Six Day French Cooking Course In Brittany

I was searching for a cooking school in 2023 - I found this place by accident. It was an epic vacation with my husband. Poul and Naill are wonderful hosts. The meals we prepared and ate were out of this world. I returned with girlfriend in 2026, another wonderful experience. 6 days of fun and learning how to make dishes at home like chefs prepare in restaurants.

I could not more strongly recommend the French Dining School to anyone seeking an immersive cooking program. Chef Poul is an exceptional teacher who helped not just with basics of a meal, but also things like pacing, pairing, and presentation. As an aspiring amateur home chef I’ve taken quite a few cooking classes, this was easily the best of the lot, and the most enjoyable. We love the program and will be returning again.

We arrived in the tiny community of Kerrouet not knowing what to expect from this experience. Let me just say: Don't hesitate -- do it! We spent a week in the quiet countryside with Poul and Niall, cooking, laughing and listening to wonderful music. We learned a lot, too, ate many delicious meals, which included fresh, local seafood, and toured Brittany and Normandy in the afternoons. Morning walks to the cooking school were also a highlight. We came away with new friends and many wonderful memories. Poul and Niall are such gracious hosts, and we were so lucky to find them.

I was very excited about going to Kerrouet and the French Dining School, as it came highly recommended by a friend who attended in 2022 and 2024. And I loved it just as my friend had said I would. Poul is a great chef, and Niall is a fabulous host. They work superbly well together and make a great team. I loved every class; the menus were varied, interesting, and the food we cooked was fabulous, tasted wonderful, and was truly delicious. Since returning to Australia, I have cooked almost all the dishes we made in class and will continue to cook them all. I enjoyed Poul's methodology in presenting the classes and have brought home many excellent ideas. On my return, I purchased a few of Poul's favourite items, such as Poul's Tefal frying pans with removable handles! We had fun 'decorating' the pears with the canneleur, something I had not heard of before! I am always on the lookout for such interesting, different talking points! I enjoyed the daily ritual of the evening aperitif and relaxation before dinner. The wines were good too, and they were generous. One afternoon, we had a wine appreciation and tasting with Falice, a good friend of theirs, who shared his knowledge of the local wines, which I found most interesting, especially his special box of aromas and scents for teaching, 'le dégustation avec le nez du vin'! My gite accommodation was fabulous and my host was a delightful woman. Every afternoon, we had a few hours out of the kitchen to explore the region or relax. I drove all over the surrounding area and loved the beautiful villages, their churches, tiny streets, and shops. I managed a fabulous day at Mont St Michel, one of my favourite places, one I am constantly in awe of....its remarkable location and structure, its majesty, history, and beauty. I fell in love with Brittany in every way. I wanted to go to cook and i loved every minute. So much so, I have booked another week in 2026 to return to Kerrouet's French Dining School to cook with Poul and Niall and to visit more of beautiful Brittany.

I can't recommend this cooking school enough. I have taken many one day cooking courses both inside and outside the US, as well as longer non residential cooking programs, but none of them compare to this program. Chef Poul is a fantastic chef and teacher and his partner Naill manages most everything else, including making lovely cocktails before dinner and rendering Brittany advice. I was looking for a hands on school that did not have complicated recipes I would never make and would teach broader skills. The program did not disappoint. Poul pateintly answered all our questions and offered advice on everything from sharpening knives to proper deboning methods and even plaement of glasses on the table. The meals we prepared were varied, plentiful, made with the freshish ingredients, and always delicious. I never felt like we were on a clock and lunches and dinners were a shared experince with wine and good conversation. I was accompanied on the program by a good friend who also had substantial cooking experience. We both felt that the program exceeded our expectations in all respects, There were 6 students in the class which was ideal from my perspective. We had the option of staying at a local hotel nearby or staying in a gite ( small cottage) in the tiny hamlet where the school is located. We stayed in the gite which was perfect for us as it allowed us to walk to and from the beutiful house where the program takes place. This was also a good option as we had a several hour break bewteen the morning/lunch session and dinner prep and dinner. Good thing too as we could walk off some of the plentiful food we consumed. I recommend this program for anyone who wants to learn the basics, hone their current cooking skills and spend an enjoyable week in Brittany. I would take this course again in a different season when the fresh foods would provde a different experience.

An absolute gem. The experience is educational, entertaining, enriching and fun...along with being incredibly delicious. Paul (chef) and Nioll (chief entertainment officer) graciously accommodate students of all skill levels and create an experience that is truly unique that will be remembered for a lifetime. You will walk in a little nervous and walk out with a cohort of new friends and fantastic new recipes to bring home to your old friends.

