Du Potager à la Cuisine - The Empowered Kitchen
Du Potager à la Cuisine
The Empowered Kitchen
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Culinary Retreats in France
Cooking Classes
Online and In-Person in Eure-et-Loir
Culinary Retreats in France
Cooking Classes
Online and in-Person in Eure-et-loir
CULINARY RETREATS IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE
Cook with the seasons & with fresh, local foods
Looking for a beautiful experience in France that's outside of Paris?
Looking for a beautiful experience in France that's outside of Paris?
June 2027 Culinary Retreats
October 2026 Culinary Retreat
April Culinary Retreat
Dates: April 19-23, 2027
Location: A beautiful guesthouse on the grounds of a historic Manor, Nogent-le-Roi, France
Price: Starting at €1,899
Price: Starting at €1,899
Live the authentic French slow life with a mix of rest, renewal, and gastronomic adventure. Take part in cooking classes focus on sustainable, seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques, along with global inspirations. Explore scenic trails, tour medieval towns, and take a boat ride around a historic moat.
Activities include foraging for wild edibles with a local expert, an indulgent dinner at a fine dining restaurant, a visit of a local honey farm, a private wine tasting, and a fabulous massage. This retreat blends culture, cuisine, and relaxation in a picturesque countryside setting.
June Culinary Retreats
Dates: June 14-18 & June 28-July 2, 2027
Location: A beautiful guesthouse on the grounds of a historic Manor, Nogent-le-Roi, France
Price: Starting at €1,899
Price: Starting at €1,899
Live the authentic French slow life with a mix of rest, renewal, and gastronomic adventure. Take part in cooking classes that focus on sustainable, seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques, along with global inspirations. Explore scenic trails, tour medieval towns, and take a boat ride around a historic moat.
Activities include foraging for wild edibles with a local plant expert, an indulgent dinner at a fine dining restaurant, a visit of a local honey farm, and a massage. This retreat blends culture, cuisine, and relaxation in a picturesque countryside setting.
October Culinary Retreat
Dates: October 12-16, 2026
Location: A beautiful guesthouse on the grounds of a historic Manor, Nogent-le-Roi, France
Price: Starting at €1,700
Price: Starting at €1,700
Live the authentic French slow life with a mix of rest, renewal, and gastronomic adventure. Take part in cooking classes that focus on sustainable, seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques, along with global inspirations. Explore scenic trails, tour medieval towns, and take a boat ride around a historic moat.
Activities include foraging for wild edibles with a local expert, an indulgent dinner at a fine dining restaurant, a visit of a local honey farm, a private wine tasting, and a fabulous massage. This retreat blends culture, cuisine, and relaxation in a picturesque countryside setting.
April 2027 Culinary Retreat
April Culinary Retreat
Dates: April 19-23, 2027
Location: A beautiful guesthouse on the grounds of a historic Manor, Nogent-le-Roi, France
Price: Starting at €1,899
Price: Starting at €1,899
Live the authentic French slow life with a mix of rest, renewal, and gastronomic adventure. Take part in cooking classes that focus on sustainable, seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques, along with global inspirations. Explore scenic trails, tour medieval towns, and take a boat ride around a historic moat.
Activities include foraging for wild edibles with a local plant expert, an indulgent dinner at a fine dining restaurant, a visit of a local honey farm, and a massage. This retreat blends culture, cuisine, and relaxation in a picturesque countryside setting.
June 2027 Culinary Retreats
June Culinary Retreats
Dates: June 14-19 & June 28-July 2, 2027
Location: A beautiful guesthouse on the grounds of a historic Manor, Nogent-le-Roi, France
Price: Starting at €1,899
Price: Starting at €1,899
Live the authentic French slow life with a mix of rest, renewal, and gastronomic adventure. Take part in cooking classes that focus on sustainable, seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques, along with global inspirations. Explore scenic trails, tour medieval towns, and take a boat ride around a historic moat.
Activities include foraging for wild edibles with a local plant expert, an indulgent dinner at a fine dining restaurant, a visit of a local honey farm, and a massage. This retreat blends culture, cuisine, and relaxation in a picturesque countryside setting.
October 2026 Culinary Retreat
October Culinary Retreat
Dates: October 12-16, 2026
Location: A beautiful guesthouse on the grounds of a historic Manor, Nogent-le-Roi, France
Price: Starting at €1,700
Price: Starting at €1,700
Live the authentic French slow life with a mix of rest, renewal, and gastronomic adventure. Cooking classes focus on sustainable, seasonal ingredients and traditional French cooking techniques. Explore scenic trails, tour medieval towns, and take a boat ride around a historic moat.
Activities include foraging for wild edibles with a local plant expert, an indulgent dinner at a fine dining restaurant, a visit of a local honey farm, and a massage. This retreat blends culture, cuisine, and relaxation in a picturesque countryside setting.
Hey there, I'm Katrina
I'm an American living in France with my French beekeeper husband on our homestead where we eat a fresh salad from our garden every day of the year. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. It's pretty fantastic and I'm oh so grateful for this life.
I've been teaching cooking classes since 2013 when I started teaching for school garden programs in Denver, after finishing a masters in Agriculture, Food and Environmental policy at Tufts University in Boston.
