Cooking class with Guillaume Brisard in St Nazaire
Join a cooking class with Guillaume Brisard in St Nazaire. Learn from an awarded chef, prepare a full menu, and enjoy a tasting meal by the sea.
The Cooking class with Guillaume Brisard in St Nazaire is a hands-on culinary session with a Michelin star chef in Pornichet, a coastal town in western France. This small-group workshop takes place in professional kitchens located near Saint-Nazaire and La Baule. The setting is informal and focused on practical learning.
Whether you are visiting the region or looking for a meaningful activity in France, this is a rare chance to cook with an awarded chef. The chef welcomes you with coffee and walks you through the menu. Together, you prepare a full course meal using seasonal ingredients from local producers. Dishes often highlight seafood, herbs, and vegetables from the region.
After the session, you can enjoy the meal you created at the chef’s table. An optional market visit is also available before the class. You may bring a guest for the tasting session if desired.
This cooking in France experience is open to both locals and visitors. It is ideal for food enthusiasts and those curious to learn the techniques of cooking with a Michelin star chef in a relaxed environment.
Where and when
Location
The class is held at Villa Flornoy in Pornichet, close to Saint-Nazaire in the Loire-Atlantique region. It is about 10 km (6 miles) from La Baule and Saint-Nazaire, and 70 km (43 miles) from Nantes and Vannes. The town is accessible by train and car.
Dates and availability
The experience runs every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the year. Each session lasts about 2 hours and includes optional add-ons like a market visit and post-class meal. Check with us for availibility, especially if you wish to privatize the class.
The experience
Welcome and preparation
Each Cooking class with Guillaume Brisard in St Nazaire starts with a warm welcome by the chef in a professional kitchen. A short discussion over coffee introduces the menu of the day. Dishes usually include a seafood starter, a main course, and a dessert, following the local food culture.
Cooking session
Participants work alongside the chef to prepare the full meal. You learn cooking methods that range from accessible techniques to more advanced ones. The ingredients are fresh, seasonal, and sourced from local producers. During the class, the chef shares tips, plating ideas, and step-by-step instructions.
Example recipes:
- Salt-cured mackerel
- Cod fillet with courgette cream, peas, and chorizo chips
- Roasted chicken with white bean gazpacho and mushrooms
- Strawberry tartare with Timut pepper and raspberry sorbet
At the end of the session, participants leave with recipe sheets to replicate the dishes at home.
Tasting meal (optional)
You can extend the class with a meal at the chef’s table, where your dishes are served and fine-tuned by the chef. This full tasting option adds value to the session. A guest can join the meal for an additional fee. You can also privatize the full class for your own group.
Market experience (optional)
With the full experience, you start the day by visiting a local market with the chef. Together, you meet producers and select the ingredients. This part of the session lasts around 45 minutes and gives insight into sourcing and seasonal selection.
The chef
Guillaume Brisard is an awarded chef who earned his Michelin star in 2011. He has kept this recognition for over a decade. His cuisine reflects the balance between tradition and modern cooking. He uses fresh, local products and focuses on precise techniques.
His international background shapes his approach to flavours and textures. Based in western France, he offers a refined yet accessible way to learn the basics and complexities of cooking with a Michelin star chef.
He values sharing his skills and encouraging guests to work hands-on. Each class includes advice on flavour combinations, plating, and ingredient sourcing.
Benefits of the experience
This Cooking class with Guillaume Brisard in St Nazaire offers more than just a meal. It is a practical way to engage with cooking in France, guided by an awarded chef.
- Learn to prepare a full three-course meal in a small group
- Improve your knife skills, seasoning techniques, and plating
- Gain insights into ingredient sourcing and seasonal choices
- Take home professional recipe sheets to try the menu again
- Enjoy a meal in a relaxed chef’s table format
- Optional guest invitation to share the tasting
- Learn from an awarded chef with international culinary experience
The experience is suited for hobby cooks, food lovers, and those looking to explore regional cuisine through a direct and practical format.
Conditions and restrictions
- Maximum of 6 participants per session. The cooking class can be privatized.
- Minimum age: 16 years
- Allergies and dietary preferences must be indicated at booking
- Classes available in English on request
- Available Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round
- Location: Villa Flornoy, Pornichet (Loire-Atlantique, France)
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