French-inspired Cooking Classes - Skagit Valley School near Mount Vernon

The incredibly beautiful Skagit (pronounced “skaa jit”) valley is some of the most magical and productive land in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Having utilized the produce of this wonderful region for many years in her restaurants, Chef Sally McArthur is thrilled to be offering overnight immersion cooking classes in this most inspirational location for cooking schools-- the lush garden spots of the valley, La Conner Flats. The gardens are gorgeous and abundant, and so reminiscent of France.

You are invited to immerse yourself in these lovely gardens, meet local growers and artisans, and participate in an informative adventure in French cooking with local ingredients at one of Sally’s unique classes offered in July and August 2005.

Our classes are small; they are limited to a maximum of fourteen students. Classes are “hands-on,” completely participatory and taught by Sally.

Over the years of leading and teaching restaurant chefs, she has developed a unique teaching system that allows you to absorb all parts of a recipe--the history, philosophy, technique, timing & presentation.

The recipes Sally has chosen are based on the French provincial model showcasing products of the region at the heighth of seasonal perfection and in their most delicious preparations. You will be given the triple-tested recipes prior to class in an easy-to-use format.

We will harvest many of our ingredients from the La Conner Flats property and surrounding Skagit Valley farms near Mount Vernon; it will be a great adventure—and you might just start to believe you are in France!

Day 1 : (note: this is very general and subject to change)

11:15 am - We gather at the “Granary” at La Conner Flats. We discuss our adventure’s itinerary over a wonderful lunch of salade nicoise composee, made with freshly harvested local ingredients, going over cooking assignments. We tour the beautiful gardens and grounds, noting harvesting assignments for later.

1:00 - 4:00 pm - We hit it hard and create the perfect “mise en place” (preparations) for our dinner and tomorrow’s lunch.

4:30 - 5:30 pm - Take time to enjoy the gardens and just relax a bit.

5:30 pm - We’ll gather at the Sunken Garden for aperitifs, and petanque (boules). Joining us will be a local guest or two with lots to share about the products we are using in our cooking preparations. A local wine expert will also join us to enlighten us about our dinner wines.

6:30 - 7:30 pm - We finish our “mise en place” and put our fabulous dinner à table.

Assuming the typically perfect August weather cooperates, we will dine outdoors in the orchard, looking out on the idyllic country French gardens and century-old fruit trees.

Around 9pm - We head for the “Country Inn,” looking forward to another day of tastes, scents, vistas, and, of course, the pleasurable “work” of creating French-inspired cuisine.

Day 2

? - 9:00am - Enjoy a homemade continental breakfast at the Inn, then leisurely stroll the main street of La Conner, with its many shops and galleries--or get a bit more energetic in the well-equipped workout facility.

9:00 am - We gather at a local farm and meet the growers and see their products, and perhaps harvest ingredients for our superb al fresco lunch at La Conner Flats.

10:30 am - We hit it at the “Granary” to create the perfect lunch à la française.

1:30 pm - We relax over a lunch which is the result of our morning culinary efforts, along with delightful wines or champagne.

Around 2:00 pm - We bid adieu to new and old friends.

This 11-acre country French garden filled with rhododendrons, roses, heirloom orchards, herbs, a potager (vegetable garden) and spectacular allées and parks is the site for our cooking classes.

Bob and Margie Hart have created a magnificent setting. The charming “Granary in the Garden” houses our teaching kitchen with plenty of space for creating and learning. The ambience of the charming dining areas is soothing and memorable.

Christianson’s award-winning nursery and greenhouse (www.christiansonsnursery.com) is next door, where you will be enchanted no matter how deep your gardening desires run.

You will be staying at the lovely La Conner Country Inn or Lodge (www.laconnerlodging.com), located in the heart of the picturesque and warmly charming seaside town of La Conner, Washington--about 3 ½ miles from La Conner Flats.

The deluxe double occupancy rooms have a choice of bed arrangements; all have fireplaces and are extremely comfortable. The Country Inn is the perfect base from which to explore town.

A homemade continental breakfast is available from 7-10 and the accommodating staff will help you with any special arrangements.A fitness center is located across the street and golf is nearby (www.eaglemontgolf.com and www.avalonlinks.com).

