Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the course cost?

You will find a full price list on our Prices page, however if you require a different package email then call us and we'll give you the price.

How do I book a course?

Get in touch with us at info@flavoursfrance.com and we can check our availability for the dates requested. To secure a place on a cooking course, we require a 30% deposit per person, we require the remaining balance not less than 60 days prior to the course start date.

How do I pay for a course?

We accept credit card payment via PayPal, direct bank transfer or cheque. The payment can be made in Euros or Pound Sterling.

Where are you based? How can I get in touch?

Flavours of France is based in North-West London, and we have just moved into a new office in Pinner. You can reach me, Anika Patel, on (+44)20 3286 3609 and if I don't answer straight away please leave a message and I'll get back to you. I'm available Monday - Saturday from 9 - 6 and sometimes you'll find me working away on Sunday too! Alternatively, send us an email at info@flavoursfrance.com.

Where are the Cooking Courses based?

We have two locations.

In La Rochelle the Cooking Courses are based in the historic quarter in a charming venue full of French character. From your hotel, the Cookery Course venue is a minute's walk away.

In Lyon the Cookery Courses are based in either two places, a lovely kitchen called Boutique Emile Henry in the centre of Lyon on Rue de Brest. The other venue, In Cuisine, is right on the Place Bellecour so literally right by your hotel.

What's the best way to reach you?

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is in the Poitou Charentes region, right by the Western coast of France. The nearest airport is La Rochelle Laleu Airport which is a 10 minute drive to the venue. The nearest train station is the Gare du La Rochelle on the Place Pierre Semard and this is a 5 minute drive to the venue.

By car we are a 1 hour 45min drive from Poitiers (137km), less than 2 hours' drive from Nantes (143km), a 2 hour 10 min drive from Bordeaux (183km) and a 5 hour drive from Paris (472km). There is plenty of parking nearby including the Place du Verdun which is a stone's throw away.

The train from Paris to La Rochelle is frequent and takes around 3 hours. We find Rail Europe an easy to use website to book trains.

Lyon

Lyon is in the Rhone-Alpes region in east central France. The nearest airport is Lyon Saint-Exupery which is a 20 minute drive to the Place Bellecour where you will be staying.

The Rhone express tram service runs from the airport to Lyon Part Dieu station in 25 minutes. From Part Dieu station you can catch the Metro to Bellecour which takes up to 10 minutes or alternatively take a taxi. Your hotel is located right on the Bellecour square.

Another possibility is to fly to Geneva and then take the train to Lyon which takes about two hours.

Lyon is linked by TGV (fast trains) to Paris (two hours) and Marseille (1 hr 36 min). TGVs to and from Paris serve both Perrache and Part-Dieu stations.

If you are coming to Lyon from London by Eurostar, It is faster and easier to change trains in Lille rather than Paris, i.e. from St Pancras Station to Gare de Lille Europe and take High Speed Train TGV.

In the car from Paris to Lyon the journey time is around 4 hours 30 mins - 5 hours. From Grenoble to Lyon the journey takes 1 hour 15.

What is the weather like?

La Rochelle

A favourite getaway destination for Parisians and one of the main reasons for this is the warm weather and plentiful sunshine. The region receives 2,600 hours of sunshine each year so bring your sunnies!

Late winter and early spring can be cool but pleasant, and we begin running our courses from February. Summer can get scorching hot especially August time, and we experience a lovely Indian summer towards the autumn. We run courses until November. Just a quick warning that during times of heavy snow planes sometimes have difficulty landing at La Rochelle airport.

Lyon

From June till September Lyon sees lovely high temperatures from 24C in June to a peak of 30C in July, sidling back down to 23C by September. The sun beats down for a whopping ten hours per day in July.

In October and November, there is a drop in temperatures. However, the city has so much to offer culturally and of course our Cooking Courses aren't weather dependent so you can join us anytime!

How long does the Course last?

In La Rochelle, we currently offer 3 and 4 day courses run over the weekend, so Friday - Sunday or Friday - Monday. However if people want to come mid-week or stay longer we can arrange this.

In Lyon we have 4 and 5 day courses run from Friday - Monday and Friday - Tuesday. There is less flexibility with our Lyon courses, however do let us know what you require and we will try our best to offer a suitable course for you.

What are the arrival and departure times?

On the start day of the course we'd prefer if you could arrive before 3pm. This ensures there's plenty of time to meet the group and the chef and to settle in before your first cooking session. Departure time is usually at midday.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

All the kitchen equipment is provided so all you need to bring is yourself.

Will I be preparing and making the food?

In a nutshell, yes. You will be involved in the prep and cooking of the dishes. Some elements such as a sauce may be made by you as a group but you will do most of the cooking individually.

Our classes are very relaxed, so whether you're a beginner or an expert the main aim is to learn something new and to have fun. This is not an intensive cooking course, Masterchef style. We run informal, friendly classes designed to be interactive.

How many dishes would I make in a typical class?

During each class you will make a starter, main course and a dessert so you'll turn into a true dinner party expert! You may also create smaller side dishes or learn technical skills such as making a tuile or spinning sugar.

Will I be preparing and making the food?

In a nutshell, yes. You will be involved in the prep and cooking of the dishes to ensure that you can replicate them when you go home. Some elements such as a sauce may be made by you as a group but you will do most of the cooking individually.

Our classes are very relaxed, so whether you are a beginner or an expert the main aim is to learn something new and to have fun. This is not an intensive cooking course, Masterchef style. We run informal, friendly classes designed to be interactive and hands on.

Do I need to speak and understand French?

No. Our courses are all run in English; both our French chefs are perfectly bilingual. If you want to practice your French I am sure our chefs will be happy to teach you some phrases and the French equivalent of different ingredients etc.

Do I get the recipes to take home?

Yes, all the recipes are given to you during the course to take home with you, along with a very stylish Flavours of France apron, reminding you of your wonderful French cooking experience.

Who comes on your courses?

We have a broad range of people coming on our cooking courses, including fathers and sons, friends, couples and students with ages ranging from 16 right up to 70! All participants share a passion for good food and this means there is a great group atmosphere.