FRENCH PATISSERIE COURSES

5 NIGHTS RESIDENTIAL PATISSERIE COURSE

This patisserie course includes 4 days of pastry classes, and is designed to teach you many techniques for classic French pastries. Two outings will give you a chance to get a good feel for the area and soak up the south west atmosphere. Check-in on Sunday.

Sunday

Arrival from 4:00pm. You just settle in and make yourself at home. We meet before dinner for a welcome drink with canapés, followed by a three-course dinner.

Monday

After breakfast we go to different patisseries in Casteljaloux to compare a few classics over a nice cup of coffee. This will give you a precise idea of the textures and presentations we will be aiming for when we produce them in our kitchen. We come back for lunch. At 1.00 pm, we meet in the kitchen, to create our own pastries, which will be served for dessert that very same night. We will be in the kitchen until about 4:00 pm, so you will get some time to relax before we meet up at 7:00 pm for an aperitif followed by dinner.

Tuesday

After breakfast we meet in the kitchen, to start baking. We will stop for lunch and get back to the kitchen to finish our pastries. You will then again get some time to relax before the aperitif and dinner. Once again, your creations will be served for dessert that very same night.

Wednesday

After breakfast we go to a chocolaterie in Nerac (not applicable in July, a different outing will replace), the very place that inspired Joanne Harris's novel 'Chocolate'. We will have a little taste of their chocolate and bring back what we need for our preparations. I will show you Vianne and Nerac, which are the most beautiful places of our area. We will stop for a coffee, then come back for lunch. At 1.00 pm, we meet in the kitchen to bake. Your creations will be served for dessert that very same night. We will be in the kitchen until about 4:00 pm, so you will get some time to relax before we meet up at 7:00 pm for an aperitif followed by dinner.

Thursday

After breakfast we meet in the kitchen, to start baking. We will stop for lunch and get back to the kitchen to finish our pastries. You will then again get some time to relax before the aperitif and dinner. Once again, your creations will be served for dessert that very same night.

Friday

Departure is on Friday morning. The room is yours until 11.00am if you have your own vehicle, but drop off to Tonneins station is for the 8.10am train.

You will learn to make: chou pastry (éclairs, religieuses, paris-brest, saint-honoré or croquembouche), crème patissiere, shortcrust and sweet pastry, tarts, macaroons, millefeuille, bavarois, tarte tatin, croissants or puff pastry, and bread or brioche.

3 NIGHTS RESIDENTIAL PATISSERIE COURSE

This pastry course includes 2 days of patisserie classes, and is designed to teach you a few of the essential techniques for classic French pastries. A little outing will give you a chance to catch a glimpse of the area and soak up the south west atmosphere. Check-in on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday.

Day 1

Arrival from 4:00pm. You just settle in and make yourself at home. We meet before dinner for a welcome drink with canapés, followed by a three-course dinner.

Day 2

After breakfast we go to a local patisserie (applicable for Sunday or Thursday check-ins), to sample a few classics with a nice cup of coffee. This will give you a precise idea of the presentation we will be aiming for when we reproduce them in our kitchen. We come back for lunch. At 1.00 pm, we meet in the kitchen, to create our own pastries, which will be served for dessert that very same night. We will be in the kitchen until 4:00 pm, so you will get some time to relax or drive to town if you wish. We meet up at 7:00 pm for an aperitif before dinner. (please note that if your "day 2" is a Wednesday and a 5 nights course is on that week, the outing will be to the chocolaterie in Nerac, not a patisserie).

Day 3

After breakfast we meet in the kitchen, to start baking. We will stop for lunch and get back to the kitchen to finish our pastries. You will then again get some time to relax before the aperitif and dinner. Once again, your creations will be served for dessert that very same night.

Day 4

Departure is in the morning on Day 4. The room is yours until 11.00am if you have your own vehicle, but drop off to Tonneins station is for the 8.10am train..

Examples of what we make: chou pastry (éclairs, religieuses, paris-brest, saint-honoré or croquembouche), shortcrust and sweet pastry, berry tarts, macaroons, millefeuille, traditional apple tart, bavarois, tarte tatin, croissants, pains au chocolat, bread and brioche.

DAY COURSES

If you are in the area, you can join us for half a day or for a whole day of patisserie course. The booking of a day or afternoon course will not include any accommodation nor transport apart from the planned and agreed excursion.

Afternoon Course

Arrival around 12.45pm, we meet around a coffee, then head to the kitchen for a 3h baking session. We meet at 7:00pm for an aperitif before dinner, which will be served at 7:30pm. You can then enjoy the fruit of your labour for dessert. The afternoon course includes 3 hours of baking, all ingredients, coffee, tea and cold drinks throughout the afternoon and you leave with your bakes and pastries

One-Day Course

Arrival around 9:00am and we head straight to the kitchen for a first baking session or planned excursion. You enjoy lunch around 12:00 with some local wine. We meet in the kitchen at 1:00pm to bake. From 4.00pm you get free time to go for a walk or a drive, or to just relax in the lounge or in the garden. We meet at 7:00pm for an aperitifs and nibbles before dinner, which will be served at 7:30pm. You can then enjoy the fruit of your labour for dessert.

This day course includes all excursions where applicable in the morning, lunch with wine, and baking workshop, all ingredients, aperitif, 3 course dinner with wine, and coffee, tea and cold drinks throughout the day.

Contact us with your dates