Anyone taken the Academie Culinaire Basic course?

[Gary Biscuits]

Hi hi hi,

I am very seriously thinking of taking the Academie Culinaire basic cooking course this fall. However, I'm unable to find a real review from anyone who's taken the course.

Thusly... is there anyone that's completed the class and would like to tell me if it's mind-blowing/great/good/okay/eff that?

Yeah!
~GB

[SourberryLily]

I have taken several years of pastry and chocolatier-ing (for lack of french translation) class in another school, i have NOT gone to this school. What i've heard about it is partly the reason why.

The classes at the Academie Culinaire are rumored to have many students and also very expensive. In addition, depending on the class, you sometimes don't "do" as much and watch and learn more. Now i haven't been so please don't take my word for it.

Rather, take this warning and verify how the class is conducted and if you are bringing home anything afterward =)

My guidelines:
-Your class should not be more then 8 students per teacher. 6 is ideal.
-For a cooking class, you ought to bring home the food you made.
-You ought to make the food yourself, though often you work in teams of 2-4 people.

[Werzoth]

What would you recommend then? I'm also interested in taking a basic course.

[SourberryLily]

Cooking wise, i have only taken french pastry and chocolate classes, if those interest you i can refer a great class but not on the island of Montreal.

For cooking, i have noticed some people offering in markets such as 440 and Marché Gourmand (i lived in Laval until recently). Loblaws also had cooking classes. My experience is that privately owned schools are much cheaper and the teacher/owner of the business has a more approachable and friendly way of teaching. I've even called my teacher once or twice to ask her advice when something went horribly wrong at home haha!

Here's a place i'd look into. The lady seemed really nice but i have not taken her class yet:
http://www.marche-public440.com/index...

[Werzoth]

Thank you SourberryLily!

I currently live in Laval so that would be perfect =) I'll check it out for sure.

[SourberryLily]

Oh neat! If you ever end up taking classes, let me know. I'd be interested in a review.

If french pastry or chocolate making interests you, i went to a place in St-Jerome:
http://aachocolat.com/pages/indexpag....

The teachers are amazing, though you have to be willing to drive north. No cooking.

[eoj]

My husband did the Tour de France cooking class there. It was 4 weeks, one 3h class per week. Two of the classes were demonstration (you get to eat the results in class), two of the classes were students cooking in groups of 2 (you get to take home what you make). He said it was very fun and he'd definitely do another course there. The amount of food he brought home on the cooking days was insane, lunch and dinner for the two of us, plus a bit more for the next day! The class had 8-12 people. (he can't remember exactly now). It was a bit on the expensive side ($300-$400 or so), but he was very happy with the value for money.

[kpzoo]

The Gazette's latest edition of their compendium of Montreal-area cooking classes is out, FYI:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/L...

[SourberryLily]

great article, thanks kpzoo!