To take the sting out of turning seventy, I organized a family week at the French Dining School for my sisters, spouses, and adult kids. Ten of us descended upon the Kerrouet House for a private birthday week celebration of cooking and feasting, culminating in a culinary extravaganza of champagne, oysters, caviar, lobster, beef wellington and cake for my birthday dinner. Poul and Niall “cooked up” a fantastic, bespoke birthday week for me. The amount of hard work, effort, generosity and dedication that they both powered through all week was astonishing. Poul’s meals were all extraordinary, and Niall was the consummate host, Chief Entertainment Officer, bartender, waiter, table setter, story-teller, poet and kitchen helper! Turning seventy was actually fun! We all had a wonderful experience!

Our friends joined us to attend the Dining School at Kerrouet House for 5 days of preparing, dining and of course enjoying wine. Our first meal was prepared for us by Chef Poul and gave us a pre-view of delicious dishes we would learn to prepare during the week. We had a great group attending the classes, and although most had some experience with cooking, other more novice students were all helped along by Poul and the other classmates, The classes and tasks were not intimidating, so in the end we all felt we had learned so much about French cooking and cuisine. We also had the opportunity to tour Brittany for the first time and explored Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint Malo, Dinan and Josselin by car rental from Rennes Gare. Every village and town we passed through in our travels was so beautiful with lovely old homes, churches and flower gardens with hydrangeas of different colours. I have made a number of dishes from our recipe folder and received high praise from our diner guests who got to enjoy the food with us back home. Thanks again to Poul and Nial for a wonderful experience and we would return again to Kerrouet House in the future.

I attended the course over New Year’s holiday. Poul is a wonderful teacher and chef. I learnt a lot and enjoyed delicious food. Not only you will learn to cook, enjoy superb food but also you will be entertained in a charming holiday house in Kerrouet full of story and so much to see close by. Niall and Poul are wonderful hosts I highly recommend attending a course with them.

We enjoyed a memorable week with Poul and Niall at Kerrouet earlier this year. We are not accomplished chefs, rather novice cooks in fact, but the beauty of this course is that it caters to all levels of expertise. Poul is a wonderful chef with vast experience but he is also a patient, professional and wonderful teacher. We learned so much; we feel we have more confidence and we enjoyed every minute. Both Poul and Niall made us feel warmly welcome and generously did everything possible to host us so marvellously. The long lunches and evening meals with great conversation, beautiful French cheeses and wines too - oh, take us back now!! Lots of friendships were formed, plenty of laughter had, and by the end of the week we felt very relaxed indeed. Poul and Niall organised our accommodation which was superb and very close to Kerrouet House. From the first cooking session, it became very apparent that we would need to counteract the effects of the lashings of Bretagne butter and cream consumed. We needed some fresh air activities. Kerrouet is a tiny village set in a tranquil and very scenic part of France. There are some wonderful walks but also worth considering is hiring eBikes from nearby Saint-Gilles. Pedaling energetically (note: power assist for uphill!) was a great way to see the countryside and small villages, and it ensured we could still fit through the doorway to the next cooking session. Alternatively a car to travel further afield to stunning towns such as Josselin, Dinan and St Malo is a good idea. We guarantee you will enjoy your time at Kerrouet. And you will leave having learned many new skills with food preparation and presentation, and having made some new friends along the way. You will promise yourself that you will return. We have.

We absolutely loved this course. Poul & Niall are excellent hosts who make you feel very welcome and relaxed as soon as you arrive. We have learnt so much from Poul who is an excellent chef and teacher; it's so wonderful to find someone with great skills and knowledge...who is also willing to share them when you sign up to this course. Five words to explain this experience don't do justice but here goes; professional, friendly, relaxing and gastronomically wonderful. There were four on our course for most of the week; we all felt that we arrived as students and left as friends who had enjoyed a JOLLY GOOD TIME! We will book again, if only to encourage Poul to increase the amount of Gazpacho to be made in the recipe...just to ensure that there is sufficient left for two rounds of the best Bloody Marys ever!!

I am an amateur culinary enthusiast and finally decided to take a more formal culinary course to hone my skills. I also wanted to get some advice from a real chef, so this was my first foray into the world of culinary institutions and I wasn't really sure what to expect. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision with Poul's French Culinary School in Brittany. First off, Poul is an extremely good chef, amazing teacher and is filled with a wealth of knowledge of all things food and the restaurant business in general. Second, Poul and Niall are the most generous hosts and genuine people I have ever met. Conversation was never dull and my drink was never dry. Lastly, I would be hard pressed to find a more gorgeous home and kitchen. It has all the feel and authenticity you would expect from a 15th century home in the Bretagne countryside, yet with all the amenities of the 21st century. Whether you are a novice or experienced chef you will learn something here and have an amazing experience in the process, I can guarantee it. I will certainly back. Highly recommend A++++

I attended the French Dinning School in Nov. , 2016. It was such a wonderful experience. I learned a lot in a warm, caring, laided back setting. Poul is a great teachers, gifted chef, and delightful person. His partner Nilles added so much to the experience. We made wonderful dishes and had nice long lunches and dinners with great conversations. I highly recommend it. I was a solo traveler and it was great to connect with the group. Would love to go back!

