Three day Mediterranean cooking course - All Levels - PRICE AND DATE TBC
Three Day Mediterranean Cooking Course
Three day Mediterranean cooking course - All Levels
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3 Day Mediterranean Cooking Course
Your Retreat
Mediterranean Cooking Course - All Levels - Summer 2026
Mediterranean Cooking course
Enjoy a fantastic few days of learning to cook amazing Mediterranean dishes with Gulshen Ridout. Tuition is relaxed and fun and is designed for both beginners and those who want to add new dishes to their repertoire. Come to France and enjoy the pleasures of creative life in a traditional French village.
Hosted at Riverside Studio in Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare, you will learn how to create delicious dishes, with lots of tasting, as Gushen helps you hone your Mediterranean cooking skills.
Your retreat starts the night before with dinner at the L’Ortensia, a wonderful local restaurant recognised in the Michelin Guide for it's excellent cuisine. Its a chance to mingle and meet your fellow aspiring cooks . Then three days of cooking tuition in the barn and alfresco cooking around the village.
Each day begins with fresh croissants and coffee, followed by generous lunches. Evenings are unhurried, with time to sample local delicacies, enjoy a glass of wine at the village bar, and explore the charm of village life at your own pace.
Itinerary
Day One - Arrival 4/5pm (depending on flight)
Taxi pick up from Béziers Airport or Gare de Béziers (both by prior arrangement). We can organise a shuttle bus/taxi pick up from both locations and you will be driven to your accommodation in St Gervais-Sur-Mare which is about a 50-minute drive away.
Arriving by car - If you are driving there is plenty of parking adjacent to Riverside Studio in the village square. Most accommodation is just a short walk from the square.
Evening meet and greet 8pm
This is a chance to get to know your fellow cooks and studio host over an apéritif and a relaxed meal at the wonderful L’Ortensia restaurant, with its beautiful views over the village. Your meal and apéritif are, of course, included in the price, and as the evening unfolds we hope you’ll begin to unwind, mingle, and perhaps enjoy a chilled glass of rosé on the terrace.
It’s also an opportunity to ask any questions you may have before we begin in earnest the following day.
Day two and three
9.30am
Croissants and coffee at Riverside studio where your tutor will discuss the programme and answer any questions.
10am
Morning lessons with informal guidance.
Initial morning sessions are especially supportive for those new to cooking Mediterranean dishes, while more confident cooks
12 Noon
Buffet lunch (or picnic if we are on an excursion) Eating our newly created dishes
1pm
Afternoon dishes and an alfresco cooking session in and around the village or an excursion to either a nearby vineyard , local ruin or place of interest to taste suitable wines.
3.30pm
Review of the day, relaxed discussion about accomplishments, queries and plans for the next day.
4pm
Free time to relax, have drinks in the friendly village bar or explore the area with new friends.
Day three at 4pm - Light hearted prize giving/questions answered/ and fond farewells.
Departures
If you are not driving and need a shuttle bus/taxi pick up to take you to Bezier Airport or to Bezier train station 'Gare de Bezier' we can arrange this for you by prior arrangement.
Information sheet Retreat details will be sent to you in advance of your trip in an informative information sheet to answer all of your questions and there is also a 'Whats included' and 'Additional information' sheet detailed below.
About Your Tutor
Gulshen Ridout
Gulshen Ridout cooks with the quiet confidence of someone who has carried these flavours all her life. Raised in Istanbul, she learned her craft in her mother’s kitchen, where food was an expression of love, patience, and heritage. Those early lessons shape everything she cooks today — generous Mediterranean dishes built on olive oil, yoghurt, herbs, slow-cooked vegetables, and carefully spiced meats, all prepared with instinct rather than rules.
Now dividing her time between Turkey and the UK, Gulshen brings an ease and openness to her teaching that makes traditional Mediterranean cooking feel both authentic and approachable. She speaks perfect English and teaches with clarity, warmth, and humour.
You’ll learn not just recipes, but how to taste, adjust, and cook with confidence, understanding the balance and generosity at the heart of this cuisine
Course Content
This cooking retreat is centred on pleasure and connection: taking time to slow down, cook with intention, and enjoy the rhythms of the day, with gentle guidance and encouragement from an experienced cook and teacher.
Riverside Studio is set beside a river in the historic village of Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare. The surroundings offer constant inspiration, from medieval buildings and ancient bridges to a small hilltop castle, lush greenery, open pastures, and expansive mountain views — a landscape that naturally invites good food, shared tables, and unhurried meals.
Working at a relaxed pace, participants are encouraged to explore ingredients and techniques freely, respond to the seasons and setting, and enjoy the process of cooking in a supportive, informal, and welcoming atmosphere.
Additional information
Flights
From the UK , Ryanair has regular flights to Bezier from Stansted and Luton, as well as Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester. Bezier is the closest airport to Riverside Studio and about 50 minutes away.
There are also regular EasyJet and British Airways flights to Montpellier which is about 1hr 20 minutes from Riverside Studio with direct trains to Bezier.
Both airports are served by regular flights from other numerous European destinations.
Airport/train station transport (By arrangement)
Riverside Studio can arrange for a group pick up from Bezier Airport. Pick ups will usually be late afternoon (depending on flight time) followed by a second en-route pick up at Bezier's main train station.
If you are arriving on an earlier flight you can either wait to be picked up at Bezier airport or take the red shuttle bus into Bezier town centre (about 25 minute) where you can see the sights before your taxi will collect you from the main station.
We will then drive you to your hotel/guest house or Airbnb in St Gervais Sur Mare. Where you can change/freshen-up in plenty of time for the meet and greet dinner at the H'Ortensia Restaurant.
A return shuttle/taxi to Bezier can also be arranged on the final day of your retreat (late afternoon) again making a drop off at the airport and train station.
Accommodation
There is a wide range of accommodation available within the village, from the elegant Hôtel L’Ortensia to equally charming guest houses, apartments, Airbnbs and chambres d’hôtes. Accommodation is booked and paid for directly with the provider, either on arrival or in accordance with their own terms and conditions. A list of trusted providers can be found at the top of this web page.
Non-cooking Guests
We welcome non-painting guests if you wish to bring a friend/partner. They can join course lunches/meals by prior arrangement and pre-payment.
studio, including watercolours, acrylic paints, brushes and paper.
Meals
Food and wine is exceptionally good in the South of France and our lovely little village is no exception. From fresh Croissants in the local patisserie to rich red tomatoes picked from smallholdings along the river, everything smells and tastes divine.
Breakfasts (included)
Riverside Studio daily breakfast includes – croissants coffee, and preserves which is available all morning.
Lunches (included)
Riverside Studio daily buffet lunch includes hearty mouth-watering dishes. Some days we will lunch on the village square and play boule and other days we may have a picnic outside in a local vineyard. But rest assured you will have plenty of time to relax and chat with new friends.
Aperitif and Dinner
Meet and great dinner at the L’Ortensia, a local restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide and recognised for its excellent cuisine.
Other dinners are at guests own expense, and you can choose from a variety of dishes at the local bar/bistro and pizzeria as well as produce from a fabulous patisserie and boulangerie. There are also many restaurants just a short drive or taxi journey away in neighbouring villages - Lamalou-Le-Baines or Bedarieux
Cancellations and Refunds
Your reservation is fully refundable if cancelled at least six weeks before the start of the retreat. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer refunds for cancellations made within six weeks of the course start date.
Have Questions
We are happy to help you with any questions you have or to plan your visit. Please get in touch with us.