toulouse with KAITLIN GUERIN
BAKING RETREAT IN
of lagniappe bakehouse in New orleans, LA
SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 1, 2026
a baking retreat straight from new orleans! join baker kaitlin guerin for a french pastry intensive in the south of france
SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 1, 2026
7 Days, 6 nights
From $5,200 USD
Owner and founder of Lagniappe Bakery, Kaitlin Guerin, is coming to France to share her pastry secrets! You’ll make croissants, learn the fundamentals of making an absolute show-stopper for your next dinner party, and you may even walk away with the chops to make next year’s Frangipane King Cake. We’ll stay at the ever-so-charming Château de Labusquière outside of Toulouse, our favorite city in France. We’ll bake, we’ll dance, we’ll get deep into conversations late into the night…and, of course, we’ll bring a little New Orleans party magic back to its roots in France!
What will you do?
After a first night stay in the 4-star Grand Hôtel de l’Opéra in the heart of Toulouse, our drivers will whisk you away to the Château de Labusquière, the beating heart of Southwest France.
Kaitlin Guerin will greet you along with our cheerful Reverie team, ready to show you the BEST time. Throughout the week, you will have three pastry workshops with Kaitlin that will leave you more confident when it comes to putting dessert on the table and wowing your guests.
We’ll have leisurely lunches at the château, afternoons by the pool, and in the evening we’ll gather again for cocktail hour before heading into the BEST restaurant in the world - the Rêverie dinner table - led by Chef Paul Albert. Expect incredibly thoughtful, sustainably prepared menus that highlight the flavors and products of the region. Kaitlin will, of course, surprise you with some treats of her own!
When you're not busy in workshops or unwinding at our lovely château, you’ll have the chance to explore the captivating surroundings. We’ll visit a traditional French open-air market in Samatan to source fresh local ingredients, meander through the scenic streets of Toulouse, known as "La Ville Rose,” and we’ll enjoy plenty of good times together. Let’s just say we like to dance whenever possible!
Prepare for a truly beautiful week! Put on your Rose-colored glasses and come party with us!
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While we hope everyone will participate, all experiences are optional! Please feel free to take time for yourself whenever you like.
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Rêverie has curated an exciting lineup of activities and experiences that showcase the very essence of each region, infused with our own expertise. We’re all about turning the ordinary into extraordinary, bringing joy and adventure to your journey through food. Get ready for delightful surprises that will tantalize your taste buds and ignite your sense of wanderlust. Join us for an unforgettable exploration filled with laughs, learning, and, of course, delicious bites!
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Eating and drinking are communal! You’ll have the opportunity to cook food, taste wines and learn from experienced teachers. We can’t wait to welcome you for our workshops! Outside of workshops, please feel free to join us in the kitchen at anytime. You’re invited to our weeklong dinner party, and we’re happy to have you in to learn alongside our team of chefs or simply jump in on the action.
your guest host
kaitlin guerin
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Get to know:
kaitlin guerin
Kaitlin Guerin is a New Orleans-based Pastry Chef and Baker with an artistic dance background and an affinity for creativity and science. After attending the pastry program at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and working in Michelin-star kitchens in Denmark and California, Guerin returned home to New Orleans just before the pandemic to ground herself and be closer to family.
She began her pastry pop-up, Lagniappe Baking, during the pandemic, selling exquisite yet nostalgic pastry boxes that celebrate and reconnect the Black foodways of the South through local, seasonal ingredients. This concept has followed her through the opening of Lagniappe Bakehouse, the Central City bakery and cafe that she and her husband and business partner, Lino Asana, opened in September 2024. Lagniappe is a term used in Louisiana to mean “a little something extra.”
Guerin is a 2025 James Beard Award finalist for Emerging Chef and a 2022 StarChefs Rising Stars Pastry Chef award recipient. She is a recent alum of the JBF Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program, MAD Academy, and a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier New Orleans chapter.
Since opening, the Bakehouse has received Eater New Orleans’ 2024 “Best New Bakery” award, was featured in Vogue and Condé Nast Traveler, and was listed in New York Times’ 2024 “Best Bakeries Across the US Right Now.”
