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Eiffel Tower in Paris experienced as part of a luxury French culinary retreat

A French Christmas with Chef Eric

A small-group culinary journey from Mont-Saint-Michel to Paris
Limited to 6 guests

Seen through the eyes of a professional chef, this is a week of cooking, hosting, and experiencing France at Christmas — with a focus on technique, structure, and real-world application.

2-DSC00132.Refined French dish being plated during a hands-on cooking class in France

More Than a Cooking Holiday

This is not a demonstration course or a series of recipes.

The week is built around understanding how French cooking works in practice — how to organise, prepare, and serve food in a real setting, particularly for Christmas and entertaining.

You will cook, not watch.
You will understand, not follow.

With a group limited to six guests, the experience allows for direct access to Chef Eric throughout, in a setting designed for learning, not performance.

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Hands-on festive cooking at The Walnut Grove

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A practical approach to planning and executing a Christmas table

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 A small group of no more than 6 guests

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Direct access to Chef Eric throughout the week

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Private chauffeur transfers between Paris and Brittany

Le Mont Saint Michel.heic

Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo

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Christmas lights in Laval’s château and medieval streets

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Chef-led visits to Dehillerin and professional kitchen suppliers

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Meals in selected Paris institutions and at The Walnut Grove

The Experience

This experience is built around a simple idea:

To understand French cooking properly, you need time in the kitchen, a clear approach, and the right environment.

The week is based at The Walnut Grove, where cooking is hands-on and focused on how food is prepared, organised, and served — particularly for Christmas and entertaining.

 

Alongside the kitchen, the experience moves beyond it.

From Mont-Saint-Michel to Paris, you will see France through places and moments that reflect both tradition and everyday life.

The pace is balanced — time to cook, to explore, and to sit at the table.

Everything is organised so that you can focus on the experience itself.

Experience Highlights

A week designed around cooking, hosting, and experiencing France at Christmas — with Paris explored through Chef Eric’s knowledge, perspective, and professional experience.

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At The Walnut Grove

The heart of the experience is in the kitchen — cooking, learning, and hosting in a warm and intimate setting.

  • Hands-on festive cooking sessions

  • A practical approach to planning and executing a Christmas table

  • A small group of no more than 6 guests

  • Continuous guidance and access to Chef Eric

  • Shared meals and relaxed hosted evenings

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In Paris

Begin your journey with a chef-led perspective on the city’s culinary and festive icons.

  • Chef-led visit to Dehillerin and specialist kitchen suppliers

  • Chef-led visit to La Grande Épicerie

  • Lunch at Le Pied de Cochon

  • Lunch at Les Antiquaires

  • Dinner at La Fontaine de Mars

  • Dinner at Le Grand Véfour

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Beyond the Kitchen

Experience the atmosphere, culture, and beauty of France at Christmas.

  • Private chauffeur transfers between Paris and Brittany

  • Cultural excursions to Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo

  • Christmas light installations in Laval’s château and medieval streets

  • Time to explore Vitré, the “thousand-year town”

Booking Information

Price

€9,500
Per person, based on double occupancy

Single Supplement: €1,000

Dates

December 4 – 11, 2026

Availability

Spots are limited, limited to 6 guests

Information & Conditions

  • A 30% deposit is required at the time of booking

  • The remaining balance is due no later than 60 days prior to the start of the trip

  • We reserve the right to introduce changes due to force majeure or unforeseen circumstances, while always aiming to confirm similar properties, vehicles, and experiences

  • CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) travel insurance is mandatory for all participants

A Week in France

  • Private transfer from Paris to your 4-star hotel in Vitré.

    Apéritif and dinner at the house.

  • Hands-on festive cooking and visit to Laval.

  • Focus on hosting, organisation, and structure.

  • Full-day excursion to the coast.

  • Transfer to your 5-star hotel in Paris.

    Evening in Paris, Dinner at La Fontaine de Mars and Eiffel Tower by night

  • Chef-led visits and classic Paris lunch Au Pied de Cochon

  • La Grande Epicerie, Les Antiquaires and Le Grand Véfour

  • Departure after breakfast

The experience is designed to be fully hosted, allowing you to focus on the cooking, the places, and the time at the table.

Included in the program:

  • 7 nights accommodation
    (4 nights in 4-star hotel in Vitré, 3 nights in 5-star in Paris)

  • Private chauffeur transfers from Paris to Brittany and return to Paris

  • All cooking sessions at The Walnut Grove

  • Daily guidance and instruction with Chef Eric

  • Excursions to Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel

  • Visit to Laval Christmas lights

  • Chef-led visits in Paris, including Dehillerin and specialist kitchen suppliers

  • All scheduled lunches and dinners as part of the program

  • All drinks included at The Walnut Grove
    (wine, aperitifs, and table beverages)

Professional French chef preparing a gourmet dish in a countryside cooking retreat

Meet Chef Eric

Chef Eric Duvin is a classically trained French chef with decades of experience in Michelin-level kitchens and private service for royalty and dignitaries. Today, he shares his expertise through immersive, hands-on cooking experiences at The Walnut Grove Cookery School, where he teaches the foundations of French cuisine with a focus on technique, seasonality, and confidence in the kitchen.

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