One-Day Cooking Classes in France

Enjoy the tasting of three different champagnes in this one-day journey. The trip includes a pickup from your hotel, two tours in Champagne houses, transportation with an English speaking driver/guide, a three course luncheon and a visit of the famous cathedral of Reims, a truly one of a kind tour!

Chef Marthe, who made the switch from a career in restaurant business to the home kitchen, teaches her excellent recipes in funny and informative classes. She is not a professional chef, but an accomplished home cook, and everything she makes is designed to enhance the flavor and quality of fresh produce. Inspired by some great chefs, but adding her own touches, her recipes can easily be reproduced in your own home.

Accompany Chef Marthe to a local market, where she will introduce you to the art of buying the best products available. Then, it is on to her lovely apartment in Montparnasse, next to St. Germain des Pres, the most popular area on the left bank. She has a beautiful La Cornue stove and her place is very atmospheric, filled with many cook books. Here you will create with her a complete meal of an entree, main course and dessert. Following you will enjoy the fruits of your efforts, complete with a nice accompanying wine. This is a charming and enjoyable way to get an authentic flavor of Parisian cooking with a delightful local!

Chef Marthe also offers a dessert or chocolate class in the afternoon. The three-hour class includes two or three specialties cooked and tasted with coffee and tea.

Chef Frédéric established his career in the management of luxury restaurants. Over the span of more than 20 years, he has worked in the restaurants of Intercontinental and Accor Hotels, as well as La Grande Cascade, a famous Parisian Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Frédéric decided to leave the hotel industry to start his own business, give free rein to his creativity, and do what he really loves. In his class, for the past three years, he shares his techniques, tips, and his own recipes.

Your French cooking lesson takes place in Chef Frédéric’s beautiful apartment kitchen, which is located on the border of the 20th and 11th arrondissements and offers a stunning view of the 20th arrondissement. The class begins in a nearby local market, where you’ll choose your ingredients for your class. Back in the kitchen, Frederic shares some wonderful tips as you create a full menu, including appetizer, main dish and dessert. He will also teach techniques for recreating these wonderful dishes — such as cucumber spaghetti with smoked salmon and veal blanquette with vanilla sauce — at home! After class, enjoy a tasting of everything you’ve created.

Chef Frederic also offers a dessert class in the afternoon. During the three-hour dessert course, you will learn how to create 2 delicious French desserts based on traditional and creative recipes, and enjoy a tasting of the desserts along with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

After two decades of toiling in hotel management for Sofitel Hotels, Eric decided to move out from behind the desk and study cooking, his true love. Following his professional training he honed his craft in restaurant kitchens, but always planned on opening his own school. He found a lovely space to build his cooking atelier and created a lovely, light environment, complete with modern equipment and expert collaborating chefs. You will have the unique opportunity to partake in classes that exhibit the atelier’s love for food in a relaxed and convivial environment.

The morning class will begin when you will meet Chef Eric or one of his collaborators around 9:30 AM for a visit to a local French market, where you will discover seasonal ingredients and fresh produce. All of the chefs that teach at the atelier believe that learning how to select fresh products is the first step in cooking and eating well! You will be able to meet local merchants and, with the help of the chef, ask any questions.

Head back to the school for a discussion of the day’s menu, ingredients and procedures before beginning the preparation of your three course meal: an appetizer, fish and meat, cheese and dessert. You will be given your apron and the hands-on fun begins! Experience the relaxing and aromatic atmosphere a French kitchen has to offer, ending the afternoon with lively conversation, fabulous food and wonderful wine.

Please note: It is advised that you allow about 45 minutes by metro to reach the atelier from the center (either bank). Also, the market on Saturday is the organic market at rue du Poteau, a short bus ride away (bus tickets not included, but you can pay on board [€1.50]).

Dessert and pastry classes also available! Enjoy a pastry class with Chef Pino or another of Eric’s wonderful dessert collaborators. You will prepare, from scratch, 6 pastries or desserts. The chef will guide you through the recipes and will show you some of the great tips learned during their many years of experience as a pastry chef. Possible desserts you might prepare are: creme brulee, Molten chocolate cake, Soufflé au Grand marnier, madeleines or poached pears with red wine and spices. After the class you can eat your desserts, or you can choose to take them with you to enjoy later (except for the creme brulee).

