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Lou and Ant Bentley
Photo Credit: c Alan Gillard

Lou and Ant Bentley

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Lou and Ant Bentley established the Akaroa Cooking School in 2009, after years of balancing corporate lives with their passion for food, and squeezing in training at the Chiang Mai Cookery School and the New Zealand School of Food and Wine. They wanted to teach people how to get back to basics - growing their own food where possible, but certainly knowing where it came from and how best to prepare and cook it.
They live with their two children one bay around from Akaroa, and grow all their own herbs, salad greens and veges for the school.

Books by Lou and Ant Bentley

Fresh from Akaroa

Recipes and tips from the highly popular Akaroa Cooking School - plus the stunning scenery of Banks Peninsula.

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Article
Tuscan chicken casserole

We ate many dishes similar to this while spending time in Italy and they were all different depending on the part of Tuscany that we were in. This is our version of a Tuscan chicken casserole and it’s very moreish and flavoursome. I love it in the winter and any leftovers get tossed through some pasta the next day.

Article
Lemony lamb meatballs with asparagus and green bean salad

These little meatballs have a great flavour to them and can also be served as a canapé with the yoghurt dressing – just serve on a platter with toothpicks and the dressing in a little dipping bowl to the side. The meatballs can also be frozen once rolled, so it’s great to make up plenty of them and have some in the freezer to call on for an easy week-night dinner.

Article
Ginger and apricot slice

This moreish slice is fabulous with a cup of tea to give you an energy boost mid-afternoon or as a decadent after-dinner treat.