); Varenyky (Ukraine); Khinkali and Kurze (Caucaus).
These are a part workshop and part feast, where I serve you a beautiful lunch or dinner, with lots of ferments and either the dumplings that we’ve made, or, if it’s a fermentation class, a variety of ferments, freshly baked solid malt sourdough, ohirkivka soup and a main. Organic wine and beer and homemade kvas will be on offer too. You will receive a big pack of recipes and will also be able to take some food home. I provide Kilner jars for all the ferments, so you will be going home with the ferments that you’ve made and extra little bits. For the dumplings, we always advise to bring a container as there is plenty left over.