Cooking class in France/Italy/Spain?

[Renault78law]

I'm trying to plan a vacation for spring. Haven't decided on a destination yet, but I'd like to cooking class while there. The kind where you stay in someone's home for a few nights, and cook along side the owners. Something informal, quaint, sleepy, preferably in wine country. Know the kind that I mean? Please let me know if you have any recommendations. I'm leaning towards France over the other destinations, but am wide open. Thanks!

 

[Fabienne]

Do you speak French, Italian, Spanish, or do the classes need to be in English?

You might look at this page (all in Burgundy, I refuse to promote the Bordelais): http://www.bourgogne-tourisme.com/vin/index.htm.

Also, you could consider the gites ruraux. Sometimes, the owners will offer classes or let you watch as they cook. http://www.abritel.fr/annonces/locat...rgogne_dt0.php.

 

[Fabienne]

These owners offer cooking classes + lodging:

http://www.lesrecollets.com/ (Burgundy again)

I'm also partial to Alsace:

http://www.lacuisinedu15.com/

This place: http://www.fischhutte.com/ where I have stayed btw, offers, under "actualites", activities usually related to cooking according to the season. Right now, they're advertizing mushroom hunting and then you are taught how to preserve them.

 

[Renault78law]

Great resources, thank you!
To answer your question, we'd need for the classes to be in English.

 

[Fabienne]

Originally Posted by Renault78law

Great resources, thank you!
To answer your question, we'd need for the classes to be in English.

Then I suggest you do a google search in English, something like: cooking classes in Tuscany/Burgundy/Provence/France/Valencia, etc. La Varenne (http://www.lavarenne.com/) offers a famous cooking class/lodging in Burgundy, but there are so many others. The only American I know who ever took a class in France did so at the Cordon Bleu (http://www.cordonbleu.edu/) in Paris, and she still talks about it, years later.