Top 11 things to do in and around Uzès
Uzès is a wonderful little town, tucked away in the hills in the south of France, and surrounded by vineyards and nature. Even though it is a small town, it makes the perfect destination since there
Culinary Vacations in France 2019
with Chef Eric Fraudeau – Cook’n With Class Uzès
Cooking Holiday France – Cooking Vacations in France – Culinary Vacations in France – Cooking Tour in Provence – Cooking Classes in Provence – Cookery Holidays in France
Hosted by chef Eric Fraudeau and his wife, Yetunde Oshodi-Fraudeau, this is a French culinary holiday in the South of France filled with food, wine, and good company. Forget about large tours. This is a week where you’ll be the center of attention along with your fellow participants. We only take a small number of students with us to ensure that everyone has a hands-on experience. Our culinary vacation package has evolved over time to include all the best that we can offer in the a French culinary holiday.
Plenty of wine to discover, recipes to try, and skills to acquire. Discover France through its food, its people, & its wine.
6 days, 7 nights.
Our Week in Uzès program runs from Saturday to Saturday. Here are our dates:
2019 French culinary holiday:
- April 13-20, 2019
- May 4-11, 2019 (FULL)
- May 25 – June 1, 2019 (FULL)
- June 8-15, 2019
- June 15-22, 2019 (Upon request)
- September 7-14, 2019 (FULL)
- September 21-28, 2019
- October 5-12, 2019
Price: 2750€/ person (750€ for a non-participating guest joining a participant in a shared room)
Week in Uzès Sample Program
A culinary holiday that actually gets you cooking. You’ll cook as much or as little as you like but the focus of our culinary holiday is the food and wine of the south of France.
Our 2019 French culinary vacation in Southern France just got better. You can expect an exciting week with even more wine, more food, & the hands-on cooking experience you’ve come to expect from chef Eric Fraudeau & Cook’n with Uzès.
The following is a sample program for our Week in Uzès – French Culinary holiday in the South of France. The program is subject to change due to weather or availability of our partners. A more definitive program will be given to you on the day of your arrival. Barring any changes in weather and the desires of the group, this final program will be what you can expect for the week. We ask that you try to be understanding about any slight modifications that will not affect your overall enjoyment of the program.
Saturday arrival
DAY 1:
Arrival at the house/Welcome dinner cocktail
Pick up from Avignon TGV at 3 PM to bring you the vacation rental (If you prefer to have a rental car, we would ask that you arrive by 4 PM at the house)
Arrival at the guest house around 4 PM
Welcome dinner cocktail at around 6:30 PM
To get you excited about the week ahead, we have arranged a “cocktail dinatoire” at the guesthouse around 6:30 PM. A chance to meet your chef instructor and the team who will be part of making your French cooking vacation spectacular. Meal included
DAY 2:
Winery Tour
Discover the wines of our region with a 1/2 day tour at a picturesque winery selected by our wine specialist. A crash-course into the wines of the Languedoc (Occitanie). A light Provençal picnic lunch will be prepared for you by chef Eric.
Free evening
DAY 3:
1st day of class
The morning will start with a continental breakfast at the guesthouse. You will be picked up and taken to the school to start your first day of cooking including preparation of lunch that we will enjoy together. After lunch, we will take a tour of a local cheese producer, a chance to stretch our legs and take in the countryside.
In the evening, with the guidance of our sommelier, you will participate in a unique wine and food pairing experience. No further dinner plans will be necessary.
DAY 4:
Morning in Nîmes
Start the day with a French continental breakfast at the guesthouse. Out of the kitchen and into the market. Tuesday is a day to explore the covered market of Nîmes to select not only what we will eat for today’s lunch but also get a crash course into the fresh produce that adorns the menus of prestigious French restaurants and our homes.
After our exploration and shopping of the market, we’ll return to the school to prepare your 3-course luncheon + cheese course. After lunch, we will prep some bread and other items for the rest of the week ahead.
Evening free. We would be happy to offer suggestions for any dinner reservations if you’re still hungry.
