Pastry Classes Paris

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Whether you’re a pro in the kitchen or someone who barely steps foot near a stove, pastry classes are something entertaining and educational for everyone, especially when you’re in Paris.

After all, France is home to some of the most renowned chefs, as well as a variety of decadent wine and cuisine options. Paris is often regarded as the cooking capital, and specifically the cooking capital of Europe. That being said, check out everything you need to know about taking a cooking class in Paris below.

What are Pastry Classes?

Read more about our Pastry Classes here

Although the term is practically self-explanatory, let’s explore the generic basics of a baking class in France. Basically, France baking intensive courses, people signup and pay for lessons on how they can cook different pastries. Of course, there are thousands of courses to choose from, and each course offers a different experience and level of difficulty.

Regardless of which course you decide to take in France, you should expect to learn techniques and tricks from some of the top bakers in the industry. Therefore, by the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to create magnificent pastries that are served in some of the top bakeries in the city.

What do Pastry Classes Entail?

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It’s good to keep in mind that different baking and pastry classes in Paris offer different experiences. Therefore, it’s difficult to exactly explain what a course will entail. But, there are certain things you can expect, especially for entry-level courses in France.

Where does it happen?

For starters, you can expect your class to take place in a kitchen. Some baking schools offer in-home options, which is when the chefs come to you with the necessary materials and food to teach you how to bake pastries in your own home. But, a majority of schools have on-site courses that come fully stocked with their own materials and food. So, you should anticipate traveling to the location of the school.

What you should wear

It’s important to note that regardless of the location of your course, you should wear something comfortable and casual, yet chic. Of course, you should be comfortable and semi-casual. After all, you’re going to spend the entire day getting down and dirty and cooking intricate pastries. Although you’re going to have an apron on, there’s always the possibility that some food could get on your clothes. It’s also important to have flexibility and mobility because the last thing you want to do is to constantly fix your outfit throughout the day when you’re trying to bake a dessert. On the other hand, it’s important to dress chic and put together because you’re most likely taking a course in a world-renowned venue with critically acclaimed chefs. To a renowned chef, dressing nice is a simple sign of generosity and respect.

Parlez-vous français?

A common misconception about baking courses is the idea that you have to be fluent in French to take a course. While most chefs are native French speakers, a majority of them are also fluent English speakers. Also, most baking courses in Paris offer different language courses because they know that the courses are very desirable, especially for English speaking tourists. That being said, if you plan on visiting Paris, it’s always helpful if you know at least a little bit of French. But, don’t sweat about having to become fluent in the language to take a baking class because that isn’t the case at all.

What level should you choose?

If you’re an entry-level chef, then a simple introduction baking course at a renowned school is the perfect option for you. Typically, introductory courses are around 100 euros and a few hours long. During those few hours, participants usually partner up or follow along individually with a professional chef or two. Most courses also offer wine or tea that participants can sip throughout the course or after.

For example, a macarons class in Paris at a popular school generally costs around 100 euros and is approximately three hours long. Once you arrive at the location, you can expect to make basic meringue macarons that have various fillings and colors. The instructors will walk you through every step of the process, even what kind of ingredients you should use and where you can find them. Overall, the course will teach you specific tips and tricks to make perfect macarons every time you attempt to recreate the recipe, as well as general skills, such as how to use a piping bag. After you successfully make some macarons, you will be able to enjoy the macarons with a classic cup of tea.

Different Kinds of Classes

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Like previously stated, there are many kinds of baking courses. The course you decide to take is ultimately dependent on your skills, experience, budget, and what you want to master. If you have a minimum amount of cooking experience, then you should consider taking a French tarts class in Paris. Tarts are classic Parisian pastries that are relatively easy to make. Learning how to make a tart will open your eyes to a variety of foundational skills, techniques, and knowledge that every baker should know.

On the other hand, if you have a decent amount of cooking experience and skills, then you should try a chocolate eclairs class in Paris. There is absolutely no other place in the world where you could learn how to make a perfect chocolate éclair other than Paris. One of the reasons why a chocolate éclair class is a perfect option for intermediate to advanced chefs is because making an éclair takes a lot of detail, knowledge, and technique. After all, it has a light fluffy foundation and a decadent heavy filling.

