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French Cookery and Gastronomy Holiday

Highlights

  • Includes all meals, accommodation and return train station transfers
  • Outings to vineyards, local markets, chateaus and more
  • Stay in a picturesque farmhouse with large swimming pool
from £1890 pp*
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7 Night

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What you'll do

Overview

Set in a beautiful 19th century farmhouse sitting in 50 acres of countryside, you'll learn to cook tasty French cuisine and explore the delights of French cuisine with culinary guided excursions. And what better place to learn? Famously a gourmet paradise, Gascony is famed for its delicious duck to succulent wild boar and charming local wines, not forgetting the allure of Gascony Armagnac.

Enthusiastic cook Adam will accompany you on a range of culinary excursions, which can be anything from visiting a local Armagnac producer and tasting to visiting a butcher to learn all about charcuterie.

You will learn real knowledge about real food, with Adam showing you how to cook proper homemade French meals served with just a little show and a lot of passion, all accompanied by some spectacular wines and, at times, champagne.

You will stay in a stunning renovated farmhouse with its own swimming pool and 50 acres of land at your disposal. This is the perfect place to relax and unwind and your hosts Adam and Caroline will be on hand at all times to ensure your stay is as enjoyable as possible. There are also no single supplements for solo travellers, making this a fantastic holiday for singles.

Get more from your holiday and learn to cook in Gascony, enjoy warm hospitality, great food and wine, culture, stunning surroundings, and skills to treasure for a lifetime.

The holiday starts on Sundays and Thursdays.

2024 dates

29 August
5 September
21 September
3 October
10 October
26 October
2 November
14 November

2025 dates
27 March
5 April
17 April
26 April
8 May
17 May
29 May
7 June
19 June
28 June – SOLD OUT
30 August
11 September
20 September
2 October
11 October
23 October
1 November
13 November

*pp price based on two people sharing a twin room

 

Arrival

– Arrive in the afternoon to be greeted by your friendly hosts. There is a free collection service from Agen train station. Airport (Toulouse, Bordeaux, Bergerac) collections can be arranged upon request for a supplement

– Settle into your delightful room before getting to know your fellow guests over delicious aperitifs

– Enjoy a social evening with a three course gourmet dinner served in the farmhouse kitchen along with a short introduction from your hosts about what to expect over the next few days

Boutique Wines

– This morning after breakfast, you will go to a delightful local village market
– Over coffee and croissants in a local cafe, enjoy a brief discussion of the ancient kingdom of Henri IV
– You will then return to the farmhouse to relax by the pool
– A delicious lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen
– After lunch, you’ll begin to explore the wines of the region, sampling the best wines around from local family producers
– Learn the differences between great wines and how to select the right wine to best accompany your meal
– This is a wine course like no other – only the best wines from the best boutique vineyards in France are offered and you will be privileged enough to sample wine from stock with less than 2,000 bottles left in the world
– Dinner will be served back at the farmhouse giving you time to relax in the lounge or by the swimming pool, or to take advantage of one of the onsite activities such as pool, table tennis or cycling.

Easy lunches & Armagnac

– After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to enter the kitchen and begin your culinary experience!
– Today you’ll focus on preparing quick and easy plates of food that can be adapted to work as lunches, light snacks or starters
– The lunch you have prepared will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen
– After lunch, you will visit a family run foie gras business where you will learn how it is made and taste it cooked three ways
– What better to wash down your foie gras than Armagnac; early evening, you will visit a family run distillery (which Gascony is famous for) and learn how it is made from grape to bottle
– Sample different vintages and even blend your own; you will be helped as you create your own personal blend of Armagnac – the only bottle in the world!
– A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served back at the farmhouse kitchen accompanied with local delicious wines