DAY 5:
Wednesday Market day in Uzès
The morning will start with a French continental breakfast at the guesthouse. You will be picked up and taken to the Uzès “marché des producteurs” taking place on the Place aux Herbes. Take in this beautiful medieval city and shop like a local with chef Eric for seasonal produce to take back to the school and prepare together for a 4-course luncheon. After our lunch break, we will resume cooking to prepare for tomorrow’s picnic.
Early evening apéritif at the Pont du Gard. Take in this magnificently preserved UNESCO World Heritage site – not to be missed, while we enjoy wine and a light pre-dinner meal. For most of you, this will be more than enough for the evening but if not, we will be happy to make recommendations for dining out.
Evening free post our apéritif.
DAY 6:
Déjeuner sur l’herbe
Start the day with a French continental breakfast before being picked up for an early morning of bread-making. Bake your baguettes and get excited for the fabulous picnic lunch that awaits you. You will be whisked off to a secluded location for a casual and delicious afternoon.
Evening free
DAY 7:
Final cooking day
The morning will start with a French continental breakfast at the guesthouse. Off to class to prepare our lunch for the day. You will head back to the house after lunch to relax and perhaps take a dip in the pool.
For our final evening together, we will take you out for a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.
DAY 8:
Departure Day
A French continental breakfast will be served at the guesthouse before check out and pick up for the return to Avignon TGV at 10 am.
(Please note that this is a sample itinerary to give you an idea of what to expect during your week in Provence).
- 7-night accommodations in a privatized guesthouse in the Pays d’Uzès
- French continental breakfasts each morning
- Welcome Cocktail dinner at the guesthouse
- Cheese & wine tastings & culinary & cultural excursions
- 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners (4 in 2019) including dinner at a select restaurant chosen by your chef, unlimited tastings
- Transportation to and from the guesthouse & school and for all organized excursions
- French market & local producer & winery tours
- Hands-on French cooking experience including, bread-making, breakfast pastries, soups, salads, stews, Provencal dishes, French desserts
- Small group sizes (maximum of 6 students), with up to 2 guests per session
- You don’t have to be a chef! All cooking levels welcome
- You don’t even have to cook! A non-participating guest is welcome when traveling with a participant in a shared room. Please inquire.
- Learn from an experienced French chef in English in a convivial and friendly atmosphere
- Wonderful recipes to recreate at home
- NEW! in 2019 Transportation to and from Avignon TGV on arrival and departure date
*Note: Let us know if you have your own accommodations and we will send you a quote. Traveling as a group of 4 or more, we can organize the week as a private session.
Group size: 6-7 max; 2 guests per group max
Price: 2019 dates – 2750€/person; 750€ for non-participating guest
We’ve hand-selected two beautiful home that are both convenient for their location and outstanding amenities. Which house will be used for the week is dependent on its availability but rest assured that your comfort has been taken into consideration. These are self-catered homes but we’ve ensured that you are still being pampered.
Amenities you can expect:
Breakfast each morning of your stay
Towels (both for the shower and the pool)
Pool*
Outdoor dining areas
Soap & shower gel & other basic toiletries
Hair dryer (in each room)
Coffee (starter) in addition to coffee served with breakfast
Teas (a small selection)
Milk (starter)
Fully equipped kitchen and dish-ware
Laundry soap (starter)
Dishwasher tablets & washing up liquid (starter)
WIFI
Private secured parking
*Pool availability starts in May
We always try to cook with the seasons so our menus will vary slightly from month to month. We have access to so many wonderful markets in the South of France and we can’t wait to have you discover some of the classics and revisted recipes of Provencal and Mediterranean cuisine for the perfect Mediterranean cooking class.
