Patisserie in Paris with The Vintage Chef, Olivia Potts | A four-night holiday | 12 April 2027

Join Olivia Potts, The Spectator’s Vintage Chef for five delicious days in Paris in Springtime. A former barrister who retrained in pâtisserie and later wrote an entire book in praise of butter, Olivia is unusually well qualified to judge a croissant: not merely by its lacquered exterior, but by the shattering layers beneath. In her company, we shall explore the pleasures and peculiarities of Parisian food — from grand pâtisseries and serious chocolate shops to cheese, wine and the enduring theatre of the brasserie. The programme combines expert-led walks, private tastings and a practical pastry class with time to enjoy the city at a civilised pace. Highlights include a Le Cordon Bleu patisserie demonstration, a visit to the gloriously restored Notre-Dame, art, gardens – and whipped cream – at the Château de Chantilly, plenty of 'vin et fromage', and a suitably splendid farewell dinner.

12 - 16 April | £3,359 | Single supplement £698

The Itinerary:

DAY 1 We meet at London St Pancras and travel by Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord. On arrival, a private coach will take us to the centrally located Hotel Bedford, where there will be time to settle in before an introductory talk from Olivia. She will set the scene for the days ahead: the rituals of the Parisian table, the difference between a good croissant and a merely photogenic one, and why butter is best treated as a food group rather than an ingredient. This evening, we dine together in one of Paris’s great brasseries. Mirrored walls, brisk waiters and a menu of uncompromising classics provide an elegant Parisian opening to the tour.

DAY 2 After breakfast, we explore the Marais on a culinary walking tour, calling at a carefully chosen succession of pâtisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers. Between tastings, Olivia will discuss the craft behind viennoiserie, ganache and the modern French entremets, while our local guide brings to life the quarter’s cafés, churches and literary associations. We shall then cross the Seine to the Île de la Cité for a guided visit to Notre-Dame, reopened to visitors following its restoration. We end the afternoon with a private tasting at a specialist fromagerie, comparing regional cheeses and learning how affineurs coax flavour from milk, mould and time.

DAY 3 We leave Paris after breakfast for the Château de Chantilly, one of France’s most beguiling country estates. A guided visit introduces the Musée Condé, its old-master paintings and celebrated library, before time to admire the formal gardens. Chantilly is, of course, inseparable from whipped cream; Olivia will consider its history and the rather more important question of how much is too much. Following lunch we return to Paris for a wine tasting in the splendid Galerie Vivienne.

DAY 4 This morning is devoted to a private pastry workshop led by chefs from the famous cookery school Le Cordon Bleu. A chef will demonstrate the precision behind a Parisian classic before guests get to work at their own stations. Olivia will add her own observations on lamination, meringue and the gulf between a recipe that behaves on paper and one that behaves in a kitchen. There will be some free time during which you may wish to visit one of the city's latest exhibitions before an early-evening drink. Our farewell dinner will be held in one of Paris’s most memorable dining rooms.

DAY 5 Our final morning is devoted to the Parisian pantry. At Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet, Olivia leads an informal tour through counters devoted to chocolate, preserves, charcuterie, cheese and all manner of edible souvenirs. There will be time for independent shopping, followed by a light farewell lunch nearby.

‍

Prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room.

Eurostar: Depart London St Pancras 09:31, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 12:59

Depart Paris Gare du Nord 15:02, arrive London St Pancras 16:30

Rail times subject to change. Regional flights available on request.

‍

What's included

•Return rail in Eurostar Plus (first class seating)

•Private transfers to and from the hotel

•Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast

•Two lunches, two dinners, and several tastings as described

•A 72 hour Paris Museum Pass

•The services of Olivia Potts & a Kirker Tour Manager

Speak to an expert on 020 7593 2284 or email lucy www.kirkerholidays.com

‍