How to Find the Perfect Baking Class

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In order to find the perfect baking class, start by assessing your cooking skills. Can you make a tasty cake from scratch? Do you know baking basics? Are you comfortable cooking? This will help you decide what kind of dessert you want to know how to make, as well as what class level you should look for. Once you have a general understanding of your skills and what class would be the best fit for you, do some research on who are the most famous French chefs. You might be surprised to discover that most acclaimed chefs offer baking courses, or at least have a list of reliable pastry courses they advise people to take. Finally, book your baking class and get ready to sip some wine and make some tasty French treats!

For more information, please refer to the following pages:

A croissant class in Paris

More About Our Baguettes Classes

Getting a bit technical during our Baguette Class in Paris

The French baguette, actually probably better known as the Parisian baguette has beome a true symbol of French popular gastronomy. A true icon of French life even - look around and you will see the Parisians strolling back home with their baguettes under their arm. But if you are French why would you learn how to do this? You can buy a baguette at any corner of Paris for about one Euro a piece. But in our Baguette Class in Paris you will learn how do this from scratch. It is somewhat technical, but also full of tips and tricks. But when you leave, it will have not secret left for you. From the original mix to the famous "scarification" through adding water to your oven through baking, you will see and do it all.

Learning more during your Baguette class in Paris: Croque Monsieur Bread and Brioche

This class is like all our other baking or cooking classes: totally hands-on. So you get to practice from beginning to end - and to taste at the end. But not only will you learn how to make Baguette, but you will also learn to make two more types of bread: the French Croque Monsieur bread. The basis for the classic French bistrot appetizer. And in your Baguette class in Paris you will also learn how to make your own Brioche. Probably the most indulgent bread you will find in France - if not the lightest ...

And you might learn some history during your Baguette Class in Paris

While you will learn the techniques to create - and get to taste - three classic types of French breads, you will also learn some of the stories on the origin of the baguette. Just beware it is still being quite hotly debated. What is for sure though is that the Baguette is absolutely part of today Parisian's life. A classic you will be able to take back home with you.

More About Our Wine and Cheese Lunch in Paris

Cheese and Wine in Paris

The pleasures we can derive from French cuisine can seem endless. However two of the best known and loved French gastronomic heroes are French cheese and wine. Whether we talk about a Brie which actually comes from very close to Paris, to a creamy Camembert from Normandy, or a Comté from the Alps, French cheese has a delight for all palates. And of course, French wines are even better known whether from Bordeaux great wines or Burgundy sophisticated whites – all of which enthral wine lovers. Well, at our course on cheese and wine in Paris you will come to appreciate that although each is delicious on its own, properly matched cheese and wine together can make the experience of each even more enjoyable and an absolute delight.

How to pair French cheese and wine

Because not all pairings are actually what people expect, at Le Foodist we have decided to call these experiences 'Daring Pairings'. Maybe because we like to step out of the ordinary to challenge our taste buds, but really all we try to do is give you the perfect match fo cheese and wine in Paris. So not only will you learn how to select the best wine to go with your cheese, but you will also learn what are the big cheese families in France – there are actually only five, and this is one of the keys to great pairing. In discovering all these pairings of cheese with wine you will be convinced that indeed two things together can be better than the sum of their parts.

It is important to have fun with pairing cheese and wine in Paris

Beyond the tastings though, we have found that the best way to help our clients remember and re-use their experience is to vary the way to approach both wine and cheese. That is why during our courses on cheese and wine in Paris we share sensory games and many an anecdote to bring the produce to life in your mind as well as on your palate. Overall we will feature four excellent wines, one Champagne and demonstrate to you how best each combines with cheese, letting your taste guide you along with our teaching.

Understanding cheese and wine pairing while in Paris

While for many top Parisian wine stores and restaurant wine lists can be confusing and even intimidating, we believe that after our lunch learning how to pair cheese and wine in Paris, you will feel much more comfortable navigating all of those. And we sincerely hope your knowledge will help you unlock a door to a whole new world of enjoyment of French wine and cheese pairing. At every step of the way our sommelier will also share unique tips and tricks to understand wines better and how culture and wine are so related in France; hopefully enriching your own experience as well.

And they do not have to do with what you will find in those markets. They have to do with when you can go shopping there. Open Air markets are only open in the morning. Typically from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. And they are not open every day. As a matter of fact for the vast majority they are open either open every other day (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Wednesday, Friday, Sunday), or sometimes only twice a week.

