Today, we're chatting with the founders of our favorite French cooking school about the the whimsical life they've created in Beaune as well as the release of their second book, French at Heart.
Tell our readers about the origin story of Cook's Atelier.
The Cook's Atelier was an idea years in the making - one that involved lots of brainstorming and countless glasses of wine. We started with no formal business plan, just a strong gut instinct to create a place that we would love, and hoped that others would, too . As a mother-daughter duo and co-founders, we wanted to create a convivial gathering place where we could share our love of food and wine with other home cooks from around the world.
After years of research, professional work experience, and study - both in food and wine, independently and together - we found a way to take the things we love about the French lifestyle and to combine it all into a small family business and brand.
The Cook's Atelier has been a true labor of love and has evolved over the years, taking its own momentum. We knew this journey would have its ups and downs and require just the right amount of grit and determination. We set our sights high and jumped feet-first into founding The Cook's Atelier, with the intention of creating a special place that supports the connection between the farmer and the cook, and where people from all over the world could come together, learn to cook, and have a good time.
Ultimately, our story is about family and our unwavering vision to create a small business around what we cherish most - good food, family, and France. Today, we are honored to welcome guests to our Atelier to experience the joys of French cooking and eating at its best!
The Cook's Atelier is a family affair. Tell us a bit about how the whole family is involved in the experiences cultivated at the Atelier.
Over the years, the rhythm and energy we've always had together as mother and daughter has expanded to include Laurent, Kendall's husband, and now, three children: Luc, Manon, and Lou. The generational aspect of our little Franco-American family means the kids watch us as we continue to grow and support each other. Kendall's dream was really big enough to include a whole family. We are extremely proud of The Cook's Atelier, not just because know we've created something special that impacts everyone who walks through our door, but also because we've done it en famille. The kids often help us in the shop when off from school and they get to pick which area they want to work in. Sometimes it is helping out during cooking classes, sometimes it is working with Laurent in the wine shop and sometimes in the garden.
Share your ideal day in Beaune.
Beaune is a really charming town in the heart of Burgundy surrounded by vineyards. Our favorite day to spend in Beaune is Saturday since it is market day. We'll begin the morning at the shop to enjoy a coffee and then head to the morning market where we see friends and producers and source for the upcoming week's cooking classes. Then we venture to the Woodland House, Kendall's home in the countryside, to enjoy a family lunch alfresco.
Share a favorite recipe from your Cook's Atelier Cookbook.
Our first cookbook, The Cook's Atelier: Recipes, Techniques, and Stories from our French Cooking School, was an introduction to classic French cooking techniques and the recipes we feel every Francophile and home cook should know, chronicling the recipes we often teach at our school. Our first book was based on the seasons and there are so many favorite recipes. We also really wanted to include core foundational recipes like stocks, classic pastry doughs etc. to inspire those interested in French cooking to really have a better understanding of classic French techniques. If we had to choose just one favorite, we would have to say Gourgères which is really just a cheese puff with a fancy French name. They make for the perfect apèro with a glass of bubbly.
We're so looking forward to discovering new recipes in your upcoming cookbook. What is a recipe from French at Heart that you're excited to share with us?
This book, French at Heart, takes a more intimate look at our life at home, showing how to create simple, joyous family meals around your own table, in whatever place you call home. These are the recipes that make us fall in love with France all over again every time we eat them: things like Salade Niçoise, Duck Confit, Rabbit with Mustard, and Tarte Tatin. They're simple recipes that we often cook for our own family, typically after a long day of teaching, and they reflect our take on familiar French favorites, with an occasional nod to tastes we miss from the States(i.e. Duck Confit Tostadas) and new flavors we've adopted here(i.e. Tataki-Style Beef Tenderloin.)
What are your three, cannot live without kitchen tools.
A good, classic, chef's knife; a collection of wooden spoons; and a stock pot as everything tastes better using homemade stock.
For our readers and friends who may be planning a visit to Beaune, share your favorite place to eat, stay, and shop in your charming town.
We always recommend dinner at Le Relais des Saulx. For something simple, try La Dilettante, a favorite wine bar. A visit to Beaune isn't complete without visiting the Hospices de Beaune. For accommodation, we can recommend Le Cep, Le Cèdre, Maison 1896 and L'Hôtel de Beaune for traditional style hotels. For shopping, of course, we'd recommend a stop at The Cook's Atelier for great kitchenware and wine. Be sure to stop by Hess Cheese Shop and, for a little something sweet, we recommend Passion Millot.