YOUR ITINERARY
*Please kindly note that this itinerary is subject to change
DAY ONE
FRIDAY 9.25.26
Welcome to France! As you step into the vibrant city of Toulouse, the warmth of the sun embraces you, and the air is rich with the aroma of local cuisine. From the airport, you’ll begin your week with a stay at a 4-star hotel in the center of the city where you can rest up from your travels and explore the city if you wish! Your stay at the Grand Hotel de l'Opéra promises a blend of modern comfort and historic charm, perfectly situated to explore the city’s culinary treasures. After unpacking, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore the city on your own. Dinner on your first night is not included, but we’ll have plenty of suggestions of where to eat (or how to order in if you’re jetlag sleepy!), all while soaking in the lively atmosphere that Toulouse is known for. Your culinary adventure is just beginning!
DAY two
SATURDAY 9.26.26
After enjoying a French breakfast at the Hotel, our drivers will escort you to your dream home for the week - the Château de Labusquière. Kaitlin and our team will greet you and usher you to your rooms, and then the fun begins! Picture yourself enjoying a delicious lunch in the sun-drenched courtyard followed by a refreshing nap in your dreamy guestroom. Kaitlin will lead you in your first workshop in the afternoon - mixing croissant dough and an intro to her favorite ferments! Then we head to l’Apéro (the French cocktail hour!) and an unforgettable dinner in the grand dining hall. Each moment is sprinkled with joy and flavor, making this an unforgettable day of culinary exploration!
DAY three
SUNDAY 9.27.26
The Reverie team will start you off right with a tasty and generous breakfast spread, complete with homemade yogurts and breads by Chef Paul, fresh seasonal fruits, and French pastries galore. After breakfast, you’ll meet Kaitlin in the dining hall for workshop number two, where you’ll work on laminating your croissant dough and leading it into it’s final shape. Between folds, you’ll learn all about different pastry fillings like frangipane, pastry cream, and fresh fruit curds! After another incredible lunch, our chef, Paul Albert, has prepared a Fermentation 101 class to introduce you to the wonders of the good bacteria - Paul’s first love! The day will end with a guided natural wine tasting with our very own sommelier Esmé Curran followed by a splendid dinner prepared by our incredible chefs. Now that’s a good day!
DAY four
MONDAY 9.28.26
Monday means market day in this little corner of France, and after breakfast we’ll head down the street to the charming village of Samatan for their weekly countryside market. Here you’ll find all kinds of local goods, from farm-fresh fruits and veggies, local traditional breads and pastries, and cookware and clothing stands. After our shopping is done, we’ll head back to the château for lunch and a relaxing afternoon. The afternoon will be yours to rest or explore. Go for a walk, paint a postcard to send home to friends, or work on a puzzle with fellow guests to give your brain a break. And pourquoi pas with a little glass of wine? It’s vacation, y’all! As the sun sets, you’ll be ushered into the famous Reverie grill party, where our chefs shine over the fire and feed us to our heart’s delight! We’ll dance the night away together as friends - a night you’ll never forget.
DAY five
tuesday 9.29.26
Time to get back to the beautiful city of Toulouse for a day of exploring! After yet another fantastic breakfast and a slow morning in at the château, we’ll enjoy a fresh reviving lunch before heading into the city. In Toulouse, there is much to do! This is home to the Reverie team, and we’re so excited for you to get to know our favorite little city in France. We’ll give you a list of some of our favorite spots to hit for shopping and exploring, and the day will be yours! We’ll meet up in the evening at our favorite restaurant, Grave, for a family-style meal of Mediterranean inspired dishes accompanied by a list of natural wines to write home about. Then it’s back to our Château home for digestifs and a little after-party! Yes, indeed, we will laissez les bon temps rouler!
DAY six
wednesday 9.30.26
For our final day together at the Château de Labusquière, Kaitlin wants to show you everything about the simple yet delicious Gâteau Breton - a staple at her Lagniappe Bakehouse. This will be a simple morning workshop, leaving plenty of time to play. During your free time, you’ll have time to get packed and sip on tea and wine with your new group of lifelong friends. After an evening toast to an amazing week, we’ll have one last dinner together as we admire (and consume!) all that we’ve created!
DAY seven
thursday 10.01.26
After one final night at the Château de Labusquière, it’s time to say our adieux. You’ll enjoy breakfast, and then our chauffeurs will return to grab you and your bags to take you back to the airport in Toulouse, ready for new adventures and much, much more cake. Au revoir and see you next time!
WORKSHOPS
TIME TO PLAY!
