Paris: French Cooking Class & Market Tour with Lunch & Wine

Summary

Learn classic French cooking in Paris with hands-on market visit and lunch

You’ll pick fresh ingredients at a Paris market with your instructor, learn hands-on techniques for classic French dishes, and cook alongside new friends in a real kitchen. Enjoy your 3-course lunch with regional wine and leave with recipes—and maybe a few stories about your attempts at “coq au vin.”

What’s the experience like?

We were already elbow-deep in apricots when our instructor, Camille, waved us over to a cheese stall at the Latin Quarter market. I’d never seen so many types of cheese lined up like jewelry—soft goat rounds dusted with herbs, wedges of Comté that smelled almost nutty. Camille handed me a sliver and grinned, “Try to guess which region.” I failed (Burgundy? Nope), but she didn’t mind. There was something about picking out ingredients right there on the street—rain still clinging to the awnings—that made it feel less like a class and more like you’d slipped into someone’s daily Paris routine.

Back at the kitchen on Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, we crowded around the table and started planning our menu. I got stuck trying to pronounce “coq au vin” (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin—probably butchered it), but everyone pitched in ideas for starters and dessert. The kitchen smelled like butter even before we began. Camille showed us how to slice salmon for tartare without turning it to mush—she said patience is half the recipe here. At some point I realized my hands were sticky with yuzu vinaigrette and I didn’t really care; it felt good just focusing on chopping, stirring, tasting as we went.

Lunch was loud and a little messy—wine glasses clinking, someone asking if they could have seconds of the vanilla ice cream (Camille just winked). We talked about food pairings and regional wines, but honestly most of us were just happy eating what we’d made together. The windows let in this soft gray light that made everything feel kind of cozy despite the city outside buzzing along. I still think about that peach dessert sometimes—simple but somehow perfect after all that work.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class with market visit option

• Meet instructor at cookery school
• Enjoy croissant and coffee or tea
• Visit Latin Quarter food market
• Pick ingredients and taste cheese
• Plan 3-course lunch menu
• Cook meal with instructor guidance
• Learn French cooking tips
• Enjoy meal with wine pairing
• Receive electronic recipe copies

Top questions

How long is the Paris cooking class?

The cooking class lasts either 4.5 or 6 hours depending on whether you choose the market visit option.

Is lunch included in the Paris cooking class?

Yes, a full 3-course lunch is included as part of the experience.

Do I get to visit a food market during this class?

The food market visit is included only with the 6-hour class option.

Are wine tastings part of this Paris cooking class?

Yes, both white and red wine (half bottle per person) are served during lunch.

Where does the cooking class take place?

The class takes place at 59 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine in central Paris.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Please advise specific dietary needs when booking; vegan or dairy-free diets cannot be accommodated.

What dishes might I cook during this class?

Dishes may include salmon tartare with yuzu, coq au vin, and poached peach dessert with homemade vanilla ice cream.

Is there an age limit for participants?

The minimum age is 12 years; minimum drinking age is 18 years.

What’s included

Your day includes all required ingredients from a Latin Quarter market (for 6-hour option), coffee or tea with croissant to start, use of kitchen equipment and attire, guidance from a professional instructor throughout your hands-on French cooking class in Paris, plus a full three-course lunch paired with half a bottle of regional wine per person. You’ll also receive electronic copies of recipes before heading out into the city again.