Brittany on a Plate

Beautiful Brittany
Brittany is renowned for the quality and variety of its seafood. Cancale oysters and scallops are sought for their unique taste and culinary delight. Brittany is also famous for a whole range of wonderful dishes from the famous galette buckwheat pancake to the “Far Briton”, a local custard cake. The mussels and lobsters of Brittany are considered the best in the world. The region is also known for its artichokes, ciders and local cheeses as well as its locally produced calvados or “eau de vie” – the water of life!

Brittany is also famous for its extraordinary coastline, its medieval castles, towns and villages. Great tracts of original forest remain where wild boar roam. The forests also contain bountiful supplies of ceps (Porcini), girolles (chanterelles) and other mushrooms in season.

Our location
We are located in one of the most beautiful unspoilt places on earth. The roads are free of traffic. The night sky is free of light pollution. The gently rolling hills of Le Mené are delightful for both cyclists and hikers with their extraordinary collection of hidden medieval hamlets and friendly locals. Enter any bar here and males are expected to shake the hands of all other males present and kiss all females twice on the cheek. You may come as a stranger but you will leave as a friend.
We are positioned within a few hours drive of two of the top tourist destinations in France. Le Mont St Michell to the north and Carnac to the south. Other exciting places to visit on your trip to Brittany include the famous walled town of St Malo, the medieval towns of Dinan, Josselin and not forgetting one of the best food markets in France (Marché des Lices) at Rennes on a Saturday morning. Prepare to be bowled over by the sheer variety of seafood and products on offer.

• The class sizes are kept to a maximum number of eight
• Everyone cooks hands on with our Michelin trained chef
• All classes are in English

Your cooking class will be held in a beautifully restored 16th century royal residential mansion.

The course is focused on gourmet quality French and modern European cuisine. Menus will vary depending on markets and the season but in general the class will undertake food preparation for full lunch and dinner at the school each day to include starter, main course and dessert/cheese with wine, expert guidance on specialist areas including fish, seafood, shellfish, meats, game, cheeses, soups, sauce preparation, stock making, baking, breads and pastries smoking, preserving, menu planning, table setting, wines and the use of knives and kitchen equipment. Recipes, menus, and sumptuous gourmet meals with wines are included. The course concludes with certificate and graduation dinner.

Whatever your level, we will ensure you gain key skills whether it be preparing lobsters, smoking salmon, making sorbets, mousselines, pastries, sauces, ice creams, garnishes and the best of the wonderful French cuisine to turn you into a competent and confident home chef.

You will gain lots of culinary tips and knowledge which can only be acquired from working alongside highly skilled and experienced chefs. All meals taken at the school are to Michelin standard. Guided tours to food markets and beautiful medieval towns arranged.

Specialist menus available on request. Groups catered for on arrangement. Ask us about our private dining options.

Other things to do:

• Visit some of the 4,000 stunning chateaux, manors and medieval homes
• Explore the rugged coastlines with some of the world’s most breathtaking views.
• Visit Saint-Malo, an ancient seaside town with cobbled streets and brimming with restaurants.
• Dinan, one of the prettiest medieval walled cities in France with its 15th-century half-timbered buildings and cobbled streets.
• Fougeres with it’s chateaux was frequented by Chateaubriand, Balzac and Victor Hugo.
• Brest’s most famous must-see draws are the Recouvrance Bridge, Brest Castle, rue de Siam and well-known seafood restaurants.
• Marvel at Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO world Heritage site with incredible 360-degree views.
• Indulge in Spa seawater treatments, France’s famous Thalassotherapy was born in Brittany.
• Enjoy a large arrays of outdoor sports, especially on the water. With its situation on the Atlantic, this is an ideal vacation spot for sailing, kayaking, canoeing, surfing and scuba diving.
• This is a famous cycling area. Electric Bicycles are available to hire on request. Ask about our selected cycle routes.

There are a variety of wonderful places to stay around our cooking school: The local village gites either walking distance or a couple of minutes drive from the cooking school and have either 2 or 4 bedrooms with large lounges and lovely gardens or beautiful courtyards.  For those located in the next village, we arrange complimentary transfers.

Alternatively, choose to stay in a boutique hotel 10 min drive away, or  luxurious guesthouse in a magnificently restored nineteenth century chateau in the heart of the Côte d’Armor in Brittany and set a delightful castle park. The chateaux is approx. 20 min drive from the cooking school.

from:

Euro 2,290 per person, based on double occupancy

Euro 2,490 per person, based on single occupancy

Euro 1,190 for teenager (15-18 years), accompanied by adult

for New Years course, please enquire

• 6 nights accommodation, twin or double occupancy
• 5 days hands-on cooking courses
• Welcome dinner and champagne
• Four lunches  and six dinners at the cooking school
• Walks & guided tours of local food markets as per itinerary

Non-participating partners are welcome to join the meals and excursions. Please enquire.

Rennes is 1 hour away with links to Eurostar in Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport as well as direct flights to Paris, Edinburgh and Dublin.
Dinard Airport is a 40 minute drive with Ryanair links to London and East Midlands. Nantes Airport has direct links to Dublin, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, and Marseilles.

St. Malo port and the wonderful seaside resorts of Val Andre are only an hour away.

Paris is 3 hours via rail to Rennes. We can arrange pick up and drop off at the railway station of Lamballe at Euro 25 per transfer.