To cook, or not to cook? That’s usually the question you ask yourself on the way home from work, stuck on the tube and dreading the prospect of fighting the crowds at your local Tesco. But thanks to L’atelier des Chefs, a new cookery school that’s just opened up by Oxford Circus, it can be a question you ask yourself at lunchtime, too.

L’atelier des Chefs has a host of cookery schools in France and they’ve just crossed the Channel to teach us Londoners how it’s done. Although the capital’s gotten quite a reputation over the past four years for being a foodie destination, even we can admit that we could use some help every now and then when it comes to cooking… ok, maybe a bit more than every now and then, but shhh… For everything from a quick and simple dessert to a full three (or more) course meal, the chefs here can show you how it’s done.

And if you want to improve your culinary skills faster than you can say bon appetit, take advantage of your lunch hour head and over to the cooking school. In an hour L’atelier des Chefs will have you wined, dined and out the door, sated on the knowledge that you’ve just managed to make a pretty decent meal, (almost) all by yourself.

The actual class lasts for about half an hour (make sure you’re bang on time or you might find yourself facing that infamous chef wrath) and takes you from start to finish of making the meal, starting with the prep, finishing with dishing up the plates and with plenty of hints and tips in between. Afterwards you take your food to the big wooden communal table and enjoy… voila! Unfortunately you don’t get to keep your leftovers so make sure you pile your plates as high as possible. We’re told that the extra goes towards feeding the staff, so they’re obviously confident enough in their teaching – and our cooking – abilities.

Whilst your eating you can make it a full meal with a glass of wine or a dessert (an extra few quid to the class’s fee of £18 – and the fabulous chocolate mousse is definitely worth it) and afterwards you can have a wander around their shop for a bit of culinary inspiration. Later on they’ll send you an email with the recipe so you can try it out at home.

Much more fun than a sandwich at your desk… and believe it or not, much tastier, too!