Host offerings
Françoise learned to cook from her two grandfathers who were both fisherman; one was a cook during the second World War. As a child, Françoise used to visit Marseille where her grandparents live; her grandfather would work, fishing off the coast, from 3am to 12am, and would then bring home the best of his catch to cook it for his family. It was her grandparents that taught her that the freshest fish is found in the best restaurants, and at the tables of the fisherman. Françoise went on to have a successful career working as the art director for advertising agencies for 18 years. She left that career to move in to the food space and has since started her own catering business. Françoise has a delightful and colored family story, from her tales growing up with her fisherman grandfathers to living in Africa for three years. Françoise is also passionate about doing anything with her hands and is incredibly creative; her beautiful home is lined with her handiwork, from beautiful collage boxes of her travel finds from around the world to metal embossing to cocardes (antique lace and bleu/blanc/rouge embroidery). Be sure to ask Françoise for her flea market recommendations, as well! She is an avid flea market lover and visits the Bruxelles market monthly.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal (1 - 7 guests) Step into Françoise's beautiful, large apartment that is tastefully filled with finds from travels around the world and her own impressive handiwork. Enjoy a plated three-course meal that will include an appetizer, main course and dessert, which might feature a sampling of cheese nibbles, a feuilleté with leeks, shrimp with ginger creme as an appetizer, and a traditional cheese soufflé served with a seasonal green salad for lunch. End your meal with a traditional French dessert such as poached pears, a fruit tarte or île flottante (a soft meringue served on top of a sweet custard).
Cooking experience (1 - 7 guests) Learn how to make a traditional French cheese soufflé, the perfect classic of French cuisine. Françoise will teach you all the techniques needed to recreate this light and fluffy dish at home, including the secret for how to get your soufflé to rise properly in the oven!
Market visit (1 - 7 guests) Meet in front of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles and walk together to the local covered market to meet some of Francoise's local producers (all of whom know Francoise well from her frequent visits!). You might stop at the local fishmonger, the fromagerie, and the produce store on your way home, and on your way pick up a selection of ingredients for your cooking class and meal. Walk the short way (less than ten minutes) back to Francoise's apartment where you will prepare your meal together and enjoy it at Francoise's large table in her kitchen.
Please note that market tours are not available on Mondays since the markets are closed that day. Also, the market tour is unavailable on Sunday evenings, it is only available at 9:15am on Sunday mornings.
Notes: On weekends (Sat and Sun), Francoise prefers to start the market experience at 9:15am (instead of 10am) to avoid the rush. Francoise is willing to host on weekends for groups 5+. Please email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com so we can check availability for you on a weekend if you are a large group. A glass of wine is included in the cost of the experience.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffad7f6de00>
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $190 | $160 |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $220 | $180 |
| Alcohol | $0 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 1:00pm - 04:00pm | |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | 10:00am - 02:00pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
