Last week I headed to Discovery Vitality’s HealthyFoodStudio in Sandton for some high-tea learning and baking, in one of the most talked-about buildings in Joburg at the moment.

The HealthFood Studio is a teaching kitchen with stations set up for cooking and baking – picture Masterchef-style. It offers interactive cooking classes by trained and charismatic chefs, using fresh and seasonal ingredients, with the aim of teaching and inspiring people to make nutritious food that anyone can prepare. The studio has as its partners Woolworths (for food), Prue Leith Chefs Academy (for the chefs), Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Weber, so you can expect the best of the best here.

I went to the launch of the HealthyFoodStudio in the old Discovery building two years ago, and again at a demonstration by cookbook author and advocate of healthy eating, Jessica Sempel.

To be honest, I could have just hung out at the new studio without watching the food demonstration, or getting my hands busy. The studio is big and light, there are gorgeous views, a place to sit outside, the best water I’ve ever drunk (no joke – it was water with granadilla pulp, but just delicious), and, wait for it…freshly pressed coffee. Not instant. Not from a pod. But beautifully pressed. A small yet big thing for me.

The HealthyFoodStudio offers various courses, and are dependant on the seasons. The August calendar includes courses on soups, healthy braai, fish, chicken, lunch on the go, food for friends and plant-based. For our high-tea course, our dishes included quiches, brownies and chocolate tarts. The food was delicious, and everyone got a take-home box with some of the leftovers (my leftovers didn’t make it home, I’m ashamed to say).

Two courses I’m keen to go on are “date night” and the kids’ courses, for kids aged eight to 12. In August, the kids’ courses include Italian dining, healthy fast food and healthy braai, and I imagine my son would love these, plus I can have fun with him learning and doing.

What you should know:

• You don’t have to be a Discovery member to go
• If you book for a course now, you’ll get two spaces for the price of one (until the end of September only)
• You can book for team building, and events or celebrations such as bookclubs, birthdays and parties
• You can check out all the courses online, and book there too

For more info, head to HealthyFoodStudio.