To reach the La Conner Country Inn, drive via Interstate 5 north from Seattle (or from the SeaTac Airport). Take Conway Exit #221before you reach Mount Vernon, and head west through the lush countryside, following the signs to La Conner. Take Morris Street west to Second Street and turn left. If you are driving from the north, take the Burlington Exit #230, north of Mount Vernon, and follow the signs to La Conner. Take Morris Street west to Second Street and turn left. The Inn is located at 107 South Second Street in La Conner. Their phone number is 360.466.3101 and fax is 360.466.0199.

La Conner Flats and the Granary are located at 15920 Best Road, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273. From Seattle, Stay on Best Road, not taking the Chilberg turn-off to La Conner. It will be on your left. From the north, take Exit #230 (Highway 20) off Interstate 5 and drive 5 miles to Best Road. Turn left and drive south for two miles. The phone number is 360.466.3190.

To reserve space, send an email or call us.

E-mail address: sally@frenchchefsally.com

Telephone: 206.522.8678

Toll-free Telephone: 1.877.347.5180

We will hold your reservation without deposit for 10 business days. To continue to hold class space, we must receive a deposit of $150. Full payment must be received at least 60 days prior to the class starting date.

The fee is $495.00 U.S. and includes one overnight deluxe accommodation (double occupancy) at the La Conner Country Inn and all classes and materials. Single occupancy fee is an additional $125.

Fees also include:

Day one: lunch, aperitifs before dinner, and a spectacular dinner prepared by us accompanied by carefully selected wines.

Day two: continental breakfast at the Country Inn, and a delicious luncheon made with our freshly-harvested ingredients and accompanied by specially selected wines.

Classes are limited to a maximum of 14 persons.

Refund Policy…

Full refund for cancellation up to 90 days prior to program start. No refund within 90 days of program start.

In the event that france through the kitchen door must cancel a program for any reason, all fees, including deposits, will be returned in full. The costs of any travel arrangement you may have made will not be reimbursed.

What kind of clothing and footwear should I bring? Bring comfortable shoes for all of the immersion experiences: walking gardens, working in the kitchen, harvesting. We’re active. Clothing should be casual and comfortable. Layered clothing is good, and a light rain jacket could be useful.

What will the weather be like? Temperatures in July and August average about 63 degrees F, but could range from the 80’s during the day to the 50’s during the evening and night. Of course, it could be cooler or warmer! Rain, although not common at these times, is always a possibility.

Do I need insurance? Depending on the distance you are traveling, you may want to purchase traveler’s insurance to protect you in case of cancellation of your travel or program, or for any medical service you might need.

What is not included? We do not include personal incidentals such as laundry and dry cleaning, phone calls.

Are there books, materials, or equipment I should bring with me? We will provide you with aprons, recipes and all the cooking equipment you will need.

What materials can I expect to take home with me?You will be given a syllabus including all of our recipes of the week.

Am I allowed to videotape or photograph our cooking classes and field trips? Yes, for your personal use only.

Are special accommodations available for those who need them? Yes, please feel free to discuss anything we can do to make your stay be as accommodating as possible.

May my friends and I arrange for our own cooking session, including participating in recipe selection? Yes. Please put your ideas in an email (sally@frenchchefsally.com) or phone call (206 522-8678) to Sally.

Can you recommended related websites that might help me get the most out of my trip? For the town of La Conner, www.laconnerchamber.com. For the Skagit Valley in general, www.skagitpages.com. Www.skagitonians.org, is the website of an important group working to preserve the agricultural character of the valley, and www.christiansonsnursery.com is the website of the nursery adjoining La Conner Flats and the Granary. Check out http://www.ci.mount-vernon.wa.us for information on the nearby farming town of Mount Vernon.

Other interesting sites include www.laconnerartworkshops.com for art workshops, www.tulipfestival.org (although the festival is in April), and www.eaglemontgolf.com and www.avalonlinks.com for nearby golf courses.

May I email you if I think of other questions? Of course. Email Sally at sally@frenchchefsally.com.

What activities are available for my “non-cooking” spouse/partner? The answer depends on the partner’s interest. There is biking, fishing, and golfing. La Conner has a historic waterfront, many wonderful art galleries, outdoor art sculptures, unique shops and three wonderful museums: the Museum of Northwest Art, the Skagit County Historical Museum and the La Conner Quilt Museum. Check out the websites listed above.

May my “non-cooking” spouse/partner come to meals with the group? Absolutely. The price for the non-participating person includes the meals and excursions, but is slightly reduced since the cooking classes are not included.