Immersive French Farm to Table Cooking Classes
You have found the intensive French cooking holiday you’ve always dreamed of taking! We are thrilled to partner with the Walnut Grove Cookery School for an immersive farm-to-table cooking experience in France. Led by Chef Duvin, a Michelin trained chef, it offers intensive cooking classes in France that will elevate you understanding of flavors and techniques.Chef Duvin, your host and instructor.
Located just eighty minutes west of Paris, the verdant farm that will be your home for your week-long French culinary holiday is not just a picturesque backdrop, it also provides the raw materials for your French cooking classes. You will learn to coax flavors from the earth to the plate during this true farm-to-table cooking experience.
Savor gourmet meals crafted with the freshest ingredients while you unwind in the inviting guest rooms, and wake up each morning to the stunning beauty of the French countryside.
Your host, Chef Duvin, will teach you timeless French culinary techniques with meticulously crafted menus and the freshest local ingredients. You will also experience the cultural tapestry beyond the kitchen, while exploring historic sites, charming villages, and stunning landscapes, most within an hour’s drive.
Intensive French Cooking Vacation Trip Highlights
Your fabulous and immersive French farm-to-table culinary vacation will include cozy, deluxe accommodations, hands-on cooking classes, visits to local markets and cultural sites of interest, all meals, and much more!
French Farm to Table Food Tour Itinerary
Please note this is a sample itinerary with sample menus, subject to change. The 2025 version of this itinerary will take things up a notch! Please inquire for sample menus for 2025.
Day 1 – Friday
- Transfer from the Laval train station or arrival on your own. (Please plan to arrive after 5:00 pm).
- Meet Chef Duvin for an introductory talk during which you will discuss the aims of the course, followed by a champagne welcome.
- This evening, enjoy a 6-course gourmet dinner prepared by your host.
- Sample menu:
- Seared foie gras, spicy fig chutney
- Caramelized scallops, cauliflower medley scented with truffle
- Sorbet
- Roasted duck breast aux cerises, crispy potato terrine
- Cheese
- Raspberry and lime bavarois, honeycomb and meringue
Day 2 – Saturday
Day 2 – Saturday- Breakfast of fresh croissants, breads and preserves, orange juice, local apple juice, yogurts, tea, and coffee.
- Depart this morning for Laval’s market for shopping and sightseeing.
- Return to the farm, where you will feast on your treasures for lunch before heading into the kitchen for your afternoon cooking class, which will be roughly 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Your first class might include a kitchen orientation, a refresher on basic knife skills, and care of knives. Your class will be a mixture of demonstration and hands-on preparation.
- At 5:00 pm break for some nibbles before putting the final touches on dinner.
- Sample menu:
- Two salmon tartare, roasted buckwheat and Espelette pepper
- Sorbet
- Monkfish tail served with a mussel and saffron sauce
- Cheese
- Grand Marnier soufflé with lemon verbena sorbet
Day 3 – Sunday
Day 3 – Sunday- Breakfast, followed by a cooking class this morning featuring pasta dough and desserts.
- Lunch to follow: homemade tagliatelle pasta with smoked salmon and crème fraiche, cheese, and homemade bread.
- At 2:00 pm head back to the kitchen to prepare dinner, including a course on chicken butchery.
- Sample Menu
- Foie gras tortelli, pea purée and truffle foam
- Smoked snail bonbons, garlic espuma
- Sorbet
- Quail and chicken medley, caramelised onion purée, raisin and port réduction
- Cheese
- Coffee and baileys cheesecake in a chocolate teardrop, chocolate and earl grey tea ice cream
Day 4 – Monday
Day 4 – Monday- Breakfast followed by your morning cooking class.
- Lunch will be a selection of cheeses and charcuterie served with fresh bread, pickles, and chutney.
- This afternoon’s class will be a speical hands-on Master-class with a Traditional French Patissier, during which you will make croissants & macarons.
- Sample menu for dinner:
- Scallop carpaccio, mango dressing and Timut pepper
- Chorizo and saffron crème brulée
- Sorbet
- Veal blanquette with a Dijon mustard potato purée
- Cheese
- Lemon meringue tart served with an iced lime parfait
Day 5 – Tuesday
Day 5 – Tuesday- This morning enjoy a brunch cooking class featuring eggs Benedict, fresh bread, orange and apple juice, yogurt, tea, and coffee.
- After brunch, head off to visit one of the beautiful nearby villages.
- Return to the farm for your cooking class and dinner.
- Sample menu:
- Lobster bisque
- Sorbet
- Beef filet tournedos Rossini, truffle jus
- Cheese
- Crêpes Suzette flambées
Day 6- Wednesday
Day 6- Wednesday- Breakfast, followed by your morning cooking class featuring fish, choux pastry, and more.
