This is a complete guide on the best culinary schools in France.
If you’re looking for where to master the art of French cuisine, the best place to do it right is in France.
This article aims at revealing the best culinary schools in France as you read on.
Best Culinary Schools In France
French cuisine is the most popular cuisine in the world. Its standards are used widely in Western cookery school boards and culinary education.
French cuisine is considered to be one of the world’s most cultivated and elegant styles of cooking.
If you seek a profession in the restaurant setting, knowledge of French cuisine is invaluable.
However, below are the best culinary schools in France for both international students and indigenous students.
Le Cordon Bleu
Le Cordon Bleu which translate in English as the Blue Ribbon is a global network of hospitality and culinary institution dedicated to teaching French haute cuisine.
It provides the highest level of culinary and hospitality instruction through a world-class program.
It was founded in Paris in 1895, and it is considered today the largest network of culinary and hospitality schools in the world.
Le Cordon Bleu has more than 35 institutes in 20 countries and 20,000 students of over 100 nationalities are trained every year.
They have campuses in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Asia.
Le Cordon Bleu constantly develops by blending innovation and creativity with tradition through the establishment of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business.
Le Cordon Bleu applies its unique teaching procedure where students gain experience through hands-on learning.
The culinary school is considered to be the custodian of French culinary techniques through its culinary program.
This program continues to preserve and pass on the mastery and appreciation of the culinary arts that have been existing for over 500 years.
In Cordon Bleu, aspiring culinary professionals are enabled to turn their ambition into reality.
Cordon Bleu offers a wide variety of culinary arts, wine, management, and hospitality programs regardless of your background.
Some of the programs offered in Cordon Bleu are;
- Cuisine
- Pastry and confectionery
- Bakery, Danish Pastries & Artisan Breads
- Hospitality Management & Gastronomy
- Wine & Spirits
- Cuisines of the world
- Gastronomy & Nutrition
- Culinary Arts & Business
- Continuing Education
- Gourmet & Short Courses
- Cheese
- Tourism, Conventions & Events
- Les Petits Cordons Bleus.
Learn more about Cordon Bleu here
La Cuisine Paris
La Cuisine is one of the best culinary schools in France. It was founded in 2009 and is located in the heart of Paris.
La cuisine Paris offers a variety of cooking classes in English and French and they have an age requirement of 13 years for their Public Classes.
La cuisine has two levels of classes—2 hour private pastry classes and cuisine classes.
Their 2-hour private pastry classes are excellent for younger chefs, while their cuisine classes are perfect for adults and wine is included in the meal.
Participants aged 13 to18 registering for a Public Class must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered for the same class because the school is not equipped to take responsibility for minors.
Furthermore, only registered participants are allowed in their cuisines, and they do not allow observers in the class.
However, outside of their regularly listed classes, they organize cooking classes for private groups.
They offer numerous French cuisine classes, including Croissant Classes, Macaron Classes, Traditional French Pastry Classes, Technical Skills Classes, and a French Cheese Workshop in addition to Food Tours in Paris and Versailles
École Lenôtre
École Lenôtre is one of the best culinary schools in France that provides its students with leading-edge training to facilitate performance and excellence.
The school was established in 1971 and since then has been laying its gastronomic expertise at the service of companies with specific needs.
École Lenôtre is for adults and professionals who are passionate and seeking to broaden their field of skills.
However, the School has developed an appropriate support program for all professionals.
It offers certified courses in cooking and pastry, an advanced training course in bakery and improvement, and customized training courses and consulting to enhance the value and duration of your professional projects
They impart to their students the fundamental and essential techniques that will make them acknowledged professionals.
All their training courses are fully equipped through practice and repeated gestures.
Learn more about École Lenôtre here
Gastronomicom
Gastronomicom is one of the best culinary schools in France established in 2004.
Their campus welcomes students from all over the world and offers cooking and pastry classes and also French lessons in the south of France.
Their programs are planned for both professionals and beginners who want to boost their skills in French cooking or pastry.
Their highly experienced chefs/teachers provide hands-on training and all their cooking and pastry courses are conducted in English.
They offer both seven months and one-year programs, afterwards, you would complete an internship in establishments listed in their famous Michelin Guide.
Their internship in a French gastronomic restaurant is an incredible experience. It is an opportunity to see the workings of a professional kitchen and the roles of a cooking and pastry chef.
Their Course requirements are;
- Strong motivation to learn gastronomic culinary arts
- Good level of English comprehension
- Minimum age of 18 years
their cooking classes are for people
1. People who are professionals seeking to improve their knowledge of modern French Cooking to a one Michelin Star Level?
2. People who want to learn a new profession through thorough hands-on classes and a 4-month internship at a luxury Hotel-Restaurant in France.
3. People who want to discover French Gastronomic Cooking over 4 weeks.
4. Those who are students in Hospitality Management who would like to improve their knowledge of French Gastronomic Cooking and learn French at the same time.
5. Those who want to learn French Gastronomic Culture and more about French Cuisine while visiting the South of France.
6. Those who are already chefs or good home cooks, who love to cook and want to increase their knowledge in the art of cooking.
7. Those who their priority is to share their passion for the best of French gastronomy led by their teachers who have worked in famous French restaurants.
Additionally, every day in Gastronomicom, you learn new techniques, with progressively greater skill throughout the program.
All their teachers are highly qualified professionals, possessing vital experience in the field that they teach.
Learn more about Gastronomicom
Le Gargantua Cooking School
This is one of the best culinary schools in France with a difference for those on vacation. It is located near Bordeaux, in southwest France.
