Overview
Located in a beautiful quaint village the heart of Gascony, we offer a cooking holiday with a difference. Explore this wonderful unspoilt region of France and discover why it is famed for its culinary excellence and amazing wines.
With the combined knowledge and experience of two professional chefs, our French cookery course are not only thorough, practical and accessible to all, but also very fun.
Recommended for:
Travellers who like to join a small group of like-minded companions to share the experience with. If you are looking for daily cooking classes and excursions, and don’t want to worry about logistics. We will take care of everything!
Highlights:
Location
Gascony still remains one of the most “French” parts of France. It is largely unspoilt by tourism, industry and retains a great deal of character and charm. It is a stunningly beautiful yet hidden part of France where life is simple but vibrant, where the markets bustle and the wines flow, where people make time for you and each other.
The department of the Gers is situated in the South-West of France between Dordogne and Pyrenees and between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The heart of it is often described as the Tuscany of France. It is a region of gently rolling hills, hilltop Bastide towns & villages, golden sunflower fields and an abundance of rivers and wide-open spaces.
The location of the cooking school in a charming village has been specifically selected by your hosts for the region’s famed gastronomy and beautiful surroundings. It is a perfect setting to learn and savour traditional French cuisine.
Gascony is a land of rich and fertile soils which has historically elevated its produce and cuisine to the top of the French culinary table. It is still very much a farming region, a land of wheat, maize and sunflower fields and fabulous wines with Armagnac being the oldest of the French eau de vies. Gascony is famed for its garlic and is the true home of foie gras, making the region a gastronomic delight.
There is plenty to do & see during your free time or before & after your cooking course. Through the long history and invasions of Romans, Vikings and the Visigoths, the region is home to many attractions such as medieval castles, abbeys, cathedrals and fortified villages where still the presence of d’Artagnan the Musketeer lingers.
This untouched corner also offers magnificent walking and biking trips through the inviting vineyards of the Armagnac. Toulouse, Carcassonne, Bordeaux and the stunning Pyrenees are easily reached by car.
For those who wish to extend their trip after the cooking school, Spain is just at your doorstep and Barcelona just a train ride away.
About the cooking course/ chef
Our cooking school is a fresh approach to French cooking holidays, offering a truly unique French kitchen experience. There’s no sitting back here and admiring the skills of our chefs. With expert guidance they will show you through basic knife skills to creating some of the classic dishes of the Gascon region. You will be immersed in the enthusiasm and fun with our chefs from the moment you enter the kitchen.
Through a strictly hands-on cooking experience the two chefs – one a professional English chef with a passion for French cookery and the other a French chef with over twenty five years experience of Gallic cuisine – showcase the best of Gascon cookery, and they do it in such a way that French cuisine becomes simple, accessible and enjoyable for all.
Their unique Anglo-Franco partnership allows for a method of tuition that is completely accessible to English speakers, whilst at the same time preserving the authenticity of your truly Gallic experience of French cuisine.
All classes are spread over our two kitchens within the village. One in the leading Auberge of the region and the other within the cooking school’s own Table d’hote. Both are well respected for their use of fresh local produce and authentic regional dishes. All of the ingredients that you will cook with are sourced from the local, open-air markets which you will visit during your stay.
Our cookery classes are about experiencing the full Gascon lifestyle and the diverse riches this area has to offer. So whether you are looking to take your first steps in cooking, improve on those cooking skills you already posses or looking to learn the art of making fois gras and cassoulet, then this course is for you.
Accommodation
Our accommodation consists of six guest rooms, based on an authentic style of a French Chambres d’Hotes refurbished to a very high standard and offer modern facilities such as air conditioning for those hot summer evenings in Gascony. Our rooms are furnished in a style that is regional and in keeping with the magnificent build quality of our accommodation. All rooms have ensuite facilities, have air conditioning, heating and full access to the South-facing terrace.
Set around a private terrace and garden with outstanding views of the Gascony countryside, our accommodation has something to offer everyone. Use the terrace to sunbath, read a book or visit the Chateau de Gramont. For those who are more energetic there are fantastic local walks.
Dates 2024
4 and 6-day course
upon request, min 4 guests
The 6-day courses run from Sunday – Friday.
Prices 2024
per person (in Pounds Sterling)
Week (6d/5n) – French Foundation and Advanced Cooking Course
Double share pp: GBP 1,580
Single occupancy: GBP 158 supplement
Non-cooking guest: GBP 950 (in dbl share room)
Short break (4d/3n)
Double share pp: GBP 950
Single occupancy: GBP 95 supplement
Non-cooking guest: GBP 580 (in dbl share room)
Includes
- Accommodation
- Hands-on cooking classes
- Recipes
- All meals and wines
- Excursions and sightseeing as per itinerary
Excludes
Transfers from Toulouse airport and local train stations (e.g. Agen) can be arranged at additional cost.
Getting There
There are many choices to get to our cooking school in Gascony:
By train from UK or Paris:
Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris, change for Toulouse. Direct train from Paris to Agen.
By car – Calais to Gramont, 610 miles.
