Cooking Class at Relais Chateau St James Cooking School
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port
Bordeaux, France
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activityLevel
Easy Activity
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excursionType
Information Not Currently Available
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$319
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals included
Gastronomic Meal of the French
The gastronomic meal of the French is a customary social practice for celebrating important moments in the lives of individuals and groups, such as births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, achievements and reunions. It is a festive meal bringing people together for an occasion to enjoy the art of good eating and drinking. The gastronomic meal emphasizes togetherness, the pleasure of taste, and the balance between human beings and the products of nature. Important elements include the careful selection of dishes from a constantly growing repertoire of recipes; the purchase of good, preferably local products whose flavours go well together; the pairing of food with wine; the setting of a beautiful table; and specific actions during consumption, such as smelling and tasting items at the table. The gastronomic meal should respect a fixed structure, commencing with an apéritif (drinks before the meal) and ending with liqueurs, containing in between at least four successive courses, namely a starter, fish and/or meat with vegetables, cheese and dessert. Individuals called gastronomes who possess deep knowledge of the tradition and preserve its memory watch over the living practice of the rites, thus contributing to their oral and/or written transmission, in particular to younger generations. The gastronomic meal draws circles of family and friends closer together and, more generally, strengthens social ties.
Head towards 'Bordeaux's balcony' -- the village of Bouliac -- which lies southeast of the city. Here, you'll take a short guided tour through the village and admire the great panoramic views it offers. Bouliac has long attracted gourmands, foodies and world-class chefs.
As you travel, you will see numerous quaint boutiques, cafés and bistros, but your destination is the Relais Chateau St James restaurant and its famous cooking school. The restaurant is housed in a 17th-century former wine charterhouse, within a 10-acre park and surrounded by vineyards.
Your experience today at the St James Cooking School will be centered on a specific seasonal product or ingredient with the class themed accordingly. A hands-on class has you preparing an appetizer and a main course -- a chance for you to practice the professional techniques employed here at the Relais. After cooking alongside an accomplished chef, you will relax and savor the fruits of your labors during an on-site tasting of the two dishes that you have cooked, paired with dessert, a glass of wine and coffee .