An amazing experience! Wonderful hospitality and fabulous instruction. Delicious recipes that I feel confident to replicate at home.

I loved my time at the French Dining School. I'm a enthusiastic home cook with no formal training, the syllabus that Poul put together covered a great range of techniques and methods that I can take straight back to my kitchen at home. With a mixed level of ability in our group Poul is able to teach valuable practical skills to the level of each participant. He's a patient and focused teacher with great experience to pass on.... But that's just one facet of the French Dining School... Niall and Poul are wonderful warm people, generous hosts, and you soon feel like you're almost part of the family. They have a wide knowledge of the rich attractions in Brittany that are so easily accessed from the schools central location. If you do book a course make sure you have a few spare days to explore the region further, either way- you won't regret it.

A memorable girls getaway and three days (April 10-13) at Kerrouet House! We are a group of international women who love to cook and eat well. I heard about the French Dining School from a friend who had been there several times. She was right! The hosts are wonderful! So welcoming and easy going, it felt as if we always knew them. We learned so many cooking techniques and methods that we could use in our everyday lives. The demonstrations were helpful as were the inside secrets from exceptional Chef Poul! The accommodations were clean, cozy and perfect for our group. I loved the early morning walks before breakfast to take in the fresh air and beauty of the french country side and the joyful dinners with friends and our wonderful hosts. Be sure to bring a light jacket this time of year as it could be windy and cool, and take time to visit the gorgeous castles during the day. As tempting as it is to nap, you won't want to miss the beauty this area offers. I highly recommend French Dining School to anyone looking for a wonderful culinary experience in the beautiful french countryside.

What a wonderful week my sister and I spent at Kerrouet House. Against a relaxed, humour - filled happy atmosphere, Chef Poul instilled in us basic techniques, proper ways of preparing and presenting dishes, and the art and pleasure of eating wonderful food in good company. How Paol manages to keep cool amongst all us rookies, whilst keeping his eye on numerous different things at once, I will never know: he is a master of multi-tasking! Both he and Niall made us feel so welcome in their home, and we really did feel part of the family for the time we were there. Nothing was too much trouble for them. We made new friends, learnt so much, and explored a pretty part of Brittany. I cannot recommend the course highly enough.

Our sincere thanks to Poul and Niall for an incredible week of fabulous food and great cooking experiences in a wonderful homely atmosphere. As a family of keen cooks and diners not only did we learn how to put together some amazing menus, balance flavours, new cooking techniques and efficient use of many varied ingredients but most importantly had lots of fun in a relaxed environment. Paul is a fountain of knowledge and has an amazing and practical approach to cooking in which food and flavours are celebrated and enjoyed with the greatest of ease. We would highly recommend and endorse the French Dining School to anyone who shares a passion for cooking and fine food. Mark, Lorraine, Courtney and Jordan Barnard

Fun! Fun! Fun! My week at the French Dining School in Brittany was extraordinaire! The setting, a restored country house in a tiny Breton village, is truly a piece of heaven. Combine that with a great cooking/learning experience, followed up with wonderful, convivial dining along with afternoons exploring the environs, and you've got a recipe for success! Poul & Niall are generous, welcoming hosts who put us all at ease right from the start and their delightful dog, Scooby, was for me the icing on the gateau! A truly memorable respite from Real Life! Monica/Toronto

To say I am not an adventurous eater is an understatement. So when a friend suggested that a group of us meet at the French Dining School for a reunion and a girls get away, I agreed but was concerned about what I would eat. Little did I know I had nothing to worry about. Chef Poul opened my mind, eyes and pallet! It was a spectacular experience. Chef Poul and Niall provided a fine dining atmosphere with a causal approach. Poul emphasizes that fine dining should be stress free and enjoyed. Each day we prepared lunch and dinner. We had time between the morning and evening classes to explore the breath taking beauty of Brittany. It is recommended to rent a vehicle so you can take the opportunity to explore the surrounding villages or the sea. Along with learning new cooking skills, Niall taught us the art of table settings and seatings. The highlight of each class was reaping the rewards of our efforts and sitting down to dine with friends old and new. Niall and Poul delighted us with their stories of travels and adventures. It was a reunion that won't soon be forgotten. The day after arriving home we were texting one another with the dishes we prepared using the recipes and techniques learned at the French Dining School." A vortre sante"

I spent a wonderful week at the French Dining School with my mum for her 50th birthday, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate. We spent the mornings preparing and cooking delicious meals for lunch, and the same again in the evenings, which gave us the afternoons to explore the beautiful surrounding countryside by foot. The food was outstanding, and we learnt so many dishes and techniques that I have already put into practise at home. Poul and Niall are both excellent company and fantastic hosts and truly went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. The school is set in beautiful countryside, though it is very remote, so I would recommend driving if possible, or renting a car. A trip to remember for years to come.