Kaitlin is so excited to share with you a variety of recipes and techniques that will act as building blocks in your future pastry kitchen! First up - homemade croissants. You’ll learn how to make a yeasted croissant dough, and the following morning will be spent introducing all those buttery layers. She’ll guide you in a crash course for pastry fillings, including frangipane (which serves as the TASTY filling for her famous galette des rois), pastry cream, curd, and more. For your final workshop, Kaitlin will teach you all about how to perfect the Gâteau Breton, a simple shortcake that can be filled with just about anything and will leave its eaters begging for more. She’s a kind and patient teacher who can’t wait to be in the workshop zone with you!
WORKSHOPS
French butter croissants - making the dough, laminating technique, proper proofing and baking and getting alllll those layers
Pastry fillings - Frangipane, frest fruit curds, pastry cream, jam…the essential building blocks of pastry, and how to play around with them
Gâteau Breton - a shortbread cake, butter-filled and bursting with magic
* To preserve the shared culinary experience we strive to create, we’re happy to accommodate vegetarians, pescatarians, and allergies. However, we are unable to tailor meals for additional dietary preferences or restrictions. If you have specific questions about your needs, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to chat!
EXPLORE
Get ready for an adventure like no other! You’ll start the week in the vibrant city of Toulouse, home to many of our Reverie team members. The Grand Hôtel de l’Opéra, a long lived Toulouse classic, will be your resting place for night one before we whisk you away to the Château de Labusquière just 45 minutes out. On Monday, you’ll visit the traditional open-air countryside market in Samatan, a small town with a big, bustling morning market We’ll head back into the city halfway through the week to enjoy the end of summer sun before meeting up for dinner at our favorite local haunt, Grave - a natural wine bar with delicious food. You’ll have had a real taste of France before you leave, and we can’t wait to show you around!
OUTINGS
One night stay at the 4-star Grand Hotel de l’Opéra in Toulouse
Visit to the traditional open-air market in Samatan
Explore the beautiful city of Toulouse
Dinner at Grave Restaurant in Toulouse
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Everything! Well, everything except for your big ride across the ocean to the chateau’s nearest airport. But once you arrive, we got you.
Transfers to and from the Toulouse Blagnac airport.
One night stay at the 4-star Grand Hotel de l’Opéra in Toulouse with breakfast included
Please note that dinner on your first night is not included - you can eat dinner at the hotel restaurant, or we’re happy to help you choose a place to eat in the city!
All scheduled workshops and all associated materials
Recipes galore!
Chef-prepared meals at the château for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Dinner at Grave during your day out in Toulouse
All wine and beverages for the week
Private coach transportation while on retreat
All scheduled outings and events during our week
Château lodging, naturally
GETTING HERE
AIRPLANE
Several planes fly direct to Toulouse Blagnac airport (TLS) every day from Paris and other cities around Europe. We will arrange for an airport pickup on September 25th, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. for a transfer to your hotel. If you arrive before or after the scheduled pickup, the airport is a short 20-25 minute drive from the city and you can easily catch a taxi or an Uber to the Grand Hotel de l’Opéra. On October 1st, 2026 our drivers will come at 10:00 am and will drop you off at the airport at 11:00 am. All you have to do is get to Toulouse and we’ll take it from there!
*If you choose to leave earlier than the schedule departure on the last day, we would be happy to help you arrange for a private driver for an additional fee.
*Cost of airfare to the Toulouse Blagnac airport is not included in the cost of your reservation. Please let us know if we can offer any support or guidance with your travel plans - we’re happy to help!
CAR
If you’re the seasoned-traveler type and you’d enjoy having your own transportation, then please - rent a car in Paris and drive down! Have a stopover in the region of Dordogne for a foie gras tartine and make a pitstop for the wild view of the old cliffside city in Rocamadour. You could then keep your car for the week and choose your own destiny, or drop off at the Toulouse airport on the first day of the retreat and we’ll come grab you.
TRAIN
Trains are another option for those who feel comfortable traveling around on their own! Please note that if you take the train to the Toulouse Matabiau train station, you will need to take a taxi to the Tououse Blagnac airport (20 minute drive) for our scheduled pickup time.
Travel Reservation
If you would like guidance with booking your travel to France or to the Chateau, please reach out.
We are here to help make this part easy and smooth.
If you would like to extend your stay in France, we are delighted to partner with The French Travel, a locally owned and operated trip designer based in Paris. They are true experts who will help you perfectly plan your before and/or after Rêverie experience. Check them out for more info!
Our friends at Coucou French Classes offer some incredible online French language classes - whether you’re looking to brush up on your high school French or looking to learn a few phrases to feel more comfortable with travel, Coucou French Classes is the way! Check out their website for more information.