“Great Culinary Vacations”
7 Day French Cooking Course in Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany, France
French Dining School, Kerrouet House, Kerrouet, 22330 St Goueno, Brittany, France
Cooking Holidays in France
Learn the skills of the masterchef! Impress family and friends with gourmet dishes of exceptional quality, taste, and design. Elevate your knowledge and skills in cooking with the Michelin trained Chef Poul. Work in a stress free environment at the 16th century longeré cooking school and the surrounding pastoral village, a truly magical experience. You will always learn something new as you experiment and learn new techniques. The best part of it is enjoying the results of your hard work during long lunches and dinners. You will leave knowing that you have seen and touched the essence of Brittany.
Meet the instructors
Poul & Niall
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Highlights
- 9 cooking classes
- Wine or cider tasting
- Michelin star trained chefs
- Guided advice to places of interest
- Course folder with menus and recipes
- Graduation ceremony and certificate
- 6 nights accommodation
- 4 lunches and 6 dinners
5 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Danish, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish
Group size: Maximum of 8 participants
Accommodation
Kerrouet House
Just three hours from Paris and under one hour from Rennes, Saint Malo, and Dinan, the school is located in the Kerrouet House, a 16th century stone longère. The Kerrouet House French Dining School offers five day hands-on cookery courses in the center of the Brittany region of France.
Kerrouet House was built in the 16th century as the home of the tax collector for the nearby Manor of Plessy and two other manor houses in the area. As a "royal" longère, it fell into neglect during the French Revolution and was abandoned for many years. In recent times it has been home to a professor of Mathematics (Sorbonne) but it went to a near derelict state in the 1990's.
The house was discovered on a holiday visit to Brittany. Despite the jungle of nettles, brambles, thistles and ivy, Niall fell in love with the monastic stone entrances, grand fireplaces and royal chimney. Over the past few years artisans have worked hard to restore the property and now the premises are used as a popular cooking school with a growing international reputation.
It is a unique home based cooking school located in the medieval village of Kerrouet in central Brittany. The school is focused on gourmet quality French and modern European cuisine. Students are encouraged to get actively involved in all areas of food preparation. The school offers courses at all levels in French and modern European and Scandinavian cuisine.
We are the cooking school and culinary vacation provider of your choice because we offer quality school facilities and fully supportive learning mediums as we use a variety of tools to enhance your learning experience at the school. Courses are varied to ensure everyone gains the necessary cooking experience they need with our Michelin trained chef.
Our school is small and flexible enough to cater for your individual or corporate requirements which is a great team building opportunity. We can arrange gift vouchers so you can celebrate that special occasion with cooking classes for birthdays, weddings, stag and hen parties or just a novelty Christmas gift.
We value our students, that is why we offer the service they deserve. This of course includes detailed individual folders complete with menus and course recipes. We also do follow up menu advice. At the end of their classes with us, a graduation ceremony is held to culminate the week. Each student is awarded beautiful certificates to take home, frame up, and exhibit in their kitchen. There are various accommodation options available from a single B&B at the school to a private gite or villa within walking distance of the school.
Program
On Monday, you start at 10:00 with introductions, course program, and safety issues (use of knives etc). Kerrouet House will discuss each daily menu before they commence preparation and actual cooking. Menus will vary depending on markets and the season. In general, the class will undertake food preparation for full lunch and dinner at the school each day to include starter, main course and dessert/cheese with wine.
Expert guidance on specialist areas including fish, seafood, shellfish, meats, game, cheeses, soups, sauce preparation, stock making, baking, breads and pastries, smoking, preserving, menu planning, table setting, wines and the use of knives and kitchen equipment. Whatever your level Kerrouet House will ensure you gain key skills which can only be acquired from working alongside highly skilled and experienced chefs.
Whether it be preparing lobsters, smoking salmon, making sorbets, mousselines, pastries, sauces, ice creams, garnishes and the best of the wonderful world of French cuisine, Kerrouet House will be there to turn you into a competent and confident home chef. You will gain lots of culinary tips and knowledge. All meals taken at the school are to Michelin standard. Guided tours to food markets and beautiful medieval towns arranged.
All classes are in English. Your host also speaks French, German, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian. There is a break each day following lunch and before dinner allowing students time to relax or explore the local area (normally between 14:30 and 18:00). Bring comfortable walking shoes. Kerrouet House recommends all visitors to France to take out full travel insurance for their trip.
Instructors
Poul Jensen
Poul Jensen has over 30 years in the restaurant and wine business. He trained and graduated from one of the best French restaurants in Denmark (Gammel Aalbyhoj - Relais Gourmand - Tradition et Qualitie). He gained invaluable experience at some of the world's most esteemed restaurants including Longueville Manor (Jersey Channel Islands); Mietta's Restaurant of Melbourne (Australia) and the world renowned liner the QE2. In London Poul worked for Noble Rot (Mayfair) and The Walbrook Club (City of London) with Albert Roux.
