with Sophie from The Farming Chefs
with Sophie from The Farming Chefs
18-25 September 2026
Imagine spending a full week immersed in the tastes, scents, and quiet magic of rural France — cooking with the freshest local ingredients, learning timeless culinary techniques, and sharing long, laughter-filled meals in a historic French manor surrounded by rolling hills, orchards, and endless tranquillity.
This retreat is more than a holiday. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey into slow living, regenerative cooking, and the deep joy of preparing food together.
You’ll begin your days with a fresh baguettes and homemade jams or a something savoury at the manor, wander through bustling village markets selecting produce with your own hands, and join us in the kitchen for hands-on workshops where we craft beautiful meals from scratch — from vibrant seasonal dishes to rustic sourdough breads.
Throughout the week, you’ll meet local artisans, visit a cider farm that still presses apples the traditional way, and enjoy unforgettable dinners prepared by private chefs or discovered in charming village restaurants. Between workshops, you’ll have time to rest deeply: swim, nap, read, stroll the gardens, or indulge in a massage.
Reconnect you with food, nature, and yourself.
This week is curated for those who want to enjoy and celebrate life with an immersive food experience that will leave you a better cook, fulfilled an with stories for years to come.
Join us for a week you will never forget.
• All tuition fees, including hands-on cooking workshops, sourdough masterclass, regenerative kitchen techniques, and a nutrition & good-practice lecture
• 7 nights’ accommodation in a beautifully restored French countryside manor, featuring:
– Luxury bedding
– En-suite rooms
– Daily room service
– Mid-week linen and towel change
• All meals, including:
– Daily breakfast (catered or enjoyed with your own creations)
– Delicious lunches or meals created during the cooking workshops
– Gourmet evening dinners prepared by the manor’s private chef or cooked together during guided sessions
• A celebratory “family-style feast” workshop on the final evening, showcasing all the skills learned throughout the week
• Restaurant experiences, including lunch at a traditional Breton crêperie and dinner at La Table d’O with breathtaking views and local seasonal cuisine
• Local wine served with selected lunches and dinners
• Private group transfers to and from Rennes Airport on arrival and departure days
• Transport for all scheduled excursions, including market visits, farm tour, cider house visit, and restaurant outings
• Immersive culinary and cultural experiences, including:
– Visit to a vibrant French farmers’ market with ingredient shopping
– Farm tour with Emily Laura Price
– Cider tasting and production visit at Ciderie Le P’tit Fausset
• Sourdough bread workshop taught by The Farming Chefs
• Full access to the manor’s amenities, including gardens, lounge areas, and peaceful walking paths
• Free afternoons to relax, read, and connect
• Full-time staff on-site to support with service, setup, assistance during workshops, and a smooth, seamless retreat experience
Sophie de Jong is a chef, regenerative farmer, educator, and founder of The Farming Chefs, a culinary project dedicated to reconnecting people with real, sustainably grown food. After years working in professional kitchens, Sophie moved her practice onto the land, where she grows vegetables, herbs, and fruit regeneratively and teaches thousands of students online how to transform seasonal produce into deeply flavourful, nourishing meals.
Her work blends technical culinary expertise with an intuitive, soil-centered philosophy. Through workshops, courses, and international retreats, Sophie guides participants to cook with confidence, reduce waste, master from-scratch techniques, and rediscover the joy of simple, honest ingredients.
Sophie’s teaching style is clear, warm, and empowering—perfect for both beginners and passionate home cooks seeking to elevate their craft.
Securing your Spot
To secure your spot on the France Retreat, please click the Retreat Booking button below, complete the form, select your preferred room type, and after receiving the payment link, pay the non-refundable 30% deposit p.p.
Travel / Transfers
Group transfers are provided on arrival and departure days to and from Rennes Airport and Rennes station.
Arrival Pickup
The group pickup will take place at:
2:30pm from Rennes Airport
3:30pm from Rennes Train station
Departure Day
We will depart for Rennes Airport after breakfast at 9:30am.
The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, so you can expect to arrive at the airport around 11:00am.
Arriving Earlier?
