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Your Experience
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.
Where It Begins
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.
What You’ll Learn
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.
By Week’s End
Culinary Adventure
6 Days / 5 Nights
A hands-on immersion into classical French cuisine, designed for passionate home cooks ready to deepen their skills, confidence, and understanding.
Each day, you’ll step into the rhythm of a professional kitchen mastering essential techniques with calm, personal guidance adapted to your level.
Dates - 2026
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May 15 - 17 €2,250 - (3 Days / 3 Nights)
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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 - (5 Days / 4 Nights)
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August 21–27
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September 4- 9, 18–23, 25–30
Price
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Cooking participant: €3,725
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Non-participating guest: €2,600
Information & Conditions
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A 30% deposit is required at the time of booking
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The remaining balance is due no later than 60 days prior to the start of the trip
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We reserve the right to introduce changes due to force majeure or unforeseen circumstances, while always aiming to confirm similar properties, vehicles, and experiences
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CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) travel insurance is mandatory for all participants
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.
What you’ll work on:
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Knife skills & kitchen organisation
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Classic French cooking 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 & seasonality
Beyond the kitchen:
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Visit to a French farmer’s market
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Local sheep farm experience
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Guided visit to Vitré, a medieval town
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.
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
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Information & Conditions
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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
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.
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
Included cultural experience:
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French farmer’s market and a guided visit to Vitré (medieval town).
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.