Here is a sample of some of the preparations we’ve already made during our past French culinary holiday*
- Pissaladière
- Melon Sorbert
- Soupe au Pistou
- Fried Camembert
- Lavender Ice-cream
- Fougasse with Ham, Almond and Herbs
- Pâté en Croûte Rustique
- Cherry Clafoutis
- Coq au Vin
- Sablé Breton
- Bouillabaisse
- Baguette Tradition
- Brown Chicken Stock
- Dried Duck Ham
- Steamed Emperor Fish, Spring Vegetables, Basil
- Seared Squid à la Provençale
- Mussels in Saffron Cream Sauce
- Panisse de Marseille
- Confit de Canard
- and so much more!
* This is a hands-on class where you will get to participate in the preparation of numerous French specialities. Some recipes will require working collectively both for their realization as well as to limit unnecessary food waste but don’t worry you will have plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty.
The examples of dishes we may do in class together is never fixed. All recipes are based on seasonal availability as well as time constraints and YOU. your input is all part of the menu creation.
The program week is modifiable under the same conditions.
We hope this will give you a little idea of what you can expect during your Week in Uzès without giving away all the surprises that await you.
Booking and Cancelation:
We need to review your booking before confirming your spot in the class. No payment is required till we have reviewed and confirmed your booking. When your request is approved, you will receive a “Your booking has been accepted!” message and can make your payment.
For our Week in Uzes, we require a deposit of 50% of the total price. The balance is due 90 days before the program start date. You are only required to pay the 50% initially so if you wish to pay the balance, You can pay the balance at any time by using the payment button on your confirmation.
Your initial payment must be received within 72-hours of the acceptance for your booking request. Be sure that PAY NOW is selected and make your payment.
Generally, your booking will be automatically accepted once we reach 4 participants (including yourself).
A cancellation fee of 50% of the total course fee will be applied if you cancel more than 60 days before the start date. Should you cancel within 60 days of the start date, no refund will be possible. You can postpone your date with notification at least 45 days before the trip and only one such change will be allowed for any given booking. Once changed, the new dates are final and non-refundable.
Not 100% convinced yet? Read our reviews on Tripadvisor.
For more on our Week in Uzès, click here
Your culinary vacation in the South of France includes 5 days of cooking and touring + 7 nights accommodations in a guest house you will be sharing with other participants.
All transportation to and from excursions as well as the option of pick up from and return to Avignon TGV station.
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 evening meals including dinner at a select restaurant chosen by your chef, unlimited tastings
Price: 2750€/ person (750€ for a non-participating guest joining a participant in a shared room)
Have questions? Please feel free to send us an inquiry after reviewing our current available dates below.
Offer this class as a gift to your friends and family.
Your Cooking vacation in France: A French Culinary vacation in France (Uzès)
WEEK IN UZÈS
My name is Eric Fraudeau, I am a French chef living in southern France and I would like you to join me on one of my cooking vacations in France. Let me (re)introduce you to the French cuisine and the Provençal way of life with this introduction to Provencal Cuisine at my French cooking school, Cook’n with Class Uzès, in the sunny South of France. Join us for this Culinary vacation in France, in the Gard Provencal, in the medieval city of Uzès. 6-Day, 7-nights experience with hands-on French cooking classes and cooking tours for all food and wine enthusiasts.
My wife, Yetunde, and I have put together a French culinary vacation package all taught in English by me. I’ll share with you my over 30 years of cooking experience that has taken me from France to Canada, Mexico, the USA, & back again. My passion is French cuisine and I want you to live that passion with us. We will taste fresh, seasonal foods, visit producers as well as historical monuments (including UNESCO world heritage sites); we’ll take in the many delightful fragrances of & bask in all that the south of France has to offer in gastronomical fare.
We’ve taken the best of our Wine courses, French cooking classes, Dessert classes, & Bread-making courses to give you a rich and delicious holiday focusing on what you love best about France.
We like to keep the group size small with a max of 6 people, so be ready for plenty of hands-on cooking experiences. We will not only be at our chopping boards, but we will also have opportunities to visit vineyards and learn about French food and wine tasting and pairing with my good friends, French sommelier, Frédéric Duverger and learn about the local wine production in the AOP & IGP with Wine Specialist, Nicolas Martin. We’ll take you to olive mills, or a working farm to learn how the famous goat cheese of the region is produced. But of course, we will not forget the wine & laughter that the south of France is known for.
