A Culinary Journey Into the Heart of Paris
This September 2025, immerse yourself in Paris's rich flavors, vibrant culture, and timeless beauty with an exclusive cooking retreat hosted by Side Door Travel. Since 2003, Mike Franz and Blake Kimzey have guided travelers through unforgettable international experiences. They now invite you to join them for a week dedicated to the art of French cuisine, set against the backdrop of one of the world's most enchanting cities.
Lodging at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche
Immerse yourself in the culinary delights of Paris during your 6-day, 5-night stay at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche, a 4-star haven in the heart of the city. Located just steps away from the lush Jardin du Luxembourg, this elegant hotel is perfectly situated for exploring the flavors of the Latin Quarter and beyond. After a day filled with cooking classes, food markets, and savoring the city's finest cuisine, relax in your beautifully appointed room, where comfort and style come together to offer a peaceful retreat.
Master French Cooking
In a special partnership with a local cooking school, we have meticulously crafted cooking classes to elevate your culinary skills and deepen your affection for French food.
Perfect for the curious and 'Epicurious,' our classes cater to all levels of experience. Whether you're drawn to French cuisine's sweeter or savory sides or wish to explore Paris's culinary delights firsthand, La Cuisine promises a collegial and immersive culinary experience among like-minded enthusiasts.
A Week of Culinary Exploration in Paris:
Exact schedule may change slightly between now and the trip. The final schedule will be sent to participants a few weeks before the trip.
Friday, September 13th: After settling into the luxurious Hotel Trianon Rive Gauche, kickstart your culinary journey with a meet-and-greet picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens, offering a tantalizing preview of the week ahead.
Saturday, September 14th: In the morning, dive into the secrets of French pastry and work from start to finish, developing and fine-tuning your techniques. Later, let Mike Franz lead you on a tour through our vibrant neighborhood, culminating in a group dinner at a celebrated local restaurant.
Sunday, September 15th: Venture into a bustling open-air market for a unique shopping experience. Follow it with a cooking class using your finds with a hands-on class, with the opportunity to learn knife skills, produce pairings, and put these into practice with a mélange of modern and traditional French recipes. End the day with dinner and a classical concert at Sainte Chapelle.
Monday, September 16th: Perfect your macaron-making skills and learn two different meringue methods for making classic French macarons from start to finish. You will also learn to make four classic garnishes – and, of course, have your box of macarons to enjoy afterward.
End the day with a scenic boat ride, sommelier-selected wine, and hand-picked cheese from Mike’s favorite Parisian cheesemonger. After the boat ride, we’ll enjoy another memorable group dinner.
Tuesday, September 17th: Discover the Tuilleries Gardens, savor lunch in the park, and embark on a guided tour of the Marais, ending with a hands-on cooking class creating a Traditional 4-course French meal.
Friday, September 18th: Depart at noon with newfound culinary skills, friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Why Our Culinary Retreat Stands Out
Opting for Side Door Travel's cooking retreat means embarking on an experience designed to inspire, educate, and delight. You'll unlock the essence of French cuisine and Parisian life through intimate cooking workshops, guided tours of Paris's most magical districts, and luxurious accommodations.
Limited Spaces for an Exclusive Journey
We're offering limited spots for this unique culinary journey. Secure your place now for an adventure that will transform the way you cook, taste, and experience food.
Join us this September for a culinary journey that's as enriching as it is delectable. Bon Voyage!
About Your Trip Leaders
Mike Franz and Blake Kimzey, friends for over two decades, first crossed paths while working as bicycle tour guides at Fat Tire Tours in Paris in 2004. Their shared passion for French culture and dedication to creating unique travel experiences laid the foundation for Side Door Travel.
Trip Leader Mike Franz
As Co-Founder & Operations Director of Side Door Travel, Mike Franz brings a wealth of experience to the retreat. Having served as the General Manager and Tour Guide at Fat Tire Bike Tours in Paris for seven years, Mike's tours have been highlighted on Rick Steves-Paris, The Independent-UK, and the television show 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. While in Paris, Mike lived in the 2nd, 6th and 15th arrondissements. After his tenure in Paris, Mike taught government, economics, and public speaking for ten years at Headwaters High School in Austin, Texas, where he was honored with a teacher-of-the-year award after just his first year. His profound understanding of Parisian culture and history and his educational background ensure a rich and insightful travel experience.
Trip Leader Blake Kimzey
As Co-Founder & Executive Director of Side Door Travel, Blake Kimzey embodies Paris's creative spirit, having lived in the 15th, 18th, and 14th arrondissements. His early days as a bicycle tour guide in Paris deeply influenced his creative path, leading him to found WritingWorkshops.com and earn an MFA from UC Irvine. A celebrated author, Blake's fiction has graced the pages and airwaves of NPR, Tin House, McSweeney’s, VICE, and many more, with his collection Families Among Us published by Black Lawrence Press. Blake is involved in bringing the heroics of Polish underground figure Jan Karski to the silver screen, with a dramatic WWII movie set for production in 2024. His deep connection to storytelling and the Parisian landscape enriches the narrative of every Side Door Travel experience.