Baking class: You will prepare from scratch 3 breakfast pastries such as croissants, pain au chocolat, and brioche. You can enjoy the results in-house accompanied by hot chocolate, tea or coffee, or you can take them ‘to go’ to enjoy later. The class lasts around 3 hours. (Please note that due to obvious time constraints some of the dough will be prepared before your arrival, as it needs to rest overnight. However, you will go through all the steps of the preparation personally so that you can re-create the dishes at home.)

Please note that all the chefs that teach at the atelier are highly qualified, and that it is not possible to guarantee a particular chef for a particular class.

Chef Laetitia was trained in France’s two leading cooking and pastry schools, and her recipes continue to be inspired by what she discovers in the market, including the smells, sounds, and all the beautiful local produce. That’s why your day will begin at 9:00am in the Halles market, where you pick out the ingredients for the day’s class.

Upon your return to Laetitia’s atelier de cuisine in the 9th arrondissement, begin to learn her French cooking secrets in her large fully-equipped kitchen. No matter what your skill level, Laetitia will share spectacular recipes using fresh seasonal products to create a three-course meal. Look forward to learning basic yet indispensable culinary techniques, all the while discovering super tricks that will enable you to replicate what you’ve learned back home! (Note: If you have any special meal requests, please let us know at the time of booking).

Following your time in the kitchen, you’ll move to the adjacent dining room to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Beverages and wine are included in this wonderful experience with a true Parisian chef.

Chef Charlotte, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook, and Chef Richard will lead you on a delicious journey during which you will learn to make French food with an ethnic twist featuring flavors and accents from Vietnam, Morocco, Lebanon, Senegal, Tunisia, the West Indies, and Cambodia. U.S.-born Charlotte traveled the world before settling in Pairs, where she graduated from the prestigious Cordon Bleu cooking school in 1992 with top honors. Chef Richard was a chef, caterer, pastry chef, and chocolatier for over 25 years in New York City before he moved to Paris several years ago. He worked mostly in the fashion and design world preparing feasts for Vanity Fair, Elle, Vogue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Ave.

You will meet the chefs at 9:00 am for a visit of a fresh food market where you will shop for some of the seasonal and exotic ingredients for your lesson. Afterwards, you will return to Charlotte’s private townhouse, which features a professional kitchen on the ground floor, for the cooking lesson. The class is conveniently located in the upscale 7th arrondissement, not far from the Eiffel Tower. Once back at Charlotte’s, you will discuss the menu over coffee and then prepare three courses (a starter, main course and dessert) for the next few hours. Past menus have included such dishes as: asparagus and goat cheese tart, Vietnamese monkfish cooked in caramelized nuoc mam (fish sauce), and almond macaroon galette with strawberries; Lebanese two-salmon tartare with bulgur and walnut oil, roasted duck breast with pomegranate sauce, and warm chocolate tarte; zucchini carpaccio with roasted red peppers and pine nuts, Moroccan chicken tagine with apricots and almonds, and peaches and blueberries with honey cake. You will finish, of course, with a delicious lunch featuring your culinary creations, salad and cheese courses, and accompanied by wonderful French wine. The class will end at approximately 2:00 pm.

*Please note that Charlotte has a cat.

New Video: A day in the life of a culinary student with Chef Samira!

Join us in Paris for a very special full-day experience with Chef Samira, an international culinary personality and owner of Bellissimo Restaurant in Fairfax, Va. in the US.  Samira presently resides in Evian, where she will soon be offering cooking classes.  However, for a minimum of four people, she will still be available for classes in Paris, where she has for many years offered one of our most popular cooking classes in France. Samira will guide you to a typical Parisian market and then take you to a beautiful home in the elegant area of Neuilly (one stop past Argentine on the Metro) in a splendid, fully equipped kitchen.

Samira’s cookbook, Food Unites the World: A Gourmet’s Voyage, and aprons will be available for purchase the day of your lesson with payment by cash or check (US dollars or Euros).

