Culinary experience
This culinary adventure commences on a Friday early evening, setting the stage with a delightful champagne reception followed by a sumptuous six-course gourmet dinner.
This evening serves as a perfect opportunity to mingle with your fellow guests/participants and sample the exquisite cuisine that you will learn to prepare throughout the course.
The subsequent days are packed with exciting activities:
Saturday morning kicks off with a visit to the enchanting market in Laval. As the locals do, you will immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and explore the array of fresh seasonal specialties offered by the market. This market tour provides an immersive experience in French culture and culinary traditions.
After a leisurely lunch, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and delve into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking session with Chef Eric as you prepare dinner.
Sunday and Monday are dedicated to the kitchen, where a combination of hands-on cooking and demonstrations will expand your culinary repertoire.
Tuesday morning continues with hands-on cooking until lunchtime. In the afternoon, a well-deserved break awaits as we venture to Vitré, a medieval city known for its captivating historical center, picturesque castle, charming cobbled streets, and old half-timbered houses. It’s a perfect opportunity to relax, explore, and indulge in some shopping.
Returning to the kitchen, the focus shifts to perfecting the finishing touches and presentation of the dinner.
Wednesday marks the final day in the kitchen, where you will once again be actively engaged in hands-on culinary creation, crafting a memorable dinner.
On Thursday morning, we prepare a late breakfast/brunch, ensuring you have ample energy before embarking on a visit to the iconic Mont Saint Michel. This extraordinary historical and spiritual site will captivate you as you climb the approximately 350 steps to reach the Abbey, rewarded by stunning views and an enriching experience.
After an eventful afternoon exploring Mont Saint Michel, we return to savor a well-deserved dinner, accompanied by a glass of wine, providing a perfect opportunity to unwind and reflect on the memorable week filled with culinary delights and cultural excursions.
Throughout the course, you will have the chance to refine your culinary skills, indulge in delectable meals, discover local markets and historical sites, and create lasting memories in the company of like-minded food enthusiasts.
Day 1 - Friday
Arrival in the afternoon
17.00 – Introductory talk with complimentary champagne and canapés,
Discussing aims and course structure
18.00 – Dinner 6-course gourmet dinner
Menu



Caramelised scallops, cauliflower 3 ways, pistachio dressing
Smoked duck and foie gras egg cocotte
Sorbet
Beef filet tournedos, braised celeriac and truffle jus
Cheese
Mont-Blanc
Tea and coffee
Day 2 - Saturday
8.45 – Breakfast (to include fresh croissants, breads and preserves, orange juice, local apple juice, yogurts, tea and coffee.)
9.15 Off to Laval’s market for shopping and sightseeing.
13.00 Returning to The Walnut Grove, we will break for lunch and feast on our treasures.
14.00 – Kitchen –
We will begin the course and our journey in the kitchen with hands on experience and demonstrations preparing for dinner
Welcome, explore kitchen/equipment etc…Refresher basic knife skills; care of knives, safety,
sharpening, chop and slice onion, carrot…
Demonstration/hands-on:
Scallop carpaccio. Sorbet
Preparing monkfish, matelote sauce, vegetables.
Orange marmelade pim’s, lemon verbena sorbet and Grand Marnier soufflé mise en place.
16.30 – Finish
17.00 – Aperitifs and nibbles
17.30 – Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.00 – Dinner
Menu
Day 3 - Sunday
8.45 – Breakfast
9.15 – Menu Explanation
Kitchen: Demonstration/hands-on:
Veal and chicken stock (for jelly), chicken stock for consommé (Wednesday), Lobster bisque
Langoustine tartar, Carrot bavarois and Campari espuma, Savoury pastry
10.45 – Demonstration/hands-on:
Deboning quail, chicken mousseline, stuffed quail.
braised chestnut, port and juniper reduction, strawberries, coconut sponge. Quiche.
13.00 – Lunch, home-made quiche Lorraine, fresh salad from the garden (or market), Cheese and chutney
14.00 – Demonstration/hands-on: Beef bourguignon, White chocolate sphère, passion fruit cream
16.30 – Finish
17.00- Aperitifs and nibbles
17.30 – Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.00 – Dinner
Menu
Langoustine tartar, Carrot bavarois and Campari espuma
Sorbet
Stuffed quail, chestnut, port and juniper reduction
Cheese
White chocolate sphère, strawberries with long red pepper, passion fruit cream, pistachio sponge
Tea and coffee
Day 4 - Monday
8.45 – Breakfast
9.15 – Menu Explanation
Kitchen: Demonstration/hands-on:
Foie gras crème brulée, chicken jelly, smoked onion, gratin dauphinois.
Chocolate pastry dough
13.00 – Lunch; Vegetable soup from the garden, cheese and fresh bread
14.00 – Demonstration/hands-on:
Truffle foam, smoked onion tartelette.
Coffee ganache, chocolate ganache,
chocolate caviar, chocolate decor. Caramelised apple for “The Apple”.
16.30 – Finish
17.00 – Aperitifs and nibbles
17.30 – Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.00 – Dinner
Menu





