Overview
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Private cooking class with Master Chef Eric Briffard
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Le Cordon Bleu-style training in classic French techniques
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Seasonal French menu preparation with expert chef guidance
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Michelin-level dining, pastry skills, and Paris sightseeing
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Multi-course gourmet lunch at La Couronne, France’s oldest inn
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Day trip to Rouen to explore Normandy’s food culture
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Hands-on pastry workshop: macarons or buttery croissants
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Louvre Museum visit to experience Paris’s most iconic masterpiece collection
Welcome Message
I am so excited to invite you to join me in Paris, a city that has captured my heart time and again.
Paris is a city best tasted together. I have designed this week for those of us who don't just want to eat well, but want to understand the "why" and "how" behind the world's most celebrated cuisine.
We are going to go behind the scenes of legendary kitchens, source tools from centuries-old shops, and learn side-by-side with master chefs.
This isn't just a tour, it’s an immersion into the techniques and traditions that make French cooking the gold standard. I can’t wait to break bread with you.
And for those who wish to extend the adventure, you’ll also have the option to continue on with me into Italy, where Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast await.
With warmth,
Patti Carter
Day by Day Itinerary
Bienvenue à Paris!
Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle, a private driver will bring you to our home for the week, the Bourgogne & Montana Hotel. Nestled in the Left Bank, it is the perfect base for our explorations. Once we’ve all settled in, we will gather in the lobby for a festive champagne welcome. Our first evening features a celebratory dinner at Brasserie des Prés, where we’ll get our first taste of seasonal Parisian flavors and toast to the week ahead.
Breakfast & Dinner included
September 12 – A Taste of Paris
Today, we hit the pavement to explore the "pantry of Paris." Our expert guide will lead us through the city’s most iconic culinary landmarks. We’ll visit E. Dehillerin to marvel at the professional-grade copper, breathe in the wood-fired scent of Poilâne, and sample artisanal gems at Barthelemy cheese shop. We’ll navigate the historic stalls of Les Halles—the original "belly of Paris"—to see where the city’s top chefs source their ingredients.
Breakfast included
September 13 – A Day of Choices
Sunday in Paris is a day for slow exploration. You have your choice of tickets and reservations for a dose of culture at The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, or Musée Dior. For those who want to keep the culinary hunt going, you can join me as we visit one of the city’s famous brocantes. We’ll stroll the stalls together, hunting for vintage copper, antique linens, and silver treasures to bring back to our own kitchens.
Breakfast included
September 14 – Monet in Giverny
We’ll head into the countryside to visit Monet’s home and gardens. This is a beautiful opportunity to see a "living painting" and discuss the importance of the kitchen garden in French cooking. After wandering the lily ponds and willow trees, we will share a group lunch at Les Nymphéas, just outside the garden gates, with plenty of time to explore the local village boutiques together.
Breakfast & Lunch included
September 15 – Le Cordon Bleu
Today is a highlight of our journey. We step into the kitchens of Le Cordon Bleu, located within the magnificent Hôtel de la Marine. We will participate in a private cooking class led by Master Chef Eric Briffard and his team. Together, we’ll learn the professional techniques behind seasonal French specialties before sitting down to savor what we’ve created. Afterward, we’ll tour the 18th-century palace to see the opulent reception rooms that reflect the height of French elegance.
Breakfast & Lunch included
September 16 – Rouen
We travel to the historic city of Rouen to experience the roots of Norman cuisine. Our centerpiece is a lunch at La Couronne, the oldest inn in France. We will experience a traditional, multi-course menu that showcases the pinnacle of French service. Afterward, we’ll walk the cobblestone lanes and half-timbered streets together, perhaps ducking into an antique market or two before our return to Paris.
Breakfast & Lunch included
September 17 – Maison Fleuret & Farewell
We spend our final morning at Maison Fleuret for a hands-on technical workshop. We’ll split into two groups to master the art of either French macarons or buttery croissants. This is our chance to perfect our pastry skills under expert guidance. After a free afternoon for last-minute shopping, we’ll gather for a spectacular farewell dinner at Le Grand Véfour. We’ll end the night with a final, illuminated drive through the city to say our goodbyes to the City of Lights.
Breakfast & Dinner included
Meet Your Guide, Patti
September 18 – Au Revoir
After breakfast, we bid Paris a fond farewell, taking with us not only treasures and photographs, but the flavors, stories, and shared moments of a week in the heart of France.
Breakfast included
About Patti Carter
Patti Carter is a travel expert and advisor with over 40 years of experience in planning, creating, and escorting both groups as well as individual travelers. Her long-time clients appreciate working with an expert who understands their needs, and that can customize arrangements to suit all travel styles. She does it all from luxury cruises to African safaris, and family adventures.
Being Italian born, Patti specializes in Europe and Italy in particular. She came from a family of chefs and restauranteurs, so she naturally has a passion for cooking, food and wine. When she is not traveling, or planning amazing trips, Patti can be found at home with her husband and pups, firing up their wood fired oven, and entertaining dear family and friends.
Cancellation Schedule
Pricing From
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Cancellation More Than 90 Days Before Departure: You will receive a full refund minus a $500 per person admin fee
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Cancellation 60-89 Days Before Departure: A penalty of 30% of the booking price will be charged.
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Cancellation 30-59 Days Before Departure: A penalty of 50% of the booking price will be charged.
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Cancellation Less Than 30 Days Before Departure: No refund will be provided, and 100% of the program price will be charged as the penalty.
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$6,445 per person (double occupancy)
$8,255 per person (single occupancy) -
Includes hotel and land arrangements as shown on the itinerary.
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EXCLUSIONS: Airfare, Travel Insurance, Services and Meals not outlined in itinerary
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Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure