Experience Information
Experience Details
Day Schedule
Terms and Conditions
A fantastic 6-day holiday in Southern France learning to cook all manner of French cuisine.
Whether you’re taking your first steps as a chef or just want a holiday full of culture and learning, you'll love this unforgettable break! You’ll spend six days and five nights in the quaint village of Gramont, near Toulouse in Southern France, as you learn to cook all manner of French cuisine. With expert guidance you’ll be shown everything from basic knife skills to creating some of the classic dishes of the Gascon region. Your trip includes three excursions as you tour the local farmers markets, an Armagnac distillery with wine tasting and the Chateau de Gramont. The hands-on course is a great way to experience the Gascon lifestyle and the diverse riches the area has to offer!
The week's itinerary is as follows:
Sunday: After settling into your room you will get acquainted with the other guests by taking a stroll around the village together, before returning to the school for aperitifs and hors d’oeuvres followed by a four course dinner. Afterward you may relax in the hot tub with a glass of wine.
Monday: After a locally sourced breakfast, tuition begins at 9.30am. Throughout the day you will have an introduction to basic knife skills and cook jus de vin rouge, pastries, pizza gersoise, fois gras, and cassoulet, leaving time before dinner at the chefs’ restaurant to explore the area.
Tuesday: The morning will be spent in the nearby town of Fleurance, familiarising with fresh local ingredients before proceeding to the Roman town of Lectoure for lunch. The afternoon will see you learn how to fillet fish and cooking tarte aux pommes, enjoying the fruits of your labour for dinner.
Wednesday: The most intense part of the course as you prepare 6 dishes in 3 hours with a focus on desserts and béchamel sauce, followed by a tour of the museum charting local winemaking and lunch in the chefs' restaurant. The afternoon will see you tour the Chateau de Cassaigne Armagnac distillery (with optional tasting) and the medieval villages of Larrissingle and La Romieu.
Thursday: Your knife skills will be put to test making ballotine de poulet with mushroom sauce, moving onto tarte au citron and soup. The afternoon’s itinerary will take in the local Chateau with period furniture and tapestries, before returning to complete final preparations for a delicious dinner.
Friday: Sadly the cookery school has come to an end! Breakfast is served as usual and then the school kindly ask you vacate your room by 11am.
Your voucher is valid for 10 months for one person. Travel is not included and guests are responsible for travelling costs to the cookery school. No knowledge of the French language is required. The minimum age for this experience is 18 years. The experience includes 5 nights' accomodation with guests arriving on Sunday lunchtime and departing on Friday morning by 11am. The school can arrange a transfer service from and to Toulouse Blagnac Airport at a cost of 60 euros per car each way. For special dietary requirements please make the school aware at time of booking (eg: vegetarian, nut allergies). All meals and wine are included in the package. All dates are subject to availability.
Upon purchasing this Luxury Six Day Cooking School Holiday in Southern France voucher it must be activated by either you or the recipient before it can be used. You can only book in the Luxury Six Day Cooking School Holiday in Southern France experience at the spa if the voucher has been activated. Please do not turn up at a spa expecting to be able to redeem this voucher without first activating it. Upon activation you will be sent a pin number and unique reference plus the contact details of the spa in order to make your reservation. Full terms and conditions for purchasing from our website can be seen at the foot of the page.