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Host: Francoise

Paris, France

USD
$282-$666 per person

Classic French cooking class with a local expert

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Francoise

Françoise learned to cook from her two grandfathers who were both fishermen; one was a cook during the second World War. As a child, Françoise used to visit Marseille where her grandparents live; her grandfather would work, fishing off the coast, from 3am to 12, and would then bring home the best of his catch to cook it for his family. It was her grandparents that taught her that the freshest fish is found in the best restaurants, and at the tables of the fisherman.

Françoise went on to have a successful career working as the art director for advertising agencies for 18 years. She left that career to move in to the food space and has since started her own catering business. Françoise has a delightful and colored family story, from her tales growing up with her fishermen grandfathers to living in Africa for three years. Françoise is also passionate about doing anything with her hands and is incredibly creative; her beautiful home is lined with her handiwork, from beautiful collage boxes of her travel finds from around the world to metal embossing to cocardes (antique lace and bleu/blanc/rouge embroidery). Be sure to ask Françoise for her flea market recommendations, as well! She is an avid flea market lover and visits the Bruxelles market monthly.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Cooking experience: (1-8 guests) Step in to Françoise's beautiful, large apartment that is tastefully filled with finds from travels around the world and her own impressive handiwork. Join her in the kitchen and over cheese nibbles or snacks, learn how to make a classic French main dish (or dessert if you prefer). For your main, you might make a dish such as feuilleté with leeks and shrimp in a ginger sauce, steak with a classic French Béarnaise sauce or poulet à l'estragon (chicken in a tarragon sauce).

After cooking, enjoy your lunch around Francoise's large dining table featuring the classic French main course that you cooked together. End your meal with a traditional French dessert such as strawberry tartelettes (homemade lemon crust, crème pâtissière au Grand Marnier) or île flottante (a soft meringue served on top of a sweet custard) which will be served with Champagne (included in the cost of your experience.) Françoise is excited to share her culture through food and offer an authentic/traditional cooking class in Paris. She can also accommodate a vegetarian diet in her French cooking class.

Market visit: (2-7 guests) Meet in front of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles and walk together to the local covered market to meet some of Francoise's local producers (all of whom know Francoise well from her frequent visits!). You might stop at the local fishmonger, the fromagerie, and the produce store on your way home, and on your way pick up a selection ingredients for your cooking class and meal. Walk the short way (less than ten minutes) back to Francoise's apartment where you will prepare your meal together and enjoy it at Francoise's large table in her kitchen.

Please note that market tours are not available on Mondays since the markets are closed then. Also, on Sunday's the market is only available in the morning at 9:15am.

Notes: On weekends (Sat and Sun), Francoise prefers to start the market experience at 9:15am (instead of 10am) to avoid the rush. If you have a preference regarding the options below, please include it in the notes section when creating your reservation request. Otherwise Francoise will select a dish each from the following options: Main: Shrimp and leek feuilleté, chicken in a tarragon sauce or steak with Béarnaise sauce Dessert: Strawberry tartelettes or île flottante

If you prefer to learn to make dessert instead of a savory main course please note this in your booking.

Wine and a glass of Champagne are included in the price of your meal.

Languages spoken: English, French

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Hors d'oeuvre: cheese nibbles or snacks
  • Main: choice between shrimp and leek feuilleté, chicken in a tarragon sauce or steak with Béarnaise sauce
  • Dessert: choice between strawberry tartelettes, financier pistache or French chocolate tulips

