Introducing our Room Hire clients: Asian Cooking Academy 

We’re thrilled that the Asian Cooking Academy, a London-based independent cooking school championing Asian flavours through hands-on masterclasses, team-building experiences, and bespoke cooking events, has booked to run classes and workshops at St Luke’s Cookery School in 2026. They will run several immersive cooking experiences and corporate team events, making full use of our facilities in our Cookery School and dining area.

Rak Patel, co-founder of the Asian Cookery Academy with celebrated chef Norman Musa, says: “At Asian Cooking Academy, we design immersive cooking experiences that help teams bond in a relaxed, hands-on environment — and leave with shared memories as well as new skills. We run corporate team cooking experiences for varied clients, really bringing teams together. The Cookery School at St Luke’s is perfect for our purposes, with the equipment and space we need to do this properly without having to bring all our own kit.”

Norman Musa is an award-winning Malaysian chef, cookbook author, tutor, television host, and global ambassador for Malaysian cuisine. Born in Butterworth, Penang and based in London. He has authored several cookbooks, including the bestseller Amazing Malaysian. Norman has appeared on TV shows such as MasterChef Malaysia, BBC’s Best Ever Dishes, and Sunday Brunch, and runs masterclasses, supper clubs, and food events across Europe. He is a tutor and co-creator for Wagamama Chef Academy.

Rak says their experiences are special because “cooking together naturally encourages communication, teamwork and creativity, and it’s amazing to see how quickly food helps break down barriers and spark connection…..with plenty of laughter along the way!”

If you’d like to find out more about bringing people together through food — whether by creating a bespoke team cooking experience for your organisation or by joining one of Asian Cooking Academy’s amazing public cooking masterclasses. Norman & Rak would love to hear from you at [email protected]

Take a look at some of the delicious food that is created at these experiences here.

Here at St Luke’s we feel the same way, which is why our Community Cookery School was opened in 2012, with the aim of showing locals how they can cook well at home on a budget. With a shared love of cooking and its ability to connect people, we’re thrilled we will be seeing Asian Cooking Academy in our Cookery School over the coming months.

As well as regular community cookery classes, St Luke’s Cookery School is available for private hire. Ricky Flax attended a Asian Cookery Academy team experience, and reviews it below:

Ricky Flax CEO of IBC Simply said: “We spent the day cooking with Norman Musa and Rakesh Patel, and it was genuinely one of the best team experiences we’ve had in a long time. The food was unbelievable, the stories were even better, and the amount of laughter in that kitchen… exactly what a team day should feel like. If you ever want a team day that brings people together through food, you won’t find better.

Also a huge shoutout to the team at St Luke’s Community Centre, who hosted us in their fantastic commercial kitchen. What St Luke’s is doing for the community is incredible. Free meals, support services, and a space that genuinely makes a difference to people who need it most. If you’re ever looking for a commercial kitchen to hire in London, definitely check them out.”