The hosts
Julie & Guillaume hosts, creators, and carriers of the flame
At the heart of La Grange
Guillaume and Julie, the couple who imagined, built, and brought this warm, joyful place to life.
They didn’t want to create just another cooking school. They wanted a place where people could feel at home, reconnect with real food, get true artisans to give their tricks, and leave with more than just recipes.
They’ve built a family
With their deep love for people, for the land, and for the art of cooking, they’ve built more than a school, they’ve built a family. A family of chefs, growers, and food lovers who each bring their own story, flavour, and smile to the table.
Here are the faces you might meet when you step into the kitchen at La Grange…
Come and enjoy a culinary experience with a French flavour from A to Z at one of our cooking class.
Questions or need additional information ? Contact us by completing the form below or
by telephone: +332 54 43 57 21 , by email : hello@cookingbytheloire.com
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Your level
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Restrictions/Allergies
Guillaume: the dough devotee (and proud flour enthusiast)
Guillaume is a passionate bread expert and maître vermicellier. He doesn’t just love dough, he lives it. Expect fast-talking, high-energy explanations, animated gestures, and a twinkle in his eye when he starts describing gluten structure or fermentation times. He’s not here to whisper recipes, he’s here to light a spark. With Guillaume, baking is never boring, and the kitchen is always alive with stories, laughter, and the smell of something incredible rising in the oven.
Simple. Seasonal. Satisfying.
Julie: the wild heart of the garden
Julie is the driving force behind La Grange and she is all intuition, nature, and nourishment. With a deep connection to the land and what it offers, she brings a forager’s eye and a cook’s imagination to every class. She sees flavour where others see foliage, and she’s endlessly curious about new ways to blend nature and cuisine. Her gift? Making everyone feel welcome and reminding us that joy is an ingredient.
Camille: the earth-to-table alchemist
A farmer’s daughter turned globe-trotting chef, Camille brings a quiet intensity to her work. She knows her way around a fire, a field, and a perfectly slow-simmered dish. She’s calm, precise, and deeply rooted in seasonal cooking. There’s light in her eyes when she teaches, and a kind of poetry in her food. When Camille’s in the kitchen, you feel it.
Olivier: the pastry whisperer
Soft-spoken, easy-going, and endlessly kind, Olivier is our go-to guy for everything buttery, flaky, and golden. After 4 years in the UK, he’s back on home soil and ready to show you the secrets of viennoiseries and special breads without ever making it feel intimidating. With Olivier, the croissants practically shape themselves.
Cécile: the feel-good foodie
Cécile is energy in motion and flavour in balance. With a background in Parisian event catering and a deep love of plant-based cooking, she brings creativity, kindness, and a wellness mindset to the kitchen. Her workshops are about more than what’s on the plate they’re about how food makes you feel. Her motto? Feel good, eat better, cook with joy.
Eva: seasoned by travel, rooted in taste
Mathieu: the joy of sharing food
Fourteen years in the uk didn’t take the French out of Mathieu it just gave him more to share. A crêpe master with a soft spot for rich sauces and meaty classics, he brings warmth, humour, and generosity to every dish. He cooks with instinct and heart, led by convivialité and a deep love for food that brings people together. No fuss, no ego, just flavour, stories, and the joy of sharing something delicious. With Mathieu it’s not just about cooking. It’s about creating a table everyone wants to sit at.
Rémy Giraud: the maestro of the Loire
A legendary name in the Loire Valley culinary scene, Rémy Giraud brings decades of Michelin-starred excellence and an infectious generosity of spirit to La Grange. Former executive chef of the Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Rémy is as precise as he is poetic in the kitchen. His cooking style? Deeply rooted in the terroir, yet never afraid to explore new ground. When he joins our team to lead a masterclass, it’s more than a lesson it’s an encounter with French gastronomy in its purest, most soulful form.
Taste the Craft.
Vincent Foyer: the refined locavore
Vincent’s cuisine speaks of the land, the season, and the people who grow what ends up on your plate. For over 15 years, he was the chef and co-owner (with his wife, Floriane) of Le Mange-Grenouille in Saint-Aignan one of the most beloved restaurants in the area. He started cooking professionally at 15 and has since built a reputation for warm, elegant dishes based entirely on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. After leading several masterclasses at La Grange, he officially joined the team of artisans, bringing with him a style that’s generous, thoughtful, and unmistakably French.
Start cooking with us
And to go further
Now that you’ve seen our space from the sunlit kitchen to the lush garden and the charming guest rooms why not discover what happens here day to day?
The venue
You’ve met the people, now visit the place. The venue page will give you the full picture: the garden, the prévôté, the guest rooms, the light, and the soul.
Cooking classes
Want to see what that looks like in action? Start with the cooking classes page, where their teaching philosophy comes to life.
They’ve had a taste of it
