Cooking Your Way Through Europe

If you’re like me, one of the most memorable parts of any trip is the food. While you can’t take the Eiffel Tower or the Alhambra home with you, a visit to a European cooking school can have you reliving your holiday over and over again just by entering your kitchen. Most people don’t know that you can get hands-on culinary training from the some of the best cooking schools in Europe, many of which offer short courses for visitors, many in English. Courses can run anywhere between one day and several weeks, but all yield results that last a lifetime

La Cuisine de Marie-Blanche-France, Paris, France

We start, of course, in the city known world-wide for its cuisine. Author of many cookbooks and a friend and collaborator of the late, great Julia Child, Princess Marie-Blanche de Broglie opened La Cuisine de Marie-Blanche back in 1975. Whether you take the daylong class, which features a luncheon, or whether you take one of the three to nine month diploma classes, you will be learning about French cuisine as created by one of the true masters. Classes are offered for the individual and for the group, and there are even classes that specialize in pastry. The school boasts a central location on the Avenue de la Motte Pic, right between the Place des Invalides, home to Napoleon’s Tomb and the Parc du Champ de Mars, home to the Eiffel Tower. Three-star accommodations within a block include the Hotel de la Motte Picquet and the Hôtel Le Beaugency.

L’Ecole de Cuisine Le Chapon Fin, Bordeaux, France

This city whose name is synonymous with fine wine is also famous for Le Chapon Fin, a restaurant that opened in 1825 and was one of the first 33 restaurants to receive a Michelin award, back in 1933. Le Chapon Fin is also home to L’Ecole de Cuisine Le Chapon Fin. As a student, you will not only get to cook, but you’ll also learn which wines compliment different dishes from the sommelier. Though the five-day course is open to all, don’t be surprised to find that many of your fellow students are professional chefs. Speaking of professional chefs, the school is run by Nicolas Frion, Le Chapon Fin’s own professional chef. There are many excellent Bordeaux hotels that are close to L’Ecole de Cuisine Le Chapon Fin.

Granada Cooking & Wine School, Granada, Spain

Heading to Spain, we find ourselves in the ancient Andalucian city of Granada, whose past as the Moorish capital has left it with a unique culinary legacy. Right in the city’s historic quarter is Casa Azahar, which opens its doors to a small number of students each year for its Granada Cooking & Wine School. These lucky few learn to prepare Mediterranean, Sephardic, and Mozarabic dishes using, greens and vegetables from local markets, olives from local groves, and wild herbs from behind the house. Field trips include the nearby Vinos de la Tierra Norte de Granada, where you’ll meet with master wine makers. The school is open from November to April for classes ranging from two to eight students. Some of the other perks include a view of the production of olives, olive oil, and cheese, tastings the famed Sherries from Jerez and Montilla and of course stunning views of the timeless Alhambra Palace. The same wonderful views can also be had from many Granada hotels.

Refúgio da Vila Cooking School, Portel, Portugal

Located just one hour from the Spanish border and two hours from lively Lisbon is the charming village of Portel. This is where you’ll find peace, quiet and some amazing cooking instruction at the Refúgio da Vila Rural Hotel and Cooking School. Here you’ll spend your nights in the historic villa manor house and your days learning from the hotel’s head chef Miguel Amaral. Each class lasts a week, and includes such unique lessons as curing sausage and baking Portuguese bread. The classes take place in the hotel’s homey kitchen, where you’ll take fresh local ingredients and the local flavors of the Alentejo Region and turn them into traditional Portuguese dishes. The hotel’s elegantly furnished rooms also make a homebase for exploring this beautiful corner of Portugal.

Nick Nairn Cook School, Stirling, Scotland

If you’d like a little razzle dazzle with your instruction, Celebrity TV chef Nick Nairn offers personalized attention in his classes limited to eight students. With the philosophy of allowing students to pick and choose classes, the Nick Nairn Cook School allows you to specialize in meats, vegetables, seafood and more. Between the Celebrity Chef Class, Master Class, Nick Nairn Class, Recreational Class and the Absolute Beginners Class, the school provides all levels of instruction, and with a wide choice of chefs (including Nick himself), there’s a wide range of expertise. The school also conveniently located, just 29 miles from Edinburgh Airport, and there are many fine Stirling hotels that put you conveniently close to the kitchen.