Colors of Burgundy
Marigny-le-Cahouet, Burgundy

About the location: Considered the gastronomic heart of France, the Burgundy region is perhaps most famous for its diverse array of exquisite wines and its local culinary pleasures such as beef bourgignon and coq au vin. Local chefs are famous for using high-quality, ultra-fresh local ingredients to create rich and hearty dishes, some of which are only available locally.

Marigny-le-Cahouet, the location of your cooking vacation, is a charming, typical, sleepy French village, with a bar, bread shop, provisions shop, small traditional village school, maire and post office. Meandering its way alongside is the stunning Burgundy Canal. Ever changing with the seasons, it is lovely to jog, stroll, cycle or cruise the waterways, taking in the magnificent scenery. The village is stunning all year round, with the summer sun blazing across the trees, and the autumn leaves that glow with fiery reds and oranges.

Just 10 minutes away is the medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois, uncontested, one of the most picturesque towns in Burgundy. The majority of its medieval town center remains intact after hundreds of years of use and activity. Semur has achieved a balance between offering the amenities and access that a modern town must have while preserving its quaint appearance and its relaxed, pleasant attitude. The town is nestled within a loop in the river Armançon, which winds its way casually through the town bordered by houses on either side. The town’s medieval wall and battlements remain a popular tourist attraction, and throughout the year its ramparts are lit at night in a breathtaking display.

About the cooking lessons: Katherine and her husband Yannick look forward to welcoming you at their lovely home, La Ferme de la Lochere. Katherine grew up in England and spent much of her childhood visiting France, where she moved at the age of twenty-two. She and her husband Yannick eventually settled in Burgundy, where Yannick has worked at house restoration and as a Barge Pilot and Katherine as a Chef for the American/French Barging Company. In addition to the catering she does in Burgundy, Katherine frequently returns to England to cater events or cook for the royal family. They recently combined their areas of expertise to complete their dream restoration of a beautiful, two hundred year-old farmhouse in Burgundy where they host special gastronomic vacations.

Chef Katherine hopes to inspire your way of cooking; guiding you to trust your own senses, teaching you to use ingredients that are simple and full of color to produce easy and fantastic menus! During your hands on cooking experience, you will prepare classic French dishes: bouef bourguignon, coq au vin, tarte tatin and crème brulee. Using the freshest seasonal ingredients from a local Burgundian market, create a selection of colourful fragrant lunches, simple suppers and scrumptious desserts.