About Your Program Support Staff
Remote Support: Crystal Franz
Crystal Franz brings a spirit of lighthearted positivity and curiosity to every travel adventure. With an MFA in theatre directing from Texas State University, Crystal's directorial work has been celebrated across various productions, earning accolades in Austin's Frontera Fringe Festival. Her commitment to education spans from teaching at Texas State University and Headwaters School to studying at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. Crystal’s passion for artistic living, education, and connection adds a unique dimension to Side Door Travel, encouraging guests to embrace creativity in every aspect of their lives.
Remote Support: Danielle Kimzey
Danielle Kimzey, with her MFA in Painting from the University of Iowa and a recipient of the Mildred Lynch Pelzer Fellowship, enriches the retreat in a remote support role with her international acclaim as an artist. Represented by Galleri Urbane in Dallas, her work has graced galleries from New York to Paris, reflecting her vibrant and explorative approach to art. Danielle's experiences as a bicycle and Segway tour guide in Nice and Paris, coupled with her extensive teaching background—from art appreciation and painting at Dallas College to design at Texas Christian University—offer retreat attendees an inspiring glimpse into the fusion of art, culture, and education. Her dedication to art and teaching and her work appearing in prestigious publications and projects, including architecting a 30-foot-tall Living Wall installation in West Palm Beach, showcases the profound impact art can have on community spaces and individual lives.
How late can I sign up?
You can sign up for this retreat until all spots are full. Once the retreat is full, enrollment will be closed. You can join our waitlist or be notified when the trip is back on the schedule by entering your contact info under the "Sold Out" button at the top of this retreat web page.
If I want to attend the retreat with a friend, spouse, or partner and we share a room, can we get a discount?
Yes, if you attend with a friend, spouse, or partner and share a room we can give you a discount on the price. Inquire with Mike@SideDoorTravel.com for details.
Are Payment Plans Available?
You can opt for a payment plan divided into equal monthly payments by selecting Affirm or Shop Pay at checkout.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Given the intimate nature of our destination retreats and our own non-refundable deposit schedule as organizers, our refund policy is as follows:
90+ days before your trip, tuition payment minus a $900 deposit is fully refundable.
60+ days before your trip: 50% of your tuition is refundable.
30+ days before your: 25% of your tuition is refundable.
Less than 30 days before your trip: no refunds can be offered.
Are Scholarships Available?
Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to offer scholarships for this retreat. However, we do have payment plans available at checkout.
I have a question not answered here.
Please contact us and we’ll reply promptly. You can call us at 888-688-5411, chat with us (lower left of your screen), or send an email to Mike@SideDoorTravel.com.
Terms & Conditions
Side Door Travel is dedicated to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants during our retreats. These events are not places for behavior that is inappropriate, off-topic, disruptive, abusive, or illegal. Inappropriate behavior includes any conduct that undermines the integrity of the retreat, such as written, verbal, or physical abuse or threats; the use of derogatory or discriminatory language, gestures, or actions; any form of harassment, racism, sexism; or any other targeted comments that may violate local, state, federal, or international laws or cause harm to another participant. This applies before, during, and after the retreat, whether in person at the retreat location, at associated events, through the Side Door Travel website or social media channels, during any online components, or through any other method of communication.
Side Door Travel reserves the right, at its discretion, to take appropriate action against any individual(s) or group(s) that do not meet the standards set forth in this Code of Conduct, including, without limitation, revoking admission without refund. During in-person sessions, we expect all attendees to adhere to public health guidelines relevant to safety, hygiene, and any identified pandemic-level communicable illnesses (including COVID-19), such as social distancing, handwashing, staying home if feeling unwell, and other disease prevention measures. If you observe or experience a violation of this Code of Conduct, please contact Side Door Travel. We are committed to assessing the situation and responding promptly. Notifying Side Door Travel does not substitute for notifying local law enforcement of suspected legal violations. All such suspicions should be reported to local authorities. For emergencies, dial the local emergency number immediately. Non-emergency local law enforcement contact details will be provided in the retreat materials. By registering for the retreat, participants agree to abide by these terms and contribute to a welcoming and productive environment for all.
By participating in a Side Door Travel retreat, you waive all rights to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any use, exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsorship, and irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by Side Door Travel or its designated agents. You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before participating in the retreat. By registering, you agree to these terms.
By paying your tuition to attend a Side Door Travel retreat, you acknowledge your participation in the event. You understand and agree that Side Door Travel, its organizers, affiliates, and agents (collectively, the "Organizers") are not responsible for any injuries, illnesses, damages, theft, or loss of life that may occur during the retreat or related activities. You recognize that participation involves certain risks and engage in these activities voluntarily and at your own risk. You hereby release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue the Organizers from any and all claims, demands, liabilities, rights, or causes of action arising from or related to any injuries, death, or damages, both physical and emotional, that may occur during or as a result of your participation. You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before participating in the retreat. By paying your tuition, you explicitly agree to these terms. For more information or inquiries, please contact Side Door Travel.
Privacy Policy
We will never sell or rent your mailing address, email address, or any other data that can personally identify you in any way to an outside group.
