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Since I am interested in cooking, I was fascinated to learn from New York Magazine, that beloved guide to what is In on the Upper West Side (I live there myself), that there will be two new cooking schools in France to teach people the higher French cooking. Simone Beck (known as Simca), who, with Julia Child, taught us how to Master the Art of French Cooking, will be headmistress at both. This is what the schools offer, and I quote: “. . . precious and limited space in the new pastoral academy of cooking founded by Simone Beck. From one to four students live and cook in their own private villa on the flowered slope Simca shares with co-author Julia Child— each in her own provincial cottage, each with her own charming, indulgent mate—between Cannes and Grasse.

If a cruel fate prevents a would-be student from taking advantage of this splendid offer in France, there is still hope. I quote again. “Simca will be teaching in California’s Napa Valley harvest time at a private estate, surrounded by vineyards, with a pool, a staff of servants, assistant chefs, and even … a resident hairdresser. Students (each session is limited to 12) will be driven in chauffeured limousines from winery tours to open-air lunches at private cellars and home again for afternoon classes and epicurean evenings—at a cost of $1,500 for the week.”

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Since I am interested in cooking, I was fascinated to learn from New York Magazine, that beloved guide to what is In on the Upper West Side (I live there myself), that there will be two new cooking schools in France to teach people the higher French cooking. Simone Beck (known as Simca), who, with Julia Child, taught us how to Master the Art of French Cooking, will be headmistress at both. This is what the schools offer, and I quote: “. . . precious and limited space in the new pastoral academy of cooking founded by Simone Beck. From one to four students live and cook in their own private villa on the flowered slope Simca shares with co-author Julia Child— each in her own provincial cottage, each with her own charming, indulgent mate—between Cannes and Grasse.

If a cruel fate prevents a would-be student from taking advantage of this splendid offer in France, there is still hope. I quote again. “Simca will be teaching in California’s Napa Valley harvest time at a private estate, surrounded by vineyards, with a pool, a staff of servants, assistant chefs, and even … a resident hairdresser. Students (each session is limited to 12) will be driven in chauffeured limousines from winery tours to open-air lunches at private cellars and home again for afternoon classes and epicurean evenings—at a cost of $1,500 for the week.”