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Immerse yourself in French life on this 5 night/6 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 cooking and wine holiday experience.
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 and wine delights of this beautiful area of South West France.
The aim of the 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 also have the opportunity to discover the wonderful wines of the South West France, the original wine region of France.
Combining fun hands-on French cooking lessons with culinary excursions and time to relax, this 5 night / 6 day French cookery and wine holiday promises not just a culinary experience but also a cultural one.
Includes many excursions which are based on local food and wine
Learn to cook from two trained chefs during hands-on lessons
Stay in a beautifully converted French farmhouse with a hot tub & terrace
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 vision was to d Read More
– 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.
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.
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.
8.45-9.45am – Breakfast
– Enjoy a leisurely French breakfast before heading into the kitchen
10am – Hands on French cooking course
– Today you’ll learn to bone a chicken to prepare a Ballotine de Poulet (chicken Ballotine) with a rich mushroom sauce as an accompaniment with a light and refreshing tarte au citron (lemon tart) and a soupe aux deux poivrns (two-pepper soup)
2pm – Enjoy the delicious lunch you’ve prepared
3pm – In the afternoon you will visit Gramont’s seventeenth-century chateau
Accommodation
You’ll be staying in the restored French farmhouse is surrounded by the Gascon countryside.
8.45-9.45am – Breakfast
– Enjoy a leisurely French breakfast before heading into the kitchen
10am – Hands on French cooking course
– Today will be an intensive cookery class where you will prepare 6 dishes over three hours, the focus will be on French desserts. These will consist of a crème patissiere, crème brulee, crème caramel and finishing off with a savoury sauce béchamel, followed by sugar spinning technique, preparing a reduction sauce (jus de vin rouge)
2pm – Enjoy the delicious lunch you’ve prepared
3pm – Gramont villages tour
– This afternoon you’ll take a tour the pretty villages around Gramont or if you prefer, you’ll be free to wander the cobbled streets at your own pace exploring the local French shops and bars
8pm – Enjoy aperitifs and canapés followed by a farewell 4 course dinner with delicious French wines and coffee
Accommodation
You’ll be staying in the restored French farmhouse is surrounded by the Gascon countryside.
– 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
C Vogt
Wednesday 21st August, 2019
The French Cooking and Wine Holiday is a beautiful course. There is something for everyone in this course, from exquisite and authentic cooking to local sightseeing, Armagnac tasting sessions and of course having a great time dining and reaping the r...
The French Cooking and Wine Holiday is a beautiful course. There is something for everyone in this course, from exquisite and authentic cooking to local sightseeing, Armagnac tasting sessions and of course having a great time dining and reaping the rewards of a busy cooking day.
Read moreM Reinfuss
Friday 21st June, 2019
An amazing week in a beautiful setting of Southern France. Chefs David and Bernard were so very nice with incredible enthusiasm for teaching us great cooking skills. It was a wonderful experience highly recommended for anyone who would enjoy learning...
An amazing week in a beautiful setting of Southern France. Chefs David and Bernard were so very nice with incredible enthusiasm for teaching us great cooking skills. It was a wonderful experience highly recommended for anyone who would enjoy learning new cooking skills in a fabulous place.
Read moreP Price
Sunday 10th June, 2018
Does exactly what it promises and so much more. It was very hands on so we all learned an enormous amount and got to eat the fruits of our labours each day. Plus we visited museums, chateaux, had a private Armagnac tasting, shopped at the market, tou...
Does exactly what it promises and so much more. It was very hands on so we all learned an enormous amount and got to eat the fruits of our labours each day. Plus we visited museums, chateaux, had a private Armagnac tasting, shopped at the market, toured the area and ate like kings. Excellent course.
Read moreRecommended by Alastair Sawday, this cookery holiday is set in the peaceful village of Gramont in a lovingly restored French farmhouse, surrounded by breathtaking views of the idyllic Gascony countryside.
Features
– All rooms are twin/doubles with private bathrooms and 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 and taste regional wines
– A short walk from the local honey museum
– A few minutes from the Chateau de Gramont
Nearest airport: Toulouse (65 km away)