Les Liaisons Delicieuses’ founder and owner, Patti Ravenscroft, is now at home in Paris half of the year and would love to introduce you to the Paris she has known and loved since 1966. Patti can help you discover hidden corners of Paris that only the French know.

Wanting to create an experience in Paris on par with her week long gastronomy tours in the French countryside, Patti has developed an intimate adventure for those interested in French culture, cooking, and food. Patti’s tour generally runs from 9 am to 3 pm, and you may tailor it to your liking by choosing one of three options.

Begin your morning around Patti’s dining room table with a freshly baked croissant or a pain au chocolate and coffee at Patti’s apartment in the village des Batignolles, at the foothills of Montmartre. Over coffee Patti will tell you about Paris’s best kept secrets- little known shops, museums, walks, gardens, restaurants and other treasures in the City of Light. After breakfast, we will walk through the Square des Batignolles, an exquisite little neighborhood park, before going on to Le Marche Poncelet, a wonderful outdoor market nearby.

We will tour the market in depth, visiting Daguerre, the best fish market in Paris, Alleosse, one of the best cheese shops in Paris, and countless other purveyors of superior food and wine.

After the market visit, you have three possibilities:

1. Return to Patti’s apartment for a delicious lunch which she has carefully prepared for you.
2. A cooking class and lunch at L’Atelier Guy Martin, the cooking school of 2 star (Guide Michelin) chef Guy Martin. Lunch includes the dish you will cook, a glass of wine, and dessert. Patti will translate during the cooking class.
3. A 3-course lunch with Patti at one of her favorite restaurants, which includes wine and an opportunity to meet the chef.

Formerly a New York chef and caterer, Richard Nahem has now lived in his beloved Paris for five years. He leads delicious insider gourmet tours in his multifaceted neighborhood, the Marais. Walk the historical, winding streets with Richard and discover the oldest food market in Paris with an international food court, a cheese shop with over 50 varieties, a top foie gras boutique, and a sensational middle-eastern gourmet shop with sawdust floors, open sacks of grains, wooden boxes of unusual glazed and dried fruits, and a vast selection of exotic spices from all over the world. Last but certainly not least, your sweet tooth will go wild with a visit to a chocolate shop with unbelievable life-like chocolate sculptures and a stop at one of the best pastry shops in Paris for a decadent pastry and a coffee.

A tasty tour of chocolate and bread! On this 3-hour guided walking tour in St. Germain des Prés you will sample some of the finest chocolates, macaroons, pastries and breads from top purveyors of Paris. Your knowledgeable guide will take you to the famed shops of Pierre Hermé, Poilâne, Gérard Mulot and more where you will discuss the creation and significance of these celebrated treats. You may also have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the masters at work. Bring your walking shoes and your sweet tooth!

See the way the City of Light sparkles at night in this unique tour in a open-topped Citroën 2CV! As you enjoy a complimentary bottle of champagne, your tour guide will give you an inside perspective on the city as he drives you around central Paris for two hours in the privacy of a classic car.

On this fairy-tale of a sight-seeing excursion, you’ll soak up the sights by traveling on beautifully illuminated avenues and passing stunning classic monuments including the Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe. A nocturnal tour of the city would not be complete without checking out some of Paris’s best nightlife, including Moulin Rouge and in the Pigalle district. This once-in-a-lifetime trip around Paris is led by an English-speaking beret-wearing Parisian driver. With the car’s cozy size, the tour is limited to three people.

The driver will pick you up at Place Vendome or any centrally-located Paris hotel.

Come take a stroll through the lovely Marais, one of the oldest and historical areas of Paris. In this three-hour walking tour, our English speaking Marais expert Richard will show you breathtaking, historic buildings and private mansions dating back to the 1600s, beautiful manicured parks and gardens and some of the finest galleries and small, jewel-like museums. Discover the city’s chicest home and clothing boutiques and food lovers can feast at some of the top food shops, patisseries and chocolate shops. Enjoy this unforgettable tour of a truly magical part of Paris. Tour includes a stop at a classic Parisian cafe (beverages not included).

