A Weekend with Chef LD
Food. Music. Stories. Connection.
September 11th – 14th 2026
A Weekend with Chef LD
Food. Music. Stories. Connection.September 11th – 14th 2026
Not your usual culinary weekend.
A Weekend with LD is a unique gathering where food, music, stories and connection come together. Rooted in the belief that good food brings people together, this immersive experience is about far more than what’s on the plate. It’s about shared tables, unforgettable conversations, and the moments that happen when people connect through food and culture.
Over the course of the weekend, LD invites guests into her world, blending exceptional plant-based dining with personal stories from years spent touring the world as bass player for Turbowolf. Through carefully curated playlists, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and tales from life on the road, guests will experience a culinary journey inspired by the places, people and experiences that shaped her.
Expect indulgence. Expect laughter. Expect a little trademark debauchery. Most of all, expect a weekend unlike any other.
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What’s included in our vegan culinary weekend:
3 nights full-board stay in luxury accommodation with full use of gardens & swimming pool
Signature dining experience drawing inspiration from LD's years touring across the United States with Turbowolf
Southern style indulgent brunch inspired by USA Southern comfort food
Cajun Seafood Boil, inspired by the legendary seafood boils of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast
Faux meat masterclass
Cookout experience with a demonstration in smoking and BBQ techniques
A talk on the art of veganising anything, tips, tricks and techniques for creating incredible plant-based food at home
Surprise vegan bites, canapés, and treats throughout the weekend
Weekend itinerary
Day 1
Arrival, welcome drinks, and dinner – The weekend begins with an informal evening designed to bring everyone together. Settle in, meet your fellow guests, enjoy drinks and delicious bites, and immerse yourself in the soundtrack of the weekend with playlists curated by Chef LD. It’s the perfect introduction to a weekend built around community, conversation, and shared experiences.
Settle down to a menu to die for – that nothing had to die for. LD’s signature dining experience of the weekend draws inspiration from LD’s years touring across the United States with Turbowolf. Reimagined through a contemporary plant-based lens, this three-course menu celebrates the flavours, memories, and moments collected along the way.
Each course is accompanied by stories from the road, with LD sharing the adventures, mishaps, friendships, and unforgettable experiences that inspired the dishes before you. From backstage encounters and late-night diners to life in tour vans and music venues, every plate tells a story.
Day 2
Brunch – Saturday begins the only way it should, with a seriously indulgent brunch.
Inspired by classic Southern comfort food and reimagined through LD’s plant-based lens, this feast combines bold flavours, hearty dishes and a few signature twists. Gather around the table, swap stories from the night before, and settle into a day dedicated to good food, great company, and plenty of inspiration.
Faux Meat Masterclass – After brunch, you will learn the secret to how truly great plant-based meats are made.
In this hands-on masterclass, Chef LD shares the techniques behind creating her signature faux meats from scratch.
Dinner – Smoke, Fire & Soul Food
As the day unfolds, the focus shifts outdoors for an immersive demonstration in smoking and barbecue techniques.
Drawing inspiration from her American family heritage, treasured family recipes and years spent touring across the United States, LD will demonstrate how to smoke and prepare her signature plant-based meats, transforming them into a feast packed with flavour and soul.
Guests are invited to gather around for a relaxed, community-led cookout experience where food becomes the centrepiece for conversation, connection and celebration. Expect generous platters, smoky flavours, Southern hospitality and family-style dining at its finest.
This is plant-based food for the soul, comforting, nostalgic, and designed to be shared.
Day 3
Breakfast cooked by Jen & Nick from La Cour de Husson – homemade sweet & savoury breakfast treats served in the courtyard.
Relax around the pool – free time to enjoy the beautiful pool, hammocks, and gardens.
A delicious lunch cooked by Jen & Nick using local seasonal ingredients
Free time/pool time
Talk: The Art of Veganising Anything. The weekend closes with an honest, practical and inspiring session with LD on how to transform everyday cooking.
