Cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley

Join a cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley. Learn French recipes with a chef, using fresh ingredients. Year-round.

Take part in a cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley, a hands-on experience focused on learning to cook in France. The activity takes place in central Tours, a city in the Centre-Val de Loire region, known for its culinary traditions and local markets.

Whether you are visiting the region or living nearby, the class offers a real introduction to cooking in France. You will cook with fresh, seasonal products, in a fully equipped kitchen led by a professional chef.

Participants choose from different formats and themes. You can prepare a world menu, try your hand at French classics, or cook more refined dishes. The options suit beginners and amateurs alike.

Each session includes step-by-step instructions, practical cooking tips, and advice to help you recreate the dishes at home. Some classes end with a meal on site; others allow you to take your creations with you.

Cooking in Tours means exploring food through practice, taste, and precise techniques in a friendly setting. It’s a good opportunity to work with professional tools, improve your skills, and gain knowledge of French gastronomy.

The cooking class can be privatized for yourself or your group.

Cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley
Cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley

Where and when

Location

The class takes place in the heart of Tours, in the Indre-et-Loire department (postal code 37000), just a few steps from the Loire River. The kitchen is modern and fully equipped, within walking distance from the city centre and accessible by public transport.

Dates

Classes are available all year round, with different themes depending on the schedule. Sessions run on weekdays and weekends. The calendar opens several weeks in advance. It is possible to book individual or group spots.

The experience

The cooking class in the Loire Valley offers three main formats, each with several themes. Participants cook under the supervision of a chef, in groups of 4 to 10 people.

Option 1 – World cuisine (2h to 2h30)

This format includes dishes from various countries. Each session explores a different theme based on a set calendar:

  • Japanese: miso soup, sushi, karaage chicken, onigiri
  • Thai: prawn curry, mango sticky rice
  • Spanish tapas: croquetas, tortilla, seafood tartlets
  • Italian: risotto, cannelloni, melanzane parmigiana
  • Vietnamese: Bo Bun with handmade nems
  • Caribbean or Creole: cod salad, coconut blanc-manger, goat massalé

You prepare a complete menu or three dishes based on the chosen theme.

Option 2 – Chef’s menu (2h30)

This format goes further with cooking methods and plating. Themes include:

  • Grilled dishes from around the world: chicken skewers, beef plancha, Caribbean-style prawns
  • Fish specials: sole fillet, cod with ginger foam
  • Meat specials: lamb saddle, beef cubes with spiced wine
  • Gourmet menu: veal onglet, tomato bavarois, banana almond tart

Option 3 – Gastronomic menu (2h30)

This session suits people with more time or interest in refined dishes. You’ll cook plates you could expect in a restaurant:

  • Langoustines with citrus, whole roasted sea bream with manioc
  • Sole bûche with langoustine heart
  • Seafood ravioli, saffron risotto

All classes are conducted in French. Ingredients and tools are provided. Some sessions include a tasting on-site. Others allow you to take your food home. Recipes vary depending on the chef’s planning.

The chef

Each cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley is led by a trained professional. The chef is selected based on the chosen theme (world food, French dishes, or gastronomy).

The chef gives instructions, demonstrates techniques, and assists each participant. Expect advice on how to prepare, season, and cook with precision. Participants also receive tips to reproduce the dishes at home.

This interaction brings structure to the class and makes it accessible for all levels. Whether you cook often or rarely, you follow each step at your own pace.

Cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley
Cooking class in Tours in the Loire Valley

Benefits of the experience

Learning to cook in France through this format offers several practical benefits:

  • Clear guidance and adapted teaching
  • Use of local and seasonal ingredients
  • Access to a professional kitchen
  • Recipes you can make again at home
  • Tasting your meal on-site or bringing it with you
  • Time-efficient format: 2h to 2h30
  • Suitable for individuals, couples, or groups

This experience gives an overview of regional and international recipes. You gain both practical skills and inspiration.

The class is useful for visitors who want to connect with local gastronomy and for residents looking to improve their everyday cooking. It’s an effective and accessible way to deepen your knowledge of cooking in Tours.

Conditions and restrictions

  • Minimum: 4 participants per class
  • Maximum: 10 participants. The cooking class can be privatized for yourself or your group.
  • Location: Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
  • Duration: 2h to 2h30 depending on the chosen format
  • Languages: Classes are held in French and English
  • Booking: Required in advance
  • Availability: All year round
  • Participants must be aged 12 or older

Back to our cooking classes in France.