A Vegan Toolkit in October 2027

Whether you’re new to vegan cooking, cooking for a vegan partner or family member, trying to cut down on animal products, or already plant-based but stuck in a rut, this course is designed to transform the way you cook. Many people find that once they remove meat and dairy, their meals start to feel repetitive, unsatisfying or strangely lacking — even when they look healthy.

The truth is that great vegan cooking isn’t simply about swapping ingredients or putting more vegetables on the plate. It’s about understanding how to build flavour, texture and satiety without relying on meat, dairy or eggs. During this 4 day, 5 night cooking holiday, you’ll learn the essential techniques and ingredients that make plant-based food deeply satisfying as well as delicious. We explore how flavour develops in cooking, how to layer savoury depth including the role of umami, and how protein, fats and fibre contribute to meals that leave you feeling full and nourished rather than hungry an hour later. Rather than simply following recipes, you’ll build a practical vegan cooking toolkit — and become a much stronger cook overall.

This course is limited to just eight students, so there’s plenty of time for individual guidance, questions and hands-on support throughout the day. You’ll cook in my own kitchen, using techniques and equipment that translate easily to your own kitchen at home. The social side matters too: we cook together, then sit down to share the meal we’ve made, with time to talk, laugh and enjoy the experience. Lifelong friendships often begin around the table.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• create satisfying and delicious vegan food every day with no compromise
• have a toolkit of ideas and techniques to create your own dishes and veganize old favourites.
• know all about must-have vegan storecupboard ingredients
• wow your guests, including omnivores
• understand nutrition
• satisfy those cheese cravings!
• not feel hungry all the time!

By the end of the course you’ll be a confident, inspired vegan cook — ready to experiment and create your own dishes.

Each day you’ll typically make 6–8 dishes such as:

• Making Tofu properly tasty
• Delicious and indulgent desserts
• Street food favourites including burgers, falafel, bhajis and flat breads
• Techniques for getting the best from vegetables including braising, searing and baking
• Making your own sauces and condiments from scratch such as mayonnaise and gravy
• Vegan cheeses
• Decadent vegan snacks

A note for professional chefs

Professional chefs occasionally join this course, and many initially assume they should choose the advanced class instead. In reality, this course is often the most useful place for them to start.

Professional chefs already understand kitchen technique, timing and presentation. What they often haven’t had the opportunity to learn is the specific logic of plant-based cooking — how to build depth without meat-based stocks, how to create richness without butter or cream, and how to develop satisfying textures and balanced dishes without relying on animal proteins.

For chefs who are increasingly being asked to produce vegan options — whether in restaurants, catering or private chef work — this knowledge becomes invaluable. Once you understand the principles behind plant-based flavour and structure, your existing culinary skills translate effortlessly.

Many professional chefs find that this course gives them the missing toolkit they need to create vegan dishes that feel just as satisfying, refined and impressive as anything else on their menu.

Bespoke classes

If you’re short on time or have very specific goals, we also offer bespoke one-to-one cooking classes.

Learning in a private setting allows you to move at a faster pace than in a group class, and the content can be tailored entirely to your needs — whether that’s mastering particular techniques, developing vegan versions of your favourite dishes, or solving specific challenges you face in the kitchen.

Many professional chefs choose this option because it allows them to focus directly on the plant-based skills they need, making it a particularly efficient use of their time.

Get in touch to start a conversation.

Included

• 4 days of small-group workshops in our air-conditioned kitchen
• Breakfast each day
• Lunch each day, which we’ll eat together
• Dinner each evening, using the food you’ve cooked during the day, which you’ll organise yourselves
• A simple welcome meal on Monday evening, including wine
• Station transfers to and from Caussade or Lexos stations on the course start and finish dates
• Recipes
• All ingredients
• An apron, which is yours to keep

Optional

• Accommodation: You can book this course with or without accommodation. If you want a room, you can book it as an extra.
• Accompanying person sharing your room: Someone who is not taking part in the course is welcome to share your room. There is an additional charge to cover their food, which can be paid when you book.
• Airport transfers: We don’t provide airport transfers ourselves, but we can put you in touch with a reliable, English-speaking taxi service.

Not Included

• Alcohol, other than the wine served with the Monday welcome dinner

This course can be booked with or without accommodation. Often we don’t have enough rooms to accommodate everyone, so we’ve teamed up with an excellent local b&b a very short walk away which means that everyone who wants a room can have one. All our rooms are single occupancy with en suite bathrooms unless you book with someone you want to share with. You are welcome to share your room with someone who isn’t doing the course, and they are welcome to join us each day for a light breakfast. However if they want other meals, there’s a supplement to pay at the time of booking of €250. There is no supplement for people doing the course. There’s more detail on our accommodation page.

Questions? Let’s talk

Please note that this holiday is normally non refundable, so we strongly suggest you take out holiday insurance at the time of booking. However we are happy to transfer your booking to someone else at no charge. Full terms and conditions are here.