In this relaxed talk, LD shares her favourite tips, tricks and techniques for creating incredible plant-based food at home—without the stress and without feeling like you have to completely change the way you cook.
From simple swaps and flavour-building basics to recreating your favourite comfort foods, LD will reveal the foundations behind her approach to vegan cooking and how she turns familiar dishes into something exciting, satisfying and full of flavour.
Dinner – Cajun Seafood Boil Reimagined
As the sun goes down, Saturday night brings a bold and playful take on a Southern classic.
Inspired by the legendary seafood boils of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, LD presents a fully plant-based “Seafood in a Bag” experience bursting with Cajun flavour, spice and indulgence.
Served in the traditional style, guests will gather around the table to crack open steaming bags packed with expertly crafted vegan seafood, seasonal vegetables, corn, potatoes, and house-made sauces.
Day 4
Start the day with a feast of sweet & savoury delights for breakfast, including homemade pastries to set you up before your ongoing travel.
Time to depart – Following a relaxed breakfast, we say our goodbyes, though we hope it’s only an à bientôt until we meet again on another culinary holiday in France!
Meet LD, your chef & instructor for the weekend
Chef LD is one of the UK’s most innovative and influential plant-based chefs, celebrated for transforming the perception of vegan food through bold creativity, pioneering techniques, and unapologetically indulgent comfort cuisine.
As the founder of LD’s Kitchen and the chef behind London’s first fully vegan smokehouse, LD has become a leading figure in the plant-based movement, earning national recognition for pushing culinary boundaries while making vegan food accessible, exciting, and deeply satisfying. Her signature style combines soulful comfort food with cutting-edge vegetable-based innovation, including her acclaimed faux meats and her pioneering faux chicken vegan skin – a dish that has become synonymous with her culinary identity. LD specialises in creating innovative vegetable-based faux meats and elevating classic comfort and family-style food through bold flavours, inventive techniques, and a deep understanding of what brings people together around the table, whilst bringing some family secrets together.
A trailblazer in the hospitality industry, LD’s Kitchen has received widespread acclaim from critics and diners alike. Time Out London named her Sunday roast among the Top 3 Roasts in London, the only vegan roast to achieve the distinction, while also ranking LD’s Kitchen among the city’s Top 3 Brunches and Top 10 Vegan Restaurants.
Chef LD is also a musician and bass player for the acclaimed rock band Turbowolf. She started LD’s Kitchen after losing all of her touring work because of the pandemic, turning a challenging period into an opportunity to pursue her passion for plant-based food and to put her chef whites on and go back into the kitchen. Drawing on her own experiences within the music industry, LD recruits out-of-work and off-tour musicians and retrains them as professional vegan chefs, helping talented individuals develop new careers while fostering a diverse and inclusive hospitality workforce.
Her work has been featured by the BBC, NME, Time Out, and Vegan Food & Living, establishing her as a respected voice in both food and culture. Most recently, she expanded her reach into live entertainment by launching a new cooking experience at Download Festival, Cookin’ with LD, where artists and bands learn how to veganise their favourite dishes alongside LD. The project is set to continue online through a dedicated YouTube series, bringing her infectious passion for plant-based cooking to audiences worldwide.
“it’s that meat substitute that really worth shouting about: Chef LD’s signature ‘mocken’ is entirely made in-house and, from its ‘skin’ to it’s ‘gristle’, it’s everything you could want from mock meat”
Time Out
“I’m in awe at the “skin” texture – it gives it that little fatty feel that you don’t normally get with vegan chicken. Absolutely loved all flavours! I can’t wait to go back and eat these again“
Little London Vegan
“The brisket plate is uncanny-valley good… these charred slabs of “meat” are truly phenomenal.“
East End Review
Masterclasses and talks with Chef LD
Ever wondered how truly great plant-based meats are made, how to smoke them, or how to veganise your favourite meal? Over the course of the weekend, LD will be covering a huge range of plant-based topics in her masterclasses and talks. You’ll leave with the tools to level up your own kitchen.
