Detailed course itinerary

Tucked away in the peaceful and pretty village of Pexiora, on the outskirts of the world Heritage site of Carcassonne this charming and tastefully restored stone barn is the setting for your French cookery holiday.

Under the guidance of your enthusiastic and professional French master chefs, you will immerse yourself in French life to discover the gastronomic delights of this beautiful Languedoc region, not forgetting the wonderful wines produced in this area of France.

The aim of the course is to give you the skills to cook fabulous French dishes from the region to impress even the most experienced foodies. You’ll learn from the experts how to cook in the well-equipped kitchen, based in the accommodation that boasts great facilities and beautiful gardens.

You’ll also combine a wine tasting class and a cookery demonstration from the ‘crème de la crème’ of Michelin Star chefs allowing you time to sit back, relax and enjoy the wonderful French food and wine and party atmosphere on this fun French cookery holiday with a difference.

Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced foodies
- Your Chefs are French but speak perfect English
- Minimum age: 16 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)

Travelling Solo?
- These cookery holidays make brilliant singles holidays and in fact, many people travel solo
- Singles can join existing groups and rooms can be booked with a small single supplement, to check availability for singles please contact us at with your preferred date of travel

Non-Cooking Guests
- Non cooking guests are welcome to share a room with a cooking guest and prices for the non-cooking guest will be discounted accordingly, please email or contact us via live chat (click on the ‘start chat’ link at the bottom of this page) for details

French Cookery Holiday Start Days
- This midweek French cooking and wine course runs on set dates from September - July
- All arrivals are on Tuesday and departures are on Thursday afternoon after lunch

French Cooking And Wine Course Itinerary
Day 1 – Tuesday – Arrival day
- Check into your accommodation anytime from 2pm onwards, enjoy the evening settling in, exploring the area or the wonderful facilities on offer and getting to know your fellow guests - If you would like to have dinner on Tuesday evening at your accommodation you can arrange this in advance (for an extra cost) or you may choose to head to the village for dinner

Day 2 – Wednesday – Cooking and wine tasting day
- Enjoy an early French breakfast before heading into the kitchen for your first cookery lesson
- During the morning you’ll be preparing lunch under tutelage of one of the master chefs learning to cook a typical French meal
- After a leisurely lunch, you’ll will have the chance to sit, relax and enjoy a fun and informal cookery demonstration from your professional chef
- At the end of the demonstration you will enjoy a wine tasting session, enjoying a selection of fine wines from the area

Day 3 – Thursday – Cooking class
- Enjoy a leisurely French breakfast before heading to the kitchen for your 2nd cookery lesson
- Spend today learning to cook a new menu developing your ‘master chef’ skills from day 1 with the help of your friendly chef
- Relax over lunch eating what you have learned to prepare that morning
- After lunch guests are asked to check-out of their rooms ready for departure taking home with them new cooking skills and an insight into French life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over

What Will I Learn?
- Courses concentrate on the cuisine of the Languedoc region: its starters, sweet and savoury tarts, foie gras, cassoulet, fantastic seafood, main courses and desserts
- Dishes vary across the region, from fine seafood specialities, to the specialised meat dishes and delicate desserts
- At the start of your cooking course, your chef will discuss the day’s menus with you
- Your chef will teach you to be bold, creative and cook with confidence
- The chefs will teach you their own signature dishes that have won them highest of regard in France as well as many awards including Michelin star status
- You’ll learn ‘master chef’ cooking techniques and food presentation skills to the highest standards in a fun and friendly environment

Sample French Menus
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but may include:
- Terrine de chèvre frais et salade de fèves au cumin (Goat’s cheese salad with cumin)
- Rouget grillé au thym et poêlée d'asperges vertes (Red mullet with Spring asparagus)
- Démonstration et tour de main: le pain blanc (Bread-making demonstration)
- Velouté de fèves, tuile au parmesan (Velouté of new beans, tile of parmesan
- Brochette de St Jacques dorées, chutney de mangue et pomme verte (Golden scallops, mango, apples)
- Crème chiboust au citron, salade de garriguettes au basilic à l’huile d’olive (Lemon cream patisserie, strawberry and basil salad)
- Velouté de pois frais à la menthe (Velouté of fresh peas with mint)
- Marbré de foie gras au de Malepeyre (Marbled foie gras of the Malepeyre)
- Filet de veau à la sauge, gratin de courgettes à l’ail doux (Fillet of veal with sage, zucchini gratin, sweet garlic)
- Sablé breton aux framboises, crème légère à la pistache (Raspberry Sable Breton, cream with pistachio)
- Le Cassoulet’ (Cassoulet of Castelnaudary – one of the region’s famous casserole dishes)
- Gelée de cerises à l’amande amère (Jelly of cherries and bitter almonds)

 Dietary requests can be catered for including vegetarians, please advise us if you have any special requirements at the time of booking


About Your Chefs
- Your host chefs are award-winning French chefs, Franck Putelat, Robert Abraham and Jean-Marc Boyer
- Chef Robert is the Midi-Pyrenees Chef of the Year 2009 and he is used to producing food that is highly acclaimed by both the Michelin and Gault Millau guides
- Franck has won, besides a Michelin star, the Bocuse d’Argent prize, regarded by chefs as the most prestigious championship award for French cooking in the world
- Jean-Marc’s experience includes 12 years at the 3* Ambrosie under Bernard Pacaund and the Ritz and has also been awarded his own Michelin Star
- When not leading hands-on classes, the chefs run their own renowned gourmet restaurants in Carcassonne and nearby towns
- Their philosophy is that meals should be full of flavour, beautifully presented, and simple to prepare with the right techniques and ingredients

Accommodation
- Stay in a 200-year-old stone barn that has been uniquely converted with large, open living spaces, private swimming pool, tennis court and many more facilities
- You will stay in one of the well appointed 8 en-suite guestrooms equipped with air-conditioning units, tea and coffee-making facilities, hairdryers and CD players
- Singles can book a room for a small single supplement
-  You'll cook in the beautiful state of the art kitchen in the house that is light, airy, and furnished with modern equipment
- The house has beautiful gardens, set amid sunflower fields in this beautiful rural area of France
- You will be ideally situated just a short distance from the world heritage site of Carcassonne

Meals
- Breakfast is included each day
- Lunch that you have prepared during your cooking classes is included on Wednesday and Thursday
- If you would like to arrange dinner as well this can be added as an optional extra or arranged with the host on arrival

Go learn to cook in the Languedoc region France, in the culinary capital of Carcassonne and pursue your passion for fabulous food, good wine and discover great company on this cookery holiday with a difference.