Cooking Class in Paris
Paris

About the location: A very special full day gastronomic experience with Chef Samira, an international culinary personality and owner of Bellissimo Restaurant in Fairfax, Va. in the US. Samira will guide you to a typical Parisian market and then take you to her home in Paris’s 16th arrondissement where she instructs you in English on how to prepare a five-course French feast which you will enjoy after the class, including a cheese course of at least six cheeses, along with white and red French wines.

After earning her MA and doctorate in Education and Human Development from George Washington University, Samira worked for many years in the government sector. In the 1990’s she decided to create her cooking school and has not looked back since. Having lived in many places in the world, including the UK, Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the US, she has melded the culinary education from her mother and grandmother, with that of cuisines around the world, and her lifelong experience as a teacher. While primarily self-taught, Samira has attended classes at the Cordon Bleu, as well as other culinary schools. Now, having returned to Paris, her primary focus is, of course, on French cuisine, although she still continues to offer cooking classes in other specialties as well. Samira’s cooking philosophy is quite simple: she wants to teach people to cook and enjoy good and healthy food. While learning to trust their own instincts, they will gain confidence in their own abilities.

Samira’s elegant, practical kitchen boasts a gorgeous granite island that can accommodate up to 8 people with an extention that can accommodate up to 18 people. The 6-burner stove, 3 ovens, 2 refrigerators, 3 freezers, and charming nooks featuring Samira’s personal oils and vinegars, create a professional yet cozy and friendly environment. Samira’s apartment is conveniently located within a 10-minute walk to both the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées, and a short 3-minute walk from the Metro. You will visit a wonderful, neighborhood market that is a ten minute walk from Samira’s apartment, where you will select some of the items you will use in your French cooking lessons. This is really an experience with a local Parisian, where you will be creating some of the most delicious, yet simple dishes.

Students are given chapters of Samira’s book, which contain the recipes of the day’s class. Each class goes through the preparation of a complete meal, followed by a long lunch in the elegant dining room, where students dine and enjoy their creations accompanied by wine.