There is a place where time stands still, as the aromas waft from the kitchen, laughter is heard and the sounds of dishes resonate as the cooking class is preparing for meal service. It is a scratch kitchen with all fresh ingredients from neighboring farms and local town markets, that students will learn from a Danish chef with a gentle spirit and a creative edge that modern times seem to have long since forgotten. Poul Jensen & Niall O’Reilly have created this warm and ‘door is always open’ environment, welcoming students from all different continents and of varied ages, for a week of culinary immersion. Together, they are a symphony, having created a French cooking school that is an unparalleled experience for travelers seeking culinary adventures. Our group of eight students gather for our first evening of introductions, libations and a glimpse of what is to come. Niall welcomed our group with a huge smile, deliriously funny anecdotes and aperitifs while Poul set our goals for the coming week, outlining the food and recipes that we will be preparing for our collective learning of French cuisine. For our first meal, Poul served us a piping hot butternut soup drizzled with basil oil, an incredibly tasting pork tenderloin gently smoked with a turf peat accompanied with Pommes Dauphinoise and Sauce Morels . The dessert, homemade ice cream with an almond cake. The outcome is simply mouthwatering and delish. All meals are paired with white and red wines in abundance. Friendships are made. Throughout the week we learned how to butcher and prepare different cuts of meat, poultry and seafood. . . Roast saddle of Lamb, Stuffed Chicken leg, Duck breast and master the art of Lobster Therimdor and Beef Wellington. We created homemade vegetarian Ravioli, Scallops carpaccio, Artichoke in citrus sauce, Mussels in Blue Cheese which delight our palates. Too many soups, sauces, salads to list individually and a plethora of desserts including homemade ice creams and sorbets, tiramisu, a clafoutis of fresh fruit just to name a few. All created and taught by Poul with accompanying recipes and techniques employed by some of the best culinary masters in French cuisine. Poul knows his art, cooking, and happily shared his extensive knowledge while keeping total strangers, now friends, on track to prepare four course meals for lunch and dinner daily. We are all engaged, happy and quite full. This will not be a once in a lifetime experience for me. I will return yearly, as most students do, to this magical hamlet called Kerrouet, in the heart of Brittany, France to see my new dear friends, Poul & Niall.

Cooking has been my passion for many years now and was specifically looking for a professional course to advance my skills. Week at Kerrouet House has exceeded all my expectations. Upon my arrival I was greeted by Poul and Niall and felt right at home in their tastefully restored 16th century home filled with art and wonderful decor and of course at the heart of it all was the most beautiful kitchen. We sat in the living room with one of the many (as it turned out later) magical cocktails and after getting to know each other and getting acquainted with my teammates we started dinner preparation for that evening. I am not going to ruin anyone's surprise with all the amazing dishes that we prepared that week, but I came back from the course and have not stopped cooking for my family and friends and recreating all the wonderful recipes that I have learned. We prepared stocks, sauces, ice cream, baked bread, various meat and seafood dishes and list goes on and on. Learning cooking techniques from the most amazing French Chef was truly special. We cooked lunches and dinners and we got to enjoy them around the table with most amazing conversations, phenomenal French cheeses and amazing wine pairings. School is located in a small picturesque village and I got a chance to take advantage of afternoon breaks and discover Brittany. I can't wait to go back and bring any of my friends. I truly want to thank Poul and Niall for truly amazing experience! Julia

We full heartedly recommend this unique cooking experience! We have had a marvelous, unforgettable time at Kerrouet House. We felt home since the moment we arrived, being welcomed by our wonderful hosts Poul and Niall. They have truly shown their care for all participants and they made us feel so lucky and grateful for all the teaching we have received. Furthermore, there were constant laughs, stories exchanged in an true international and warm environment, good sense of humor, photos taken and shared, and enough breaks so that all felt recharged and ready to start the many chapters of this great adventure. We do appreciate the joy for cooking and the cheerful spirit that our hosts have. Many good lessons have been learned and enjoyed in the wonderful unique rustic kitchen, around the table each time we ate, stories have been shared in the garden and while enjoying the surprise excellent drinks offered to us by our hosts. It is our sincere wish to come back to Kerrouet House, bringing along more family members! Thank you, Poul and Niall!

We recently completed this six day course of seriously good cooking with a splash of wine and oodles of laughter. Poul and Niall are the wonderful hosts at Kerrouet House and their programme was perfect with a balance of work and relaxation. Poul is a superb chef who never hesitated to guide, tutor and share his skills with us. Regardless of your own skills you will learn plenty in this week long course held in the hosts own beautiful home in rural Brittany . I would highly recommend this cooking and dining experience. Yes we would return without hesitation if an opportunity arose again !

