Basic Cuisine Certificate

Basic Cuisine is an intensive, hands-on course over 7 weeks for mastering classic French cooking techniques. Students will learn how to use and integrate condiments, herbs, and spices which complement the dishes they prepare. This course provides a solid grounding in basic cuisine techniques and is designed for beginners and experienced cooks alike.

Objectives

Master basic cuisine preparations and cooking techniques via lectures, demonstrations and practical cooking sessions, including:



• Knife skills
• Classical vegetable cuts
• Fish filleting skills
• Elementary butchery skills
• Basic stocks and derivatives
• Elementary sauces and emulsions
• Basic doughs (e.g. pasta, pastry)
• Plating presentation
• Basic plated desserts
• Elementary methods of cooking e.g. braising, pan-frying, boiling, deep-frying, roasting, and steaming
• French culinary terms
• Health, safety and hygiene regulations
• Kitchen organization
  

Schedule

• 7 weeks, with 30 - 40 hours per week
• Including ingredients, uniforms, knife kit and learning materials
• Beginning June 27, 2025; January 9, 2026 or July 3, 2026

Examination

• To pass the course, one must successfully complete both a theory and a practical exam

Sabbaticals.com Thoughts

• Though no prior experience is necessary, given the pace of learning, some basic understanding of cooking techniques would be helpful
• Surprisingly, there are many enthusiasts in these courses, who have a passion for cooking but do not intend to make it a profession
• The final exam does require studying, which may take up some evenings and weekends to ensure passing

Short Courses

If 7 weeks feels too long, another option is to take a range of short courses during your sabbatical.

Courses range from intensive 3-week programs (e.g. Summer Essentials) to multi-day and 1/2 day courses. With a full and constantly changing roster, there is sure to be something for every passionate chef. Please find examples below, including course duration and Le Cordon Bleu tuition fees. A link is also provided to Le Cordon Bleu for more details.

Summer Essentials (3 weeks, £4,999)

• In this intensive course, you will be trained in a mix of key techniques and recipes based around the traditional teaching methods of Le Cordon Bleu as well as classic and modern interpretation
• This course is designed for home cooks and food enthusiasts who want to learn practical cookery skills including knife skills and gain confidence in the kitchen
• Beginning July 7th, 2025

Other Examples

• Cuisine Techniques (4 days, £805)
• Patisserie Techniques (4 days, £695)
• Tastes of Asia (4 days, £755)
• Artisan French Baking (2 days, £329)
• Boulangerie Techniques (2 days, £390)
• Mediterranean Cooking (1 day, £265)
• Italian Cuisine: Campania (1 day, £258)
• Lebanese Cuisine (1 day, £280)
• Making Beef Wellington (1 day, £267)
• Cooking Sous Vide (1 day, £255)

Sabbaticals.com Thoughts

• Short courses are less intensive and less demanding (no examinations)
• What's more, given the broad range of courses offered, they offer flexibility in choosing what cooking to study
• Another possibility is to combine Cooking short courses with Wine qualifications during the same sabbatical (for a killer combo!)