Vegetarian Cooking Course and Well-Being Retreat
This course is the result of a chance encounter. Ana and Eric met at a workshop on permaculture, a shared passion for nature and its complex ecosystem, which contributes greatly to our well-being.
They believe that growing their own fruit and vegetable garden, in an environmentally responsible manner, is the best way to eat and live healthier. They are convinced that combining healthy eating habits and physical activity contribute to the balanced development of individual.
Eric, with his passion for cooking, transforms the crops from the garden into a wonderful meal. And Ana undertakes the challenge of reconciling with nature, in order to cultivate a deeper connection to and understanding of the self through mindfulness and yoga practices.
This course aims to share their passions in a green, peaceful and happy environment.
Whether you are a gourmet know-it-all or a culinary novice, Eric will teach you everything there is to know about cooking, from the basics to the most advanced techniques, through tasty recipes to share with all your loved ones.
With Ana, whether you are discovering yoga, meditation and mindfulness or yoga is already part of your daily life, you practice self-awareness that lead to a relaxed state of mind.
You feel a sense of belongingness with everyone and everything on this Earth. You discover the power of yoga, how it maintains and energizes the body, refines the mind and creates awareness.
With Ana and Eric you are experiencing conscious eating. You will be nourished in every sense of the word!
My name is Ana and I have been practicing various forms of yoga since 2006. Later on I discovered Kundalini yoga and teaching yoga has become obvious to me. I am a fully trained kundalini yoga practitioner and offer yoga classes in the countryside where I have settled in order to reconcile with nature through gardening and hiking.
In 2015, through a friend of mine, I enrolled in MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) classes, without really knowing what to expect. Then a whole new world has opened up to me, embracing all newly learned practices into my daily life.
Thereafter, I practiced meditation in a Tibetan center and joined a Plum Village Sangha (practice community) in 2016. Since then, I have been an active member of the community and have enjoyed every retreat, meeting, and weekly practice. What a joy!
Today, yoga and mindfulness are a part of my life. Sharing my skills and experiences with others feeds my mind and energizes me. It also allows me to meet wonderful people, experience moments of joy and make my life so rich and worthy!
With Eric, I found not only the perfect environment to share my knowledge and passions, but also my most harmoniously matched partner!
This cooking course begins on the Saturday late afternoon around 5pm, first of all to have the pleasure of welcoming you all. Then the evening will begin with a six-course vegetarian gourmet dinner. You will have then the chance to get to know your fellow participants and taste the kind of dish you will have the opportunity to make during your stay at Walnut Grove!
The days will start with a kundalini yoga session, suitable for all, to awaken both body and mind. We will seek together a mindfulness energy following different practices inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh and Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Sunday will mainly be spent in the kitchen, where you will learn essential skills and techniques such as handling of knives, seasoning, tofu making from soya beans, bread making, sous vide food, pastry, ghee preparation, etc…..
During the rest of the week we offer multiple activities for the afternoon. On Monday, a garden tour will provide you a time to reconnect with nature and this will allow us to discuss and exchange experiences on permaculture, its way of life, not just gardening! Tuesday we will enjoy a guided hike, exploring the French countryside. Wednesday we will discover Vitré , the historical centre of the medieval city with its beautiful castle, cobbled streets, and old half-timbered houses… a time to relax and shop!
Back in the kitchen, we will dedicate our time to the finishing touches and presentation of dinner. Wednesday it’s also challenge day! This last evening, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your newly acquired skills by preparing the evening dinner.
This course is specifically designed to combine the experience of kundalini yoga as a yoga of consciousness awakening and well being, and traditional French cuisine through inventive vegetarian recipes.
The itinerary may be subject to change according to the market in order to take advantage of the seasonal/regional foods.
Day 1 - Saturday
Arrival in the afternoon
17.00 Welcome shared moment, discussing aims and course structure
18.00 Dinner 6-course vegetarian gourmet dinner
Menu
Chickpea provençal terrine
Cauliflower 3 ways scented with truffle oil VG
Sorbet
Asparagus, black garlic and miso risotto GF
Cheese
Passion fruit bavarois and dark chocolate VG – GF
Herbal tea
Day 2 - Sunday
7.00 Invitation to join a 1 h session Yoga practice
8.00 Personal time (45mn)
8.45 Breakfast (to include Miam-ô-Fruits or porridge with spices and fresh fruit / fresh croissants or brioche,
breads and preserves, detox juice, yogurts, tea, coffee and herbal tea.)