Lazy salad days

– After a leisurely breakfast, you will return to the kitchen to continue your culinary voyage
– Today you’ll focus on salads, dressings, quiches and, following yesterday’s visit, you will prepare a terrine of foie gras
– The lunch you have prepared will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen
– After lunch, you will visit a beautiful chateau famous for its aperitifs and wines for an afternoon of wine tasting and a walk through history
–  Dinner will be served back at the farmhouse, giving you time to relax in the lounge or by the swimming pool or to take advantage of one of the onsite activities

Champagne and stars

– After a leisurely breakfast, you will visit a bustling French market in the ancient town of Condom
– Visit the cathedral, mingle with the locals, sample the cheeses, meats and fruits, then relax with a coffee and watch the world pass by
– Today you’ll have a relaxing lunch at a Michelin Star restaurant
– After lunch, you will return to the kitchen to discover how to prepare fabulous dinners that ` you can enjoy with your guests
– In the afternoon, you will cleanse your palate with a course about Champagne and ‘Methode Traditionelle’; try whites and pinks, dry and sweet, all delicious
– The dinner you have prepared will be served back at the farmhouse

Cheese and wine pairing

– After a leisurely breakfast, you return to the kitchen
– Today you will learn some of the tricks of the trade and work with the skills you have learned to prepare a meal fit for a king
– Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen
– In the afternoon, spend time discovering cheeses from the region and around France, understanding the different processes and tastes
– Return to the farmhouse to relax by the pool and spend time with your new friends putting all you have learnt to the test as you match wine and champagne with cheese and foie gras
– A three course gourmet meal, incorporating the food you have prepared earlier, will then be served accompanied with local delicious wines

Day group excursion

Relax with a delicious breakfast this morning before heading out on a fun excursion for the day Today you’ll enjoy an excursion to a location of your choice! Your hosts will take you to visit further afield depending on the groups preferences Explore the stunning scenery and relax on your final day, and enjoy lunch whilst you out This evening you’ll return home for your final dinner, where you’ll reflect on the week and how much you have learnt

Departure Day

After breakfast, guests are asked to check out by 10am

You will return home with fantastic memories and new skills to last you a lifetime

What's included

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation in a private twin/double room with an ensuite bathroom
  • 4 cooking classes
  • All excursions and transport to local villages or towns
  • Armagnac distillery visit and tasting session
  • Make your own bottle of Armagnac
  • Chateau visit and wine tasting session
  • All breakfasts, lunches and 3-course gourmet dinners daily
  • Champagne and Methode Traditionelle tasting
  • Cheese and wine pairing
  • Use of bicycles and on site activities

Accommodation

Baron-Figués

You'll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse with three beautifully appointed guest en-suite twin/double bedrooms, and one of the main attractions of this farmhouse is its large open plan traditional kitchen. Guests can sit around the homely table, that seats 14 guests, and share delicious meals prepared by Caroline’s husband.

Attached to the farmhouse is a recently renovated gite. The gite has been sympathetically restored to a very high standard and also contains two twin/double bedrooms.

Features
- Set in 50 acres of parkland, an area of incredible natural beauty famous for its gastronomy and wines
- Outdoor swimming pool (12m x 6m)
- All twin/double bedrooms have private ensuite bathrooms
- Open plan farmhouse kitchen and large living area with TV
- WiFi available

Your local host

Caroline & Adam

Caroline is a qualified teacher from the UK and her husband Adam is a passionate cook. They moved to South West France looking for a change of lifestyle and now run their hugely successful jewellery making and activity holidays from Baron-Figués, where you will be staying. Caroline has been a qualified teacher for over 25 years and has experience in setting up and running training centres teaching practical skills. She is a senior instructor in both PMC and Art Clay and has experience in using a wide range of clays and other materials. Adam is a serious gastro enthusiast, as much in love with the local seasonal produce as the Gascons, and entirely committed to cooking the most incredible traditional dishes for guests as well as providing wonderful cooking courses. For Adam, cooking is a journey through all the senses and you won't just spend time sampling the local produce but understand how it is made and the traditions behind it. Adam blends a simple Irish approach to cooking with flavours and skills acquired from travels across the world. From conception to plate, Adam will teach you how to prepare and serve fantastic meals that will seem to magically appear in front of your guests, allowing you to enjoy the party too! For the painting course, they are joined by passionate local artists with huge knowledge and experience of the area as well as art to ensure you are taken to the right places to inspire your paintings.

