Noel and his lovely wife Amandine live in a home near Vence, on the outskirts of Nice. For Noel, cooking is life! Noel is a warm and jovial host passionate about cooking and eating - but what brings him the most joy is sharing food with people. Noel studied culinary arts at the Paul Valéry hotel school in Menton as well as at other establishments on the Côte d'Azur. He is a personal chef and caters events on the French Riviera. Noel is delighted to share his secrets of Southern French cooking with guests at his home in Vence, a small town located a 30-min drive from Nice.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
Cooking experience: (3-20 guests) Meet your host Noel at his home in Vence, a welcoming space with two terraces that overlook the mountains. Sip on a refreshing drink as your host shares stories about living in the French Riviera region before joining him in his kitchen. During your Nice cooking lesson, learn to cook a seasonal Southern French/Mediterranean meal. As much as possible, Noel uses fresh, local produce that he procures from the farmer's markets. You will learn to cook a three-course meal - a starter, main and dessert. During your hands-on cooking class, learn the tips and techniques involved in making French cuisine. After cooking, sit down at the table to share the fresh, seasonal meal you helped prepare with Noel. Your menu might include dishes such as pissaladière, a caramelized onion tart for a starter followed by a main such as petits farcis, stuffed vegetables with meat, cheese and herbs, a specialty from Nice, enjoyed with local wine. Your meal concludes with a dessert such as Menton lemon meringue, one of the top-rated lemon varieties in the world or tourte aux blettes, an apple and nut pie.
Languages spoken: English, French
It was so incredible, Noel is so talented, very fun, and created a very enjoyable experience for us. I bought this experience for my 2 best friends honeymoon, it was hosted at Noel’s backyard which is beautiful and we all cooked together cooking authentic French cuisine. Noel was an amazing host, taught us a lot, was so fun and made the energy so great. Truly such a special experience.- Ashley September 18, 2025
It’s a really great afternoon and a unique experience spent on the beautiful terrace with Noel with gorgeous food- Sally July 26, 2025
This was an excellent experience. Chef Noel was very patient and kind and prepared a wonderful menu. He advised well prep and cooking techniques. He was very welcoming and the patio was quite pleasant. We highly recommend!- Deanna June 11, 2025
Doing not just watching under the guidance of a positive, creative, chef. The dishes were a great example of why French cooking is so delicious. We all agree, our time with Noel was a big highlight of our trip.- Karen May 08, 2025
This was the funnest thing we did while in Nice! My mom, husband, and myself went to Noel's to cook a dinner. Noel was so nice and hospitable and the food was the best we ate all week on our trip. Could not recommend this enough!- Jace April 14, 2025
It was a fun morning of cooking on Noel’s patio with a lovely view. The lunch we prepared was amazing! Glad it was a very nice day or it would not have been such a good experience for our party of 10 adults.- Anthony April 11, 2025
It was such a fun time - Noel was absolutely fantastic — friendly, knowledgeable, and really made the experience enjoyable from start to finish. We learned a ton and enjoyed our efforts at the end. The hands-on aspect made it feel like we were all chefs for the day, and the atmosphere was relaxed yet informative. Highly recommend this experience for anyone looking for a fun and unique outing with friends!- jeremy January 26, 2025
An Unforgettable Meal in Provence! The setting was magnificent with views of the hills from Noel’s patio. He is an excellent teacher, so we learned a great deal about French cooking. The meal was delicious! Highly recommended!- Len_E August 31, 2024
He was so nice and helped teach my kids a lot of new cooking techniques. He was so encouraging and said cooking is fun not stressful which made the experience so much better. The food and wine was amazing.we had a fantastic time- Dawn_M August 14, 2024
Fun outdoor cooking class with Nice local from his deck with nice views. Views were very beautiful. Cooking process was fun. Food was unique and very delicious. He quickly offered to do anything we thought was too difficult. We would definitely do it again.- Taylor M August 13, 2024
Best French cooking day! Chef Noel was delightful. We cooked a lovely meal together. Our two boys 10 and 12 were easily incorporated into the day. We learned how to make ratatouille and Panisse (chickpea fries). He has a lovely view and it was a wonderful and memorable experience. ❤️- Angela July 12, 2024
What an amazing experience! Chef Noel was so welcoming and fun. We all had a great experience learning the local dishes and enjoying our dishes taking in the views!! Definitely recommend the class and Chef!!- Shianna June 11, 2024
Perfect cooking class outside of Nice! This was an amazing experience! Noel’s home is stunningly beautiful. The views from the terrace are postcard worthy. Noel was an excellent teacher and we had a chance to get our hands on everything. The menu was ready for us on arrival and we got straight to work! He provided coffee and delicious wine as well. I cannot recommend this experience enough. Truly one of a kind and unforgettable!- Anonymous May 31, 2024
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