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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Françoise (Classic)

Paris, France

USD
$303-$758 per person

Paris Market Tour & Classic French Cooking Class

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

Meet Françoise (Classic)

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.

Françoise is also open to offering a personal chef experience where she can cook in your vacation rental, if you prefer.

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. In her kitchen, begin your authentic French cooking class with cheese nibbles or light snacks as you learn to prepare a classic French dish. Choose to cook a savory main or, if you prefer, a traditional French dessert. For your main course, you might prepare dishes such as shrimp and leek feuilleté with a ginger sauce, steak with classic Béarnaise sauce, or poulet à l’estragon (chicken in a tarragon sauce). Françoise shares techniques, tips, and stories that bring French home cooking to life. After your hands-on cooking experience, sit down together at her dining table to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared - an authentic Parisian lunch in a real Paris home. End with a traditional French dessert such as strawberry tartelettes (with a homemade lemon crust and crème pâtissière flavored with Grand Marnier) or île flottante, a delicate meringue served over sweet custard. Gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets can be accommodated with advance notice; kosher-style requests are welcome (no pork, shellfish, meat + dairy), although the kitchen is not strictly kosher certified and ingredients may not be sourced from dedicated kosher markets.

Market visit: (2-7 guests) Meet your host in front of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles and stroll together to a lively neighborhood covered market in Paris. Along the way, meet Francoise’s trusted local vendors - from the fishmonger and fromagerie to seasonal produce stalls - as you learn how Parisians shop for fresh, high quality ingredients. Together, select what you’ll use for your hands-on Paris cooking class. After your market visit, enjoy a short walk (less than 10 minutes) back to Francoise’s apartment, where you’ll cook side by side and then sit down to share the meal you’ve prepared at her kitchen table - a true taste of everyday life in Paris.

Please note: Market tours are not available on Mondays, as markets are closed. On Sundays, the market tour is only available in the morning at 9:15am.

Notes:
1. On weekends (Saturday and Sunday), Francoise prefers to begin the market tour at 9:15am (instead of 10:00am) to avoid crowds.
2. If you have a preference from the menu options in the sample menu, please include it in the notes section when submitting your booking request. Otherwise, Francoise will select one main and one dessert for you.
3. If you would prefer to learn to make a dessert instead of a savory main course, please note this in your booking.
4. Guests can choose between wine or Champagne, included with the 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
  • Wine or Champagne

Traveler reviews

5.0 (28)
Our "Mastering the Art of French Soufflé" experience with Chef Françoise was one of our favorite evenings in Paris. From the moment we arrived, her warm, bubbly personality made us feel completely at home. Holding the class in her charming Paris apartment made the experience feel especially authentic. It was a pleasure to spend the evening in the home of a local rather than in a traditional cooking school, giving us a glimpse into everyday Parisian life. Chef Françoise is a wonderful instructor. She kept us actively involved throughout the preparation of both the cheese and chocolate soufflés, explaining each step clearly while making the class fun and engaging. Along the way, she shared countless cooking techniques and practical tips that extend well beyond soufflés and will undoubtedly improve our cooking at home. The soufflés both turned out excellent, and enjoying them with a bottle of champagne made for a perfect Parisian dinner. If you're looking for an intimate, hands-on culinary experience with a talented and welcoming local chef, we highly recommend this class. It's more than a cooking lesson—it's a delightful Parisian evening you'll remember long after you return home.
- angela July 20, 2026
The best time of the trip! Our 14yo son went on this experience with his grandparents. They loved every part of it and the food was outstanding. Our son loves cooking and this is right up his alley!
- jacob March 22, 2026
We’ve taken cooking classes all over the world and this one is one of the best. Francoise is not only an amazing teacher and excellent chef, but to have the class and dinner in her home made it extra special.
- Juanita October 15, 2025
The cooking class and lunch we enjoyed in Francoise’s flat was amazing. She is personable welcoming and knowledgeable. We are a family of 4 from the US traveling with two teenagers and we all enjoyed this experience.
- Jennifer July 08, 2025
Exceptional host, very welcoming, authentic French cooking experience with a knowledgeable chef, well organized. Food was delicious. Will be able to recreate at home.
- David July 06, 2025
Read More

Françoise (Classic)

$303-$758 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $758 $399 $303
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $455 $341
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $758 $399 $303
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $455 $341
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% 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 Françoise (Classic)

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.