Faux Meat Masterclass
In this hands-on masterclass, Chef LD shares the techniques behind creating her signature faux meats from scratch. Guests will learn the art of blending textures and flavours to create convincing, delicious alternatives using accessible ingredients and professional techniques.
At the heart of the session is LD’s famous “Ribz” recipe—a carefully developed blend of vital wheat gluten, mushrooms and jackfruit that delivers incredible texture, flavour and versatility.
You will gain practical knowledge, recipes and tips you can recreate at home.
Smoke, Fire, & Soul Food Demonstration
In this hands-on masterclass, Chef LD shares the techniques behind creating her signature faux meats from scratch. Guests will learn the art of blending textures and flavours to create convincing, delicious alternatives using accessible ingredients and professional techniques.
At the heart of the session is LD’s famous “Ribz” recipe—a carefully developed blend of vital wheat gluten, mushrooms and jackfruit that delivers incredible texture, flavour and versatility.
You will gain practical knowledge, recipes and tips you can recreate at home.
Talk: The Art of Veganising Anything
The weekend closes with an honest, practical and inspiring session with LD on how to transform everyday cooking.
In this relaxed talk, LD shares her favourite tips, tricks and techniques for creating incredible plant-based food at home, without the stress and without feeling like you have to completely change the way you cook.
From simple swaps and flavour-building basics to recreating your favourite comfort foods, LD will reveal the foundations behind her approach to vegan cooking and how she turns familiar dishes into something exciting, satisfying and full of flavour.
Learn how to:
- – Build depth and flavour in plant-based cooking
- – Master essential ingredients and techniques
- – Create texture and richness without animal products
- – Adapt your favourite recipes with confidence
- – Make everyday meals feel indulgent and inspiring
Packed with personal advice from years of developing recipes, cooking for friends and family, and creating food inspired by life on the road, this is a chance to ask questions and share ideas.
Because great food isn’t about rules, it’s about creativity, connection and making something worth sharing.
What our guests say
I went to La Cour de Husson for an art retreat they hosted. It was a wonderful experience! Jen and Nick were wonderful hosts! They were incredibly helpful during both the planning of the trip and during the retreat itself. All the meals they prepared were delicious! The gites were lovely and comfortable and quite frankly giving me interior design ideas (if I can somehow recreate the feeling of living in a cottage in the French countryside at home). Highly recommend it!
If you want to feel completely looked after and cared for, this is the place to be. From the very beginning, Jen and Nick could not have been more warm and welcoming, meaning we could truly relax and enjoy our escape to the stunning French countryside.
Everything about our stay was perfect. The interior is beautifully designed and well thought through. You can tell the hosts have poured their hearts into renovating the gîtes to an exemplary standard.
The food was absolutely exquisite – every meal featured a beautiful and generous selection of inventive dishes using fresh ingredients, many of which were sourced from the neighbouring area. So not only are Jen and Nick the friendliest hosts you could wish for, but they are incredibly talented in the kitchen too.
We spent much of our trip plotting our return – we can’t wait to come back with our families to show off this gem we are so pleased to have discovered.
La Cour de Husson is such a beautiful place to stay! I was there for an art retreat and absolutely loved my time there. The gites were very well renovated and very comfortable (I’d love to live there) and the public space and landscape was so beautiful and picturesque. As part of the retreat we got three meals each day and the food was absolutely incredible. Nick and Jen are the nicest people ever and they were amazing hosts. Plus, they have an adorable pup! I would absolutely stay again and recommend to anyone.
My stay at La Cour De Husson was a wonderful experience. Nick and Jen are great hosts, very helpful and friendly and was their adorable pup Betty.
The gites are a delight, tastefully decorated and full of charm. The vegan food they prepared for our stay (art retreat) was delicious. I am looking forward to returning soon.