What a marvelous time with Niall and Poul. And the cooking great too. Learned many new techniques, made and ate some great recipes, and enjoyed their company. I'll be back soon, for sure.

I could use words like fabulous, exquisite, superb, and on and on. This was a 40th anniversary gift my wife and I gave to each other. It was beyond the cooking school itself, an amazing experience. History, the art of cooking, kitchen management, food sourcing, tools, techniques, traditions... A unique experience. K an D from Oregon, US of A

My first morning in the kitchen I was bowled over by the scent of the food. I wished there was a way to capture the fragrances like a photo. For me was an experience of a lifetime. I told Niall would I would be back if only in my dreams. Niall said to me “dreams do come true and I hope your’ come true”.

This was our third visit (and our friend's 4th) so I guess that tells you all you need to know. The cookery experience is exceptional - Poul, "Head Chef" unstintingly shares his extensive skills and experience, similarly Niall manages the role of "Chief Entertainments Officer" with great panache - cocktail "pink d'Niall" is wonderful. You are made so welcome and quickly put at ease - a super course for both novices and those more confident in the kitchen - we continue to learn and have come away with a huge range of dishes to recreate at home. We feel fortunate to have made lots of great memories and most importantly some great friends along the way. You will not be disappointed.

It was a fabulous experience spending a week learning to cook over a weeks time. Poul and Niall were fabulous hosts in this “hands on” culinary experience. Kerrouet House is a great location and kitchen to learn in . The variety of meat, fish, seafood and produce you work with is staggering and such a difference from the many one day cooking classes we have taken. 3 course lunches and 4 course dinners daily . We sampled the produce from Brittany, both land and sea. Made desserts and many sauces. Regular, vegan and gluten free dishes. All accompanied by some great wines from France. A unique experience was foraging for elderberry flower and stating a cordial. Our one morning off was in the nearby town of Lamballe at their weekly market. The afternoon break was great for a walk, or a nap after a busy morning cooking and lunch. The local Gite was comfortable and historic. We both hope to return in a couple of years as we have made lifelong friends.

I am a trained vegetarian Chef with a focus on fine dining. After staging at Michelin restaurant for almost two months I felt that I absolutely needed to get crash course in French techniques. Poul and Niall were just what I was looking for. It started with very compassionate conversation and appreciation of the struggles I had . working as a stage in high end restaurant without getting much knowledge in return. The week of cooking in Brittany was full of intricate French culinary techniques, high end produce, gourmet recipes and delightful lunches and dinners with Poul and Niall in a gorgeous 15th century residence. The AirBB across the street was lovely house with crisp sheets and fresh village air. I suggest you rent a car to take advantage of daily break between the classes to visit neighboring historic towns, including UNESCO Moint San Michell. Overall, wonderful experience! Highly recommend.

A+ Experience of a lifetime!!! Poul and Niall know how to make you feel right at home. I learned so much in the kitchen as well as thoughtful conversations and much laughter. The countryside is gorgeous and we enjoyed walks, a must visit to Mont-Saint Michel, lunch in Cancale... I have joked with Chef that I failed and need to retake the course. Until we meet again. XX

Had a great week with three gracious hosts, Niall, Poul and Scoobeau. If you want to improve your cooking skills and enjoy great food in a comfortable environment, you can’t go wrong at French Cooking School in Brittany. The team is well organized, hard working (for you) and dedicated to your learning and enjoyment. Already looking forward to going back with my wife and friends in tow.

We got a good feeling when we saw the many good reviews before booking and we were not disappointed. Far from it. From the second we arrived, we felt at home with Poul and Nyall. Everything we experienced during this week blew us away. The kindness, the hospitality, the food (oh my god, the FOOOOOD!!), the learning experience, the deep discussions as well as the humor. Poul and Nyall went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our week and rekindle our love for food and cooking. We can't wait to cook some of these dishes for our friends back home! We came as clients, but we left as friends.