Come and taste the wines of France the way the French do – at small local wine shops, with commentary and advice from the cavistes who own then. You’ll begin the three-hour tour at 4pm near the Arc de Triomphe, and will be led by Donna, an English-speaking wine enthusiast who lives in the neighborhood herself. You’ll walk to the first stop, a wine shop on an outdoor market street. Here you’ll taste several sparkling wines, paired with artisanal cheeses and raspberry macarons from Ladurée.

Next you’ll visit a wine bar to sample white wines and charcuterie. The final stop is at a “cave a manger,” a wine shop that is authorized to serve food. Here you’ll taste several red wines paired with more locally-produced nibbles; all the wines here are organic. The tour ends at 8pm, but many people stay in this convivial space for dinner on their own.

Each caviste you’ll meet knows personally the producers of the wines they sell; they are close to the source and can tell you exactly where the grapes for the wine you’re drinking have been grown. The cavistes speak English, so you can ask all the questions you want.

The Loire Valley is famous both for its opulent chateaux as well as for its rich, renowned wines. Explore the region during this one-night culinary getaway, which includes a cooking class, dinner, and accommodations for one night at a centrally located 3-star hotel in the enchanting city of Blois.

Chef Damien Garanger will welcome you the afternoon of your arrival for a private cooking demonstration. Chef Garanger trained in Michelin-star restaurants in the Loire Valley (the “Domaine des Hauts de Loire”), as well as in Paris and Burgundy. After spending time traveling around the world (Saint Martin, Cyprus, Moscow), he returned to the region of his birth. Chef Garanger won the French Chef competition “Madarine Impériale” in 2000. Dinner will follow your cooking lesson. Wine is not included with the meal, as the restaurant has over 300 bottles of excellent wine (many from the Loire Valley) from which to make your own selection.

After dinner, enjoy a night at your charming hotel. The next morning you can depart following breakfast or spend the day exploring the culturally rich city of Blois, including the Chateau de Blois and the Museum of Magic honoring the famous magician Robert Houdin, born in Blois. (You can leave your luggage at the hotel while you explore.)

Enjoy an authentic day in rural Normandy! Your hostess Sinéad, Irish by birth, has lived in Normandy for over 15 years. Her philosophy is to share her experience of rural life in northern France by opening her home, heart and kitche to travelers from around the world. She will introduce you to the simple yet delectable flavors of Normandy—based on fresh local ingredients and rich flavors.

Your day begins in the morning around 9:30 AM with a visit of the local market in Bricquebec (Mondays) or Les Pieux (Fridays). Sinéad will lead you through the process of choosing the best local ingredients for your cooking course. While you select the fresh produce, you will sample items offered by the proud, enthusiastic stall holders. You might also stop for a coffee at a local café to keep your energy up! After the market visit, Sinéad can recommend places for you to have lunch or to tour (such as the nearby D-Day beaches). You will rendez-vous with Sinéad back at her recently restored 18th-century farmhouse kitchen around 5:30 PM for your hands-on cooking course. Classes last around 3 hours and generally include the preparation of a complete French meal: an apéritif, generally followed by a seasonal starter, main course, salad, cheese, dessert and coffee…. with the emphasis on seasonal, locally-produced ingredients. Dinner of course will follow, wine included.

If you are not available for the market visit in the morning (Mondays and Fridays only), you can book just the evening cooking course and dinner.

Rooms are also available on a B&B basis. Please inquire for details. If you have more than an afternoon at your disposal, consider the fabulous 3-night itinerary, Discover Normandy.

Join noted Chef Marc Heracle at his beautiful estate in Provence for a unique culinary experience. Your day begins around 10:00 AM as you join Marc for a trip to the Aix market where you will shop for the day’s cooking class. You will return to his antique countryside bastide (about 15 minutes outside of town) for the hands-on cooking class in English. The three-course class will feature typical Provençal cuisine and will be followed by lunch. There is time after the class to enjoy the estate’s beautiful gardens.

PLEASE NOTE: this class requires you have your own transportation. We would be happy to assist you with a low-cost rental. Or, we can arrange a private transfer for you at an additional cost.

