Cook
in
France
A relaxed friendly hands-on cooking holiday in the Dordogne, France
Tel: 0033 (0)553 302405                Bombel, 24290, St Amand de Coly, Sarlat, Dordogne, France                (GPS: N45° 01.915/E001° 15.295)

Vegetarian Cooking Course

A vegetarian cooking course where you'll select, prepare and cook the best seasonal vegetables, from the market straight to the plate...

Proud to be a veggie?  Cooking vegetarian already?  Of course, it makes total sense! With more and more people turning to vegetarianism as the healthy option, and with an ever more varied palette of organic and home-grown fruit, vegetables and pulses available in the shops, 'veggies' are becoming an ever growing force in the foodie world.

That's why we, at Cookinfrance, whole-heartedly embrace the ethos of vegetarianism to the extent that we are running dedicated vegetarian cooking courses in 2008 (see prices).

Novice or experienced, committed or sitting on the fence?  Look no further...

If you are a closet veggie waiting to 'come out', or even an experienced vegetarian looking for inspiration, what better way to announce it to the world than with a barrage of new and exciting vegetarian dishes you've learned to cook here on your vegetarian cooking course (see what's included).


"You have put the fun back into cooking, changing the mundane daily dish into something quite different with a little more care" (Sheila Campbell - France) More Great Testimonials

Great vegetarian cooking and not a Nut Burger or Veggie Sausage in sight...

Any vegetarian worth his or her salt knows that there's no reason why a menu shouldn't be completely vegetarian.  Each day, we'll take you through the various stages necessary in preparing a vegetarian starter, main course and dessert.

Take one of our vegetarian cooking course menus, for example:

starter/lunch

Oven-Dried Plum Tomato and Basil Feuilletée Tarts
with a
Balsamic Reduction Vinaigrette
and
Basil Ice Cream

dinner

Pea and Asparagus Risotto
with
Parmesan Shavings

dessert

Chocolate Pots
with
Biscuits d'Amande aux Oranges
and a
Glass of Chilled Monbazillac

Now, to my mind, that's perfect vegetarian cooking: strong interesting flavours that work with each other, good textural contrast and a little bit of innovation.

And, speaking as an omnivore, I just know that a menu like that would cheer even the most meat-hungry diner.

"We had a wonderful time and couldn't fault anything...the cooking lessons, company and outings created a great holiday and one we've already recommended to many friends. And we look forward to coming again once our culinary skills are up to scratch!"(Sophia Virji - Cayman, Cayman Islands.)
More Great Testimonials

But a vegetarian cooking course in France..?! 

Surely some mistake!  France, self-proclaimed cradle to meat-eating mankind is stuck in a protein-heavy rut, a meat-stuffed log-jam, a carnivorous snarl-up.

To find a vegetarian in France would be like getting a lion to say "Hey, do I really need to eat venison tonight?".  France is to vegetarianism what politics is to integrity, but - and it's a big 'but' - it is changing, albeit slowly.

A change clearly has to take place...

If you, as a vegetarian, can cook dishes that will win-over even the staunchest carnivore, then vegetarianism will be more acceptable to a wider audience. But, according to our English chef, it's not about re-inventing sausages, knitting soya burgers or serving courgette lasagne.

No. It's about buying fresh seasonal produce, choosing organically grown ingredients, and gaining a knowledge of how to build a satisfying, varied, good-looking plate of nutritious popular food!

Week-long residential vegetarian cooking holidays and multi-day res or non-res courses...

At Cookinfrance we run 5 day/5 night residential vegetarian cooking holidays as well as 1, 2 & 3-day vegetarian cooking courses.

They are infinitely variable, so when you email us, or phone (Tel: 0033 [0]553 302405), we'll have a chat about what you want to achieve.  We'll tailor the itinerary to suit you and the other guests by gathering together like-minded veggies on the same course.  Simple!

Prices: 2010
How to pay 
Terms and Conditions

April/May/June
Sept/Oct

 July/August
All inclusive Five Day/Five Night residential cooking holiday (per person, based on two people sharing a room):
€895
€995

One, Two, Three & Four-Day multi-day courses
(Per person, per day.  Additional B&B accommodation available on request. Evening meal €17 per day - eat what you cook!):
€130
€140
Non-cooking friend or partner
(Five day/five night - lunch @ €12 & dinner @ €17 per person per day):
€395
€445

B&B accommodation (Multi-day courses - at venue or local B&B. Per person, per night):

€45
€50
Return rail transfers
(Per person. Agreed times only - see below. Email us prior to booking tickets):
€75
€90
Single occupancy supplement (five day/five night - for an en-suite room all to yourself):
€195
€245
Cooking & Painting holiday
(Five day/Five night residential.  Day courses from €130):
€895
€995

To book a cooking holiday, email us your desired dates.

