Explore markets, master French culinary techniques, and savor unforgettable meals.

8 Day Journey from $7,945

September 11-18, 2026

Not Your Typical Paris Tour

Instead of rushing from monument to monument, we'll spend our days immersed in the flavors, traditions, and stories that define French culture. 

Highlights include:

✓ Exploring the legendary cookware shop E. Dehillerin

✓ Sampling artisan specialties from Paris's most beloved food purveyors 

✓ Browsing antique markets for copper, linens and culinary treasures

✓ Visiting Monet's home and gardens in Giverny

✓ Participating in a private cooking experience at Le Cordon Bleu

✓ Enjoying A memorable lunch at La Couronne in historic Rouen

✓ Hands on French pastry making with expert instructors at Maison Fleuret

✓ Celebrating together with a farewell dinner at Le Grand Véfour

Travel creator Jess Smith, recently explored several of the culinary experiences featured on this itinerary. From historic Rouen to iconic Parisian culinary landmarks, her journey offers a glimpse into the flavors, traditions, and moments that make this trip so special.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR JESS'S COMMUNITY

Use promo code: JESS100

Receive $100 off your reservation when you join us in Paris this September.

Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle, a private driver will bring you to our home for the week, the Bourgogne & Montana Hotel. Nestled in the Left Bank, it is the perfect base for our explorations. Once we’ve all settled in, we will gather in the lobby for a festive champagne welcome. Our first evening features a celebratory dinner at Brasserie des Prés, where we’ll get our first taste of seasonal Parisian flavors and toast to the week ahead. (Breakfast & Dinner included)

Today, we hit the pavement to explore the "pantry of Paris." Our expert guide will lead us through the city’s most iconic culinary landmarks. We’ll visit E. Dehillerin to marvel at the professional-grade copper, breathe in the wood-fired scent of Poilâne, and sample artisanal gems at Barthelemy cheese shop. We’ll navigate the historic stalls of Les Halles—the original "belly of Paris"—to see where the city’s top chefs source their ingredients.​​ (Breakfast included)

Sunday in Paris is a day for slow exploration. You have your choice of tickets and reservations for a dose of culture at The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, or Musée Dior. For those who want to keep the culinary hunt going, you can join me as we visit one of the city’s famous brocantes. We’ll stroll the stalls together, hunting for vintage copper, antique linens, and silver treasures to bring back to our own kitchens. (Breakfast included)

We’ll head into the countryside to visit Monet’s home and gardens. This is a beautiful opportunity to see a "living painting" and discuss the importance of the kitchen garden in French cooking. After wandering the lily ponds and willow trees, we will share a group lunch at Les Nymphéas, just outside the garden gates, with plenty of time to explore the local village boutiques together. (Breakfast & Lunch included)

Today is a highlight of our journey. We step into the kitchens of Le Cordon Bleu, located within the magnificent Hôtel de la Marine. We will participate in a private cooking class led by Master Chef Eric Briffard and his team. Together, we’ll learn the professional techniques behind seasonal French specialties before sitting down to savor what we’ve created. Afterward, we’ll tour the 18th-century palace to see the opulent reception rooms that reflect the height of French elegance.​ (Breakfast & Lunch included)

We travel to the historic city of Rouen to experience the roots of Norman cuisine. Our centerpiece is a lunch at La Couronne, the oldest inn in France. We will experience a traditional, multi-course menu that showcases the pinnacle of French service. Afterward, we’ll walk the cobblestone lanes and half-timbered streets together, perhaps ducking into an antique market or two before our return to Paris.​​ (Breakfast & Lunch included)

We spend our final morning at Maison Fleuret for a hands-on technical workshop. We’ll split into two groups to master the art of either French macarons or buttery croissants. This is our chance to perfect our pastry skills under expert guidance. After a free afternoon for last-minute shopping, we’ll gather for a spectacular farewell dinner at Le Grand Véfour. We’ll end the night with a final, illuminated drive through the city to say our goodbyes to the City of Lights. (Breakfast & Dinner included)

After breakfast, we bid Paris a fond farewell, taking with us not only treasures and photographs, but the flavors, stories, 

and shared moments of a week in the heart of France.

Join culinary enthusiast and experienced travel host Patti Carter for a week of unforgettable food, culture, and discovery as you explore the markets, kitchens, cafés, and traditions that have inspired generations of chefs, home cooks, and travelers.

I am so excited to invite you to join me in Paris, a city that has captured my heart time and again. I have designed this trip for those of us who don't just want to eat well, but want to understand the "why" and "how" behind the world's most celebrated cuisine. 

We'll go behind the scenes of legendary kitchens, source tools from centuries-old shops, and learn side-by-side with master chefs. This isn't just a tour, it’s an immersion into the techniques and traditions that make French cooking the gold standard. 

Paris is a city best tasted together and I can’t wait to break bread with you.

~ Patti

• $7,945 per person (double occupancy)
• $9,755 per person (single occupancy)
• Includes hotel and land arrangements as shown on the itinerary.
• EXCLUSIONS: Airfare, Travel Insurance, Services and Meals not outlined in itinerary
• Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure

• 90+ Days Before Departure: You will receive a full refund minus a $500 per person admin fee
• 60-89 Days Before Departure: A penalty of 30% of the booking price will be charged.
• 30-59 Days Before Departure: A penalty of 50% of the booking price will be charged.
• Less Than 30 Days Before Departure: No refund will be provided, and 100% of the program price will be charged as the penalty.

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