OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe that CREATIVITY is among life's most fundamental needs. Most people feel the need to express themselves not just for self-esteem but because human motivation seems to depend on it. It is all about realising one's potential...
With this in mind we run a variety of informal and fun courses that teach certain SKILLS which inspire, stimulate and motivate - whether we are talking about COOKING, PAINTING or about WRITING stories...
Thus, our cookery courses are NOT about toiling over masterpieces that take hours to prepare. And they're NOT about competing (though showing-off a little is permitted!). What they are about is acquiring skills and confidence to cook INSTINCTIVELY - a kind of simplied fun way of cooking.
We teach this through a simple method of COMBINING FLAVOURS that complement each other (to read more about "Cooking with Flavours" click HERE). And once you have mastered this easy system, you can go on to create an unlimited range of vibrant and ORIGINAL dishes that can be adapted and re-invented according to the changing ingredients of each new season - ultimately leading to the point where no recipes are needed.
This means that instead of shopping with a pre-written list (and finding that some items are unavailable or not up to scratch) you simply buy what is fresh and at its best, and create your own UNIQUE DISH at home. (That said, you will return home with all the information, checklists and recipes you need to create this new PERSONAL CUISINE).
The same with the ART weeks - we concentrate on the CREATIVITY part, rather than on the specific details (which come later when you're motivated and confident).
These courses are fun above all and we have incorporated EXCURSIONS and plenty of relaxed COMMUNAL MEALS at home, on picnics and in local restaurants (this is the South of France after all!). We've even included elements of culture and retail therapy.
All courses are limited to 7-8 people. Prices are based on 2 people sharing and single rooms are allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Some double rooms MAY carry a single occupancy supplement.
All course prices are ALL INCLUSIVE (except flights)... ALL INCLUSIVE (except flights)
How it all came to be....
Running TENTED SAFARI CAMPS in northern Tanzania instilled in me a love for looking after and caring for guests...
A CHEFS' TRAINING COURSE founded my knowledge of cooking...
8 years as CATERER, 10 years as FOOD EDITOR with Irish Tatler and 4 years as EDITOR of SQ FOOD confirmed my interest and experience in food...
15 years of FREELANCE FOOD WRITING- and STYLING for (among many others) Wine Ireland, Irish Tatler, Irish Times, EAT, SQ Food, Food and Wine, Licensing World, Hotel and Catering taught me about recipe writing and photography...
A BA in FINE ART validated my life-long interest in art...
Membership of the Irish and English Food Writers' Guilds acknowledged my efforts in foodwriting...