- Lunch today will be a Croque Monsieur/ Madame with green salad.
- This afternoon head to a nearby medieval town and chateau.
- Back to the farm in the evening to cook and dine.
- Sample menu:
- Duck confit and foie gras terrine
- 65°c egg, truffle and fleur de sel
- Sorbet
- Seared seabass, with a grapefruit beurre blanc
- Cheese
- Saint Honoré
Day 7 – Thursday
Day 7 – Thursday- Breakfast and departure by 10:00 am. A bientôt!
Optional Additional Days
Optional Additional DaysMany culinary enthusiasts often extend their stay to explore the surrounding area. Consider these optional excursions:
- Venture to Mont Saint-Michel for a day trip.
- Enjoy a coastal excursion to Cancale and Saint-Malo.
- Explore the picturesque village of Dinan in Brittany.
- Take an excursion to Villeudieu-les-Poêles in Normandy.
For more information and pricing on these experiences, please feel free to inquire!
Please note this is a sample itinerary with sample menus, subject to change. Please inquire for sample menus for 2025.
Day 1 – Friday
- Transfer from the Laval train station or arrival on your own. (Please plan to arrive after 5:00 pm).
- Meet Chef Duvan for an introductory talk during which you will discuss the aims of the course, followed by a champagne welcome.
- This evening, enjoy a 6-course gourmet dinner prepared by your host.
- Sample menu:
- Celeriac velouté scented with truffle
- Seared scallops, cauliflower purée with a pistachio dressing
- Sorbet
- Duck leg confit, cider and apple sauce, Duchess potato
- Cheese
- Chocolate and passion fruit bavarois
Day 2 – Saturday
- Breakfast of fresh croissants, breads and preserves, orange juice, local apple juice, yogurts, tea, and coffee.
- Depart this morning for Laval’s market for shopping and sightseeing.
- Return to the farm, where you will feast on your treasures, as well as homemade soup, before heading into the kitchen for your afternoon cooking class, which will be roughly 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Your first class might include a kitchen orientation, a refresher on basic knife skills, care of knives, and filleting of trout. Your class will be a mixture of demonstration and hands-on preparation.
- At 5:00 pm break for some nibbles before putting the final touches on dinner.
- Sample menu:
- Goat cheese soufflé, black garlic ice cream
- Sorbet
- Seared salmon filet, served with crushed new potatoes, spinach and a traditional beurre blanc
- Cheese
- Crêpes suzette flambées
Day 3 – Sunday
Day 3 – Sunday- Breakfast, followed by a cooking class this morning featuring brioche, chicken butchery, different types of stock, and boeuf bourguignon.
- Lunch to follow: pickles, fresh bread and salad, followed by cheese and chutney.
- At 2:00 pm head back to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
- Sample Menu
- Home smoked trout mousse
- Scallop in her shell lutée, leek julienne
- Sorbet
- Chicken “4 ways” pumpkin purée and a béarnaise sauce
- Cheese
- Lemon verbena crème brulée, chilli and coconut ice cream
Day 4 – Monday
Day 4 – Monday- Breakfast followed by your morning cooking class featuring homemade pastas, desserts, and finishing the boeuf bourguignon.
- Lunch will tagliatelle with a bacon, tomato and onion sauce, followed by cheese and homemade bread.
- In the afternoon, head to a local sustainable sheep farm that produces cheeses and yogurt.
- Sample menu for dinner:
- Lemon ravioli with a sage butter sauce, pistachio foam
- Sorbet
- Boeuf Bourguignon, gratin dauphinois
- Cheese
- Pear and almond tart, rosemary sorbet in a honey wafer basket
Day 5 – Tuesday
Day 5 – Tuesday- After breakfast, it is time for menu planing for your dinner party! You will prepare a dish as a team, from designing your plate to presenting dinner, and will also prepare your lunch (Croque Monsieur/ Madame with green salad), and start on the rest of dinner.
- In the afternoon, continue the dinner preparations.
- Sample menu:
- Salmon gravadlax scented with beetroot
- Smoked snail bonbon, garlic purée, rocket oil
- Sorbet
- Pork tenderloin CHALLENGE, vegetables and sauce (team presentation)
- Cheese
- Coffee and baileys cheesecake in a chocolate teardrop
- Chocolate and earl grey tea ice cream
Day 6- Wednesday
Day 6- Wednesday- Breakfast and departure by 10:00 am. A bientôt!
Optional Additional Days
Optional Additional DaysMany culinary enthusiasts often extend their stay to explore the surrounding area. Consider these optional excursions:
- Venture to Mont Saint-Michel for a day trip.
- Enjoy a coastal excursion to Cancale and Saint-Malo.