Caroline is a qualified teacher from the UK and her husband Adam is a passionate cook. They moved to South West France looking for a change of lifestyle and now run their hugely successful jewellery making and activity holidays from Baron-Figués, where you will be staying. Caroline has been a qualified teacher for over 25 years and has experience in setting up and running training centres teaching practical skills. She is a senior instructor in both PMC and Art Clay and has experience in using a wide range of clays and other materials. Adam is a serious gastro enthusiast, as much in love with the local seasonal produce as the Gascons, and entirely committed to cooking the most incredible traditional dishes for guests as well as providing wonderful cooking courses. For Adam, cooking is a journey through all the senses and you won't just spend time sampling the local produce but understand how it is made and the traditions behind it. Adam blends a simple Irish approach to cooking with flavours and skills acquired from travels across the world. From conception to plate, Adam will teach you how to prepare and serve fantastic meals that will seem to magically appear in front of your guests, allowing you to enjoy the party too! For the painting course, they are joined by passionate local artists with huge knowledge and experience of the area as well as art to ensure you are taken to the right places to inspire your paintings.

Caroline & Adam image

Location

Set in the heart of Gascony surrounded by 50 acres of private unspoilt meadows, the your farmhouse accommodation is tucked away in the Gascon countryside. Although the farmhouse is a rural retreat, the bustling picturesque towns of Nérac and Condom are within easy reach.

Nearest airports:
Toulouse (1hr 40min), Bordeaux (1hr 40min), Pau (2 hours) or Bergerac (2 hours)

Complimentary pre-booked train transfers:
Return transfers to and from Agen train station (30 minutes) are included in the course price.

Trains run to Agen from across the SNCF network from where you can take advantage of the free transfer. Optional private airport transfers can be booked for an additional cost.

What our travellers are saying...

Spent an excellent week with Adam and Caroline. Enjoyed the cooking lessons and preparing the evening meals. No shortage of good food and wine throughout the week. Good balance of activities and down time. Beautiful setting in the french countryside.

Anon

Fabulous wine and cheese. Days exploring the French local cuisines. Nights full of Apero's and laughs. Adam and Caroline are such amazing hosts and create an environment full of laughs. Adam makes cooking amazing food look so easy even for some beginners. The trips to the local areas were great being able to wander beautiful country towns full of cobblestones and history. And the cheese made by the local producers are to die for. There really is

Anon

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

Suitable for all cooking levels from beginners to advanced with a minimum age 18. Your hosts and tutors speak English and French, and lessons will be taught in English. Dietary requirements will be catered for if these are communicated in advance of booking.

I'm travelling solo - can I join?

These holidays make great singles holidays as there are no single supplements and you will have your own private room for no additional cost. There is a discount for 2 people travelling together and sharing a room.

When can I start?

This holiday starts on Thursdays and Saturdays and runs on set dates from March to November. Holidays run for 7 nights / 8 days.

Restricted mobility access

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
- We generally do not recommend this location for those with restricted mobility.
- This holiday is based in the countryside, and does include some walking.
- The accommodation has no bedrooms or bathrooms on the ground floor, therefore one must be comfortable with stairs.

What can I do in my free time?

During your free time, there is plenty to do at your farmhouse accommodation including relaxing by the swimming pool (May-September). The accommodation offers a range of extracurricular activities onsite which are free of charge including table tennis, basketball, shooting, archery, cycling and board games to name a few!

There are numerous fêtes, music festivals and exhibitions in the surrounding areas through the year and your host Caroline will be happy to advise you during your stay. The closest towns are Nérac and Condom, and your host will be happy to suggest activities and transport should you wish to explore these during your stay.

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