Marika Gauci

Hello, I'm Marika, the person behind Bates Pies!I run fun, hands-on British pie-making classes in Enfield, North London, where beginners and pie lovers can learn to make traditional savoury pies, buttery shortcrust pastry and sweet tartlets from scratch.I've always believed that cooking should be fun, relaxed and something everyone can enjoy. You don't need to be a brilliant cook to make a brilliant pie — you just need someone to show you how and a bit of confidence to have a go!I love teaching people how to make proper British pies from scratch, from buttery shortcrust pastry to delicious savoury fillings and sweet little tartlets. There's something incredibly satisfying about taking a few simple ingredients and turning them into a pie you've made entirely yourself.My classes take place in my open-plan home kitchen in Enfield, North London. We work together around a professional stainless-steel table, with just four people per class, so everyone gets plenty of hands-on guidance.It's all very friendly and informal, with a comfortable place to sit, enjoy a coffee and a snack, and have a good chat between the floury bits! Nobody gets left behind, and everyone goes home with their own homemade pies and, hopefully, the confidence to make them again.Back in 2009, I started my relaxed, unpretentious cookery school, Marika's Kitchen, teaching everything from Greek and Mediterranean cooking to traditional British pies. I ran much larger classes in Central Street, London, but pie-making was always the firm favourite! So much so that it led to my book, The Little Book of Pies, published by Random House.Over the years, I've also run pie pop-ups, and alongside my classes today, I make and deliver handmade pies to local residents and farm shops.And a little bit about me beyond the pastry...I grew up with a Welsh mum and a Greek dad, so food and family have always been a big part of my life. Before I found myself covered in flour, I actually worked in music, had a top-ten hit with my band and even sang backing vocals for Bryan Ferry!These days, I'm happiest sharing my love of pies and showing people that cooking doesn't have to be complicated or intimidating.Come along, get your hands in the pastry and have some fun!