Loire Kitchen's culinary holidays are born from the belief in having a good time, and that life is at its best when you are able to pursue what you love most.
Holidays (4)
6 Day Cooking, Wine-tasting and Chill Extravaganza in Misse, Western France
Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec, 2024
from US$ 2,311
5 Day Flavors of The Loire Culinary Holiday in Missé, Deux-Sèvres
Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Mar, 2024–2025
from US$ 1,957
7 Day Gourmand's Delight Cooking, Michelin-Star Dining and Cycling Holiday in Missé, Deux-Sèvres
Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec, 2024
from US$ 2,676
4 Day Gourmet Cooking Holiday in Thouars, Deux-Sèvres
Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec, 2024
from US$ 1,569
Instructors (1)
Aaron Tighe
Aaron is the C-of-M's executive chef. He comes from a family of restaurateurs and has been cooking professionally since his late teens. He has enjoyed a diverse career having worked as a violinist and conductor before embarking on a career in new media, working as an internet or “dotcom” evangelist. He has worked in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the USA. Cooking, wine tasting, and writing about food have remained a constant throughout. He has been writing and blogging about food since the late 90s, starting with pasta, and has continued with contributions to many sites.
Reviews (9)
Anonymous
from United States, October 2023
Aaron did a wonderful job of introducing us to the wide range of wines in the area. He had great cooking tips and provided us with a number of recipes that we tried there and others I'm looking forward to trying at home. It was a great mix of spending time in the kitchen as well as exploring the local area which is quite scenic. Very relaxing.
Anonymous
from United States, September 2023
"Cooking Demonstrations and Tours in thé Loire "
Wonderful cooking demonstrations and stories from Aaron. The château was very comfortable and we were treated like family.
An excellent visit.
Malinda Henderson
from United States, September 2023
"40th wedding anniversary celebration. "
Aaron was very helpful to us about travel ideas including spending time in Paris and hotels close to the Metro. He was helpful regarding the Metro transportation and use of the SNCF train we took to get to the Kitchen at the Circle of Misse. The food we had during the week was amazing and the cooking lessons were fun and relaxing. It was fun to meet and get to know Aaron, his staff including his dog "Chips," and getting to know four other wonderful people who were sharing the culinary week. We loved the day trips to various churches, the market and the beautiful tour of the Chateau D' Orion. Our lunch at the Abby at the Carnet d'un ermite fontevriste was amazing and a great finale to our trip. We would highly recommend this culinary vacation, as it was excellent. We hope to do it again in the future.
Peter Nedley
from Mexico, October 2022
"A week of sheer gastronomic delight"
Aaron and Wayne were the perfect hosts. Aaron made complex dishes look easy and provided the very best ingredients accompanied by splendid wines. Met some wonderful people, we all got along famously. Stunning chateau, beautifully decorated, in a classically bucolic French village. The lunch at Abbey de Fontevraud was spectacular.
This is a not-to-be-missed experience. Incredible value.
Nancie Mleczko
from Canada, July 2022
"Gastro getaway"
This was the perfect setting for a culinary vacation. The building and the accommodations were fantastic. Self serve breakfast with tons of choices, unlimited beverages and snacks. Lots of time to enjoy the garden and yard. Food prep, cooking, presentation and serving were both inciteful and exciting. Chef Aaron has a kitchen that is fully stocked and was easy to move around. Trips to the market were educational and lots of fun. Day trips to several chateaus and wineries and a patio lunch were awesome! And the exquisite lunch at Fontevraud was unforgettable. Aaron and Wayne certainly know how to make guests feel at home. Every evening was spent with random chats over wine and there was even a classic movie night. The location was easily accessible (less than an hour) from Nantes or Poitiers and I chose the train from Paris to Poitiers. I came away with a full booklet of all food we created and lots of culinary tips.
Michael Peters
from Great Britain, July 2019
"A relaxing break in the beautiful Loire valley"
What made the experience stand out from other cooking courses we have been on was the engaging company and extremely personal level of service provided by Aaron and Wayne. The food we cooked was more-or-less tailored to the requests we had made prior to arriving. We came away with some new recipes and skills in the kitchen, but also relaxed and invigorated after a few days of great food, delicious wine and the feeling of generally being very well looked-after!
Elena Nicholson
from Canada, July 2019
"Cooking, laughing and eating at Loire Kitchen."
I brought my 15 year old daughter on this cooking experience to introduce her to different palettes, flavours and techniques for preparing some of the same ingredients we use at home in Toronto, Canada. She is not a cook but I am and came for similar reasons.
Aaron is a lovely man, He is genuine, warm and cares about the people he works with. The atmosphere in his kitchen is relaxing and inviting; not clinically industrial. His approach was firmness wrapped in encouragement and enthusiasm. Aaron loves his craft. He is not rigid or controlling either of technique or of presentation. He's funny and laughter permeates his kitchen. Because of this my daughter was not only willing to learn but wanted to try her creations even though they were completely foreign to her palate and she would never have considered them at home.
The company at meal time was marvelous and relaxing. We felt at home rather than as guests who only show up to participate in what they have paid for. No one hurried the meal and conversation flowed freely - very nice.
My daughter feels that once she leaves home, she can shop on her own, prepare a delicious meal and keep within a budget. The kitchen is no longer a fearful place. We absolutely recommend Aaron and Loire Kitchen to those who can cook and those who need to learn.