We begin on Friday with a warm welcome at our 19th-century farmhouse cookery school.
Once you've settled into your room, we’ll gather for a seasonal welcome dinner, prepared by Chef Eric.
The evening begins with Champagne and canapés, followed by a beautifully cooked menu highlighting fresh produce from our garden and local artisans.
Each morning, you’ll step into the kitchen for immersive, hands-on instruction. You’ll work with exceptional ingredients, many from our own land, and learn to cook with the seasons.
From knife skills to stock-making, from butchery to pâtisserie — every lesson is grounded in classical French technique.
What You’ll Learn
Throughout the week, you’ll build confidence in the fundamentals:
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Classic French cooking techniques
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Knife handling and mise en place
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Stocks, jus, and essential sauces
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Pastry doughs, desserts, soufflés
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Sous vide and precision cooking
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Blanching, braising, searing, poaching, roasting
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Chocolate and sugar work
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Modern plating and presentation
We provide you with a printed folder of recipes and menus to take home — a lasting reference of everything you’ve cooked and learned.
Each evening ends around the table, sharing a six-course dinner — dishes you helped prepare yourself.
By Week’s End
You’ll leave with more than skills — you’ll leave with confidence.
You’ll understand not just how to cook beautifully, but why techniques matter, and how to adapt them in your own kitchen.
Whether you join us to sharpen your skills or to rediscover your love of food, this retreat is designed to give you something lasting.
This isn’t a cooking holiday. It’s a culinary transformation.
Choose the retreat that best matches your level, goals, and curiosity.
Each experience at The Walnut Grove Cookery School is limited to six guests and built around hands-on learning, calm instruction, and classical French technique.
Culinary Adventure
6 Days / 5 Nights
A hands-on introduction to classical French cuisine, designed for passionate home cooks who want to build strong foundations, confidence, and real understanding.
You’ll focus on essential techniques used daily in a French kitchen, with guidance adapted to your level and pace.
You’ll work on:
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Knife skills and kitchen organisation
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Classic French techniques
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Stocks, jus, and essential sauces
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Butchery fundamentals
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Introductory pastry
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Market cooking and seasonality
Included cultural experience, French farmer’s market, local sheep farm and a guided visit to Vitré, a medieval town.
At a Glance
Dates - 2026
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March 6–11, 13–18
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May 22–27
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June 5–10, 19–24
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August 3 - 7 : €2,950
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August 21–26
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September 18–23, 25–30
Price
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Cooking participant: €3,725
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Non-participating guest: €2,600
Group Size: Maximum 6 guests
This retreat is designed to give you clarity and confidence in the kitchen.
You will cook every day, understand why techniques work, and leave with skills that transfer naturally to your home cooking.
Gourmet Odyssey
7 Days / 6 Nights
An advanced immersion into classical French cuisine perfect for returning guests or confident home cooks ready to refine technique and deepen intuition.
This week focuses on refinement — understanding why techniques work, how to adapt them, and how to cook with intention rather than rigid recipes.
What You’ll Focus On:
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Advanced knife skills and fish filleting
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Mother sauces, refinement, and plating
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Menu design and kitchen planning
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Advanced pastry techniques
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Croissant and macaron masterclass
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Included cultural experience, French farmer’s market and a guided visit to Vitré (medieval town).
At a Glance
Dates - 2026
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May 8–14
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October 9–15
Price
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Cooking participant: €5,500
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Non-participating guest: €3,850
Group Size: Maximum 6 guests
This experience pushes beyond recipes. The emphasis is on precision, creativity, and understanding — helping you cook with greater freedom, confidence, and intention.
Bespoke Culinary Retreat
Flexible Dates · Fully Tailored
Create your own private culinary retreat with Chef Eric.
Designed for couples, friends, or private groups seeking a personalised experience.
What You Can Customise:
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Dates and length of stay
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Techniques and themes
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Level of instruction
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Accommodation options
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Optional cultural excursions
The French Cooking School Prices
Our Prices Include
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Guest accommodations at the Farm or In the Village. No single room supplement
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All course instruction & equipment.
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Excursions, as noted, in the course descriptions.
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Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinners as noted in the course descriptions.
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Please Note: Most itineraries include a welcome Champagne & Canape' Reception; A Six Course Gourmet Dinner Prepared by Chef Duvin; Remaining Nights: Gourmet Dinners Prepared by the Students with Chef's Assistance.
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All transportation for activities listed in each itinerary is included, providing smooth and hassle-free travel throughout your entire experience.
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Roundtrip transfers from Gare Laval (Limited times only)
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Complimentary On-site Parking
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Complimentary access to Wi-Fi
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A comprehensive recipe folder to guide your culinary journey, making it easy to recreate delicious dishes at home.
Our Prices Exclude:
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Laundry service is available on request
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Wine or spirits ordered on-site
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Any gifts purchases on-site
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Airfare, train or car rental fees associated with your travel
Optional Cultural Excursions — Beyond the Kitchen
Extend your stay and discover the cultural richness of the region surrounding The Walnut Grove.
These optional excursions are designed to complement your time in the kitchen, offering a deeper sense of place and history — all within easy reach of the cookery school
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Choose Your Experience:
• Mont-Saint-Michel — Spend an additional day exploring this remarkable island abbey and its medieval streets, shaped by tides, pilgrimage, and centuries of history.
• Cancale & Saint-Malo — From oyster beds along the coast of Cancale to the fortified ramparts of Saint-Malo, this day offers a taste of Brittany’s maritime heritage.
• Dinan — A beautifully preserved medieval town, known for its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and riverside views.
• Villedieu-les-Poêles — An artisanal village renowned for traditional copperwork, offering insight into a craft still practiced by hand.
• Loire Valley (2–3 days) — A longer, custom extension to explore châteaux, vineyards, and the refined landscapes of the Loire.