Traveler reviews

5.0 (12)
My family and I had a WONDERFUL experience with Francoise! She is warm, knowledgable and makes you feel like you are a guest in her home. We had a fun trip to the market, a delicious lunch and loved trying her french recipes. We would highly recommend anyone who is interested in cooking or eating to give yourself a treat and book with Francoise!!
- janbN8 May 16, 2023
We had an amazing time learning from our chief and she was so welcoming and friendly. Would recommend here and this experience to everyone!
- Raymond April 27, 2023
Our family (with two 11 year olds) took a cooking class with Francoise and it was the highlight of our trip to Paris. She was welcoming, knowledgeable, so interesting to talk with and lives in a beautiful and authentic part of the City. We really enjoyed all the purveyors she brought us to and the amazing food available. We had a great time learning to cook several dishes and snacking on some other delicious treats. Can't wait to try the recipes she sent afterwards now that we are back at home. Overall a very valuable and memorable experience for all of us.
- mrsDen April 07, 2023
The market tour and cooking class with Françoise in Paris was delightful! She took us to several of her favorite vendors at the market, put together a delicious cheese and sausage board for us to nibble on while she taught us how to make a traditional cheese soufflé. And the unique merengue dessert was amazing! Our teenage kids loved every minute of the experience as well. I will definitely book through Traveling Spoon again.
- Kristen W March 13, 2023
We couldn't have loved our experience any more. Francoise was warm, clever, kind, and talented. The neighborhood was beautiful and quaint and we felt very Parisian walking through the markets and gorgeous streets. Francoise taught us so much about the food culture of Paris and how to cook an incredibly delicious meal. Our mouths are still watering for the meal. We are grateful for the experience.
- Lisa Taub March 13, 2023
We had a wonderful time with Francoise. We loved visiting the various shops and learning her little tips for cooking our delicious meal.
- Maria M March 12, 2023
We had a wonderful time with Francoise. We loved visiting the various shops and learning her little tips for cooking our delicious meal.
- Maria M March 12, 2023
We couldn't have loved our experience any more. Francoise was warm, clever, kind, and talented. The neighborhood was beautiful and quaint and we felt very Parisian walking through the markets and gorgeous streets. Francoise taught us so much about the food culture of Paris and how to cook an incredibly delicious meal. Our mouths are still watering for the meal. We are grateful for the experience.
- lisatQ6 March 03, 2023
We couldn't have loved our experience any more. Francoise was warm, clever, kind, and talented. The neighborhood was beautiful and quaint and we felt very Parisian walking through the markets and gorgeous streets. Francoise taught us so much about the food culture of Paris and how to cook an incredibly delicious meal. Our mouths are still watering for the meal. We are grateful for the experience.
- lisatq6 March 03, 2023
What a great day! Loved every minute of shopping, cooking, lunch, and learning with Francoise!
- MIchelle December 27, 2022
This was by far one of our favorite activities while spending a quick 5 days in Paris over New Years with two of our adult children. Francoise was a superb host and welcomed us into her beautiful home on New Years Day. (A perfect way to spend a few hours after a late evening the night before.) The kitchen was cozy, the food fabulous and Francoise was charming. She’s worked in the industry as both a chef and consultant for a while and shared many secrets and tips as she prepared our meal(who knew a spoon was really better than a whisk while preparing sauces)! We did help with a few things, but honestly just sitting and visiting with her in her cozy kitchen was perfect for our family of four after a late night. She had everything so well organized, that the conversation flowed without it distracting her. She tasked us with a few chores, and I’m sure had we wanted to do more, Francoise would have accommodated us. Her ease, knowledge and flexibility made us feel very welcome. The menu was tailored to our requests prior to our arrival and left us with very full stomachs upon leaving. Wonderful attention to detail....little edible treats before, during and after the main meal and champagne and wine!I would not hesitate to give my highest recommendation for this experience. Meeting and learning from a true Parisian cannot be beat. Book with Francoise now!
- manriggs January 03, 2019
Francoise was amazing! We've taken several cooking and food classes in Paris and Francoise's was the most memorable. She was warm and inviting, giving us great cooking tips, as well as, recommendations for places to shop and eat. We brought our 8 month old daughter, who was fussy at times. Francoise held our daughter and even fed her, so we could enjoy our meal. This kind of treatment is over and above what we expected. Francoise also choose high quality, organic cheeses for her spread, which we greatly appreciated. We would love to visit Francoise again. The experience was unforgettable.
- Edith S August 06, 2018
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Francoise

$282-$666 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
Cooking Experience + Meal
$666 $342 $282
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $376 $324
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
$666 $342 $282
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $376 $324
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
10:30am-1:30pm 5:30pm-8:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
10:00am-2:00pm 4:30pm-8:30pm

Meet Francoise

Françoise learned to cook from her two grandfathers who were both fishermen; one was a cook during the second World War. As a child, Françoise used to visit Marseille where her grandparents live; her grandfather would work, fishing off the coast, from 3am to 12, and would then bring home the best of his catch to cook it for his family. It was her grandparents that taught her that the freshest fish is found in the best restaurants, and at the tables of the fisherman.

