Nothing is more French than fine wine and gourmet cuisine. Enjoy a bit of hands-on cooking classes, from full-day courses in a private Parisian home (in English) that include a market tour, to quick lunch lessons with the locals where everyone dines together afterwards on the results. There’s something to fit all budgets and experience levels.

La Cucina Di Terresa
Tel 01 43 48 01 14 or 06 09 26 85 31  www.lacucinaditerresa.com
Theresa Murphy grew up in Los Angeles and San Francisco before moving to Paris in the 1980s. Her private, personalized cooking classes and food tours celebrate the vegetable kingdom, emphasizing local, organic produce, with a strong Italian influence. Classes are in English or French. Prices - from €120-230 per person.

Marguerite’s Elegant Home Cooking
Tel 01 42 04 74 00  www.elegantcooking.com

Muriel-Marguérite has a lovely house out in Suresnes, a suburb to the west of Paris , which has been converted from an old farmhouse and attic into her home and cooking school. A relaxing way to spend a morning in a laid-back, friendly environment. €80 for just the class and lunch, or €100 for the market visit, cooking and lunch.

Paule Caillat's Promenades Gourmandes
Tel 01 48 04 56 84  www.promenadesgourmandes.com

A day with Paule begins with a market tour of her northern Marais neighborhood for the day’s supplies.  Paule specializes in contemporary cuisine bourgeoise, with recipes that are impressive enough for entertaining, but simple enough to prepare for everyday dining. Fees vary from €250-360, or €110 for just the gourmet walking tour.

Food Unites the World
Tel 01 45 00 08 31  www.foodunitestheworld.com

Samira Hradsky’s cooking school is located in her Parisian apartment just off the Champs-Elysées. She takes her small group of students to the local open-air market to gather the essential ingredients for the day. Originally from Jordan, Samira has lived all over the world, so her cooking classes combine traditional French cooking with international flavors from North Africa, Spain, Italy, China and Eastern Europe. A self-taught cook, Samira doesn’t fuss over exact measurements. She thinks cooking should be fun, and tries to pass that onto her students. The day ends with a five-course feast and wine enjoyed around Samira’s dining room table. The day-long classes are from €170.

Les Coulisses du Chef
01 40 26 14 00   www.coursdecuisineparis.com

Olivier Berté gives cooking classes for groups, individuals and children in his cooking workshop, near the French Bourse. He passes on the tips and magic of French cuisine as well as delving into more international dishes from Japan , Thailand , India , Spain and Italy . In English or French, three-hour classes start at €100.

Atéliers des Chefs
www.atelierdeschefs.com

The Atéliers des Chefs offer à la carte cooking classes of 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes in a stylish, contemporary setting. Conveniently located in four locations around the city, these ateliers have become the trendy place for 30-something professionals, to gather in a fun and informal atmosphere. All of the classes are hands on, so even if your French is rusty, all you have to do is copy what the chef if demonstrating. Afterwards the group eats together what they’ve created. Reserve online as early as possible; the 30-minute lunch classes, at just €17, fill up fast! The two-hour classes are €72.

Lenôtre Ecole de Cuisine et Pâtisserie
01 42 65 97 60  www.lenotre.fr

The well-known gourmet caterer Lenôtre situated in the historic Pavillon Elysée, offer bilingual cooking demonstrations (€55), cuisine and pastry classes for amateurs (€121-165), and workshops for children and young teens (€40-80). The Pavillon is located in the gardens of the Champs-Elysées, and includes the Café Lenôtre restaurant and a gourmet food and kitchen boutique.