Cooking Holiday in the Dordogne with Master Chef

Learn to Cook in South of France, Fine Cuisine the Easy Way

Jun 26, 2009 Solange Hando

With plenty of fresh produce, the South of France is a great place to improve cooking skills in a fun and healthy way.

Cook in France holidays are held in Bombel near Sarlat, in a beautifully converted 17th century farm. The quiet grounds boast seven acres of lawn, a small pool and great views across the rolling hills of the Dordogne. Here, deep in rural France, award winning chef Jim Fisher promises lots of fun as he unravels the secrets of fine cuisine the easy way.

Cook in France is friendly and relaxed and by the end of the week, participants go home bubbling with enthusiasm and eager to show their skills, impressive yet so easy to learn. This cooking holiday in the Dordogne caters to all levels, turning the most reluctant cook into a confident chef.

Cook in France, Award Winning Chef Easy Course

Cook in France is an easy course running for five days though joining for just a day or two is no problem. The fully inclusive option offers en suite accommodation but this can be booked elsewhere if preferred. Non-cooking partners are welcome at a reduced cost.

Cook in France award winning chef invites guests to express preferences in advance and menus are selected accordingly. There are themed weeks from time to time, such as vegetarian cooking or matching food and wine.

A typical day starts after breakfast, preparing a light lunch and later the evening two course meal.

Fine Cuisine the Easy way, Learn to Cook in the South of France

This is definitely a hand on experience with brief demonstrations and lots of encouragement. The accent is on fine Mediterranean and French cuisine, light and vitamin rich, with short cooking times. Menus make the most of fresh vegetables and fruit, and herbs straight from the garden.

Basic skills such as filleting or searing are soon mastered and there’s plenty of time to experiment with flavours and textures. Dishes may range from hand made shrimp ravioli or grilled sea bass with Chardonnay, lemon and chive butter sauce, to lemon tart and basil ice cream. Presenting food in an attractive way is part of the course.

After the apéritif, the whole team sits down to dinner to enjoy the day’s work.

Cooking Holiday in the Dordogne, Fun Activity Break for Everyone

The cooking holiday in the Dordogne allows plenty of time for relaxation in the afternoon and evening.

There’s a mid week break, beginning with a visit to the farmers’ market in Sarlat and tips on choosing the best artichokes, asparagus or aubergines. The rest of the day is for relaxing by the pool, walking around woods and meadows or exploring the many sights of the Dordogne, from medieval castles to prehistoric caves.

There’s an optional visit to a traditional walnut mill on the last afternoon and a farewell dinner in one of Sarlat’s 60 or so restaurants. Some courses end with a fun Master Chef Challenge when with a little help from Jim, teams create their own innovative menus for the final Cook in France flourish.

The copyright of the article Cooking Holiday in the Dordogne with Master Chef in Culinary Travel is owned by Solange Hando. Permission to republish Cooking Holiday in the Dordogne with Master Chef in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Market in Sarlat