Aurore will warmly welcome you into her charming home and garden, just a short walk from the Fontainebleau town center. Begin your experience with a welcome drink as she shares delightful stories from her Parisian upbringing and rich multicultural background.
Then, gather around her dining table (or outdoors in the garden, weather permitting) to enjoy a traditional French meal. Your menu may feature an appetizer like smoked salmon tartare or a selection of fine cheeses, followed by a main course such as slow-cooked beef bourguignon, duck breast with an orange and honey glaze, or herb-crusted fish with a classic beurre blanc sauce.
The experience is beautifully paired with regional French wine and ends on a sweet note with a traditional dessert like molten chocolate fondant or delicate apple rose tarts, for a truly authentic taste of France.
Aurore will warmly welcome you into her beautiful, sun-filled home and garden in Fontainebleau, just a short walk from the heart of town. Begin your French cooking class with a welcome drink as she shares charming stories from her Parisian upbringing and rich multicultural heritage.
Step into her inviting kitchen for a hands-on, seasonal French cooking class, where you’ll prepare 2 - 3 authentic French dishes from scratch over the course of about 1.5 hours. Aurore loves sharing her favorite tips, techniques, and family traditions, adding unique twists to classic recipes.
As you put the finishing touches on your meal, enjoy a tasting of cheeses from a local fromagerie, accompanied by freshly baked bread. Then, gather at Aurore’s table to savor the delicious dishes you’ve created, paired with French wine.
1. Aurore is happy to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets.
2. Wine is included in the cost of your experience.
3. Aurore has a family dog but she is happy to her put in a different room during your experience.
4. Aurore lives in Fontainebleau, a picturesque town known for its historic Château de Fontainebleau and lush surrounding forests, a 45-minute train ride from Paris’s Gare de Lyon.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Dessert: Cherry clafoutis or molten chocolate fondantMain: Chicken blanquette, a French chicken stew with seasonal vegetables served with riceAppetizer: Regional cheese board with freshly baked breadAurore, a self-taught Parisian cook, now lives in a beautiful home in the city of FONTAINEBLEAU, just minutes from the iconic Château de Fontainebleau. Please note that Fontainebleau is a 45-min train ride from Paris. Aurore's passion for food began in childhood, when she helped her parents prepare meals inspired by their rich and diverse heritage - Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, Ukrainian, and French. Aurore cooks from scratch using only the finest ingredients and believes that knowing their origin is key to honoring food and culture. Now a mother herself, Aurore loves passing on these traditions - proudly sharing her son’s critique that school lunches lack garlic and nutmeg!
"My daughter and I agree, this is the best cooking class we have ever taken. All in perfect English or French....possibly other languages, Aurore is a Parisian--born and lives in Fontainebleau. Her cooking skills, personality, knowledge of not only how to cook--but how to serve a dish in the most elegant, yet modern way--is so wonderful!Do yourself a big favor and take her class!!!I know you will walk away as happy as we are!"
"Aurore mentioned that sharing a meal with someone is “transformative” and a “game changer.” I couldn’t agree more, as I walked away from her home with a memory of Paris that will last a lifetime. From hand selecting our ingredients at the local market, to sitting in her apartment to enjoy the meal we prepared together, I could not have had a more delightful culinary experience. Learning to plate dishes like Aurore is an added bonus!"
"My wife and I had the please of joining Aurore in September, 2018 while visiting Paris. It never felt like a paid tour or experience. We truly felt like we were joining an old friend for an afternoon of cooking and sharing stories about food, our homes, our children, and any other direction that the conversation took us. That being said, we also learned a great deal about French cuisine, and food in general. We enjoyed preparing and cooking Beef Bourguignon for lunch and Chocolate Souffle for dessert. Mixed within all of the preparing and cooking, we walked to the local market where we chose some cheeses and some fresh fruit. This was an extremely enjoyable experience that we'd both highly recommend!"
"Aurore is a Parisian chef who combines traditional with her modern twist! You will learn so much from taking her class! You will also take home with you knowledge about serving, presentation and flavor secrets you will treasure!
We loved the class and Aurore!"
