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)

20 reasons to join a
cookery school in France

Because it's fun!

A cookery school in France is a fun sociable event where like-minded people gather to share in the universal pleasures of good food, interesting company and the great French way of life. A lot will depend on the setup, the presentation style of the chef and, of course, your own personality, but even the shyest of people will come out of their shell at the right cookery school.

A great travel opportunity...

If you have ever wanted to experience a country from within, a cookery school in France can be a cracking introduction. Most courses combine preparation and cooking of local ingredients and cuisine with trips to street markets, wine caves, bakeries, distilleries, farms, etc. This way, you don't have to waste time researching places to visit because all the hard work has already been done for you. Of course, opportunities to experience the country and its people are made easier if you speak the lingo. If you don't it doesn't't matter, but check that your hosts are bi-lingual.

A cookery school in France makes a great Corporate Entertaining event...

If you are looking for a unique corporate entertaining idea to impress a client, reward a member of staff, or pamper a colleague send them on a one-day, two-day or week-long residential cookery school. They will never forget it.

Teach your pre-university kids how to cater for themselves...

Packing your children off to university for the first time is stressful enough as it is. The fact that most teenagers don't know how to boil an egg doubles the woe. So, give yourself some peace of mind and send them on a fun and friendly hands-on cookery school holiday to not only improve their basic cooking skills, but give them a going-away present they'll remember and value for ever.

It's never too late to teach cookophobic Dads and Granddads (and boys of all ages) to learn to cook...

Send your Dad, Granddad (Hubby or partner) to a hands-on cookery school in France. 'Hands-on' because blokes actually love being able to make something useful and, despite themselves, can become quite passionate about the technical side of cookery. After a few hours bashing, rolling, barbecuing, wok-ing, toasting and blow torching, that favourite man in your life will never think of cooking as 'sissy' again.

Makes a great present...

Stuck for ideas for your best friend, family member, or loved one? Send them on a one-day or two-day cooking course, or even a full-blown residential cookery school holiday. Why not go with them? Some cookery schools offer gift vouchers that you can purchase well in advance and most school organisers will happily fall in with your plans for a secret surprise present by keeping things discreet and confidential. Imagine your 'victim's' surprise when they open their birthday or Valentine's day envelope to find a gift voucher for a dream cookery school holiday inside!

A holiday for all the family...

Treat yourself to some seriously relaxing cooking while your partner goes off for a day's golf or fishing, or takes the kids out for the day leaving you to indulge your passion. You can then share your experiences with your family at the end of the day when they return to sample the fruits of your labour. Some schools provide a full day's cooking with lunch and a family dinner thrown in.

Meet interesting like-minded people, forge new friendships (and perhaps even cultivate romance)...

A cookery school holiday is the perfect place to meet people from different walks of life. Most participants come away having made new friends, vowing to get in touch when back in the UK. Many a romance has blossomed in the close relaxed atmosphere of a cookery school holiday and later flourished when bonds are re-established back home.

Cook like the TV chefs and professionals...

Some schools offer training for a career in catering, while others promise to teach you how to cook and present dishes just like your favourite TV chefs. Some issue certificates and diplomas, others simply provide you with some great skills and fond memories.

A cookery school can be cheaper than you think...

These days, cheap flights and transfers to and from airports avoid the necessity of bringing your own transport. This means a cookery school can be a lot less expensive than you think. The fact that you will certainly gain useful skills, make some great friends and come away with a wealth of fond memories means you will appreciate the huge value that a cooking holiday provides.

Learn shortcuts, cheats and tricks of the trade...

Every chef has a shed-load of tips, tricks and shortcuts he or she has picked up somewhere along the line and cookery school chefs are no exception. The adage 'Those who can - do. Those who can't - teach' carries very little weight in a cookery school. Most schools make it clear in their advertising what training or provenance their chef has acquired. Chefs who go the cookery school route aren't failed or burnt-out restaurant chefs, but highly skilled professionals who are very passionate about cookery.

Learn traditional and modern cookery skills...

Cookery schools in France often cover a vast range of skills, techniques, styles of cuisine and methods of teaching from modern world cuisine to traditional regional dishes, formal teaching to fun and relaxed hands-on guidance. All you have to do is get on the Internet, or 'blower' to find a course that suits you.

Breathe new life into your family meals...

Do you find your repertoire of family meals is looking a bit saggy and the kids are constantly complaining that the food you cook them is boring? Re-invigorate your imagination and passion for cooking by selecting a school which deals with family food and quick meals and that will introduce vibrancy and humour to your cooking.

Dinner parties are back...

The dinner party format of entertaining is back, but fashion comes at a price - generations of home cooks have all but lost the art of cooking a three course meal for their friends and relatives. A cookery school in France will teach you how to plan a menu, shop ahead and cook the major part of the dinner party days in advance by utilising modified restaurant techniques. This leaves you to enjoy your guests' company without spending an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen away from the fun. That way, you get to hear all the 'wow's' and elevated chatter your food will provide.

Have a holiday out of season when the crowds have gone home...

Some cookery schools in France are run all year round and, because most of the holiday is spent doing what you enjoy indoors in a warm friendly kitchen, you haven't got to worry about the weather or crowds. Continental weather can be surprisingly warm and mild, Spring and Autumn often being particularly pleasant.

Practice your 'Franglais'...

A cookery school in France will improve your language skills. Some courses are held only in French, so make sure you brush up on your vowels. Others, however, are held in English with an English translator. If you're lucky, the school will be run by an English chef. Visits to local markets and other food-related venues will provide you with ample opportunity to practice your 'Franglais'.

Ideal for single travelers...

Solo travelers, especially women, can go on holiday and feel safe in the company of fellow students and cookery school staff. Outings and visits are invariably conducted with a guide who will take you to many interesting places you might be reluctant to go to on your own.

Treat yourself by getting away from a demanding busy home life...

Everyone needs their own space. A cookery school in France is a great way of getting away from it all while your partner, for instance, does their own thing. Sometimes, it is possible for each to attend a different course during the same week, be it a cookery school, riding, mountain-biking, golf, etc. Some people go on separate activity holidays, 'swap' holidays the following year, then have fun comparing notes.

Provides a useful insight into the world of professional catering...

Anyone thinking of entering the world of professional catering is actually contemplating taking on a very big bull by its very sharp horns. The world of the restaurant chef is an extremely tough one and entering it requires careful consideration. However, depending on the type of cookery school chosen, you can get a real feel for the busy life of a chef, and perhaps get a valuable glimpse of an exciting new career.


Your chef, Jim Fisher