If you’d like to arrive one or two days before the retreat, here are a few hotels we recommend in the area:
Manoir de Lan Kerellec
Price range: 3780,00 € through 7810,00 €
Imagine spending a full week immersed in the tastes, scents, and quiet magic of rural France — cooking with the freshest local ingredients, learning timeless culinary techniques, and sharing long, laughter-filled meals in a historic French manor surrounded by rolling hills, orchards, and endless tranquillity.
This retreat is more than a holiday. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey into slow living, regenerative cooking, and the deep joy of preparing food together.
| Retreat Bedrooms | The Signature Suites Retreat Bedrooms, The Heritage Rooms Retreat Bedrooms, The Garden Rooms Retreat Bedrooms |
|---|---|
| No. of Participants | 1 participant, 2 participants |
From 23 to 27 September, I attended a course called “Regenerative Preservation Techniques and Flavor Enhancers” with The Farming Chefs in Portugal.
It was a thorough and inspiring course.
Each day focused on one preservation technique, which we also applied in practice — everything was done on site:
Bread baking; preserving grain
Cheesemaking; preserving milk
Preserving vegetables and fruit
Final day: the responsible creation of flavor enhancers
Each course day, we followed the entire process from beginning to end.
The instructor (Sophie de Jong) is a true professional who clearly knows her craft. She is not only an excellent cook herself, but also highly skilled in conveying the teaching material.
Every evening we enjoyed a delicious meal, prepared and served by Filipe, Sophie’s partner and the other half of The Farming Chefs.
The course went far beyond simply providing a collection of recipes; it delved deeply into the background and principles of regenerative farming and cooking.
Sophie helped me understand the dilemma of today’s food industry (both production and the food supply chain).
The Western world currently succeeds in producing enough food for everyone. However, in order to make that food sufficiently shelf-stable for supermarkets, the industry is forced to process it in such a way that all “vital, restorative factors” are removed.
As a result, we may have an abundance of food — but essentially dead food.
The Farming Chefs do not pretend that they can overturn the entire system overnight, but they clearly demonstrate where each individual can make small changes.
In this way, everyone can — at least for themselves — produce and preserve healthy food and begin a new way of relating to and experiencing food.
We had an amazing five-day retreat! Sophie and Filipe radiate positive energy and are incredibly professional and passionate, both on the farm and in the kitchen. Their unique combination of skills made the retreat fun and enriching on every level.
The program was wonderfully varied, with a perfect balance between workshops, enjoying their delicious farm-to-table creations, inspiring information, outings, connection, and free time. We learned so much, especially about regenerative farming practices and soil health; real eye-openers that made us appreciate food and farming even more.
They are flexible and intuitive, easily adapting the program to the needs and energy of the group, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
The accommodation was fantastic too. We alternated between the farm and our nature-filled base, but the distance was easy and the change of scenery added to the experience. The place itself is stunning, surrounded by nature with plenty to enjoy during free hours: a swimming pool, sauna, river, tennis court, hiking trails right out the door, and more.
A truly unforgettable experience for anyone who loves real food, nature, and learning about the beauty and importance of regenerative farming.
Where is the retreat located?
Our France off-site retreats take place at Manoir Caché, a secluded manor set in the countryside of Brittany (Bretagne), France. The location offers peace, nature, and space — ideal for immersive learning, cooking, and reconnecting with food and land.
What is the address of the manor?
Manoir Caché
Bretagne, France
(Exact address and arrival instructions will be shared after booking.)
What is the weather like in Brittany?
Brittany has a mild, ocean-influenced climate. Days are generally fresh to warm, evenings can be cool, and weather can be changeable. We recommend layered clothing and waterproof shoes or a light rain jacket.
Will there be outdoor spaces available?
Yes. The manor is surrounded by gardens and countryside, with plenty of outdoor space for workshops, meals, and relaxation (weather permitting).
Are toiletries, a hairdryer, and linens provided?
Yes, rooms are fully equipped with bedding, towels, and basic toiletries. Hairdryers are available.
Is there parking available?
Yes, free parking is available on site for guests arriving by car.
Is laundry available during the retreat?
Limited laundry facilities may be available upon request at an extra charge.
What electrical voltage is used in France?
France uses 230V, with standard European two-pin plugs (Type C/E).