Françoise went on to have a successful career working as the art director for advertising agencies for 18 years. She left that career to move in to the food space and has since started her own catering business. Françoise has a delightful and colored family story, from her tales growing up with her fishermen grandfathers to living in Africa for three years. Françoise is also passionate about doing anything with her hands and is incredibly creative; her beautiful home is lined with her handiwork, from beautiful collage boxes of her travel finds from around the world to metal embossing to cocardes (antique lace and bleu/blanc/rouge embroidery). Be sure to ask Françoise for her flea market recommendations, as well! She is an avid flea market lover and visits the Bruxelles market monthly.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Cooking experience: (1-8 guests) Step in to Françoise's beautiful, large apartment that is tastefully filled with finds from travels around the world and her own impressive handiwork. Join her in the kitchen and over cheese nibbles or snacks, learn how to make a classic French main dish (or dessert if you prefer). For your main, you might make a dish such as feuilleté with leeks and shrimp in a ginger sauce, steak with a classic French Béarnaise sauce or poulet à l'estragon (chicken in a tarragon sauce).

After cooking, enjoy your lunch around Francoise's large dining table featuring the classic French main course that you cooked together. End your meal with a traditional French dessert such as strawberry tartelettes (homemade lemon crust, crème pâtissière au Grand Marnier) or île flottante (a soft meringue served on top of a sweet custard) which will be served with Champagne (included in the cost of your experience.) Françoise is excited to share her culture through food and offer an authentic/traditional cooking class in Paris. She can also accommodate a vegetarian diet in her French cooking class.

Market visit: (2-7 guests) Meet in front of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles and walk together to the local covered market to meet some of Francoise's local producers (all of whom know Francoise well from her frequent visits!). You might stop at the local fishmonger, the fromagerie, and the produce store on your way home, and on your way pick up a selection ingredients for your cooking class and meal. Walk the short way (less than ten minutes) back to Francoise's apartment where you will prepare your meal together and enjoy it at Francoise's large table in her kitchen.

Please note that market tours are not available on Mondays since the markets are closed then. Also, on Sunday's the market is only available in the morning at 9:15am.

Notes: On weekends (Sat and Sun), Francoise prefers to start the market experience at 9:15am (instead of 10am) to avoid the rush. If you have a preference regarding the options below, please include it in the notes section when creating your reservation request. Otherwise Francoise will select a dish each from the following options: Main: Shrimp and leek feuilleté, chicken in a tarragon sauce or steak with Béarnaise sauce Dessert: Strawberry tartelettes or île flottante

If you prefer to learn to make dessert instead of a savory main course please note this in your booking.

Wine and a glass of Champagne are included in the price of your meal.

Languages spoken: English, French

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Hors d'oeuvre: cheese nibbles or snacks
  • Main: choice between shrimp and leek feuilleté, chicken in a tarragon sauce or steak with Béarnaise sauce
  • Dessert: choice between strawberry tartelettes, financier pistache or French chocolate tulips

