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Cooking with Eric Fraudeau
Cooking in Romantic Montmartre !
Have fun, learn some French dishes, to taste new foods and interact with interesting people. This is a hands-on experience so no sitting back and just watching here.
The maximum number of students per class is 6. All classes are taught in English and/or French.
The school is like a cozy studio, so you have a lounge area where you can sit down and relax before the class starts, have a drink of water, wine or coffee. The idea is to create a space that is both functional and feels like home, with a bit of music just to put you in the mood. As we said, it is a fun class, so no stress, we are not competing against one another.
Generally we will be cooking everything together, with each participant having his or her own dish to prepare, so you can eat what YOU have done.
The cooking portion of the class lasts about 2 hours.
At the end of the session, when everybody is ready, we can finally sit down and enjoy our meal together with a good bottle of wine.
Your Chef
Cooking was not always my passion but once I began my studies and professional training to become a cook and eventually a chef, a love of food and culinary arts grew and grew.
I have been cooking professionally since the age of 20 after having attended a hotel/restaurant school in la Rochelle, followed by training in the kitchens of Joel Robuchon and Alain Ducasse.
The opportunity arose to gain further experience overseas and it was at that point in 1989 that I left France in search of new tastes and new adventures. My first stop was Montreal, Canada as Executive sous chef at the Ritz-Carlton. I stayed there for 2 years after which I left for Mexico where I worked at the Four Seasons and the Westin hotels over a period of 2 more years.
The point where I really made my mark has to be during the 5 years as the F&B Director/Executive Chef at Lowes Hotel Vogue in Montreal.
off again for other adventures . . .
I ended up in New York with Accor Hotels, owners of the Sofitel hotel as Executive Chef. I helped with the opening of the Philadelphia & Chicago Sofitels before being asked to return to Montreal as Executive chef of Sofitel Montreal.
I had not anticipated returning to France in 2003 but I followed my heart and my fiancé to Paris. I decided to take a break from the hotel industry and took a job working with the Hard Rock Cafe in Paris, where I stayed 3 years as Restaurant manager.
Back to basics . . .
So why a French cooking school? I have always wanted to create a place where people who share a love of food could come together to learn about and share new food experiences in an atmosphere that is both relaxed and convivial. Too many years in some tense kitchen environments helped shape this idea.
I hope to provide to my clients an experience that they will be able to pass on to their friends and family. In a 3-4 hour course, I hope to show people how much fun and easy cooking can be while Cook'n With Class.
Cooking with Eric.
Eric turned out to be not only a great chef but an instant friend, on whom I can call with all manner of cooking questions. My lesson was great fun, calibrated to my level and consisting of achieveable goals that I have replicated with success on my own. I love Eric's on-site recipes and have passed his name to countless friends who want to add a real star to their list of contacts in Paris. SB - Washington, DC
French cooking classes in a relaxed atmosphere with an experienced French chef for an all-inclusive price.
Morning Market Visit and Cooking Class
Mornings : Tuesday - Sunday 9:30 - 1:30pm
Price : 120 euro
Our market classes consist of a visit to a local market to discover the seasonal ingredients and fresh produce. Learning how to select fresh products is the first step to good cooking and good eating. Meet local merchants to whom you are welcome to ask questions and overcome any apprehension you may have about shopping in French markets.
Back at the school we will have a brief discussion about the day's menu and the ingredients, you will be provided with an apron and have a quick reminder on how to handle a knife safely.
Pastry Class
Afternoon : Thursday and Friday Pastry Class 2:30 - 5:30pm
Price : 99 euro
A new afternoon class that allows you to learn how to make some of those great French desserts.
Evening Cooking and Wine Tasting Class
Evening : Tuesday - Sunday 6:30 - 9:30pm
Price : 135 euro
We will cook for 2 hours essentially following the same format as the morning class. At the end of the cooking portion, we will sit down to eat what we have prepared. Just before the dessert we will have a little cheese and wine tasting. This is the typical traditional way the French eat.
Autour du foie gras
Duration - 3 hours
Price : On Request
We will prepare one foie gras terrine to prepare for 2 people and 2 preparations of warm foie gras to be eating in class.
Cheese & Wine Tasting
Duration - 2 hours
Price : 79 euro
6 cheese and wine tasting experience provided by local merchants who will be with us to answer questions you may have about various cheeses and wines as well as providing us with samples and the possibility to buy some of their products. The focus of this class is to learn which wines are best with which cheese. French jams and other preserves that are normally paired with cheese will also be provided - and of course we will not forget the bread.
Champagne Tour
Duration - 10 hours (approximately)
Price : On Request
Rendezvous at the school at 8:30 am for a 9 am departure. A small French continental breakfast will be provided. The drive to Reims is about 2 hours. Upon arrival in Reims we will go directly to the first vineyard for a 1 hour visit. You are free for lunch in town and we will meet again at 3 pm so you will have enough time to visit the town as well as the famous cathedral. In the afternoon we will visit another vineyard before heading back to Paris. The cost includes, transportation to and from Reims, and entry fees to the vineyards.
Interested in a private French cooking lesson?
We can offer you a private lesson that will allow you more individual time to build on your skills. This is a one-on-one experience but is open to up to 3 people. The lesson will be tailor-made to your tastes. We can decide on a menu together prior to your arrival (via email), or we can do a market basket class one of two ways, I will provide you with a basket of ingredients and we will design a meal from what we have or we will go to the market and select fresh products together that we will use to build a meal around.
This is an open lesson, so your ideas are welcome here. If you have a particular dish you would like to learn to make, we can do so - according to seasonal availability. Personalized cooking to fit your personal taste.
Reservations for private lessons must be made at least 2 weeks in advance - however do check with us for availability as we may have gaps that we can fill.
Reservations Required
Check Availability
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