8 Bedroom Farmhouse Carcassonne - THE FRENCH HOUSE PARTY COOKING COURSES Reviews

We recently returned from a one-week advanced cooking course at the French House Party, and the experience can only be described as fantastic. We were in a group of seven students and taught by two fantastic and very patient chefs. One was a retired, well renowned chef in the region and the other was a one star Michelin chef, also from the area. The experience is entirely hands-on, unlike many schools which provide mostly demonstrations and then tours of the local area. We did get tours of the area including wineries and a chocolatier, plus dinner out two nights at a one star and two star Michelin restaurant. But most of the time was spent cooking, enjoying the fruits of our efforts, and consuming the wines of the region. For the food preparation the chefs paired us into teams and we would work much like a professional kitchen. Each team prepared a portion of the dish or meal, coming together later to assemble the meal. We had plenty of time to compare notes and follow what the others were doing. The owner and hostess of the school, Moira Martingale, is a warm and charming hostess and her team complement her perfectly. The accommodations, in a 200 year old French farmhouse (beautifully renovated) are very comfortable. All rooms are en suite. For recreation there is a tennis court and a lovely swimming pool. If you are looking for a chance to hone your cooking skills in a beautiful area of southern France, the French House Party is highly recommended. We would love to go back.