Accommodation
La Cour de Husson is nestled in the beautiful rolling fields and cognac vineyards of The Charente. Guests will stay in two newly renovated self-contained gîtes (holiday cottages). There are a mix of king, super king, double, and twin rooms to choose from. Please see the prices section for more details on room setup.
The Gardens
The Rooms
Prices
Large Double Room
€899
€1798 per room based on 2 people sharing a double room
Shared bathroom
Must be booked for 2 people
Twin Room
€950
€1900 per room based on 2 people sharing a double room
2 single beds
En-suite bathroom
Must be booked for 2 people
Standard Double Room
€799
€1598 per room based on 2 people sharing a double room
Standard double bed
Shared bathroom
Must be booked for 2 people
Reserve your place
To give you the most flexibility, you can choose to either pay in full or pay a deposit of €200pp now and the remainder in July*.
Please select from the options below on how you would like to pay.
*After the deposit, the remainder will be due on the 17th of July 2026.
FAQs
How do I get there?
Depending on where you’re traveling from you can fly into the following airports:
Poitiers – 50 minute drive
Limoges – 1 hour 20 minute drive
La Rochelle – 1 hour 45 minute drive
Bordeaux – 2 hours drive
If you are travelling by train, our local main station is Angoulême (there are direct trains to Paris & Bordeaux from here)
You can pick up car hire from all of the airports and train stations as there is no public transport beyond these locations.
Travel between the airport and the accommodation is the responsibility of the guest.
Do I have to be vegan to come?
Absolutely not! The weekend is open to everyone to enjoy the delights of plant-based cuisine.
What do I have to bring with me?
Just yourselves. All the ingredients and equipment for the masterclass will be provided.
Can I eat all the things that I make?
Yes, absoluteley! After the masterclass you’ll be able to enjoy the dishes that you have created for your lunch.
Will all the meals be vegan?
Yes, all the food provided will be vegan. Please let us know in advance of any food allergies or things we need to be aware of.
How do I get there?
Depending on where you’re traveling from you can fly into the following airports:
Poitiers – 50 minute drive
Limoges – 1 hour 20 minute drive
La Rochelle – 1 hour 45 minute drive
Bordeaux – 2 hours drive
If you are travelling by train, our local main station is Angoulême (there are direct trains to Paris & Bordeaux from here)
You can pick up car hire from all of the airports and train stations as there is no public transport beyond these locations.
Travel between the airport and the accommodation is the responsibility of the guest.
Do I have to be vegan to come?
Absolutely not! The weekend is open to everyone to enjoy the delights of plant-based cuisine.
What do I have to bring with me?
Just yourselves. All the ingredients and equipment for the masterclass will be provided.
Can I eat all the things that I make?
Yes, absoluteley! After the masterclass you’ll be able to enjoy the dishes that you have created for your lunch.
Will all the meals be vegan?
Yes, all the food provided will be vegan. Please let us know in advance of any food allergies or things we need to be aware of.
The gites and the surroundings are beautiful, a real escape and we didn't want to leave. Already looking forward to our next visit! 🙂
At La Cour de Husson you’ll find everything you could wish for—and much more. Hosts Jen and Nick are not only highly professional but also incredibly warm and attentive. From arrival to departure we were looked after in their stunning, eco-friendly estate. Natural materials are used throughout, the furniture is carefully chosen, the bedlinen is crisp cotton, and the mattresses are very comfortable.
The vegan food was delicious, made with top-quality ingredients and served in a beautiful, private setting. On warm evenings dinner was served outdoors beneath a sky full of stars. We attended an art retreat led by the renowned artist Carne Griffith, held in an open barn set in the expansive garden beside the swimming pool.
The surrounding countryside is wonderfully peaceful—perfect for a restful night’s sleep—and during the day you can enjoy long walks through the sunflower fields. I highly recommend La Cour de Husson for an exceptional stay. We plan to return soon.
Thank you, Jen and Nick, for a truly memorable experience!