Foie gras crème brulée, chicken jelly, truffle foam, smoked onion tartelette
Sorbet
Beef bourguignon and gratin dauphinois
(Oxtail or Ox cheek)
Cheese
Chocolat caviar tartlet
Tea and coffee
Day 5 - Tuesday
8.45 – Breakfast
9.15 – Menu Explanation
Kitchen: Demonstration/hands-on:
Snail bonbon, garlic purée
Sweet pastry, poached pear, apricot sorbet, “The Apple”
Fig leaves milk, seabass prep, vegetable and coffee jus.
12.00 – Lunch; Cold meat, charcuterie and salad from the garden, fresh bread.
13.00 – Off to visit Vitré, medieval town, chateau and shopping
17.00 – Back for Aperitifs and nibbles
17.30- In the kitchen to finish prep
18.00 – Dinner
Menu
Day 6 - Wednesday
8.45 – Breakfast
9.15 – Menu Explanation
Kitchen: Demonstration/hands-on: Chicken, tomato, smoked bacon
consommé. Coco beans,
braised leg of lamb
Pastry tart, Puff pastry, choux pastry, diplomate cream.
Croque monsieur
13.00 – Lunch; Croque Monsieur/ Madame and salad, fruit salad
14.00 – Demonstration/hands-on: Veal Blanquette, lamb sauce to finish,
Saint Honoré
16.30 – Finish
17.00 – Aperitifs and nibbles
17.30- Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.00 – Dinner
Menu
Chicken, tomato, smoked bacon consommé, en croute
Sorbet
7h braised lamb shoulder with coco beans
Cheese
Saint Honoré
Tea and coffee
Day 7 - Thursday
9h30 – Brunch Demonstration/hands-on:
Eggs Benedict
Poached egg, smoked salmon, bacon,
hollandaise sauce
Ham and cheese, fresh bread, orange and apple juice,
yogurt, tea and coffee.
11.00 We’re off to visit to The Mont Saint michel
Back at 18.00 for Aperitifs and nibbles
18.30 Back in the kitchen to finish prep
19.00 – Dinner
Menu
Lobster bisque
Sorbet
Veal blanquette, wholegrain mustard purée
Cheese
Caramel and pear bavarois
Tea and coffee

Day 8 - Friday
9.00 – Breakfast
Departure before 10.00
Prices - Culinary adventure
– Euros € 2795.00 per person, shared ensuite bedroom with twin beds or double bed.
– Euros € 1595.00 non-cooking friend or partner
– Euros € 495.00 single room supplement
From 1st January 2024
– Euros € 3197.00 per person, shared ensuite bedroom with twin beds or double bed.
– Euros € 1997.00 non-cooking friend or partner
– Euros € 547.00 single room supplement
WHAT'S INCLUDED
– Excursion to The Mont Saint Michel
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
– Travel
– Entrance fee to Vitré’s Chateau museum (€6 Euros)
– Entrance fee to The Abbey at The Mont Saint Michel ( €11 Euros)
– Laundry (€25 Euros)
– Wine and alcoholic beverages
Wine and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased from our bar