Being a vegan in France hasn’t been especially easy in the past which means vegans have missed out on wonderful French cuisine. Here at Le Cheval Blanc we’re aiming to change all of that by offering this themed four day (five night) course concentrating on vegan French cuisine.  Some dishes are already vegan, some are easily veganized, while with others it’s taken a bit more creativity to remove all the animal products.  The techniques you’ll learn on this course can also be used to veganize other dishes when you get home!

This course is a masterclass in understanding flavor. That’s because classic French cuisine relies on meat and dairy for flavour – it does not use many spices. Much of the course therefore is about getting that flavor back. We’ll be looking at the building blocks of flavor and how to layer them to create satisfying, indulgent vegan food. Learning these techniques will transform all your cookery.

Group size is small, typically 4, maximum 6, so you’ll get plenty of individual attention. Workshops take place in my kitchen, my workspace and the centre of my foodie world which our guests always appreciate. We had air conditioning installed last year, so you don’t have to worry about summer heat.

You’ll make on average 6 dishes per day which will include:

• Pastry dishes such as Vegetable Quiche and Pissadeliere (A cross between a pie and a pizza)
• Savoury dishes such as Galettes (buckwheat pancakes), Chestnut & Mushroom Bourguignon, a variety of Pâtés, vegetable gratins, French Onion Soup with a very cheesy crouton and the classic southern snack of Panisse
• Side dishes such as Cheesy Croquettes, Baked Green Beans & Petit Pois, Gratin Dauphinoise and Petit Pois a la Française
• Classic desserts such as Chocolate Mousse, Crème brûlée, chocolate tart, and sumptious Gateaux.
• Vegan cheese.  Well, we are in France after all!

This cooking holiday will be all about using the freshest, locally sourced ingredients.  That means of course that we may need to alter some of the dishes we cook in order to take advantage of what’s available.

Many people extend their stay and make a holiday of it. It’s a beautiful part of France with plenty to do. There are endless outdoor activities on the doorstep and rewarding day trips to be done including the world heritage site of Albi or the prehistoric cave paintings at Peche Merle. Or you can just relax in our idyllic riverside village.

If you like the sound of this holiday but the dates don’t work for you, we may be able to run it at other times, especially if you’re a group. Get in touch to start a conversation

Included

• 5 nights accommodation at Le Cheval Blanc (for residential bookings)
• 4 days of cookery workshops in our air conditioned kitchen
• All Meals (We provide a simple meal on the first evening, a light breakfast every morning, lunch forms part of the workshops and you’re welcome to eat what you’ve made for dinner)
• Transfer to/from local railway stations (Caussade (Tarn et Garonne) or Lexos)

Not Included

• Additional activities during free time
• Airport transfers, although these can be arranged at extra cost. We can also tell you how to get here by train from the airport.
• Alcohol in addition to what is provided with the meals

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, or can try to sell your space. If we sell your space we will refund 90% of what you have paid. If we sell part of a multi-person booking, your refund will be adjusted pro-rata. Full terms and conditions are here.

We have no rooms left for this residential, but that’s no problem, there are plenty of excellent options very nearby. We recommend our friends Lisa and Richard on the same street as us. Their b&b is lovely, is vegan friendly, and they’ll give you a 10% discount if you tell them you’re doing a course with us. There are many other options, just ask if you need help with that. And don’t worry, you’ll be able to participate fully in everything that’s happening here if you’re sleeping elsewhere, including breakfast if you like.