What is NOT included in the price?
Travel to and from the retreat location, personal insurance, and any drinks ordered outside of the mealtimes.
How do I make a booking?
Bookings are made via The Booking Form at the top of this page. After which we will get in touch and send you a payment link to finalise your booking. This will be done within 48 hours of submitting the form.
Is a deposit required?
Yes, a deposit of 350 euro p.p. is required to secure your place. Booking early is highly recommended, as spaces are limited. 50% will be charged as soon as the retreat is guaranteed. And the rest of the balance is due 8 weeks prior to the retreat.
When is the balance due?
A deposit of 350 euro p.p. is required to secure your place. Booking early is highly recommended, as spaces are limited. 50% will be charged as soon as the retreat is guaranteed. And the rest of the balance is due 8 weeks prior to the retreat.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering travel, health, and cancellations.
What is the cancellation policy?
All bookings are non-refundable or transferrable, whatever the reason, once the payments have been made. We will willingly provide you the any documentation you need to support you claim with your travel insurance.
The Farming Chefs reserve the right to cancel or re-schedule any retreat / holiday if the minimum number of participants for the event has not been met within 60 days of the date of arrival. We will endeavour not to cancel a holiday unless absolutely necessary or events occur beyond our control but we do reserve the right to do so.
If the tutor is unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances including, but not limited to, illness or accident we reserve the right to use another suitable tutor.
We strongly advise guests to buy refundable flight tickets. In the (unlikely) event that we cancel a retreat / holiday, please note that no refunds will be made on your flights or any related fees in case of cancellation by us or by you.
How do I get to Manoir Caché?
You can arrive to Rennes Airport or Rennes train station where there will be a group pickup and drop off on the day of arrival and departure. You can also rent a car and drive down from Paris. Or take a direct train to Rennes from Paris.
Is there a group pickup?
Yes, there is on the 18th of September at
2:30pm from Rennes Airport
3:30pm from Rennes Train station
What if I arrive outside the group pickup times?
You are welcome to arrange your own transport by rental car or taxi. We’ll provide guidance to make this as easy as possible. But the price of the retreat package remains the same.
What are check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is at 17:00 afternoon of the arrival day. Check-out takes place in the morning on departure day at 10:00.
Where can I stay if I arrive early or leave later?
We’re happy to recommend nearby hotels or guesthouses if you wish to arrive earlier or extend your stay. Arriving early or staying later at the manor will not be possible due to logistical reasons.
Are meals included?
Yes. All meals during the retreat are included, most prepared and shared as a group using seasonal, regeneratively sourced ingredients, catered by the in house chef or enjoyed in local restaurants.
What if I have dietary requirements?
We can accommodate most dietary needs. But not vegan diets. Please inform us of any allergies or restrictions in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Can non-participating partners join?
Depending on the retreat format, non-participating partners may be welcome to stay and enjoy the surroundings. Please contact us to discuss options.
What should I bring?
A detailed packing list will be sent before the retreat. This usually includes comfortable clothing, sturdy shoes, a notebook, and weather-appropriate layers.
Can I purchase products from The Farming Chefs during the retreat?
Yes, there may be opportunities to purchase branded aprons and recipe books. But they should be ordered in advance.
Can I ship items home?
In some cases, shipping may be possible. We recommend packing light or checking luggage limits in advance and leaving space in your luggage that will go inside the belly of the plane.
Do I need a visa to attend?
EU citizens do not need a visa. Non-EU guests should check French entry requirements for their country of residence.
What currency should I bring?
France uses the Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted, though having some cash is recommended.
Is it possible to rent a car?
Yes, car rental is available at major airports and train stations and can be a convenient way to explore the region after or before the retreat.
We lost so much.
Our pastures are destroyed, many of our old olive trees, the young orchards, the irrigation systems, our most important tools, water pumps, and power setup—either melted or destroyed.
Our food and hay stores, the fences, and many of the stable buildings are either damaged or lost entirely.
What took years to build was reduced to ash in a single afternoon.
Ready to Recharge and Enjoy Real Food in Nature?
Cook, connect, and grow in the heart of our regenerative farm.
Real food. Deep rest. Lifelong memories.
