Saturday, November 14, 2009

School me

I cooked up a storm this fall (well, it’s all relative). After my first dessert-making course at Atelier des Sens, I was pretty hooked and took six subsequent classes. I highly recommend it for anyone living or visiting Paris.

Art Home
Delicious two-hour workshops in the sleek white, modern kitchen inside the Palais de Tokyo. Made coriander-crusted sardines and plum clafoutis. 2 hours, 20 euros.

Atelier des Sens
Two darling locations and a boatload of themed classes. I pigged out on rhubarb-raspberry crème brulée, pistachio sabayon, and a rich and fragrant lavender-peach trifle in my summer desserts course. 3 hours, 90 euros.

Les Coulisses du Chef
Loved Chef Olivier Berte’s warm, welcoming kitchen and his gentle but confident teaching style. Made parsnip soup, sole meunière (channeling Julia!) and fig and strawberry carpaccio. 3 hours, 100 euros.

Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
My fellow Americans Richard Nathem and Charlotte Puckette offer super fun and intimate classes in Charlotte’s seventh arrondisement townhouse. Asparagus and goat cheese tart, duck breast and apple galette. 4.5 hours, 185 euros.

Elegant Home Cooking

Sylvie Barbazanges now leads this cooking school inside a renovated farmhouse in Suresnes (about 15 minutes on the RER). Made zuchhini millefeuilles, chicken breasts stuffed with ground veal and was treated to a third-course cheese tasting. 3 hours, 120 euros.

La Cocotte

Delicious banana cream, lemon meringue, apple cheddar and pumpkin tartlettes? Just another night with Rachel Khoo at Andrea Wainer’s charming salon de thé/foodie bookstore that hosts the occasional cooking class. 3 hours, 35 euros.

Atelier des Chefs

Japanese, cocktail mixing, molecular gastronomy and more at multiple City Center locations. I took a down and dirty 30-minute class in which we made risotto with peas and squid. They say 30 minutes (15 euoros), but it’s more like 60, once you’ve eaten.

Details of my cooking adventures will come out in the March issue of National Geographic Traveler.

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