By air – flights from the UK as follows:
Stansted to Bergerac – Ryanair
Stansted to Carcassonne – Ryanair
Luton to Bordeaux – Easyjet
Gatwick to Toulouse – Easyjet and British Airways
Birmingham to Bordeaux – BMI
Manchester to Bordeaux – BMI
Bristol to Toulouse – Easyjet
We are situated:
40 miles from Toulouse – 50 minutes by car.
65 miles from Bergerac – 1 hour 20 minutes by car.
90 miles from Bordeaux – 1 hour 50 minutes by car.
70 miles from Carcassonne – 1 hour and 30 minutes by car.
NB. All times quoted are approximate.
A car is not necessary during the duration of the course.
Transfers from Toulouse airport and local train stations (e.g. Agen) can be arranged at additional cost.
Map
Day 1 (Sunday)
Arrival in Gascony – explore the charming village before a gourmet welcome dinner
Day 2 (Monday)
Morning knife skills and cooking class –Afternoon cooking cooking class – Evening traditional Gascon dinner
Day 3 (Tuesday)
Morning market visit – Lunch in the village – – Afternoon cooking class and presentation skills – Gourmet dinner
Day 4 (Wednesday)
Intensive cooking course – Afternoon visit to wine museum and scrumptious lunch – Afternoon visit to Chateaux and Armagnac distillery and fortified village – dinner at gourmet restaurant
Day 5 (Thursday)
Morning cooking course – Afternoon visit of the local 17 century chateau – gourmet dinner
Day 6 (Friday)
Departure at leisure.
Happy guests…
Exceeded all my expectations
“A very big thank you to a fantastic week which has exceeded all my expectations. You are all so welcoming and the loveliest bunch of people I have met! I definitely made the right decision to come here.”
Des, London, UK
What fun – I learned so much
“What fun – I learned so much, ate so much, drunk a little too much! Thank you for the warm hospitality, great recipes and good cooking tips. Both Phil and I enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Thank you David Vikki, Sam & Bernard. Hope to see you again!”
Tedda & Phil, New York
Dream come true
“Thank you very much for such a wonderful week!! The experience here was so great and the best ever holiday. I hope I can come back with better skills and French someday. Please let me know when you have a chance to come to Japan. Thank you again for the lovely weekend and your hospitality. Dream come true!!!”
Kuniko Matsui, Japan
Really special place
“Thank you for an absolute fantastic weekend It was everything I was hoping for and so much more. The cookery classes were fabulous, food delicious and the company, well what can I say? Perfect!!! This is a really special place.”
Sarah C.
C’est manifique
“What a wonderful way to start our vacation. We never expected it to be so fabulous. The scenery, the cookery school, the food, the people, the people c’est manifique. David and Vikki you are the best. Thank you so much.”
Judy F.
Felt at home
“We came here to relax and have some fun cooking, which is exactly what we did. We absolutely loved the views from the terrace, and will cherish the memories of all of our meals overlooking the area. Thank you so much for making us feel at home.”
Priya and Gaurav
Highly recommended
“I had a brilliant time!! David and Vikki were extremely professional, but also welcoming. They went out of their way to ensure we all had exactly what we needed!! The rooms/house/kitchen were clean and tidy, and I was never hungry or thirsty. I learnt a huge amount and felt comfortable asking questions etc. The food was to die for! I would highly recommend the course to any of my friends (both young and old).
Cleo W., Australia
Everything was fantastic
“Our experience in Gascony was really wonderful! It was exactly the cooking experience we’d hoped for in every way. The village was adorable, and fortunately the sunflowers were late so they were just coming into bloom! Our hosts were fantastic! The rooms, the chalet, everything was fantastic. Loved the fact that David and Bernard work together. All in all, a fantastic experience! ! I plan to head back again!! Thank you!!”
Jenifer W., US
Phenomenal. Extremely well organized.
“The Gascony cooking course was truly phenomenal in every regard. The course was extremely well organized, engaging and flexible to all levels of expertise. I really enjoyed it and would go back for another. Many thanks for helping with selection. I will be referring many friends to this course. “
Dianna J., US
Great food. Lovely setting.
“I really enjoyed the time in Gascony, thanks for recommending it.
The course was very hands on and the food was great (very much tailored to learning about the food from that part of France).
The accommodation was lovely, as was the setting. It would be perfect for people looking for cooking and some quiet time (given you are in a village of 15 permanent residents atop a hill!). The village itself was very welcoming of all of us that were there as well.“
Belinda C., Australia
Truly wonderful experience
“The cooking experience in Gascony was great! The hosts and chefs were very helpful and hospitable! The hands on cooking was handled very professionally and taught us from basics to very challenging recipes which was good. It was so much fun too. The music of David in the background put us all at ease. Accommodations were clean and comfortable. Food was superb!
The side trips to Fleurance, Lectoure and the Armagnac Place with the tour of the Gramont Castle were quite interesting. It was truly a wonderful experience!
Thank you for handling this for me yet again!”
Carmelita P., Philippines
Everything exceeded my expectations. I strongly recommend it.
The course was fantastic. Everything about it exceeded my expectations! The days were extremely full, and we ate and drank well into the night, every night. I met wonderful people, learned to cook from amazing chefs in a beautiful setting, and have unbelievable memories.
It’s exhausting, and I strongly recommend it!
Sue F., US