The gites are a delight, tastefully decorated and full of charm. The vegan and gluten free food they prepared for our stay (art retreat) was delicious. I am looking forward to returning soon.
The welcome guide has lots of ideas for exploring the area and we enjoyed wandering around local villages and spending lots of time at the nearby river as well as a day trip to the coast.
As well as the included breakfasts we also arranged an evening meal and a picnic. All the meals were delicious and beautifully presented and really added to the overall experience. This was such a great option for a vegan holiday in the area, some lovely meals included, simple self catering in a very well supplied kitchen and lots of suggestions for eating out. Jen and Nick are such kind and welcoming hosts who provided lots of helpful suggestions. They have created a wonderful vegan experience that feels super relaxing and luxurious. I can't stop thinking about it and when we can go back!
The accommodation was beautiful, nestled in gentle sunflower and chickpea fields, with a lovely pool to cool off in under the warm sun. My gite was tasteful and spacious, and very stylish.
Ritchie's food was exceptional, with eight-course vegan tasting menus each evening, crafted with such skill and creativity, accompanied by flowing wine that brought everyone together in laughter and conversation. The cognac cocktails were the perfect touch to warm up our taste buds.
The other people on the course were so friendly and good fun, it felt like a gathering of old friends by the end. Everything was organised seamlessly, leaving me feeling inspired and like a right fatty fatty.
I look forward to returning.
I have not had the opportunity to stay with them but the friendly and honest reactions in our communications for sure makes me even more see the Cour de Husson with my own eyes.
Everything about our stay was perfect. The interior is beautifully designed and well thought through. The bedrooms and communal areas are modern without sacrificing a homely feeling. You can tell the hosts have poured their hearts into renovating the gîtes to an exemplary standard.
The rest of the property is equally stunning, with a lovely pool area as well as a cosy covered area lit by fairy lights.
The food was absolutely exquisite - every meal featured a beautiful and generous selection of inventive dishes using fresh ingredients, many of which were sourced from the neighbouring area. So not only are Jen and Nick the friendliest hosts you could wish for, but they are incredibly talented in the kitchen too.
We spent much of our trip plotting our return - we can't wait to come back with our families to show off this gem we are so pleased to have discovered.
home, days spent by the pool, epic scenery, even the weather was perfect. And homemade vegan ice cream, come on! Jen and Nick are super hosts and went above and beyond to help us have the best, most relaxed time. We are vegan gîte converts now and we're already counting the days until we return. Merci pour tout!
The grounds and house is absolutely stunning, with a huge garden, great pool, BBQ etc and set in lovely fields. Very quiet, relaxing area but with plenty to do nearby. The hosts are super nice and accommodating. The vegan breakfast was a highlight also.
Loved our stay there and would certainly come again.
I was personally after a trip where I was able to switch off and relax, but also be able to explore a bit of this fairytale part of France - and this stay really delivered! We were able to find real peace chilling out in the gîte, but also enjoyed fun days out cognac tasting, exploring local towns, eating cake in local villages, going for evening walks through the fields and even visited some historical sites and museums (thanks to Jen & Nick's amazing recommendations!) I honestly barely had to use my brain the whole time - and had no idea how much I needed that!
I cannot recommend La Cour de Husson enough - and can't thank Jen & Nick enough for being such brilliant hosts. We will absolutely be back!
Thank you for the best stay- we will 100% be returning!
Although Jen & Nick were around if needed it was such a private little haven, honestly I could have just stayed there the whole time and been extremely happy! I read on my private terrace for hours with a beautiful local wine that my lovely hosts suggested I try. However, there are some lovely places to see nearby and there is a book of things you can do too in the gite which I found really handy.
The vegan breakfast was also divine!! It was so delicious, among other things I tried Jens vegan cinnamon buns. For all my fellow vegans out there, just come for those alone! Next time I also want to try the vegan picnic hamper that you can organise via the hosts too.
