Has anyone taken a cooking class in Paris -- preferably "hands on", in English, and not over $100. Thanks.

You will not find a professional school offering classes for that price.

Private classes, one afternoon, could be around that price: look at FUSAC and WICE sites or newspapers.

Cordon Bleu and the Ritz Escoffier school may offer half day courses - check their online sites.

I finally fulfilled a longtime desire to take a class. I went to the Ritz for a week long class (afternoons only) and it was 1000 € - it was wonderful and worth the money.

Le Cordon Bleu offers one day cooking classes - I believe they're a bit over $100.00 however - maybe like $150 range?? Check out their site they might have half day classes too. Le Cordon Bleu was one of the most American of places I have ever been overseas. Almost everyone spoke english and were from America (except for the chef - he had a translator. Great way to spend the day in Paris. I did the market class so we were all over the city.

The class I took was not hands on however!

My daughter and I took the Le Cordon Bleu Petite Fours class. 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. cooked the whole time with a lovely lunch provided. The group was pretty interesting mix, Americans living in Paris, Belgian living in Paris, American Tourists, Hong Kong Tourist, Japanese stewardess. I liked it, but would prefer the Market Tour next time. We got to bring home what we made, and it was ALOT!

Here are three websites that might help:

http://www.cookingschools.com/

http://www.atelierdeschefs.com/atelierEN.php?lang=EN

http://www.frenchlinks.com/foodandwinetours.html

there is an excellent cooking school in Montmartre, Hands on, fun and not expensive.
80 euros, including a visit to local maket to get the ingredients, small classes of 6 people max, 3 hours, 3 course meal.
check this site at: http://www.cooknwithclass.com
good luck