Near the hills of Mont Ventoux in Crillon le Brave and among cherry orchards and wine vineyards, join Chef Madeleine Montabert in creating classic French recipes steeped in the traditions of a French Provencal way of life. The recipes taught in this three-hour hands-on cooking class all depend on the time of year and what is in season, meaning every class is different and tailored to the interests of the students and the season. Whether you’re making fennel bulbs cooked in white wine or a crepe filled with salmon and vegetables, Chef Madeleine will teach you healthy and delicious recipes that you can replicate when you return home. Following the class, participants will enjoy a lunch based on their efforts as well as wines chosen by Damien Garnier. Every class participant will receive a copy of the recipes to bring home.

Chef Madeleine grew up in Lyon, where she was introduced to cooking by her parent’s professional chef. Her father also befriended numerous famous chefs, who visited her family’s home for special occasions. These experiences encouraged her to learn more about traditional French recipes that have been carried on for generations.

Nestled at the foot of the Gorges-du-Loup canyon, la Confiserie Florian invites you to discover their cookery lessons based on “cooking with flowers.” Formerly from Paris, Chef Yves Terrillon instantly fell in love with the beautiful Grasse region and decided to specialize in cooking with flowers. You will learn how to use fresh regional flowers such as the Tango rose, violets from Tourrettes, jasmine from Grasse, nasturtium (Capucine), pansies and carnations. He will also show you how to transform candied violets and roses into delicious sweet or savory recipes.

The content of the class depends on the season, the proposed dish and also the fresh flower harvest production; March, violets, May, roses, August, jasmine. Tourrettes-sur-Loup is one of the most charming small villages of the region. Filled with local artisan shops along the winding streets, the town is worth a visit on its own. The classes are in a historic hotel of the village, where, while cooking, you will be treated to a panoramic view of this picturesque town. Class begins at 10:00 AM and will be followed by lunch with the chef and a nice glass of wine.

Having lived and traveled extensively abroad, Laurence understands what a difference a native perspective can make! In just one day with Laurence you will discover Avignon (or famous near by Provence sites), through the eyes of a local. She will present many aspects of Provence and together you can decide what you would like to visit, according to your interests and desires. You can make the decisions or allow Laurence to lead the way; she will always make the extra detour to show you something that will make your day even more special.

The most popular sites in Avignon are the Popes’ palace, dating back to the 14th century, and the bridge of St Benezet. Then, through the pedestrian streets, you will also have the opportunity to see a number of remarkable churches, the synagogue, medieval buildings and mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries. You will also discover charming shady squares, trompe-l’oeil painted windows, Place de l’Horloge – the living heart of the city, and feel the atmosphere of this bustling town. A walk through the city market will be an opportunity to explore the basics of local gastronomy. During the visit, chat about life in Provence, the Avignon theatre festival, local traditions…etc. She will also give you hints with some of her favorite spots, nice restaurants, unusual shops and more!

Enjoy a hands-on cooking class with Chef Jean-Marc Villard in the professional teaching kitchen he built in his garden in Champagne au Mont d’Or, about 10 minutes from the center of Lyon. Jean-Marc’s long list of accomplishments includes experience at Alexadrin a one-star Michelin, Oasis, a three-star Michelin, Paul Bocuse’s cooking school, and being named one of the finalists in the “Best Professionals of France” of 2000. You can choose from either a hands-on cooking lesson only, or a combination of a gastronomic visit followed by a hands-on cooking lesson.
The cooking lesson begins at 9:30AM at Jean-Marc’s kitchen in Champange au Mont d’Or, and ends at approximately 1 PM. A tasting with wine to follow, if weather permits on the outdoor terrace. Gastronomic Visit and Cooking Lesson: Meet at 8:00AM at your centrally-located hotel (for a maximum of 4 people; if more than 4, a taxi must be taken). Visits include: The famous market in Lyon, “Les Halles de Lyon,” with a Lyonnaise tasting; Chocolate or cheese factory, according to season. (Please note that other markets will be substituted if your class falls on a day the above are closed.) Lesson follows and ends at approximately 1:30PM. Tasting with wine to follow, on the outdoor terrace if weather permits.