9.15 Kitchen. Welcome, explore kitchen/equipment etc…
Hands-on Basic knife skills; care of knives, safety, sharpening,
chop and slice onion, brunoise of carrot, julienne of leek.. artichoke, ratatouille, celeriac. Vegetable stock
11.00 Demonstration / hands-on: Crème Dubarry (cauliflower velouté), Ghee preparation practice. Sweet pastry,
Bread making; country loaf. Seasoning Techniques How to bring the best out of your ingredients
11.45 Garden tour; Discovery of the different zones to harvest what we need during the course.
12.45 Walking meditation (10mn)
13.00 Lunch. Crème Dubarry, vegetarian pâté, pickles, salads and fresh bread
14.00 Guided relaxation (30mn)
14.30 Demonstration / Hands-on; Tofu making class.
braised celeriac, sous vide leeks, Romesco sauce.
Crêpes mix, lemon tart and iced lime parfait
17.30 Personal time (45mn)
18.15 Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.30 Dinner followed by meditation
Menu
Leeks with romesco sauce VG
(Sous vide cooking)
Sorbet
Roasted celeriac, sweet potato and artichoke,
hollandaise sauce with yuzu and chilli
Cheese
Crêpes suzette flambées
(Classic recipe and okara GF – DF option)
Herbal tea
Day 3 - Monday
7.00 Invitation to join an 1 h session Yoga practice
8.00 Personal time
8.45 Breakfast
9.15 Menu Explanation
Kitchen: Demonstration /hands-on
Bread making; fougasse. Pasta dough, tagliatelle, roasted tomato sauce.
Morel ravioli, spinach puree and beetroot foam. Blanquette.
honey wafer baskets plus tuile work. Seeds sprouting.
12.45 Walking meditation 10mn
13.00 Lunch: homemade tagliatelles, fresh bread and salad, followed by cheese
14.00 Guided relaxation (30mn)
15.00 Garden Tour and Permaculture Exchange
How to start your own natural garden and grow an abondance of fruits and vegetables.
18.15 Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.30 Dinner followed by meditation
Menu
Morel and sage ravioli, spinach and
parmesan puree, beetroot foam
Sorbet
Blanquette à l’ancienne VG – GF
Cheese
Glazed lemon tart with iced lime parfait
served in a honey wafer basket
Herbal tea
Day 4 - Tuesday
7.00 Invitation to join an 1 h session Yoga practice
8.00 Personal time (45mn)
8.45 Breakfast
9.15 Menu Explanation
Demonstration / hands-on : Fougasse, bourguignon, crème brulée.
Soufflé mise en place. Lunch preparation
12.45 Walking meditation (10mn)
13.00 Lunch: Steamed vegetables with a dip selection, salads,
Earthy soup and homemade focaccia
14.00 Guided relaxation (30mn)
14.30 Personal time or Invitation to a guided hiking trail in the French countryside
17.30 Personal time (45mn)
18.15 Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.30 Dinner followed by meditation
Menu
Goat cheese soufflé
Sorbet
Vegetarian Bourguignon
Gratin Dauphinois VG – GF
Cheese
Lemon verbena crème brulée
Herbal tea
Day 5 - Wednesday
7.00 Invitation to join an 1 h session Yoga practice
8.00 Personal time (45mn)
8.45 Breakfast
9.15 Menu Explanation
“YOU ARE THE CHEF”
Hands-on:
The Walnut Grove Challenge (your dish, your design)
Working as a team you will prepare dinner and create your own main course
Onions soup, ice cream, cheesecake in chocolate case, chocolate work.
Lunch preparation
12.45 Walking meditation (10mn)
13.00 Lunch: vegetarian barbecue.
14.00 Guided relaxation (30mn)
14.30 Excursion and shopping in Vitré, 1000 years old medieval town and castle.
17.30 Personal time (45mn)
18.15 Back in the kitchen to finish prep
18.30 Dinner followed by meditation
Menu
French onions soup VG – GF
Sorbet
The Walnut Grove GREEN Challenge
(your dish, your design)
Using only GREENS
from our garden and your homemade tofu
Cheese
Coffee and baileys cheesecake with
chocolate and earl grey tea ice cream
Herbal tea
Day 6 - Thursday
9.00 Breakfast
Departure before midday
Prices - Vegetarian cooking course itinerary
– Euros € 1995.00 per person, shared ensuite bedroom with twin beds or double bed.
– Euros € 395.00 single room supplement (Local BnB)
“4 People minimum booked for the course to proceed”
What's included
What's not included
– Travel
– Entrance fee to Vitré’s Chateau museum (€6 Euros)
– Laundry (€25 Euros)
– Wine and alcoholic beverages
Wine and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased from our bar