There are few ways to get to the heart of a culture faster than through it’s cuisine. At Not In The Guidebooks, we believe that on a cooking holiday you can leave with a deeper understanding of a country and its traditions by immersing yourself in the food and drink that the locals love.
Here are a selection of five of our favourite foodie escapes, to help get you inspired for your next adventure whether it’s mastering French cuisine in a rural farmhouse, or diving into Moroccan flavours in Essaouira.
1. French Dessert and Pastry Making Holiday
Indulge your passion for baking and French patisserie on a delightful 6-night cooking course that promises to elevate your culinary skills. Led by award-winning chefs Alison and Sidney, this immersive experience goes beyond mastering classic French desserts and pastries. Over 36 hours of hands-on cooking and demonstrations, you’ll delve into a sweet adventure, creating everything from eclairs to croissants, sorbets to chocolates, and even enjoying a dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant.
Alison and Sidney, a talented husband-and-wife team with a global culinary background, guide you through the intricacies of their craft, emphasizing the use of local, seasonal produce. Their expertise, recognized at international levels and having catered to heads of state and celebrities, ensures an exceptional learning journey. If they’ve cooked for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, you can expect nothing less than top-notch culinary instruction.
Immerse yourself in the charm of authentic French culinary experiences while enjoying 6 nights in a 4-star hotel within walking distance of the cooking school. Renovated to seamlessly blend modern conveniences with old French charm, these accommodations provide the perfect retreat. Your hosts offer convenient pick-up services, yet many guests enjoy a leisurely walk or bicycle ride through the quiet hamlet. Explore on foot, relax by the pool during your free time, and return home not just with new cooking skills, but with a profound love for the art of creating exquisite desserts.
2. Gourmet Cookery Course In Rural France
Escape to the serene French countryside with this home-based cooking holiday, where a week-long culinary journey awaits. Led by the lively and animated Chef Eric, the small-sized classes ensure an interactive and personalized learning experience. Whether you’re mastering basic culinary techniques or delving into advanced methods, the comprehensive courses caters to all skill levels, fostering creativity in a warm and inviting environment surrounded by like-minded food enthusiasts.
The adventure unfolds with a Saturday evening of champagne and a six-course gourmet dinner, setting the tone for the week. From hands-on activities like bread making and butchery to pasta crafting and pastry work, each day brings new skills and culminates in gourmet dinners. A midweek highlight includes a visit to a sustainable sheep farm, offering insights into cheese and yogurt production. The course concludes with a Wednesday evening dinner, providing an opportunity to showcase the skills you’ve learnt. The overarching aim is to build confidence and deepen understanding, empowering participants to elevate their cooking to the next level.
But the week isn’t solely about cooking; it’s a gastronomic adventure filled with flavors, aromas, and cultural exploration. From the charming medieval town of Vitré to the concluding six-course dinner, our cooking holidays are designed to ignite culinary curiosity, enhance skills, and leave you with an unforgettable appreciation for the art of cooking.
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3. Short Cooking and Wine-Tasting Break
Embark on a culinary adventure in the heart of Tuscany with our family-run Italian cooking and wine short break. Nestled near Lucca, this 4-night experience offers a perfect blend of hands-on cooking, exploration of local markets, and visits to vineyards in the enchanting region of “La Garfagnana.”
Led by seasoned chef Rita, immerse yourself in the life of a true Italian chef as you learn the basics of Italian cooking techniques. The picturesque setting provides the perfect backdrop to savor local wines and traditions, enhancing your culinary journey. Beyond the kitchen, discover the charm of Barga, hailed as one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy, as you explore its unique streets and vibrant local markets.
The experience goes beyond structured group tours, offering a more personalized and flexible approach. Rita’s accommodating nature allows you to shape the itinerary based on your interests and whims, providing a genuine taste of the Tuscan lifestyle. As evenings unfold, relax into the ambiance of the region, where meals prepared together transform into familial gatherings filled with wine, music, and song. Rita, fluent in both English and Italian, ensures a seamless transition into the Italian culture, creating a cooking holiday in Italy that will linger long in your memory.
4. Spanish Cooking, Wine Tasting & Market Visit
Enhance your trip to Barcelona with a wonderful Spanish cooking class and tour of the famous La Boqueria food market with your local chef for a city break with a difference.
This cooking class differentiates itself not only with its carefully thought out menu using locally sourced and where possible, organic produce but also with its wine tasting opportunities as the school has developed a private label reserve so that guests can taste and enjoy their choice of two magnificent wines during throughout their course. These artisan wines have been especially developed by Carlos and Emi, two talented winemakers based in the famous wine region of La Rioja.
There is a set menu each day which includes the Spanish classics of Gazpacho, Tortilla, Paella and crème catalana to give you a real taste of traditional Spanish dishes and to teach you how to recreate these dishes back home to impress your friends. Before you start the cooking class, you will enjoy a guided visit to the famous La Boqueria market where you’ll learn to spot the freshest ingredients as well as discovering some of Spain’s food specials in the market that is guaranteed to stimulate all of your senses.
5. Moroccan Photography and Cooking Holiday
This unique 7-night holiday seamlessly blends photography and cooking in the enchanting coastal village of Essaouira, Morocco. Nestled in a traditional Moroccan Riad, this holiday invites you to explore the best of Morocco through the lens of a digital SLR camera or even a smartphone, offering outstanding photo opportunities in a setting renowned for its rich culture, maze of Souks, and vibrant North African colors and flavors.
Essaouira, with its historical charm and stunning landscapes, serves as the perfect backdrop for this combined photography and cooking experience. Photographers will be inspired by excursions to the Souks, seascapes, Medinas, Argan oil producers, and captivating sunsets. Small group tuition ensures personalized guidance throughout the course, allowing you to enhance your photography skills while immersing yourself in the diverse Moroccan surroundings.
In addition to photography, this holiday provides a unique opportunity to explore your culinary creativity and delve into Moroccan culture through two cookery lessons. Take the time to quietly study and absorb the richness of Essaouira, transcending typical holiday photo snapshots to capture images that tell a deeper story. The accommodation, a magnificent Riad in the heart of Essaouira, offers a charming roof terrace where you can enjoy warm evenings outdoors, admiring and even photographing the stunning sunset light over the town—an ideal conclusion to your immersive Moroccan experience.
Here at Not In The Guidebooks, we are always on the hunt for new local, authentic travel experiences that allow you to explore the world in a responsible manner. Whether it’s a wildlife holiday in Costa Rica or a family holiday in Lapland, you can be sure that you’ll come away having not only seen a destination, but experienced it like a local.
16/08/2017 
