French Cooking Holidays in France

Gastro Academy at the French House Party, Carcassonne:
Located close to the beautiful and historic city of Carcassonne in south-west France, the French House Party provides all-inclusive cooking holidays for individuals and groups from around the world. Cookery classes, taught in English and French, are suitable for anyone passionate about food (from beginners to experienced cooks). With superb accommodation, top-quality food, and award-winning Michelin-star French chefs as course tutors, Gastro Academy is the only residential holiday cookery school of its calibre in the region. We offer scheduled French cooking vacations through Spring, Summer and Autumn, and also tailor-make cookery holidays for groups of 6 or more food & wine enthusiasts, culinary students, hospitality professionals of all ages and skill-levels..

Residential French Cooking Courses for 2024:
French House Party residential cookery courses offer the ultimate hands-on gastronomic vacations, a rare chance to take culinary lessons from top-class professionals who specialise in classic French and traditional Languedoc cuisine - with an added contemporary twist of adventure.

Additionally, on all courses the cookery classes are combined with learning about – and enjoying – some of the phenomenal wines to be found in the region, such as those from Corbieres and Minervois, plus the sparkling wines of Limoux - where the "Champagne" method was invented 500 years ago.

Gourmet Explorer:
5 night/6 day course that incorporates 17 hours of tuition

Polish your creative culinary skills! Offered at different times during Summer and Autumn 2018, this course provides a unique opportunity to cook with two of France’s finest chefs.

You will explore regional delicacies, fine wines and delicious produce from the Languedoc region.

The maximum class size is 10, ensuring that you get the individual attention you need.


Advanced Gourmet Explorer:
Unique 7-day break offered in Autumn that incorporates 26 hours of tuition

This advanced cooking course is aimed at chefs seeking a higher degree of French culinary skill, or proficient/ professional cooks.

It comprises intensive instruction and hands-on-sessions with our chefs, plus an additional afternoon spent under a chef’s supervision, when clients will be able to take their own “free-style” French House Chefs’ Challenge.

You will be taught everything from presentation techniques and knife skills to some of the methods and secret tips used by our top modern French chefs in their creation of a haute cuisine which is revered worldwide.

Demonstration and hands-on periods will be divided into sessions devoted to particular culinary skills.


Cuisine in Brief:
2 night/3 day course that incorporates 10/11 hours of tuition

Taught on selected dates in Summer and Autumn, this Friday to Sunday or Monday to Wednesday course has an intensive and action-packed hands-on programme, cooking with an inspirational French master chef.

The maximum class size is 10, ensuring that you get the individual attention you need.

This is a mini-option - perfect for corporate reward or incentive breaks!

Note: Our residential cooking courses can accommodate non-participating partners who would like to have a golf programme arranged for them.


Cancer-Kicking Cookery Course:
4-day all-inclusive residential cookery course

These days, people are paying much more attention to the nutritional value of what they eat. 

This year, Jenny Phillips, a nutritionist and cancer survivor who has written a book called Eat to Outsmart Cancer, will provide pioneering cooking lessons for health-conscious food-lovers.

Suitable for beginners to experienced cooks, these scrumptious meals are designed specifically for people who are recovering from cancer or other conditions which have proven diet-related causes.

Optional yoga classes will also form part of the French House Party programme.


Just Desserts – Chocolate & Patisserie:
3-day dessert cooking course

Learn about pâtisserie, cakes, puddings and chocolate mastery.