On Monday the Planning With Kids family were invited to attend Ladro Greville to participate in a junior pizza making class. Unfortunately Mr I was away for work so couldn’t participate but the remaining 6 of us went along and had the most fabulous time!
If you are not familiar with Ladro they make what has been described as the best pizza in Melbourne! A description that I completely agree with and you can see reviews here and here.
They are also family friendly with pre-7pm bookings available for families as well as a 2 course kids menu of a kids pizza or pasta and dessert (bomboloni or icecream) for $12.50.
The closest I come to making my own pizza dough is using the bread maker, so making pizza dough from scratch was a completely new experience for everyone in our family.
Ingrid is one of the owners of Ladro and she is also a mum to two delightful kids, who made pizza with us as well. Ingrid was fantastic with the kids and kept them engaged for the whole time.
After washing our hands and donning our aprons, Ingrid began explaining the ingredients we were going to be using to make the pizza.
We set about making our ’50/50/50 starter’. The kids are encouraged to touch, feel and explore the ingredients in the process. Our kids felt a noticeable difference from the flour we use at home in cooking to the one we were going to use to make our pizza.
Once the starter was made it was covered and let to sit so it could double in size.
Ingrid then taught the kids about the ingredients we were going to use to top our pizza. We talked about where cheese came from and the kids tasted both sheep and buffalo mozzarella.
The kids were able to have a taste of each then and there to taste the difference between the two mozzarella cheeses.
We smelt the beautiful fresh basil.
We tasted the delicious sugo, as Ingrid explained how they made it (removed seeds and skins).
Master 6 was most impressed that he was able to pour out the whole packet of flour as we started to make the dough.
Making the well to mix the starter into.
The starter had doubled in size.
And now the real fun was beginning for the kids as they started to mix it all up.
Checking the temperature of the water!
Working the mixture into the ‘silky ball’ stage.
Kneading the dough with the palm of our hands.
Ingrid explained to the kids that the dough now needed to ‘prove’ in a draught free area which was warm. As it would take some time for it to double in size, the kids then used some dough which had been made earlier.
Some more kneading and rolling.
Then to give spinning ago – apparently it is all in the wrist.
And our pizzas where now ready to top.
The kids chose and placed their own toppings and then it was off to the kitchen to watch them go into the wood fired oven.
The oven is so hot that the pizzas only take about 90 seconds to cook.
Time to cut up the pizzas.
Time to enjoy and they tasted beautiful.
Not all the kids could eat all of their pizza so we took the left overs home.
Along with our combined dough that we had made in the evening. It was amazing to see the growth in the dough on the drive home. If our drive was much longer, I think it might have exploded!
The kids loved the pizza making class and we got to take home our little bags which contained instructions on how to make pizza, an activity sheet and an info sheet explaining the terms and ingredients used to make pizza.
Ladro Kids Pizza Making Classes – The Details
Where:
Ladro Prahran, 162 Greville Street, Prahran, Phone: 9510 2233 Bookings essential, group bookings are encouraged and you can email ingrid@ladro.com.au
School Holiday Classes:
Thursday’s and Friday’s: 4.30pm to 6.00pm Thursday 5 July & Friday 6 July Thursday 12 July & Friday 13 July
School Term Classes:
August, September & October:
First and third Saturday of each month: 4.00pm to 5.30pm 4 August & 18 August 1 September & 15 September 6 October & 20 October
Age:
Cooking classes are available for two age groups: kids ages three to eight and ages nine to 14, when booking please note which age group you would like to book for.
Cost: $35.00
Allergies:
Ladro caters for gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance at no extra cost, just make sure you advise upon booking.
Class sizes:
10 to 13 participates required for younger age group and minimum 10 to a maximum of 15 for older age group for classes to proceed. Children under 8 must have parental supervision.
You can connect with Ladro Greville on facebook and twitter to stay updated for more information.
Do you make your pizza dough from scratch?