This is the case of the Bastille Market (Metro Bastille and Metro Bréguet Sabin )which is open only on Thursday and Sunday morning. We like to send people there because it is a very big market with over one hundred vendors. And it has a nice stand of Crêperie in the middle. Here you get a video of a lady preparing a crêpe there; and you can get that crêpe for only 3 Euros!
There is only one Open Air market open every day of the week, it is called Marché Aligre (Metro Ledru Rollin or Metro Faidherbe Chaligny) which happens on the eponymous street. It is an interesting market because you find all kinds of quality in that market – the good, the bad and the ugly. There is also a nice covered market in the middle of it called Marché Beauveau – sometimes called Marché Beauveau Aligre. On the contrary, Covered Markets are open every day, and not just in the morning, but also in the late afternoon. Typically from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

We are blessed with two markets close to where Le Foodist is located, so we can walk to a market every morning – sometimes it is the Maubert market, and sometimes it is the Monge market. Both nice with their own specififies. Last but not least, none of these markets is open on Monday. Do not sign-up for a Market Tour on Monday, you might never see that money again …

Choosing Ingredients in Paris

While all markets are different, they also have some things in common. First they work on specific schedules as explained before. But also you will find always at a minimum the following vendors: a Maraîcher – this is the name we give to people selling fruits and vegetables, a butcher, a fishmonger, a cheesemonger and a baker. Normally you will find several of each, with different levels of quality, organic or non-organic, local or not local (but mostly not local unfortunately).
And we explain how to recognize each of those of course during our Market Visits and Cooking Classes in Paris. But choosing ingredients can be daunting at first, because of the variety that is on display. A typical fishmonger will carry 20 different types of fishes, and as many shrimp and shelf fish varieties. A good cheese monger will easily carry up to 100 different types of cheese and obviously you could get over 100 different cuts of meat at a butcher (from the type of meat to the cut itself). And a normal Maraicher will carry between 50 and 100 fruits and vegetables as well.
This is what makes these markets so exciting – the variety of products, the beauty of their display, and the exchange you can have with most of the vendors. We give you tips though on how to make sure that exchange with the vendors go well – a few magic words, and everything will be fine!

Cooking in Paris

Obviously going to markets is nice, but actually knowing that you are going to cook what you find there is even more exciting. It is not uncommon for Parisians to buy a little bit too much food because they get so excited at the idea of cooking it all! But as most of us have hardly any space where we live, that can limit the enthusiasm sometimes. Because of the lack of space, Cooking in Paris can be quite different from cooking in the rest of France. And there are also dishes that are typically associated with regions which the Parisian will not cook at home – but taste when they visit friends or families in the various regions of France. However our kitchen has plenty of space, so we can cook traditional French dishes without a problem – whether they come from Paris or any region. And the most important part for us is to ensure that we share techniques much more than just recipes. As a matter of fact, we love to share a bit of the science behind what we do so people can better remember the “what” by understanding the “why”.

Sharing Stories

In November 2010, some experts from the UN cultural organisation, decided tha France’s multi-course gastronomic meal, with its rites and its presentation, fulfilled the conditions for featuring on the “world intangible list” of the UNESCO.
In this list you can find all kinds of cultural practices, including Mexico Day of the Dead festival for example. Importantly this is not suggesting French cuisine is better than other cuisines (even though we the French tend to believe that …). It is only saying that the gastronomic meal and what it entails is a very vivid cultural practice which people in France partake into on a very regular basis. That is why the same experts indicated that the French gastronomic meal is a “social custom aimed at celebrating the most important moments in the lives of individuals and groups”. And in that social custom, there are many parts: the attention we pay to the way we choose ingredients, how we pair wine with food, how many dishes we will present to our guests, how we lay the table, etc… But one big part of the cultural practice is that commensality (the fact of sharing the food) is always accompanied by sharing stories about …. Well, you would have guessed it, Food of course!
To us it is THE perfect example of how Food and Culture come together – actually we decide to share food is a considered a cultural practice. I would argue that it is true of all countries, regions, etc… As the way we relate to Food is such a big part of anybody’s identity. But as a result and to make sure you have the most genuine experience of French culture, after the a coking class in Paris at Le Foodist, you will share a gastronomic meal at a common table with your Chef and fellow participants to the class.

French Wine and Food Pairing

As mentioned above, one of the big cultural practices in France is choosing how to pair Wine and Food in general and Wine and Cheese in particular. We actually have a class which focuses specifically on this. As it is so important though, we always make sure we share white and red wines during our meals, chosen to pair well in our opinion with the food we cook. And being at the table together is a good opportunity to discuss about wine as well, with concepts such as “terroir” (to simplify, terroir means “what you do depends on where you are”) which are essential to grasp the way the French think about Food.
And all this will always go with a cheering “Santé” – which quite simply means, to your good health!