text: Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons had been on my wish list for a while - and Mum is such a huge fan of Raymond Blanc she once confessed he could be her Mastermind subject… . Nestled in the green rolling hills of the Chilterns, Le Manoir is a striking building; a 15th Century manor house built with golden bricks and burgundy roof tiles, and boasting tall chimney stacks and climbing wisteria. It is beautiful - and it's impossible not to gawp. The impeccably kept grounds included perfectly trimmed lawns, bronze sculptures (including a scarecrow based on Blanc himself), pathways lined with lavender and the walled organic kitchen garden - which supplies the restaurant with seasonal herbs, salads and vegetables. Lucy Verasamy proudly shows one of the healthy and tasty dishes created at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons . Raymond Blanc pays a surprise visit to the cooking school that bares his name in his Oxford manor house . Our twin room for the night was huge. We loved it - from the flattering lighting and the textured wallpaper to the cashmere blankets on the end of the beds. Le Manoir's restaurant has held two Michelin stars for the best part of the 30 years since it opened. We decided to go for the full-on dining experience and the seven-course taster menu. Each dish was presented like a work of art - it almost seemed a shame to attack it with my cutlery. It was so good we were both unusually quiet. With every course came a helpful and brief explanation, and a glass of wine. The cheese trolley was one of the biggest I'd seen. By this stage I was on mouse-sized portions and ready to pop. The next morning I was woken by the sound of birds rather than the alarm on my phone. We headed down to breakfast but were distracted from the huge smorgasbord of choice by Blanc himself as he bounced around the tables, cheerfully welcoming guests. Le Manoir boasts  stunning grounds, luxury accommodation and Blanc's two Michelin-starred restaraunt . Thankfully, Mum was more starstruck than stalker when it was our turn. Chatty and friendly, Blanc noticed my Bircher muesli and immediately offered up the recipe. I had signed up to the Food, Body, Mind course due to start promptly at 9am - one of several day-long courses run at the in-house cookery school. A few minutes in, Blanc unexpectedly arrived and introduced the course - passionate, enthusiastic and energetic he spoke about the importance of nutrition and being mindful of the ingredients we choose. This was right up my street and I couldn't wait to get going. Natalia, a nutritionist, and Mark, a chef who has worked with Blanc for more than 25 years, were brilliant course hosts and teachers. With their amazing knowledge, they were like a human foodie Google. Natalia banished misleading food myths, while her informative facts and figures on the latest medical research were fascinating. I couldn't help but scribble down notes. Food icon Raymond Blanc and Lucy bond over a delicious creme caramel at his Oxfordshire cooking school . I thought my limited cooking skills would be a hindrance, but far from it. Mark showed us several easy, healthy dishes - some of which we cooked, wearing our chef whites in our own fully equipped kitchens. Hands-on Blanc popped back just as we were making our sugar-free chocolate mousse - and wasted no time in helping out with the frantic whisking. Trains run from London Marylebone to Haddenham & Thame Parkway (a 10-minute drive to the hotel and restaurant) Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons offers a Wine & Dine break from £895 per couple. This includes a five-course dinner, three glasses of wine each and one night's B&B accommodation. The Food, Mind, Body course costs from £395pp. I loved every minute of it and learned so much - from interesting food facts (who knew fresh-out-of-the-ground new potatoes were a healthier option than blueberries?) to helpful kitchen skills. I've lost count of the times I've rustled up some of the recipes at home since. It had been a massive treat. I had asked Raymond which season was best to visit Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons. He replied: 'You must visit every season!' Brilliant idea.
target: ITV meteorologist Lucy Verasamy visited Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons .
  Cooking lessons and luxury awaited at Raymond Blanc's manor house .
  Tried the seven-course taster menu at the two Michelin-starred restaurant .
  The day-long Food, Body, Mind course combined nutrition and recipes .