French Cookery Classes

Mayenne, Loire, France - 5 or 6 nights
Available March to October 

The Walnut Grove Cookery School is the culinary vacation you've always wanted to take in France. Located on an organic farm just 80 minutes west of Paris, The Walnut Grove Cookery School offers the finest gourmet cooking classes & cultural experiences.  Choose from a five night culinary or the six night advanced itinerary. All courses are taught in English with no more than six guests. Intimate classes guarantee personalized learning, while shared meals and laughter fuel unforgettable connections. Discover the magic of France, one delicious dish at a time! 

French Farm to Table is their way of life. 

• Here, you will experience the art of Escoffier
• Here, you will learn the craft of cooking with copper
• Here, you will discover French farm to table sustainability - including bee keeping
• Here, you will tour the gastronomic soul of Bretagne, Normandie & The Loire Valley 

LOCATION 

The Walnut Gove Cookery School: Easy to Get to. Hard to Leave. 

Located just 80 minutes west of Paris, by train, you'll come to Walnut Grove for the cookery lessons, and leave with a taste of the terroir. From the celebrated coasts of Normandie and Bretagne, to wine tasting in The Loire Valley, we invite you to make Walnut Grove Cookery School a part of the perfect gastronomic holiday. 

ABOUT YOUR HOST: CHEF ERIC DUVIN 

With over 30 years wielding his whisk and traveling around the globe, Chef Duvin isn't just a culinary artist, he's a passionate alchemist of experience. From Michelin-starred kitchens to intimate royal dinners, he's woven his magic for diplomats, celebrities, and families alike. Now, at his Walnut Grove Cookery School in France, his expertise flows effortlessly as he guides eager students through the intricate alchemy of classic French dishes. He doesn't just teach recipes; he instills a reverence for the land, the seasons, and the bounty that nature provides. 

ABOUT THE FARM 

For centuries the land upon which Walnut Grove Cookery School is situated has provided for its inhabitants. Ancestors before us learned how to cultivate these rich soils and how to forage what was already abundant in the field. 

Today, we cherish this understanding and continue to preserve these traditional land use practices. With fruits and vegetables from their gardens and foraged goods from the surroundings, Chef Duvin has the “raw materials” to provide an array of culinary creations and will teach you his life changing skills every step of the way. 

While you are at Walnut Grove, you’re invited take part in the organic farm activities. Clip from the herb gardens, feed the resident chickens & goats, learn what is planted and how the bee hives thrive. 

Where stock permits, small batch selections of home grown Copper Pot Kitchen jams & honey are available for on-site purchase 

ABOUT THE COURSES 

Uncork memories and friendships at Walnut Grove's Open Kitchen.

Master new techniques, explore local markets, and create culinary masterpieces together. 

The Culinary Adventure 

Six Days. Five Nights.
Inclusive of Room, Tax & Daily Gourmet Meals. 

If you’ve dreamt of learning to cook Haute French cuisine, this course is designed for you. Like every course we host, we will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to take your cooking to the next level. 

What makes this course different, however, is that you will additionally shop the markets like a chef; explore a working dairy farm to learn about sustainable sheep’s milk cheeses and yogurts; and did we say menu planning? Yes, you will gain the necessary skills to plan and execute a proper gourmet menu — perfect for when your friends and family want to taste what you learned in France! 

Days in the Kitchen: Six 

Exceptional Experiences Include:
• Champagne & Canape Reception
• A Six Course Gourmet Dinner Prepared by Chef Duvin
• Remaining Nights: Gourmet Dinners Prepared by the Students with Chef's Assistance.
• A visit to the Market in Laval (Round-trip Transfers Included)
• A Visit to a Sustainable Sheep Farm (Round-trip Transfers Included) 

 
Please inquire about our Advanced Six Night Itinerary

*Menus may vary from time to time

*Itineraries may change slightly due to season 

GROUP SIZE

There is no minimum number of participants to run the Open Kitchen courses and there is a maximum of 6 participants 

(The number of participants refers to how many persons are required to run the tour, not to how many persons you must have in your party. Please inquire.)

HOW TO ARRIVE

Closest Airport/Train Stations:
Laval Train Station - 30 minutes from cooking school
Rennes - 1 hour 
St. Malo/Dinard - 1 hour 30 minutes 
Paris - 3 to 4 hours - 1 hour 15 minutes by TGV, fast train
Nantes Airport - 2 hour drive

Whether you are taking a train from Paris or driving to the farm on your own, The Walnut Grove makes arriving easy.
If arriving by train, kindly note roundtrip transfers from Gare Laval AKA Laval Station are included in the cost of the course.
When coordinating your tickets, we recommend these resources:
• If you are arriving by train from CDG Airport, you may find this link helpful.
• If you have not yet booked your train tickets and need to, we recommend this website. • If you are driving from Paris, you may find this link helpful.
If arriving by car, kindly note:
The Walnut Grove is in the department of Mayenne, part of the Pays de la Loire. The property is situated between the village of Saint Hilaire du Maine and Ernée, on the D514 road. You drive through Saint Hilaire du Maine and it is 3km on the right hand side of the road. Follow the driveway down it is the 2nd house. Complimentary Guest parking is provided on site.
Check-in / Arrival Times
• For all guests, arrival time / check-in time is 5pm.
Check-out / Departure Times
• For all guests, arrival / departure time is 10am.  

*TGV High Speed Train from Montparnasse Train Station in Paris stopping at Laval Train Station (transfer is included in the price for the 15:53 train (3:53pm) - (Leaves Paris at 14:43 (2:43pm). For the return train on Thursday transfer is included for the train that leaves Laval at 10:03am to Paris. These train times are the only ones the school is able to provide a transfer for. (times can vary slightly from year to year so please inquire). 

BOOKING INFORMATION

For further inquiries or to register, click here.

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CANCELLATION POLICY

Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

CLIENT REMARKS

Furnished upon request.

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MAP*

This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE. 

*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location.

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