Françoise is also open to offering a personal chef experience where she can cook in your vacation rental, if you prefer.

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. In her kitchen, begin your authentic French cooking class with cheese nibbles or light snacks as you learn to prepare a classic French dish. Choose to cook a savory main or, if you prefer, a traditional French dessert. For your main course, you might prepare dishes such as shrimp and leek feuilleté with a ginger sauce, steak with classic Béarnaise sauce, or poulet à l’estragon (chicken in a tarragon sauce). Françoise shares techniques, tips, and stories that bring French home cooking to life. After your hands-on cooking experience, sit down together at her dining table to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared - an authentic Parisian lunch in a real Paris home. End with a traditional French dessert such as strawberry tartelettes (with a homemade lemon crust and crème pâtissière flavored with Grand Marnier) or île flottante, a delicate meringue served over sweet custard. Gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets can be accommodated with advance notice; kosher-style requests are welcome (no pork, shellfish, meat + dairy), although the kitchen is not strictly kosher certified and ingredients may not be sourced from dedicated kosher markets.

Market visit: (2-7 guests) Meet your host in front of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles and stroll together to a lively neighborhood covered market in Paris. Along the way, meet Francoise’s trusted local vendors - from the fishmonger and fromagerie to seasonal produce stalls - as you learn how Parisians shop for fresh, high quality ingredients. Together, select what you’ll use for your hands-on Paris cooking class. After your market visit, enjoy a short walk (less than 10 minutes) back to Francoise’s apartment, where you’ll cook side by side and then sit down to share the meal you’ve prepared at her kitchen table - a true taste of everyday life in Paris.

Please note: Market tours are not available on Mondays, as markets are closed. On Sundays, the market tour is only available in the morning at 9:15am.

Notes:
1. On weekends (Saturday and Sunday), Francoise prefers to begin the market tour at 9:15am (instead of 10:00am) to avoid crowds.
2. If you have a preference from the menu options in the sample menu, please include it in the notes section when submitting your booking request. Otherwise, Francoise will select one main and one dessert for you.
3. If you would prefer to learn to make a dessert instead of a savory main course, please note this in your booking.
4. Guests can choose between wine or Champagne, included with the 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
  • Wine or Champagne

Traveler reviews

5.0 (28)
Our "Mastering the Art of French Soufflé" experience with Chef Françoise was one of our favorite evenings in Paris. From the moment we arrived, her warm, bubbly personality made us feel completely at home. Holding the class in her charming Paris apartment made the experience feel especially authentic. It was a pleasure to spend the evening in the home of a local rather than in a traditional cooking school, giving us a glimpse into everyday Parisian life. Chef Françoise is a wonderful instructor. She kept us actively involved throughout the preparation of both the cheese and chocolate soufflés, explaining each step clearly while making the class fun and engaging. Along the way, she shared countless cooking techniques and practical tips that extend well beyond soufflés and will undoubtedly improve our cooking at home. The soufflés both turned out excellent, and enjoying them with a bottle of champagne made for a perfect Parisian dinner. If you're looking for an intimate, hands-on culinary experience with a talented and welcoming local chef, we highly recommend this class. It's more than a cooking lesson—it's a delightful Parisian evening you'll remember long after you return home.
- angela July 20, 2026
The best time of the trip! Our 14yo son went on this experience with his grandparents. They loved every part of it and the food was outstanding. Our son loves cooking and this is right up his alley!
- jacob March 22, 2026
We’ve taken cooking classes all over the world and this one is one of the best. Francoise is not only an amazing teacher and excellent chef, but to have the class and dinner in her home made it extra special.
- Juanita October 15, 2025
The cooking class and lunch we enjoyed in Francoise’s flat was amazing. She is personable welcoming and knowledgeable. We are a family of 4 from the US traveling with two teenagers and we all enjoyed this experience.
- Jennifer July 08, 2025
Exceptional host, very welcoming, authentic French cooking experience with a knowledgeable chef, well organized. Food was delicious. Will be able to recreate at home.
- David July 06, 2025
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $758 $399 $303
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $455 $341
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $758 $399 $303
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $455 $341
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% 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 4% 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.

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    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.