The Courageous Cooking School
Our Flagship, Life-changing,
Recipe-Free Cooking School in the South of France
Since 2017, the Courageous Cooking School and RecipeKick have welcomed over 500 home cooks to learn to cook without recipes, in the South of France. We invite you to become one of our next culinarians to crack the code of cooking seasonally, more deliciously, and saving time while you’re at it.
Each Courageous Cooking experience gives you an opportunity to dive into the world of French Culinary techniques, discover French (mostly natural) wines that we procure from around the country, and master the art of cooking without recipes.
Our proprietary Courageous Cooking School & Method is a truly, one-of-a-kind masterclass in recipe-Free cooking, developing dishes from scratch, using only the highest quality products including single-origin spices, organic produce, and locally crafted everything.
The school is an in-depth, hands-on culinary education that provides one-on-one attention and an immersive opportunity in slow travel. We cook from the bounty of local produce from Provence—including produce and herbs and eggs from our own organic farm.
Here at the Courageous Cooking School we know that you are….
Capable
You have skills, you can make things happen, turning them into functional dishes? We can help you navigate the details, you bring what you have, we’ll weave it into something delicious.
Intuitive or can build that intuition…
Maybe you’ve got keen intuition in the kitchen, maybe you don’t. Wherever you are, we can meet you there. Our expert instructors are trained to navigate experts to novices in the same class.
Curious about Cooking
No matter where you are on your cooking journey, we know if you’re here and reading this, you’re curious to make delicious things and you’re ready to develop new flavors in your kitchen. We’ll help you make that happen.
Your capacity to be a better cook isn’t hiding in a cookbook, it’s already within you. And our expertly trained instructors are with you every step of the way to unlock that magic.
What will you learn in your time with us?
To think more like a chef in your own home kitchen, allowing you greater creativity and capacity to cook seasonally, without fuss (no more multiple grocery store runs to nab that missing ingredient), and to save anywhere between 60 to HUNDREDS of hours a year in your own home kitchen. Over a lifetime? That’s pretty priceless.
How that all boils down?
You’ll learn many of the key French techniques (including: sauces, souflées, mousses, stocks, sautéeing, roasting, and more) AND you’ll learn how to turn them on their heads so you can create an infinitesimal amount of dishes from these crucial and classic skills
How to mix and match spices with ease, so that your ‘go to Chicken’ recipe is something you can make five days in a row without it actually tasting the same.
Crucial knife skills to love, and some to lose. You’ll walk away with the chef-y tools necessary for the home cook, and we’ll demystify what you don’t need.
What you actually need in your kitchen pantry, spice cabinet, and batterie de cuisine to cook well.
How to go to a market, shop for whatever brings you joy, and then actually be able to turn that bounty into something delicious from anywhere in the world.
You’ll learn the why behind your favorite dishes, and figure out new ways to understand why that why doesn’t actually matter in the long run.
What Our Previous Guests Have to Stay
Our 2025 Cooking School is our last year at La Pitchoune
La Pitchoune: 2025
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For years the Courageous Cooking School was housed in La Pitchoune, Julia Child's former summer home. And our last year there is 2025. This is our classic ‘As seen on TV program’ with our classic curriculum, taught to over 600 people over the years.
Group size up to 8 guests
All-inclusive from start to finish.
Click one of the Book Now links to get more inclusions and exclusions -
$11,000 per person, shared lodging in La Pitchoune.
Private room available for a single supplement fee of $3000 a person.
Available Dates
Fall 2025
September 28-October 4
October 5-11 - 2 spots
October 19-25 - 5 spots
October 26-November 1
November 2-8
Spring 2025
March 2-8
March 9-15
March 23-28 - 1 private single room
March 30-April 5
April 6-12 - 3 spots
April 27-May 3 - 4 spots
May 11-16 - 1 private single room
May 18-23 - 1 private single room
May 25-30 - 1 private single room
June 1-6 - 1 private single room
June 15-20 - 1 private single room
Step into the magic of the Courageous Cooking School
Imagine...
You’ll pack your bags, hop a plane, get to the house you’re staying at, and we’ve got you. Upon arrival, one of our team members will whisk you away to your impeccably designed bedroom (We’ll even carry your bags). Designer linens grace your wildly comfortable bed, there are ample fluffy towels, stunning flower bouquets are at every turn, Dyson hair dryers, and luxury bath/body/skincare products wait for you. In moments, a cold glass of rosé will be in-hand, and the tour de force of discovering delicious things begins…
We begin with a seasonal apéro dinner—small producer cheeses and charcuteries of every stripe, local vegetable crudité, plenty of natural wine, and so much more. (We like some of it to be a surprise after all).
From Monday to Thursday, we’ll meet each day and gather in one of our many kitchen to engage in a tour de force of deliciousness, expertly guided by a top-notch culinary team (all of us are graduates from top culinary academies and range from adept homecooks to Michelin-Starred restaurant chefs). We’ll highlight class French culinary techniques, focusing on key use cases for the home cook. We will hone your knife skills, and cover everything from the basics to more advanced techniques including braising, sautéing, searing, butchery, infusions, and so much more. You’ll master the art of soufflés, omelettes, mousses, custards, and complex flavor combining–all from the hip.
All of our meals are communal and occur outdoors on our sun-soaked terraces (when possible) and gorgeous, well-appointed dining rooms–where wine, French linens, flowers, and more await you.
Friday, we take to the town to explore the heritage of Provence–from the perfumed hills of Grasse, to one of the best Provençal markets in the world— and to culminate? You’ll enjoy a chef-made, multi-course tasting menu using the spoils of the week in new ways.
The whole week is set up to demystify deliciousness for the home cook. And we’ve removed any barriers to your learning and retaining the information. Your mission during the week is to enjoy and immerse. We’ll clear the table and do the dishes, we’ll do your laundry, we’ll housekeep your room each and every day. The staff to guest ratio is 1:1. (And each of them are paid well enough to actually love their job.) Impeccable hospitality is the name of our game.
Worried you won’t retain everything? A lifetime membership to our live-streamed online platform RecipeKick is included so you can practice all your new found skills at home, with guidance and support.