When we found out about French Dining School here on Tripadvisor, we KNEW this was going to be good! And it was nothing less than a mindblowing experience: A week of full-immersion cooking with two amazing hosts, Poul & Niall. The moment we stepped into the kitchen, we felt right at home. Fortunately for us (sad for those who missed it), my husband and I were the only students that week and got the luxury of a private cooking class. The amazing Chef Poul put us to the task and we went through all the techniques of French cuisine: Mayonnaise, Julienne, Brunoise, stock making, bread baking, consommé, deboning chicken, stuffing meat, how to make the most amazing sauces, how to prepare lobster bisque, grilled langoustines, artichokes hearts, roasted duck breast, caramel, ice cream, custard creams and so much more. Most important lesson: Taste, taste, taste! We spent at least 6 daily hours in the most beautifully furnished French Country kitchen I've ever seen, and I felt in paradise. I never wanted to leave. A selection of the most amazing French cheeses came after each menu. And delicious wine and nice apéritifs were served together with the cooking and the meals. We left the table stuffed, each meal was delicious! We got to sleep in a quaint little old French house that we got all to ourselves, it was cute and charming and we loved the Welcome gifts of a bread, butter, and bottle of wine! The house was perfectly clean and the garden nice and relaxing. We came as customers, but left as friends. Poul & Niall are the most kind-hearted hosts, we were blown away by their hospitality and trust from day one. Thank you both for opening your home and hearts to us. We will definitely hold you as a brightly shining example of "couple goals" in our hearts! You certainly know how to live! 💖 We are so, so grateful for what you have shared with us. It was a priceless experience. Hope to see you again soon. P.S. A special mention goes to Scooby Doo, the sweetest of dogs... may you always find thrower for your next ball! ❤️

Our teenage son had the most amazing experience learning to cook Cordon Bleu recipes at this high standard establishment. We all (including us the parents) really enjoyed the very loveable French Dining chef team and meeting the other participants learning to cook (who were a variety of age groups, from young to retirement age). Our son mastered many new skills and we all got to enjoy the delicious and sophisticated food prepared. The course would suit a mature young person who appreciates this rare opportunity, as it takes commitment and dedication. Our son gelled immediately with the other eclectic members of the group because of the warm, friendly, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere established by the experienced hosts. I highly recommend this for any age person who has a serious interest in preparing and eating delicious and sophisticated recipes. Families, couples and individuals are all made really welcome.

We had the most amazing experience at Kerrouet house. Our journey through french cooking was guided by Paul the most patient and expert of chefs! He gave of the knowledge and confidence to come home and cook his recipes with friends and family who all love it. Niel was very knowledgeable about wines and history of the region of Brittany. Dinners were excellent with great conversations and five star meals that we ourselves cooked! They made us feel at home with great stories and an always full glass! We had perfect amount of time in the afternoon breaks to got out and explore. We made friends to hopefully last a lifetime ❤️

As you can see from my review in 2015 I truly enjoyed my week spent with Poul in his kitchen near Kerrouet. I am dreaming of returning and just may do so when the restrictions are lifted! I had to chose a date for when visited so chose June 2019 as that was earliest I could choose from the dropdown menu, however my last visit wast in 2014 and still think about this trip all the time!

My husband and I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Poul and Niall for the amazing time spent at Kerrouet house. Each recipe we cooked was carefully selected by Chef Poul and was outstanding in flavor and presentation. Poul is a very talented chef and is keen on sharing his knowledge and experience with his students. We learnt so many new techniques and useful tips (including the equipment to be used in the kitchen) that we will introduce in our everyday cooking at home! Niall paired all of our dishes with wide selection of French wine and prepared delicious healthy breakfast for us every morning. His afternoon aperitifs were also excellent. Most importantly, both Poul and Niall are incredible hosts and made us feel at home from the first minute – the accommodations were above and beyond what we were expecting. We were impressed with the beauty of Bretagne, which we totally didn’t expect! Ask Niall and Poul and they will give a plenty of suggestions of where to visit and what to see. Best of all was the conversation, shared over our spectacular dishes, as we got to know these two fine gentleman who have travelled all over Europe. We hope that they will come to visit us in Vancouver one day – we would be happy to host them!

I was here on my first solo trip to any country, and decided to take a cooking class, and what an amazing decision I made! I happened to be the only one to sign up for the week I was going to be there, but that was no issue whatsoever. They invited friends and family over for some of the meals and I felt right at home. Paol and Niall are just amazing hosts and I cannot wait to visit again! During my time off between the lunch and dinner classes, they both gave me some great suggestions on small towns to visit around the area, and I was so grateful for this because they were beautiful, quiet towns that I would have never thought to visit. The food we made was all so amazing! I learned a lot in this class and I really enjoyed doing everything right at Paol's side so I could learn by doing, and not just listening and watching. The things we made were time consuming (because they're done correctly), but easy enough to bring the recipes home and make on my own, in fact, I did that. So far I've not even been home one week and I have made frikadelle, crème fraîche potatoes, gazpacho, Provençal style tomato pizza, and raspberry tiramisu!! It was just an amazing time, I honestly did not want to leave. I can guarantee I will be seeing these two again! I absolutely loved this class!!