Traveler reviews

5.0 (12)
My family and I had a WONDERFUL experience with Francoise! She is warm, knowledgable and makes you feel like you are a guest in her home. We had a fun trip to the market, a delicious lunch and loved trying her french recipes. We would highly recommend anyone who is interested in cooking or eating to give yourself a treat and book with Francoise!!
- janbN8 May 16, 2023
We had an amazing time learning from our chief and she was so welcoming and friendly. Would recommend here and this experience to everyone!
- Raymond April 27, 2023
Our family (with two 11 year olds) took a cooking class with Francoise and it was the highlight of our trip to Paris. She was welcoming, knowledgeable, so interesting to talk with and lives in a beautiful and authentic part of the City. We really enjoyed all the purveyors she brought us to and the amazing food available. We had a great time learning to cook several dishes and snacking on some other delicious treats. Can't wait to try the recipes she sent afterwards now that we are back at home. Overall a very valuable and memorable experience for all of us.
- mrsDen April 07, 2023
The market tour and cooking class with Françoise in Paris was delightful! She took us to several of her favorite vendors at the market, put together a delicious cheese and sausage board for us to nibble on while she taught us how to make a traditional cheese soufflé. And the unique merengue dessert was amazing! Our teenage kids loved every minute of the experience as well. I will definitely book through Traveling Spoon again.
- Kristen W March 13, 2023
We couldn't have loved our experience any more. Francoise was warm, clever, kind, and talented. The neighborhood was beautiful and quaint and we felt very Parisian walking through the markets and gorgeous streets. Francoise taught us so much about the food culture of Paris and how to cook an incredibly delicious meal. Our mouths are still watering for the meal. We are grateful for the experience.
- Lisa Taub March 13, 2023
We had a wonderful time with Francoise. We loved visiting the various shops and learning her little tips for cooking our delicious meal.
- Maria M March 12, 2023
We had a wonderful time with Francoise. We loved visiting the various shops and learning her little tips for cooking our delicious meal.
- Maria M March 12, 2023
We couldn't have loved our experience any more. Francoise was warm, clever, kind, and talented. The neighborhood was beautiful and quaint and we felt very Parisian walking through the markets and gorgeous streets. Francoise taught us so much about the food culture of Paris and how to cook an incredibly delicious meal. Our mouths are still watering for the meal. We are grateful for the experience.
- lisatQ6 March 03, 2023
We couldn't have loved our experience any more. Francoise was warm, clever, kind, and talented. The neighborhood was beautiful and quaint and we felt very Parisian walking through the markets and gorgeous streets. Francoise taught us so much about the food culture of Paris and how to cook an incredibly delicious meal. Our mouths are still watering for the meal. We are grateful for the experience.
- lisatq6 March 03, 2023
What a great day! Loved every minute of shopping, cooking, lunch, and learning with Francoise!
- MIchelle December 27, 2022
This was by far one of our favorite activities while spending a quick 5 days in Paris over New Years with two of our adult children. Francoise was a superb host and welcomed us into her beautiful home on New Years Day. (A perfect way to spend a few hours after a late evening the night before.) The kitchen was cozy, the food fabulous and Francoise was charming. She’s worked in the industry as both a chef and consultant for a while and shared many secrets and tips as she prepared our meal(who knew a spoon was really better than a whisk while preparing sauces)! We did help with a few things, but honestly just sitting and visiting with her in her cozy kitchen was perfect for our family of four after a late night. She had everything so well organized, that the conversation flowed without it distracting her. She tasked us with a few chores, and I’m sure had we wanted to do more, Francoise would have accommodated us. Her ease, knowledge and flexibility made us feel very welcome. The menu was tailored to our requests prior to our arrival and left us with very full stomachs upon leaving. Wonderful attention to detail....little edible treats before, during and after the main meal and champagne and wine!I would not hesitate to give my highest recommendation for this experience. Meeting and learning from a true Parisian cannot be beat. Book with Francoise now!
- manriggs January 03, 2019
Francoise was amazing! We've taken several cooking and food classes in Paris and Francoise's was the most memorable. She was warm and inviting, giving us great cooking tips, as well as, recommendations for places to shop and eat. We brought our 8 month old daughter, who was fussy at times. Francoise held our daughter and even fed her, so we could enjoy our meal. This kind of treatment is over and above what we expected. Francoise also choose high quality, organic cheeses for her spread, which we greatly appreciated. We would love to visit Francoise again. The experience was unforgettable.
- Edith S August 06, 2018
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
Cooking Experience + Meal
$666 $342 $282
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $376 $324
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
$666 $342 $282
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $376 $324
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
10:30am-1:30pm 5:30pm-8:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
10:00am-2:00pm 4:30pm-8:30pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.