We collect you in our own seven-seater vehicle from Brive la Gaillarde train station at 17:00 each Monday and return you at 09:00 the following Saturday.

Brive la Gaillarde is on the main Paris/Toulouse line which stops at
Limoges, itself served by Ryanair.

If you want a transfer at another time or on another day, please EMAIL US or Tel: 0033 (0)553 302405 in order to discuss the possibilities.

Transfers are conducted on a first come first served basis. Detailed dates and times are to be agreed with us prior to booking your travel arrangements, so please do not book tickets until you've agreed them with us.

Accommodation for multi-day guests may be at the venue or at a nearby B&B 5km away. The optimum number of participants on a course is eight, but sometimes we have fewer than that and occasionally take up to twelve. The itinerary may be subject to change according to the seasons and local weather and
is variable in order to take advantage of regional festivals and holidays.

English-speaking and easy to get to...

We are English-speaking and our prices include everything you'll need on a residential vegetarian cooking course - all you have to do is get here. And because of the proliferation of cheap flights and tumbling ferry prices your vegetarian cooking course in France represents great value for money.

We'll even pick you up and drop you off at our nearest airport (Limoges), or the train stations at Brive and Souillac, all of which have Hertz and Avis car rental outlets on their doorstep.

 


"This course seemed like it would work with us even if we were not professionals. The class was very enjoyable, mostly because it was relaxed. The atmosphere really makes it what it is." 
(Meredith Jamieson, North Carolina, USA) More Great Testimonials

Do you love cooking with the best ingredients?

During your vegetarian cooking course in France, using the the best market-fresh local ingredients, you'll be introduced to ways of cooking exciting and imaginative vegetarian dishes, working with barbecues and char grills, and making vegetarian ice creams and sorbets. 

You'll have a great time here...

There'll be organised visits to bustling open-air markets, a walnut oil mill and, of course, the ancient honey-coloured towns and villages of this perfect region.

While you learn to cook, you'll be staying in our superb centrally-heated en-suite accommodation. Or, if you are staying in a gite nearby, just come and learn to cook on our one-day, two-day or three-day vegetarian cooking courses. 

Hey, cook all week if you want to!

"The course was all that I hoped it would be - a full day preparing and eating fabulous food in a beautiful setting with warm, friendly people." (Pat Broering - Morro Bay, California, USA) More Great Testimonials

Want to bring a veggie friend or partner?

Do you have a non-cooking vegetarian friend or partner who would like to come along? No problem: non-cooking guests are very welcome and, what's more, the price is about half that of the cook's rate and they'll get to taste all the lovely food!

Booking...

Booking is easy, and only an email or phone call away, so why wait?  Strike while the iron's hot - book a vegetarian cooking course in France now and share an experience you'll never forget!



Cooking courses in France - Now in it's 7th year!

After 7 years, even in these difficult times, our courses are more popular than ever!.

Which means, I suppose, that you all still like to get away for that much- needed break.

And, if that includes a great value activity such as cooking, painting or photography, well, we have just the thing for you!



Go to our Beat the Recession page now to see how we keep the cost of your holiday low

Are you worried about the Pound/Dollar/Euro exchange rate?

Read more to see how your holiday can beat the recession...



Gift Certificate - Cooking and Painting Course

Need a unique gift for someone special?

Then why not send them here on a course?

Infinitely flexible and valid for up to a year from date of purchase, gift vouchers can cover our full range of courses.

So, make someone's day a special one - order a gift voucher now and we'll get it to you today!





5 Day/5 Night Cooking Courses Include:

  • Expert hands-on tuition with British chef

  • All courses conducted in English

  • All cooking ingredients, equipment and aprons

  • A continental breakfast each day

  • Lunch each day

  • Dinner
    (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday)

  • Tea, coffee and wine

  • An evening meal on the day of your arrival

  • En suite centrally-heated accommodation

  • Recipe pack containing all the dishes cooked during your stay

  • Entrance fees to places visited

  • Private and secluded pool

  • Internet and Email


    • Want to be sure? Read our great testimonials


    Some of the things you'll be doing on the cooking course:

    Learn how to cook pastries, breads and soups

    Select and prepare the best fish and shellfish

    Butcher common joints of meat

    Cook classic French and Italian sauces

    Construct modern dressings

    Master the art of stylish contemporary food presentation



    Our day courses:

    • Hands-on practical tuition with experienced friendly tutors

    • All ingredients

    • Utensils

    • Aprons

    • Breakfast

    • Lunch

    • Wine and beverages





    Your chef, Jim Fisher