Without a doubt I will definitely be coming back here again. I felt so comfortable and at home, and there is still so much I would like to do. I genuinely feel like I had a luxury break away from the madness of London.
Thank you so much to Jen & Nick, I hope to see you again next year!!
The surroundings are beautiful and lovely towns and villages to go to.
Jen and Nick made our holiday unforgettable, for so many reasons. And we also love the vegan life.
We hope to visit them again and enjoy everything they have to offer.
And the swimming pool is the best we had in years.
Nick & Jane are high-quality hosts who go out of their way to offer you a very high standard of stay (special mention for vegans, who will appreciate the efforts of adapted breakfasts).
The lodgings are extremely comfortable, perfectly equipped, and decorated with great taste, in a rustic and modern mix which totally preserves the authenticity of the atmosphere.
The place is in a hamlet which adjoins a medieval village with many shops (including a very practical grocery store / tobacconist), and 10 minutes from a town which offers all amenities.
The ideal place to visit a region that never ceases to surprise us, for its tranquility, its immediate nature, its historical heritage and even its proximity to the ocean!
Thanks again !
Nestled between cognac vines and sunflower fields is a beautiful relaxing place. La Cour de Hudson. Our hosts welcomed us with a delicious vegan dinner and couldn’t have been more welcoming.
The gite is surrounded by local markets and farm shops. A treasure trove for a foodie like me.
The accommodation itself is sparkling; beautifully decorated and every night was like sleeping in cotton wool. We couldn’t have asked for more than an everyday refreshing swim in the clear blue pool before drinks in the courtyard.
Nick and Jen were perfect hosts and knew best recommendations.
I’ll definitely be returning !
Nic and Jen went above and beyond to make our stay perfect !
Will definitely be returning
The Gite is stylish, tasteful, and simple yet chic, with every convenience. I even had my own private little courtyard - perfect for coffee and croissant in the mornings after a sublime morning dip in the crescent shaped pool!
The wonderfully comfortable beds with gorgeous crisp, white linen ensured a great nights sleep in this haven of peace and tranquility.
Jen and Nick are lovely: perfect hosts, discrete yet on hand when needed. They have done an amazing job of bringing this wonderful old building back to life.
Thank you for a really enjoyable stay!
Top tip: try the delicious vegan breakfast served in the courtyard - I'm now a convert to vegan cuisine.
What we all loved about staying here is that it felt like no detail was left unnoticed. The gite had everything we needed and was decorated so tastefully-it's the perfect combo of feeling "homey" and also like a hotel. There were fresh flowers and a great welcoming basket of snacks (chocolate, chips, Lotus cookies, cake), all excellent quality, when we arrived. Then we had beautiful breakfast spreads every morning -fresh baguettes, homemade cinnamon rolls, overnight oats, preserves, orange juice, chia yogurt cups, homemade granola-a different combo of the above, each day. They had coffee and tea and options for all: French press, espresso maker, and Italian coffee maker, and non dairy milk. All of it was tasty and we really looked forward to the breakfast every morning.
The rooms are spacious with cute decor and we had plenty of space. We loved the big tub in one of the bathrooms (and plenty of hot water for baths!!!!), and the aromatherapy soap was a nice touch:)
The setting doesn't get more beautiful. It overlooks the countryside, and there is a ton of outdoor space. There's an area to barbecue, including a full-sized grill and table. There's an area to hangout on the hammock and read a book. There's an area for lounging at the beautiful, clear blue pool. It's all so peaceful and picturesque. It's a dream switch up for us city people-all the amenities but in nature!
Jen and Nick, the owners were the most hospitable and gracious, hosts. They left no stone unturned inside the gite and with the meals. They also were super helpful with info and recommendations on what to do in the area, where to eat, and just made us feel at home and comfortable. We went to a local cake and flower shop that they recommended as well as a Cognac tour, about 45 minutes away and enjoyed both. We loved staying here and plan to come back whenever we next visit France.
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