Niall O'Reilly
Niall has worked in the entertainment industry (National Theater London) for many years but now enjoys doing what he does best. He is particularly interested in nutrition for healthy living and food safety. Niall harvests his own organic tea (lime tree blossom) along with a host of other specialties. He also developed Kerrouet Royale - a world class cocktail which is named after the local village!
Location
Kerrouet Village
The village of Kerrouet lies in the heart of "The Mene" ; the beautiful rolling hills of Brittany which are so famous for walking and cycling holidays. Kerrouet is located 1 hour from Rennes with links to Eurostar in Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport as well as direct flights to Paris, Edinburgh and Dublin. Dinard Airport is a 40 minute drive with Ryanair links to London and East Midlands.
Nantes Airport has direct links to Dublin, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, and Marseilles. St Malo port and the wonderful seaside resorts of Val Andre are only an hour away. Only 3 hours from Paris via rail to Rennes. Cancalle, also nearby, is world famous for its oysters and seafood. The world famous "Kerrouet Royale" was created in Kerrouet and named after the village. Students get a taste of this cocktail upon graduating from the school.
Brittany
We are located in one of the most beautiful unspoilt places on earth. The roads are free of traffic. The night sky is free of light pollution. The gently rolling hills of Le Men are delightful for both cyclists and hikers with their extraordinary collection of hidden medieval hamlets and friendly locals.
Enter any bar here and males are expected to shake the hands of all other males present and kiss all females twice on the cheek. You may come as a stranger but you will leave as a friend. We are positioned within a few hours drive of two of the top tourist destinations in France. Le Mont St Michell to the north and Carnac to the south.
Other exciting places to visit on your trip to Brittany include the famous walled town of St Malo, the medieval towns of Dinan, Josselin and not forgetting one of the best food markets in France (March des Lices) at Rennes on a Saturday morning. Prepare to be bowled over by the sheer variety of seafood and products on offer.
Food
Please note that menus change according to season and market conditions.
Lunch on Monday
- Chicken stock making for the week
- Starter: Bruschetta on toasted bread
- Main: Salmon fish cakes on a garden salad with homemade sauce remoulade
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
Dinner on Monday
- Starter:Artichoke in a citrus soup
- Main: Langoustine stuffed chicken leg with mushroom sauce
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
- Dessert:Panna Cotta with fresh summer fruits
Lunch on Tuesday
- Starter: Gazpacho
- Main: Turkey breast marinated in soya, ginger and chili served on a salad with toasted pine kernels
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
Dinner on Tuesday
- Starter: Grilled scallops with endive soup and chives
- Main: Veal fillet with basil sauce, crme fraiche potatoes and rosemary roasted vegetables
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
- Dessert: Lemon cake with cointreau creme fraiche
Lunch on Wednesday
- Starter: Small tomato pizza
- Main: Warm smoked fish on a salad with horseradish cream
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
Dinner on Wednesday
- Starter: Grilled Langoustines with garlic butter
- Main: Frikadeller Danish styled meat balls with potato salad and cucumber salad
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
- Dessert: Tiramisu
Lunch on Thursday
- Students will visit a local food market where they will eat as well.
Dinner on Thursday
- Starter: Mushroom risotto
- Main: Pan fried skate wing with lemon, capers, parsley & new potatoes
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
- Dessert: Caramelized strawberries served with cinnamon and a poppy seed ice cream
Lunch on Friday
- Starter: Mussel soup with saffron
- Main: Caesar Salad
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
Dinner on Friday
- Starter: Lobster bisque
- Main: Slow roasted lamb with oven baked vegetables
- Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
- Dessert: Poached peach with a sabayon sauce and fresh raspberries
Students should advise Kerrouet House in advance of any special needs or food allergies.
The following meals are included:
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
The local taxi driver can take you to places of interest including food markets, historic venues, and local places of interest. Kerrouet House recommends places to visit, but do not organize tours themselves owing to insurance costs.
This is a famous cycling area. Electric bicycles are available for hire (20 EUR per week) on request. Ask about selected cycle routes.
What's included
- 4 lunches
- 5 dinners
- 6 nights accommodation
- 9 cooking classes
- Course folder with menus and recipes
- Graduation ceremony and certificate
- Michelin star trained chefs
- Pick-up and drop-off to Lamballe Rail station and Kerrouet House
- Wine or cider tasting
- Cleaning levy
What's not included
- 2 lunches (Sunday and Thursday)
- Airfare
- Local transport
- Pick up and drop off from railway (25 EUR per person each way)
- Personal expenses
- Tours or specialist trips to food markets and places of interest
- Private cooking class - can be arranged on request
How to get there
Driving directions from Paris
- Motorway A11 from Paris to Rennes and then the N12 from Rennes to Lamballe - Moncontour.
Arrival by airplane
The nearest airports to the location are Rennes-Saint-Jauques-Airport (RNS) or Brest Airport (BES). The nearest with regular flights into the UK is Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo Airport (DNR) with regular flights to London Stanstead, Nottingham East Midlands, and Bristol.
Arrival by train
One may catch the TGV from Paris to nearby Lamballe station. Drop off and pick up from Lamballe Rail Station to Kerrouet House costs 25 EUR per person each way.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 36.29% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
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