Don’t miss the Santa Monica Farmers Market, held every Sunday, featuring over 80 local vendors offering artisanal jams, sourdough bread, and handcrafted macarons. Some stalls collaborate with The Gourmandise School to create limited-edition pastries using class-proven techniques.
Visit L.A. Kitchen, a community kitchen that offers free cooking classes focused on seasonal ingredients and zero-waste recipes. It’s an excellent opportunity to apply classroom skills while connecting with local chefs.
For evening dining, head to Third Street Promenade, where street food carts serve French-style crepes and crème brûlée—some even use recipes taught in The Gourmandise School, making it a true taste of learning in action.
Additionally, The Gourmandise School hosts a pop-up dessert stand monthly along the coastline, offering exclusive treats like sea salt chocolate tarts and lavender cream puffs, perfect as souvenirs.
These experiences extend your culinary education beyond the classroom, deepening your appreciation for French pastry traditions.