Le Gargantua offers cooking courses that enable you to make every dish from scratch.
It offers hands-on training on the preparation of pastries, desserts, de-boning meat & poultry, filleting fish, sauce making, vegetable and sides prepping, and the final cooking/baking and plating of every single one of your dishes.
Their hands-on cooking classes and patisserie classes are unique and designed specifically for you.
The cooking school exposes you to traditional recipes and a wide range of ingredients and also enables you to understand the interaction of ingredients within each dish.
The numerous traditional dishes and techniques on their cooking courses, such as bread to pâtés, mousses, quiches, stews, sauces, and classic pastry-like eclairs, macarons, mille-feuilles or croissants are well explained for immediate understanding.
Le Gargantua Cooking School is not only for those who want to become professional cooks but also for those who want to practice French meals or pastries back home for family and friends.
Moreover, learning from Le Gargantua Cooking School is fun, you will not only be in the kitchen, but also explore the local villages and the beautiful regions.
You will meet producers, visit the farms, taste the products and submerge yourself in southwest France.
If it’s harvest season, you will cook with their grown organic fruit and vegetables and pick herbs from one of many herb plants they grow.
Their kitchen is deliberately built and designed to host up to 6 cooks at a time, they aim to give everyone enough room to avoid collision and most importantly to gain individuals’ attention.
There is no hidden cost, your accommodation, meal (with drinks), and all taxes are included in the one-time payment.
The courses they offered are;
- Baking & patisserie courses
- Seasonal French cooking courses
- Bread baking courses
- Mixed week courses
- Fat duck course
- Vegetarian cooking course
- Vegetarian cooking course
There is more to Learn about Le Gargantua Cooking School here
L’Atelier des Sens
L’Atelier des sens is famous for its cooking courses in English and French, it is one of the best culinary schools in France.
The school has been in existence since 2004 and has been offering its services to individuals and professionals.
Presently, L’Atelier des Sens is launching two new types of workshops— immersion and masterclass—led by top French chefs.
Enrolling in the immersion package, you would be privileged to discover all the secrets of the cooking profession.
This workshop will last from 1-6 hours, with up to 35 participants depending on the restaurants and anchored by the most popular chef at the moment in the Atelier des Sens catalog.
The masterclass package which would run for 2 to 4hrs and might take place in the Atelier des Sens kitchens or on your company premises or at a partner venue and are also anchored by renowned chefs.
Learn more about L’Atelier des sens
La Source Food School
La Source Food School is a school for beginners and professionals who want to upgrade their cooking skills.
They help restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, and people in retraining to develop their activity sustainably.
They offer Inspiring content and specific training modules, with no choice imposed, and close support with a tutoring system.
You can access their online training and face-to-face training to get started here
Ferrandi Paris
Ferrandi Paris offers an international program to a diverse group of participants of over 25 nationalities who desire to master French techniques and recipes.
FERRANDI Paris’ international program is for everybody whether you are an amateur, career-switcher, or experienced professional.
It is the world-renowned culinary school, the largest in Europe, with 4 campuses around France and 2500 students from vocational courses to Masters’ degrees.
They offer over 70% hands-on training, with an intensive approach allowing students to learn many recipes and techniques in a short time.
Students are allowed to work both independently and in groups in practical professional procedures, preparing them for their future careers in the culinary industry.
Classes are delivered directly in English by their bilingual chef-instructors to small groups of 12 students, for a comfortable teaching experience.
Due to their network of over 800 industry contacts, they offer exciting monthly internship opportunities to their Intensive and Advanced Students in top hotels, boutiques, palaces, and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Their program includes;
- Intensive Professional Program in French Cuisine
- Intensive Professional Program in French Pastry
- Intensive Professional Program in French Bread Baking
- Advanced Professional Program in French Pastry
- Advanced Professional Program in French Cuisine
Learn more about Ferrandi Paris
École de Cuisine Alain Ducasse
École de Cuisine Alain Ducasse is a Paris-based French culinary school managed by multi-Michelin Star holder Alain Ducasse.
It is located in the heart of Paris with each room designed to make students and guests feel at home.
The school has four workshops kitchens equipped with Miele and Perene facilities, a wine cellar, a meeting room, and a shop.
The Alain Ducasse Cooking School offers cooking lessons, pastry lessons and oenology lesson to all cooking enthusiasts who want to learn.
Learn more about Alain Ducasse Cooking School
Les Coulisses du Chef
Les Coulisses du Chef which is translated ‘Behind the Scenes with the Chef’ is one of the best culinary schools in France.
it was founded by Chef Olivier Berté, and is one of the cooking schools who proves that Paris is the heart of French culinary excellence.
Les Coulisses du Chef has a variety of choices for those looking to expand their culinary knowledge, all in the jovial company of the chef.
The cooking school offers lessons on molecular, which combines science and gastronomy, as well as the traditional French culinary arts such as patisserie.
Also see: Top 6 Cheap Universities In France For International Students
Atelier Guy Martin
Atelier Guy Martin is located in a three-story townhouse near the Champs Elysées.
The cooking school has a chic canteen, a library, and a boutique.
the founder of Atelier Guy Martin, Guy Martin, holds two Michelin stars at the historic Grand Véfour restaurant in central Paris.
Atelier Guy Martin aspires to teach its participants ingredients, techniques, and the marriage of flavors.
Lessons at Atelier Guy Martin are held in the ground floor steel and glass kitchen, followed by tastings.
That’s all on Best culinary schools in France, I hope it helps.