A Day In Burgundy

Nestled in a 17th-century building in the heart of historic Beaune, France, The Cooks Atelier has been a beacon of French culinary tradition since 2008. It is a family-founded cooking school, culinary boutique, and wine shop all under one roof.

Our journey at The Cook’s Atelier was nothing short of extraordinary! A quick train ride away from Paris, Beaune welcomed us with open arms. It was a special occasion for my son and me, a birthday treat for him, with a twist of celebration for my own milestone—turning 60 this year. As I embark on a year filled with countless experiences, this culinary adventure marked just the beginning.

The boutique offers everything you need to complete or start your culinary collection, from mushroom brushes to copper pots and pretty linen napkins. They have everything.

Upon our arrival, we were welcomed with delicious coffee and left to explore the boutique— a true temptation: so many beautiful things! And the selection of wine! This was a lovely way to meet and mingle with our classmates. So fun!

Let’s get cooking!

“Today, we’re preparing – Gougères (French cheese puffs), Cheese Soufflé, Médaillon de Boeuf with Béarnaise Sauce, and Butter Cake with fresh strawberries…” Yum!

While I piped the choux pastry for our cheese puffs, my son tied the médaillon de boeuf and prepared it for searing.

Making the roux for the soufflé

With the basics completed, it was time to savour the fruits of our labour upstairs in the beautifully set dining room. I mean, c’mon! Look at this table! Their attention to detail is impeccable. It’s absolutely Gorgeous!

We were all very excited to begin our meal and sample the wine, carefully chosen by Laurent to complement our menu. We gathered around the table, feeling as though we’d been friends forever.

And what better way to kick off the culinary journey than with an apéritif of sparkling wine? Now we were ready for all seven courses (yes, seven!), including wines from the Burgundy region. Bien Sûr!

In addition to the dishes crafted by our class, our hosts treated us to a refreshing salad with citrus, parsley, and fennel, a fromage course, and traditional madeleines. The entire meal undoubtedly ranks among my most memorable culinary experiences. It was simply top-notch, and I can’t wait to recreate it for everyone back home. Lucky you guys 😉

Even a candle for my sons birthday…

Sadly, all good things must come to an end…

What an absolutely fantastic day filled with learning, indulging, sipping, laughter, and connecting with an incredible group of individuals. I’ll definitely be returning again soon!