Are the TV chefs putting you to shame? Local takeaways sending you Christmas cards? If your culinary skills are not up to scratch, whether you're aiming to impress or simply stop yourself from starving, there are people who can help.
Across Scotland there are more than a few amazing cookery schools, here are six of the best, offering expertise in everything from fine dining to French fancies, curry to craft beer accompaniments:
As the youngest Scottish chef ever to hold a Michelin star, it's safe to say Nick Nairn knows what he's doing. You can up your chances of being able to say the same by booking yourself into Nick Nairn Cook School.
Besides that all-important aforementioned star, the draw here is the scenery, with lake views afforded by its location at Port of Menteith - which is located just under an hour's drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh and just twenty minutes from Stirling train station.
As well as Nick's expertise, budding cooks can benefit from the appearance of celebrity guest stars, as well as learning to cook everything from Asian classics to Christmas dinner.
A short hop south of Glasgow will take you to a cookery school that does it all.
A Visit Scotland 5 Star attraction, Cook School Scotland offers a multitude of themed classes ranging from 'hands on' cookery courses to the more relaxed 'Demo & Dine' evenings where you can watch the chefs make your meals as well as enjoying them.
Best of all you can enjoy a family affair with any kids and budding little chefs able to enroll in the Kids Kitchen where they will learn about the joys of cooking from professional chefs.
Day classes start at £100, while the Demo and Dine can be enjoyed for as little as £30 per person.
For those of you who are really looking to seriously up their kitchen game then the School has recently launched one-on-one sessions where guests will get the chance to learn from the experts with a three hour session with one of their top chefs.
One of the newest Schools on our list, The Station House only opened in May.
Located in the idyllic fishing town of Kirkcudbright, the school runs daily from 10am to 5pm and offers a wide range of cookery classes for all ages and tastes delivered by “passionate and knowledgeable tutors”.
Working closely with some of the area's best producers and suppliers, the Station House also offers bespoke courses where you get to choose how you want to learn with everything from the choice of cuisine down to who teaches you selected by you.
And, should you wish to spend a bit more time in what is a wonderful part of the country you can sign up for their Residential Breaks where you'll get to stay for four nights at the nearby Selkirk Arms and enjoy three full days of practical cookery classes for £499 per person.
(Colstoun Estate, Near Haddington, Haddington EH41 4PA)
At Colstoun Cookery School the emphasis is on environmental sustainability and the provenance of the produce. Set in 2,000 acres of organic farmland and forest in East Lothian, with its own walled garden and energy-saving wood-chip heating network providing the hot water, Colstoun has excellent green credentials and offers day-long classes and week-long courses (with the option of accommodation on the Colstoun estate) that focus on nutritious cooking using organic ingredients, as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Think healthy Thai and Italian, local game, sushi and foraging – and if that all sounds a little po-faced, there's a cake class too.
Nothing gets a more rapturous welcome than a good curry, and it makes for a quick and easy kitchen stalwart once you've invested in a decent spice rack.
Not solely the preserve of chalet girls in training, despite churning them and their soufflés out on its specialised Gap Year Courses for the past six years, Edinburgh New Town Cookery School offers classes from one-day workshops to six-month diploma courses and everything in between, including those tailored to children and teenagers; students seeking to up their game beyond instant noodles, and craft beer enthusiasts keen on matching their food with their drinks, as well as the aforementioned gap year option (which also equips graduates for work on yachts and in shooting lodges).
Its impeccable pedigree – founder Fiona Burrell boasts twelve years of experience at the much celebrated Leith's School of Food and Wine and has judged the Mouton Cadet/Times Cook of the Year competition – also comes with commanding views over the Firth of Forth, thanks to its location on Queen Street.
Picture: Trip Advisor
And for the fun stuff, head to the Cocoa Black Chocolate and Pastry School in Peebles. Classes are taught by award-winning pastry chef and holder of the enviable title “UK World Chocolate Master” Ruth Hinks, who will show you how to keep your sweet tooth satisfied for life by conquering such delicacies as truffles, caramels and pralines, macarons, petits fours, cheesecakes, tarts and custard, and the fine art of French patisserie.
Courses range from a couple of hours to a couple of days and private group classes and even one-to-one tuition can be arranged.