I'm Fluent in English and French, and I specialize in sustainable and seasonal, family-style, gourmet cooking with flavors inspired by cuisines from around the world. On our French culinary retreats, we focus on traditional, French home-style cooking techniques so you can wow your friends and family back home.
Slow down in the French countryside & learn to cook simple, incredible meals with confidence.
Join us for a boutique retreat in the countryside where you'll cook, visit local farms, dine at a high-end restaurant & meet French locals active in the food & farming scene.
Immersive, small-group experiences where you reconnect with food, nature, and yourself - no perfection required.
A retreat is for you if…
You love food, travel, and culture—but don’t want another rushed, surface-level trip.
You're ready to get your hands dirty and have fun in the kitchen with your newfound friends.
You want to slow down, unplug, and do something real with your hands.
You're excited to meet new people, you crave connection—around a table, not a screen.
You want to experience France beyond the tourist traps.
You're an open-minded traveler (or wannabe traveler) and enjoy meeting fascinating people from diverse backgrounds.
What are people saying?
"I love, love, loved my experience here with Katrina! I traveled with a group of 8 and met 4 more women and we all became fast friends. The recipes were all so very good and I learned lots of new techniques. Katrina was right there thru every step to ensure we didn't fail.
It was just so much fun and I loved the location....I actually felt quite at home and would often wake up early and go to the main dining area and turn on the coffee and would just sit and enjoy the beauty of the location.
I truly hope to come back......it was just the very best experience! Thank you so very much for everything Katrina!♥️" - Patty S. (Michigan, USA)
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"I had the pleasure of attending this retreat hosted by Katrina Billard and The Empowered Kitchen at the end of April 2025 and it was above and beyond my expectations! Katrina is a lovely host and the location in Chartres is just beautiful. The combination of cooking classes, daily excursions and some free time to enjoy the environment was perfect.
The 5 days flew by yet did not feel rushed or overwhelming.
The excursions were so much fun .... As a solo woman traveler, I felt safe and enjoyed meeting new people at the retreat. Friendships were formed fast and we did lots of bonding over the daily cooking lesson and then enjoying the fruits of our labors. The meals were SO good!!
I highly recommend this retreat to anyone who has a love of food, travel and new cultures. Katrina has a well thought out itinerary with the goal of giving her guests a memorable experience. Not to mention she is such a wonderful person. The Empowered Kitchen was for me, one of my best travel experiences.....don't hesitate....life is short! Eat the food, drink the wine and enjoy the company - Bon Voyage!" - Shelley R. (Ontario, Canada)
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"Katrina goes above and beyond for her guests! I just got back from her April Culinary Retreat in France, it was the perfect way to immerse myself in French food culture beyond just visiting Paris. I learned new techniques, ate delicious food, and celebrated my birthday alongside new friends.
The retreat was a good blend of cooking together, cultural activities, and of course—eating. I recommend no matter what level of culinary experience you have." - Jared R. (Texas, USA)
~~~
"I attended Katrina’s Cooking Retreat “The Empowered Kitchen” in April. I highly recommend this Retreat! So well organized, informative, exciting!!! From learning French cooking, wine tasting, learning about life as a bee farmer in France. This retreat is outstanding!! Katrina took our group on excursions that were out of this world. She really gave us the other side of rural France.. I love love this! I was tearful when it was time to leave."
Thank you Katrina you made lasting memories. - Colleen R. (Michigan, USA)
What would it feel like to spend five days in France...actually living like a local instead of rushing through it?
This is why I've created intimate, slow-paced cooking retreats where you learn to make incredible meals, connect with others, and feel completely at ease in the kitchen.
What else can I do with The Empowered Kitchen?
In-Person Cooking Classes in Eure-et-Loir, France
(in French or English)
Want to set up a custom cooking class for your group? Katrina would love to come to you to teach a class!
You'll have a blast in the kitchen with Katrina in a hands-on cooking class in the Eure-et-Loir area of France.
You’ll cook delicious dishes inspired by the local French countryside, with lots of wonderful locally-sourced ingredients. Some might even come from Katrina’s organic garden!
She'll come to you in your home or vacation rental and can travel up to an hour or even more from Chartres. Classes are available in English or in French.
Online Cooking Classes two Sundays every month!
The Cooking Circle
Join our fun and casual community of cooks from around the world!
You’ll learn how to use in-season produce to make amazing food that's packed with flavor and accessible to anyone with an appetite to learn.
We make lots of French recipes and explore world cuisines from the comfort of our home kitchens!
Only €14 per screen, or buy a package of classes for an even better deal!
We meet via Zoom twice a month and you can drop in anytime you like!
Classes are two Sundays per month at 7:30 pm Paris time, which is 1:30 pm Eastern time in the US and Canada.
Online Team Building Cooking Classes
Take your team on a culinary adventure that’s fun, engaging, and delicious! These online classes foster connection and creativity through hands-on cooking experiences.
90-minute interactive Zoom class led by Katrina.
Shopping list, equipment list, recipes, and class recording. Customized menus for vegetarians, vegans, and dietary needs.
Starting at €497 for up to 20 participants.
Inquire for larger groups.
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Location
Location: Chartres, France
Du Potager à la Cuisine - The Empowered Kitchen