My husband took this course and I just got to thoroughly enjoy the food and the company. Chef Poul and Niall are an incredible team that make you feel like family in their home. My husband learned a lot--not just amazing recipes, but useful techniques that in our week back home he says have already made him more efficient and a better cook. The accommodation was private, comfortable, clean, and felt like a special getaway. The location is beautiful allowing us to run, ride our bikes, and drive to many close towns and get a feel for the Brittany countryside, history, and cuisine. We traveled throughout France for another week after our stay at Kerrouet, but we both agreed that this was the best part of our trip and one of the best trips we have taken. For both of us, our favorite part was the friendship we developed over the week with 2 of the most incredible people on this earth (all of the food was a close second). Poul and Niall, thank you for everything--and the extra scoops of ice cream!

This hands on course is well structured, well taught and thoroughly entertaining. The hosts - Chef Poul and Niall ensure that every participant is made to feel welcome, and that the fruits of the students’ labour’s in the kitchen are presented and enjoyed. Copies of all recipes are provided, the class sizes are small and the range of dishes prepared is quite extensive. Brittany is a great region of France for showcasing seafood and we were treated to some marvellous seafood recipes. I will be be back!

Do you want to learn how to make simply the most amazing food you have ever tasted and then to have the pleasure of sitting down to dine with folks you feel you have known a lifetime? If yes then this is the place for you! Niall and Poul went above and beyond to give my daughter and me the best cooking vacation ever. I can recommend this school without reservation to new and experienced cooks alike. From planning to preparing to properly enjoying food, everything was covered. We will be returning as soon as our schedules allow.

This five day course is an amazing experience. Regardless of your level of cooking ability you will learn such a lot. Poul is a Michelin trained chef and is not only an amazing, knowledgeable chef but an amazing man. He has a wonderful sense of humour and makes the week lots of fun while he teaches you so much. This is a very hands on course and Poul helped us produce amazing food while we learned so many techniques we can apply at home. Naill is also a wonderful man, full of fun and such a good story teller. The course is not just a cookery course but a fine dining experience, enjoying eating everything we cooked. By the end of the week we felt Poul and Niall were friends. If you want a French cookery course this is the one, don’t hesitate, as you get far more than a cookery course you get a wonderful life experience. Can't wait to go back!

Learning from a Michelin trained chef is a life experience I won’t forget. My husband and I came to learn and we gained far more. We are experienced cooks and find it difficult to find a course we can learn from. During the week we learned great recipes that we can do at home. Techniques we can apply to many things. Poul is smart and well traveled. He’s an amazing chef. Wonderful person and spending the week with him and Niall was far more to us than a course. Niall is humorous and a master at history and stories. Sitting around together eating and getting to know one another transformed this from cooking to life impacting. We left calling them friends as well as our fellow class mates. Brittany is beautiful and the perfect setting for such an amazing experience

This is for people who really want to learn cooking in the French-style. It's not half-cooking and half-touring.... it's ALL cooking, laughing, learning and, as the name implies, DINING! Former restauranteur Chef Poal is focused on the total food experience. His students come away knowing how to put really simple food and drink together to create a feast as well as creating a complicated dish with small effort. Daily, we prepared (and enjoyed eating) lunch and dinner beginning with aperitifs, appetizers (with appropriate wines) mains and desserts. A full menu is provided for the week and adjusted as necessary based upon what is available in the market. All courses were expertly prepared by the students assisting the chef with hands-on. We received instruction in techniques -- but only as needed. We learned to adjust dishes and sauces to achieve the desired outcome -- some of us actually make mistakes in the kitchen and Chef Paol provides instruction and demonstrates how to save expensive ingredients from the trash can... This is our 4th cooking school in 35 years and we WILL be going back in the future just because it was so much fun to enjoy the international atmosphere of the school while having a totally functional, positive vacation. We left with a collection of recipes and techniques that will be incorporated into all of our cooking until we're back for more!

I originally met Chelsea Poul and Niall at a cozy restaurant in Ireland several years ago. I did not know at that moment in time I would be sleeping in a lovely French stone cottage and stepping across the road into the kitchen that would provide me not only a new set of culinary skills and interpretation, but to meet two amazing individuals. Chef Poul and Niall are indeed solely responsible for infusing such a lasting and unique experience. I awakened to the capricious Brittany sunshine to then prepare five full days of meals with libations in between..to join other novice chefs in cooking comradery. And then to saunter lazily on afternoon restreat through the sweet village of Kerrouet and neighboring farmlands. Charming sheep, horses, cows and cats ...all smiled for my camera! I do hope that I may soon return to engage in another Chef Poul menu and Niall story telling and an extremely pastoral peace of mind. Truly a most memorable week in my life. Merci!