Cookery Courses in Loire Valley, France

Walnut Grove:
Walnut Grove, located in Mayenne (3 hours from Paris), north west France, is a Cooking School offering Gourmet Cuisine and Cooking Classes in the beautiful Loire Valley. Experience the reality of gourmet cooking yourself. There is only one way to learn and that is to do it! Top chefs, luxury accommodation, set in France - the home of gourmet cuisine; what more could you ask for?

Cookery courses can be individually tailored for groups of 6 to 8 guests. We also offer customized cooking classes for corporate businesses; for example, "Team Building in the Kitchen".

5 Day Gourmet Cookery Course:
You'll arrive on Saturday, mid afternoon. After some time settling in to your room, the course begins with an introductory talk to discuss the structure and goals of the program. Later in the evening, after complimentary champagne, you'll enjoy a 6-course gourmet dinner that illustrates the cooking style you'll be studying during your cookery course, with explanations by your chef hosts. It's also a wonderful opportunity to relax and get to know your fellow guests.

Each day after breakfast, there will be both demonstrations and hands-on classes, ranging from basic knife skills to homemade Italian bread's and even caramelised sugar baskets. This is followed by preparation of the evening meal, with gourmet dishes such as Apple & goats cheese croustade with a roquette & walnut salad or Collops of monkfish glazed with a herb, mustard & brioche crust, served with saffron tagliatelli and a white wine, mussel and dill sauce.

After a light lunch, you'll get to enjoy some of the local culture with visits to a 19th century windmill producing buckwheat flour in the traditional method, and a local fromagérie, with demonstration of cheese making. Then back to Walnut Grove for more hands-on fun in the kitchen, as you put the finishing touches on dinner. It's then time to sit down and revel in the stunning food you've learned to prepare.