French Cooking Course Holidays
SEASONAL CUISINE
Spring
This is the time of year when nature wakes up, flowers start blooming, new vegetables appear, everything gets colourful again, including our plates. Our Spring cooking course celebrates just that! Among many other ingredients, we cook with the organic asparagus grown by our neighbour, prepare succulent desserts with the local "gariguette" strawberries (from April), and make the best of the beautiful farm-bred poultry that spent the winter eating and getting nice and plump... Classic Spring dishes include Navarin of lamb, Blanquette de veau, veloute of asparagus, strawberry tart, poule au pot...
Summer
Summers in Lot-et-Garonne are quite hot, be prepared! We will make the best of the abundant fruit and vegetables that we will pick from one of the local markets or our own garden. During your cooking classes you could prepare the basque fish soup (the "cousin" of the bouillabaisse), make terrines, fresh pasta, soufflés with local goat cheese, tarts with the garden peaches, cherry clafoutis, ... We could also smoke salmon or trout. As we will rather grill meat and fish in summer than stew them(!!), it is the perfect occasion to practice all classic French sauces like mayonnaise, aïoli, béarnaise, beurre blanc, etc.... The weather is also perfect to prepare beautiful sweet iced parfaits, chilled mousses, bavarois...
Autumn
The scenery is changing, yellows, oranges and browns appear all around, nature is getting ready for winter. This is the return of the pot-roasts, the season of game and fat duck. The whole region catches the "blue disease" (this is how they call the hunt for wood pigeons). When possible, we will enjoy our evenings outside, gathered around the outdoor chimney. The cookery courses include pâtés, rillettes, coq au vin, rabbit in prunes, quails, tarte Tatin, ... we also make the best of the local apples, hazelnuts, grapes and figs.
Winter
At this time of year, we need to come back to a cosy home, enjoy the warmth of the comfort food, and give in to our appetite for rich soups, stews and other belly-warmers! It is also time to make good use of the local kiwis, pumpkins and squashes, apples, and root vegetables. Our winter cooking course will teach you to make the local garlic soup (tourin), the unmissable Cassoulet, the hearty Garbure, boeuf bourguignon, croustade (apples, prunes and armagnac in pastry)...
Pricing
- 5 Night Cooking Course Holiday€ 2150
(Approx £1893)*
- 3 Night Cooking Course Holiday€1215
(Approx £1070)*
- Day Cooking Course Holiday€295
(Approx £260)*
*Exchange rate based on Google currency converter 01/04/2023
Accompanying non-cooking guests:
€525
FOR 3 NIGHTS
€895.00
FOR 5 NIGHTS
The above prices are full board on our regular cooking courses.
If you have any questions about one of our courses, or would like to get in touch with us,please do so via the contact form.
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5 NIGHTS RESIDENTIAL COURSE
"..This cooking holiday course includes 4 days of cooking, and is designed to introduce you to a wide selection of techniques covering deboning poultry, filleting fish, bread making, braising, classic sauces & food presentation on a wide number of dishes..."
The dishes you make depend wholly on the seasonal produce available
Chicken Balotine - Hands on with food presentation in the kitchen
Our daily outings will give you a "good feel" for our region.
Sunday
Arrival from 4:00pm. You settle into your room and make yourself at home. We meet before dinner to discuss our programme together, around a welcome drink with canapés. You then enjoy a three-course dinner.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
We leave after breakfast to go to a market or visit a producer, to get our ingredients. We will also make a few detours on the way to see the pretty villages of the area. We come back for lunch. At 1.00 pm, we meet in the kitchen, where everyone gets involved in a real team effort to prepare dinner. We will cook for about 3 hours, so you then get some time to relax or to drive to town. We meet for aperitif at 7:00 pm, and head back to the kitchen for the last minute prep if necessary. You are invited to pop into the kitchen to plate up each course, but you can do as little or as much as you like: your holiday, so your time, your rhythm!
