For whom is it intended ?

To all those who wish to improve or perfect their knowledge of French whilst familiarising themselves with the culinary aspects of French regions. The participants will have the opportunity to learn about French cooking through practical lessons and activities about culinary arts or wine arts. The French cooking option can be chosen in conjunction with all the language courses presented in this web site.

The courses take place in July and August 2007.
All-year-round (on request).

Organisation of the cooking lesson

Teaching arrangements for the practical (devoted to production of meals) : 2 practical cooking lessons per week (for each session the length is around 4 hours in the afternoon, from 4pm to 8pm + aound 2 hours for the dinner). This course will allow students to produce different meals under the guidance of a professional chef.

Content of the practical sessions

• production of meals with starter, main course and pudding
• decoration of dishes
• wide variety of demonstrations and their practical application
• matching wines to dishes
• presentation of regional cheeses
• table decoration
• vocabulary of gastronomy and oenology
• choice of products

The sessions will conclude with the serving of a meal. Teaching takes place in our culinary school and is given by a cooking teacher. Aperitif and wines are included in the meals.

Activities about culinary arts

In addition to the practical sessions the participant can choose some extra activities about culinary arts among the following program :

A session devoted to presentation and introduction to French cooking with tasting of local products including :
• video films and slide projections;
• introduction to French cooking (history, precepts and rules)
• France and rural cooking
• introduction to specific aspects of French cooking
• culinary vocabulary used in recipes
• variety of documentation including menu suggestions, etc.
• documentations diverses avec proposition de menus, etc...


Activities about French cooking and culinary arts : visits, outings and meetings

• a meeting with a leader chef in a restaurant of Montpellier
• a visit to local market (local products)
• a guided visit to a delicatessen shop or a local market
• a meeting with a "baker-pastry cook" craftman
• a gastronomic dinner in a famous restaurant