Your Week in Uzès includes 6 days of activities (classes & excursions) & 7 nights accommodations in a private guest house selected for its charm and amenities. Welcome to the perfect French culinary vacation.
Come and join us on one of our French culinary vacations in France. Browse our best of 2018 Week in Uzès photo gallery, here.
See you in Uzès!
6 days + 7 nights cookery holiday in the south of France including accommodations.
Price: 2750€/ person (750€ for a non-participating guest joining a participant in a shared room)
OUR CLASSES
Come & explore our local French markets every Wednesday in Uzès & partake in an important part of French culture. Learn how to select the freshest ingredients for wonderful and delicious Mediterranean French recipes. Join us!
We will start off at the market, selecting the freshest fish & seafood. No need to be afraid of fish. We’ll assist you to create the perfect fish stock, bouillabaisse and other Mediterranean fish recipes in a very hands-on French cooking class experience.
French Bistro Cooking Class
€90.00Join us for a hands-on French cooking lesson where we revisit some of the great French bistro classics with a modern touch. you’ll prepare entrée, plat, & dessert. After the lesson, you’ll sit down and enjoy a 3-course lunch with wine.
With a good base, you can make a great stock. In this class, you will learn all about the mother sauces. You will make stocks, sauces for meat, fish, & vegetables. From this base of mother sauces, you will be able to make countless variations.
Become more proficient in the kitchen by improving your knife skills. This class will help you become more at ease with your knife. We will be chopping, mincing, dicing, filleting and deboning fish, poultry, & fruits and vegetables. Light lunch is included.
Pâte brisée, pâte sablé, pâte feuillété, pâte sucré, and more. This class will take you through the basics of French pastry dough making. Learn how to consistently make the perfect dough. Savory & sweet doughs, as well as a basic bread dough, are included.
Provençal Desserts
€80.00Come learn delicious & decadent desserts renowned in the South of France. Think fruits, nuts, and olive oil. In this class we will delve into desserts such as the nougat glacé, the fougasse d’aigues mortes and use ingredients like safran & lavender.
Bread Master Class
€350.00Learn to make bread at home like a pro. We’ll teach you the technics you need to beef up your bread making skills. This 3-day Bread master class is perfect for anyone who would like to learn how to make, maintain and use a starter. Open to bakers of all levels.
Cevennes Winery Tours & Tasting
€110.00Discover the micro-wineries of the nearby Cévennes mountains and meet a new generation of young winemakers who have blended innovation and ancient tradition to make wines that you’ve never tasted before. Come and discover our terroir!
Food & Wine Pairing Dinner
€130.00Step inside the chef’s kitchen accompanied by an experienced sommelier and enjoy an evening of wine pairing to the beautiful composed tasting plates whipped up by our chef. This is a hands-off class. Just sit back and let us be your guides.
Cheese & Wine Tastings
€70.00With over 250 cheeses & 27,000 wineries in France, a short holiday wouldn’t be enough to explore them all. Our Wine Specialists will guide you through a selection of local cheeses paired with local wines, teaching valuable technics.
Truffle Classes
€170.00The black truffle is the star of this special French cooking class in Uzès. Come and participate in an exception hands-on cooking classes focused on the truffle. Not just a cooking class but also a wine tasting and chance to experience the truffle hunt.
Private French Cooking Lessons
€600.00Need a little bit more attention or traveling as a group? Why not consider a private French cooking class which is tailored to your needs & desires. Great fun for families, friends, colleagues or individuals who want some extra chef time.
Your holiday includes 6 days of cooking, baking, tours, and tasting. Hands-on French cooking classes. Explore markets, visit producers, and be immersed in French cuisine. All skill levels are welcome. 7-nights lodging included.
Customized Culinary Holidays
€1,800.00Let’s design a Culinary vacation package for your group. Classes can include but are not limited to any of our regular courses & tours or. Customized packages include all but transportation to and lodging in Uzès. Contact us to get started.