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French Cookery Break Gascony

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From £666 pp

France

4 Days

Small Group up to 7 People

What you'll do

Immerse yourself in French life on this 3 night/4 day cooking & wine course that promises not only a cooking experience but also a cultural one; stay in a beautiful French house in the historical village of Gramont in Gascony & learn to cook typical French dishes using fresh ingredients.

Tucked away in the peaceful and historic village of Gramont in Gascony, this charming and tastefully restored French farmhouse is the setting for your French cookery short break.

Under the guidance of your English host Chef David and French Chef Bernard who both trained as chefs in France and are acclaimed in the area, you will immerse yourself in French life to discover the gastronomic delights of this beautiful area of South West France.

The aim of the French cooking course is to give you the skills to cook a fabulous dinner party back home to impress even the most experienced foodies. You’ll learn to cook either in the kitchen of local restaurant the Auberge (“French farmhouse restaurant”) or in the kitchen at the main house.

You’ll enjoy three French cooking lessons starting on Sunday where you’ll not only learn to cook French specialities but also how to complete a full service for a unique residential French cookery break.

And of course, after a dinner of the delicious food that you have prepared, there is the chance to kick back and unwind on one of the three terraces to soak up the unique Gascon lifestyle.

David and Bernard

Your Local Host:

David and Bernard

As a result of his love of France and passion for French cuisine, professional chef David moved to the village of Gramont in France’s Gascony region in 2002.

It was here he met and joined forces with Chef Bernard, who has owned and run a successful restaurant in Gramont, Le Petit Feuillant, for over twenty-five years.

Their v.. Read More

Experience Itinerary

Sunday

– You may check-in to your room anytime after 2pm on Sunday afternoon
– Enjoy welcome aperitifs and canapés on the terrace
– Traditional French cuisine consisting of a delicious 4 course dinner with wine and coffee will be served by your hosts in the evening at 7pm

Accommodation

This lovingly restored French farmhouse is surrounded by breathtaking views of the idyllic Gascony countryside.

Features
– Recommended in guidebook by guru Alastair Sawday
– Only 50 minutes from Toulouse in the village of Gramont
– Stay in a tastefully restored French farmhouse
– All rooms are twin/doubles with private bathrooms
– Air conditioning
– Just 5 guest rooms in the main house all with stunning South facing views with a gite next door for B&B guests
– WiFi available in the house but not in the guest bedrooms
– Your hosts have a cocker spaniel dog who is allowed in the house but never in the kitchen nor guest bedroom
– Terrace with breathtaking views
– Cook with one English and one French acclaimed chefs within the region
– Use locally grown, seasonal ingredients
– Taste wine produced locally
– A short walk from the local honey museum
– A few minutes from the Chateau de Gramont
– Set in the region acclaimed for its duck and goose dishes, Armagnac and Rose wine
– Fun and enthusiastic hosts your chefs David and Bernard will help make your stay a memorable one
– Also featured and highly acclaimed in Waitrose magazine

Monday

8.45-9.45am – Breakfast
– Enjoy a leisurely French breakfast before heading into the kitchen
10am – Kitchen tour & knife skills
– You’ll receive a tour of the kitchen and an explanation of the equipment
– You’ll be loaned your own set of chef’s knives before your first lesson learning how to chop, slice, julien and dice food
11am – Hands on French cooking lessons
– On your first day you’ll learn to cook a traditional gateau pithiviers, an ornately decorated puff pastry dessert with a delicious crème d’amande at the centre as well as chef David’s famous pizza gersois (local onions, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and thinly sliced duck breast) and a prepare a pate sucree (the base for the tarte aux pommes you will be preparing the next day)
3pm – Afternoon cooking lesson learning to cook a range of French dishes and desserts
7pm – Enjoy aperitifs and canapés followed by another fantastic dinner with wine and coffee

Accommodation

You’ll be staying in the restored French farmhouse is surrounded by the Gascon countryside.

view of French countryside from bedroom

Tuesday

8.45-9.45am – Breakfast
– Enjoy a leisurely French breakfast before heading into the kitchen
10am – Market visit
– Today you’ll be given some money and list of ingredients as you head to the local food market in Fleurance where local farmers and growers sell their produce
12.30pm – enjoy a typical French lunch at a local café in the nearby Roman town of Lectoure
3pm – Afternoon French cooking lessons
– This afternoon you’ll learn how to fillet a fish correctly, and prepare a veloute sauce as an accompaniment. This is then followed by a Tarte aux Pommes for dessert where you will learn to practice your pastry and knife skills
8pm – Enjoy aperitifs and canapés followed by the wonderful 4 course dinner you learned to cook
– Please note that each day, all guests are invited to help the kitchen plate up the food ready for service to enhance their cooking skills that go from preparation to service

Accommodation

You’ll be staying in the restored French farmhouse is surrounded by the Gascon countryside.

lovely French country style bedroom on cooking holiday

Wednesday

– After breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms by 11am ready for departure taking home with them new cooking skills and an insight into French life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over

Reviews (2)

M Edwards

Friday 13th September, 2019

Really beautiful area, views from the school. Enthusiastic, and very encouraging chef/tutors, whatever the level of competence/incompetence of the students. Highly recommended.

Tracy

Wednesday 17th April, 2019

I'm not even sure where to start. Best experience of my life. The village of Gramont was so beautiful and charming and the venue was perfect. They have done a wonderful job restoring the home and barn into very comfortable and unique accommodations. We were served the best meals, of our two week trip, while we were there at the cooking school. The cooking experience was amazing. David and Bernard were so knowledgeable and patient and we learned so many useful tips, skills, and recipes. I can't wait to try them when we get back. I'm looking forward to returning for a longer course. Two days of cooking wasn't enough!

Location Info

Recommended by Alastair Sawday, this lovingly restored French cookery holiday is set in the peaceful village of Gramont surrounded by breathtaking views of the idyllic Gascony countryside. The location is ideal – only 50 minutes from Toulous..

What's Included

What's Not Included
  • 3 nights accommodation in a double ensuite room
  • 3 French cookery lessons with two professional chefs during the break (2 lessons on day 2 and 1 on day 3)
  • A visit to the farmers market
  • Cooking lessons take place at the professional kitchen in the Auberge and the purpose-built teaching kitchen in the main house
  • All cooking materials, apron and ingredients
  • Breakfast each morning
  • Lunches on day 2 and 3
  • A delicious 4 course dinner each night with wine, water and coffee
  • A visit to the Gramont wine museum which has the largest and most expensive collection of wine and wine memorabilia outside of Bordeaux; visit includes a tour of the wine museum
  • You can check in anytime after 1pm on day 1 and check-out by noon on day 4

French Cookery Break Gascony

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