- 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 8.00am train.
Depending on the season and on their availability, we will visit some producers among the following: honey producer, duck farm, chocolatier, prune farm, wine maker, fish farm ... as well as producers markets.
3 NIGHTS RESIDENTIAL COURSE
This shorter cookery holiday course includes 2 days of cooking, and is designed to give you a little break. Learn a few French dishes, enjoy the company of fellow cooks, and catch a glimpse of south west France.Check-in on Sunday or Tuesday.
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.
Days 2 and 3
We leave after breakfast to go to a market or visit a producer, to get our ingredients. We will also make a few detours on the way to show the pretty villages of the area. We come back for lunch. At 1.00 pm, we meet in the kitchen, where everyone gets involved in a real team effort to prepare dinner.
We will cook for about 3 hours, so you then get some time to relax or to drive to town. We meet at 7.00pm for aperitif, and head back to the kitchen for the last minute prep. You are invited to pop into the kitchen to plate up each course, but you can do as little or as much as you like: your holiday, so ... your time, your rhythm!
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 8.00am train..
DAY COOKING COURSES
If you are in the area, you can join us a one day cooking course. The booking of a day does not include any accommodation nor transport apart from the planned and agreed excursion.
One Day Cooking Courses
Arrival around 9:00am to join in either the scheduled cooking session or planned excursion to a market or producer. You will enjoy a lunch accompanied by some local wine.
We meet in the kitchen at 1:00pm for a 3h cooking session after which you get some time off to go for a walk or a drive, or to just relax in the lounge or garden. We will then meet at 7:00pm for an aperitifs and nibbles. Shortly after you'll head back to the kitchen for the last touches to our meal, which will be served at 7:30pm. You can then enjoy the fruit of your labour with some local wine.
This day course includes the morning cooking session or morning excursion with entry fees where applicable, lunch with wine, 3 hours of cooking, all ingredients, aperitif, 3 course dinner with wine, and coffee, tea and cold drinks throughout the day.
Contact us with your dates
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~ Recent Comments ~
"...I honestly did not know what to expect from my French cooking holiday courses at Le Gargantua cooking school so was wowed, not only that I produced the level of cuisine that I achieved, but the effortless style of Marlene's instruction. The kitchen setup is just wonderful, big, bright and inviting, great equipment to our fingertips with all the gadgets to make one envious, however, also quintessentially what you'd envision - typical French farmhouse kitchen being a heart of the home - hats off guys- well done you rock..."
Click here to read other testomonials from our cooking course participants
Children are more than welcome (they only have to be tall enough to reach the workbench) under their parent's supervision.
The courses take place from February to November.
What's Included
- Free collection and drop off
To / From our local train station on all residential courses
- Fully Inclusive Price
No hidden cost. Your accommodation, every single meal (with drinks) and all taxes are included. No supplement for solo travellers!
- Small Groups - No Overcrowding
Maximum of six participants so everyone receives individual attention and enough workspace
- Food glorious food
Continental breakfast every day (bread & croissants, fresh fruit, fresh milk, coffee, English tea, cereals, yogurts, local jams honey)
Lunch every day
Three-course dinner every night
- Drink, whatever your tipple
Welcome drinks and canapés
House aperitif before dinners
Local Wines with all lunches and dinners
Water, tea, coffee and cold drinks & beers throughout the day
Coffee & English tea making facilities in your room
- Excursions
Outings, tastings and entrance fees
- 16 Years of experience
No Demonstration Watching - All Classes are Hands-on!
All ingredients, equipment and apron provided
Recipe folder to take home
- Comfortable Accommodation
Accommodation (details on our accommodation page), on all residential courses
Linen, towels, organic shampoo & shower gel, for the duration of your stay
- Discover the Countryside by bike
We have bikes on-site free for your use to venture out and discover the surrounding countryside
- Free WIFI connection
Super fast wifi available throughout the house