- Explore the picturesque village of Dinan in Brittany.
- Take an excursion to Villeudieu-les-Poêles in Normandy.
For more information and pricing on these experiences, please feel free to inquire!
Trip Details of Farm to Table Culinary Vacations in France
Included in the 6-night Locally-Sourced French Culinary Experiences
Accommodations
6 nights in one of the farm’s guest rooms or at a B&B in town
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 5 lunches
- 6 dinners
Classes & Instructors
In these small-group, hands-on cooking classes, you’ll be guided by Chef Duvin, a Michelin-trained professional with over 30 years of international culinary experience. Chef Duvin blends his expertise and love for French gastronomy with a deep respect for locally sourced ingredients. Discover the timeless traditions initiated by Escoffier himself, with a strong emphasis on genuine farm-to-table French cuisine.
Excursions
- Visit to the Laval Market
- Visit to local owns of interest such as Vitré and/or Saint Suzanne
Transfer Details
- Arrival and departure transfers from/to the Laval train station (Gare Laval)
Not Included
- Beverages with meals (wine and other beverages are available for purchase)
- Personal expenses
Featured in the 5-night Locally-Sourced Culinary Experiences in France
Accommodations
5 nights in one of the farm’s guest rooms or at a B&B in town
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 4 lunches
- 5 dinners
Classes & Instructors
In these small-group, hands-on cooking classes, you’ll be guided by Chef Duvin, a Michelin-trained professional with over 30 years of international culinary experience. Chef Duvin blends his expertise and love for French gastronomy with a deep respect for locally sourced ingredients. Discover the timeless traditions initiated by Escoffier himself, with a strong emphasis on genuine farm-to-table French cuisine.
Excursions
- Visit to the Laval Market
Transfer Details
- Arrival and departure transfers from/to the Laval train station (Gare Laval)
Not Included
- Beverages with meals (wine and other beverages are available for purchase)
- Personal expenses
Country:
France
Region:
Loire
Tour Dates:
Available select dates for a minimum of two people. Please review our complete pricing details.
6 Nights
Starting at
$5,175
5 Nights
Starting at
$4,280
Accommodation Information
Your accommodations for your intensive French cooking holiday will be either in one of the farm’s two elegant, impeccably refurbished guest rooms, or at one of the boutique B&Bs in town carefully chosen by your hosts. (If you are staying at a B&B in town, transportation to and from the school with be provided. You will also be encouraged to take part in the organic farm activities! Gather herbs from the herb gardens, feed the chickens & goats, learn what is planted any why, and learn about the farm’s beehives.
The 200 year old farmhouse boasts the luxuriously renovated St. Malo and Cancale rooms, both one flight up. Both rooms feature en suite bathrooms and are prefect for 2 guests.
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If you are not at the farmhouse, you will stay at one of the traditional, hand-picked French B&Bs located in town, just 10 minutes from the Farm. (Transportation each morning and evening is included).
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Prices and Availability for Our Farm-to-Table Cooking Classes in France
Find pricing and dates for our intensive farm-to-table cooking vacations in France below, and contact us for availability or to book your trip.
2024 Intensive Farm Food Tour Pricing:
6-night Program
US$5175 per person based on double occupancy
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
2025 Advanced Straight From the Farm Cooking Course Pricing:
6-night Program
US$6325 per person based on double occupancy
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
6-Night Farm-to-Table Culinary Holiday Tour Dates
Your French farm-to-table vacation is available the following dates for a minimum of 1, maximum of 6 people. Other dates are also available – please inquire!
2024
August 23-29
September 27-October 2
October 11-17
2025
May 10-16
June 6-12
August 8-14
September 5-11
5-Night Farm-Fresh Cooking Classes 2024 Pricing:
5-night Program
US$4280 per person based on double occupancy
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
2025 Five-Night Farm-to-Table French Culinary Vacation Pricing:
5-night Program
US$4280 per person based on double occupancy
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
5-Night Immersive Farm-to-Table Culinary Holiday Tour Dates in France
Your French cooking vacation is available the following dates for a minimum of 1, maximum of 6 people. Other dates are also available – please inquire!
2024
April 5-10
June 21-26
September 13-18
2025
March 7-12
March 21-26
May 23-28
June 22-27
September 19-24
October 3-8
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You Might Also Enjoy Our Selection of French Cooking Escapes
Country:
France
Region:
Loire
Tour Dates:
Available select dates for a minimum of two people. Please review our complete pricing details.
6 Nights
Starting at
$5,175
5 Nights
Starting at
$4,280
Want more flexibility? We can customize all of your trip details for you, including:
- Trip length and Itineraries
- Hotels and Tours
- Transfers and Airfare
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