A LAKE District cookery school is offering food lovers the chance to watch a demo by a 'pioneering' wood-fired oven expert.

Staveley-based Lucy Cooks has invited the man behind ovens known as the 'Kings of Clay' which are said to produce 'perfect' wood-fired food.

The Valoriani ovens are made of special 'cotto clay' from the Italian Valoriani family quarry in Reggello, Tuscany.

“We are delighted to have Andrew heading to us," said Anna Morton, event manager at Lucy Cooks. "He last came to the Lakes for Kendal Festival of Food and met many keen prospective wood-fired oven purchasers then.

"This is a golden opportunity for anyone considering buying a wood-fired oven to find out more about cooking in this way, tapping into Andrew’s deep knowledge and experience, both culinary and technical, to get fired up about cooking with wood.”

Andrew Manciocchi, has pioneered wood-fired ovens in the UK for the last 10 years, supplying ovens to celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and cooking alongside chefs such as Gennaro Contaldo and Jamie Oliver.

He will be one of the tutors on a day running from 10am to 3.30pm on August 16, and will spend at least an hour showing keen al fresco cooks how easy it is to cook with wood in a Valoriani in an authentic Italian way.

He will also showcase a few exciting dishes for the wood-fired oven and provide other recipe suggestions.

Andrew will also highlight the versatility of a Valoriani oven, explaining how he cooks everything from his Christmas dinner to delights such as sea bass puttanesca, lamb romana and bread and butter pudding.

For more information and to get involved in the course visit www.lucycooks.co.uk