The French House Party is listed Top Retreat in the National Geographic book, “The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life” written by the prestigious American travel writer Pam Grout.
"In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport" - Julia Child, in Mastering the Art of French Cooking, 1961
For the French, the appreciation of good food and wine is almost as important as breathing. So it is perhaps no surprise that our award-winning French chefs are just as enthusiastic as we are about the French House Party Gastro Academy programme for 2010 – the first culinary vacation school of its kind and calibre in the Languedoc region of South West France.
Here is a unique opportunity to learn from master-chefs whose culinary expertise will guide you through practical creativity in the kitchen. When not instructing with the French House Party’s hands-on classes, our chefs run their own renowned gourmet restaurants in Carcassonne and its surrounding area, which are recommended in the most prominent restaurant guides.
Their exhilarating success as long-experienced Chefs de Cuisine gives them something of a celebrity status in South-West France – Michelin stars, television appearances and countless newspaper articles have ensured that their names and their signature dishes are synonymous with cooking innovation and flair.
We combine our residential culinary classes using organic and seasonal local produce with instruction and sampling of the phenomenal local wines, from the luscious reds of the Minervois and Corbieres to the fine sparkling white wines of Limoux, where the ‘Champagne’ method was first created many centuries ago.
Whether you select one of our 3-day weekend courses or a more extended break, you will enjoy a memorable visit to one of France’s oldest markets to select fresh ingredients for the dishes for later preparation. We also include a chauffeured outing to the medieval City of Carcassonne.
On our longer breaks there will be rural visits to a cheese-making farm or to enjoy olive oil sampling, as well as wine-tasting at a vineyard and dinner at one or two of the excellent nearby restaurants.
We offer three options:
Gourmet Explorer – 6-day break provides 5 days of instruction with the emphasis on traditional cuisine and organic ingredients, polishing your skills in the creation of delicious French dishes which you will then be confident of reproducing "chez vous". Wine and food matching, at-home wine instruction, a vineyard visit and other regional outings enhance the experience.
Cuisine in Brief – Our chef chooses a separate seasonal theme for each of the Friday to Sunday breaks. That may include pastries and puddings, fish or vegetable recipes, duck, foie-gras or our famous local dish, Cassoulet – and you’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve in a long weekend. This mini-option is perfect for corporate reward or incentive breaks.
Cook au Vin – This unique 7-day break provides full lodging and 3 days of cookery classes with our French chef. Three days are also spent at our partner wine school under the tutelage of an English Master of Wine, studying for the intermediate-level Wine and Spirit Education Trust certificate (WSET).
This option will suit the wine enthusiast or industry professional who wishes to acquire in-depth knowledge and obtain an internationally-recognised wine qualification. Included in the price is daily transport to the wine school and dinner each evening.
Faculty Information:
Our renowned chefs are Robert Abraham, Franck Putelat and Jean-Marc Boyer. All run gourmet restaurants in the Carcassonne area.
Other Activities:
As well as our swimming pool, all-weather tennis court and boules-drome, we have a games room with pool-table and 1950s juke box. Guests may borrow our bicycles. Chauffeured wine-tasting outings to nearby vineyards in the Corbieres, Minervois and Malepere may be arranged, as
Help and advice can be given if guests require additional visits, for example, to the "Holy Grail" hillside town of Rennes le Chateau (inspiration for Dan Brown's "De Vinci Code" book) or to the many hilltop stronghold castle sites of Cathar resistance in the 13th Century.
Facility Information:
The French House Party was thrilled to be named Top Retreat in ‘The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life’, a National Geographic book by American travel writer Pam Grout.
Just 15 minutes from Carcassonne in the Languedoc Roussillon region of South-West France, we provide exclusive, villa-based arts, cookery, corporate and leisure group breaks for people who are searching for a European holiday with a different approach; people who place a premium on superior quality of accommodation and personal service.
The spacious 8-bedroomed country house with beautiful views of the Pyrenees is close to the Canal du Midi – ideal for an invigorating cycle-ride or stroll. It has a large private swimming pool, a tennis court and a boules
pitch.
Smart, roomy bedrooms are double or triple-sized. All the ensuite bedrooms are individually-designed and air-conditioned. Towels and linen are provided and each room has a hairdryer, CD player and coffee-making facilities.
These are all-inclusive vacations. All lodging, meals with wines, course materials and transport in France – including the bonus of chauffeured transfers from Toulouse or Carcassonne airport – are contained in the price. Some sightseeing trips - for example, to the medieval World Heritage walled city of Carcassonne - are also included. Flights are not included.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
What is included:
- Chauffeured transfers to / from Toulouse or Carcassonne airports.
- Transport costs to scheduled outings.
- In-house tasting of selected local wines with our resident wine expert.
- All lodging and meals. Wine is served with all lunches and dinners, including those taken at the fine restaurants we include on our Gourmet Explorer and Cook au Vin courses.
- Coffee, tea and soft drinks freely available.
- Use of all our leisure facilities, including provision of tennis racquets and bicycles.
- All course materials.
- Complimentary gift of Gastro Academy apron.
All costs are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
Also see Vacation Schools in:
Cooking schools
Europe
France
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