Your hostess

After studying French Literature in Paris in her late teens and running tented safari camps in the wilds of Tanzania in her early twenties, Petra returned to Ireland to train as a chef.

She worked as restaurant chef, private cook for glamorous people as well as freelance food-writer and food-photographer for many different publications. Food-editor of Irish Tatler for ten years, she launched SQ FOOD magazine which she wrote and edited for four years.

After finishing a BA in Fine Art she aspired to become an artist – painting and photography remain favourite pastimes.

In 2004 she moved to the South of France to restore a large, rambling old house near Narbonne which she ran as a B&B with a foodie and artistic edge. For 9 years she gave cookery and art courses from here, but as the B&B became busier and there was less time for her courses, so she sold up and moved east, towards Provence.

She has since settled in medieval Uzes where she runs Cooking School LE PISTOU from her little 16th century house in the historic centre of the town.

To find out more about our cooking courses, click on LE PISTOU