Paris: Hands-On Cooking Class with Cordon Bleu Chef

Cook a Three-Course French Meal in a Parisian Home, Then Eat It

You arrive in Les Batignolles, learn French knife skills and technique, then cook a three-course meal with a former Cordon Bleu chef in her home kitchen. You eat what you've made, leave with a certificate and recipe book, and have a real skill you can use at home. Maximum six people keeps the instruction personal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hands-on French cooking class

• Arrive at Les Batignolles home
• Enjoy coffee and meet the chef
• Learn knife skills and techniques
• Prepare three-course meal together
• Eat the starter ratatouille
• Cook and savor chicken roulade
• Make and enjoy fondant au chocolat
• Drink Colombian coffee and chat
• Receive cooking tips and certificate

The experience

"So you're actually going to make this yourself?" Catalina asks as she sets down a block of chocolate and a whisk, and you realize this isn't a demo where you watch someone else work. You're about to make a fondant au chocolat from scratch in her kitchen in Les Batignolles. The class starts with coffee and a quick meet-and-greet, then moves straight into knife skills and the French techniques you'll need for the three courses ahead. It's a small group, never more than six people, which means Catalina can actually see what you're doing and correct your grip or your timing without shouting across a room.

The menu changes with the season, but you're always making a starter, a main, and dessert. One class might be ratatouille, chicken roulade, and that chocolate cake. Another season brings different proteins and vegetables, so the techniques stay the same but the dishes shift. You're not standing around watching. Your hands are in the work the whole time, peeling, chopping, seasoning, tasting. If you want to explore Colombian or Asian flavors instead, Catalina can adjust the menu, though the core of the class stays rooted in French technique. Vegetarian diets and allergies are accommodated. Just note that vegan options aren't available.

Once everything is cooked, you sit down together to eat what you've made. There's coffee afterward (Catalina brings it from her native Colombia), and by the time you leave, you've got a certificate of accomplishment, a cookbook with all the recipes, and a real sense of how to execute these dishes at home. The neighborhood itself is worth a wander before or after. Catalina hands out tips on what to see nearby, and you'll probably leave with a few new contacts too. The class runs in her home, which is wheelchair accessible, and public transport is close by if you're not driving.

What’s included

• Your class includes arrival coffee and a meet-and-greet, a lesson in knife skills and French culinary techniques, hands-on preparation of a three-course meal (starter, main, and dessert), the meal itself with coffee afterward, a certificate of accomplishment, and a cookbook featuring all the class recipes.
• Vegetarian diets and allergies are accommodated upon request.
• Alcohol is served only to those of legal drinking age.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessiblePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Chef Catalina Botero

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to actually learn French cooking technique in an intimate setting rather than watch a chef demonstrate: the small group size and hands-on format mean you'll leave with skills you can use, not just a meal you ate.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can I do this if I'm vegetarian?

Yes. Vegetarian diets are accommodated. Note that vegan options are not available.

What if I have a food allergy?

Allergies can be accommodated. Mention them when you book so Catalina can adjust the menu.

Is this class suitable for children?

No. The class is for ages 16 and older only.

Can I request a different cuisine instead of French?

Yes. You can explore Colombian or Asian flavors upon request, though the class is primarily focused on classic French technique.

Is alcohol included?

Alcohol is only served to those of legal drinking age. It's not mentioned as a standard inclusion, so check with the provider if you're interested.

Are there dogs in the house?

Yes. If you have a dog allergy, be aware that there are dogs in Catalina's home. Service animals are allowed.

Is the location wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces in the home are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby.