Cooking in Provence
This exceptional 8-day tour is designed
to introduce you to French cuisine as well as to French culture.
Discover Provence and its regional products and learn how to
use them in cooking: olive oil, cheese, truffles, nougat, chocolate
and of course local wines, including the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
You will have "hands on" cooking classes with some
of the best Chefs in the region, as well as visits to markets,
herb gardens, vineyards, local restaurants and cultural sites.
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© J.Hagan | |
© J.Hagan | |
We believe that you learn more by attending sessions taught
by different chefs rather than one chef for the whole week.
The settings for your cooking program will be the home or workshop
of French chefs. All classes will be in English and a complimentary
cooking apron will be provided (for you to keep).
Between your cooking sessions, Jackie will take you on daily
trips to enjoy the wonders of Provence, the colorful markets,
the hilltop villages and to taste delicious local products.
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Day 1: Welcome Reception
We will pick you up at the Avignon TGV train station. Upon your
arrival at our guesthouse, you will have time to settle in and
explore the village. In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome
reception followed by a gourmet dinner. |
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Day 2: Provencal Market and Truffle Hunting
Morning: Provencal Outdoor Market
Stroll and shop on the incredible and colorful market.
It is an accessible and rewarding way to immerse yourself in
the lifestyle of the area.
Fresh food and its artful display speaks for itself. But there
is much more than food: colorful array of Provencal fabric,
tablecloths, silk scarves, natural soaps with dozens of scents
and of course lavender products.
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Afternoon: Truffle Hunting and Tasting
Haven't you always dreamed of going truffle hunting? Now you have
the opportunity to do so!
Discover the secret of this mysterious mushroom. The truffle
is a specialty of Provence. In April, you may be able to find
either the Winter black truffle or already the Spring white
truffle.
We will be accompanied by a Master and his dog who will teach
us how to find the truffles under the oaks. Meeting a local
farmer will be an unique experience.
Back at his farm, we will have time to savor some truffle on
toasts served with wine from Luberon.
If there aren't enough truffles at the time of the trip, this
visit will be replaced.
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Day 3: Market and Cooking with a Chef
Market and cooking
Today we will go to the market accompanied with a Professional
Chef. He will share with you his tips and tricks: How to choose
the fresh vegetables? Is the smell a big help? How to recognize
fresh fish?
Back at the chef's workshop with your fresh products, you will
learn how to prepare a three course
Provencal meal: hors d'oeuvres, main dish and dessert.
You will savor your meal with the chef. It will be served with
special wines selected by the sommelier.
After your cooking session, we will visit the amazing village
of Gordes, listed "one of the most beautiful villages in
France". This village is sitting on a rock with an incredible
view on vineyards and hills.
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Day 4: Wine Tasting and Chocolate Workshop.
Morning: Wine Tasting and Discovery of the Village of Chateau
Neuf du Pape
Chateau Neuf du Pape village is dedicated to its world famous
wine "Châteauneuf-du-Pape" which is also part
of the famous Côtes du Rhône.
We will have a guided visit in a well known winery, to learn
everything about this famous wine, including a session on how
to taste wine. The visit will end with the tasting of three
exquisite Chateau Neuf du Pape wines.
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Afternoon: Chocolate Workshop
Not only will you learn everything about the history of cocoa but you
will also learn how to make wonderful chocolates in the workshop of
a famous chocolate maker: you will prepare ganache, pralines, shapes
and more. At the end, you will bring your chocolates with you (250gr).
You can also buy more at the shop.
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Day 5: Roussillon Village and Lavender Museum
Morning: Roussillon Village
You will have free time this moring (take a walk in the village
or just sleep in).
At the end of the morning, we will head up for the beautiful
village of Roussillon, listed "one of the most beautiful
villages in France": the reddish village of Roussillon
sits on top of the world's biggest vein of ochre. You will be
amazed by all these red houses. You will have a wide selection
of restaurants for lunch.
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Afternoon: Lavender Museum
One cannot really separate Provence from images of purple lavender
fields, the heady lavender scent in the air and the distinctive
taste of lavender infused dishes.
Discover the whole history of lavender, its distillation and
use in medicinal therapy and in cooking at the lavender museum.
This will be the perfect time to shop for all the products made
out of lavender.
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Day 6: Cooking session in a farm
Located near Mont Ventoux, the Pedagogic Farm will open its
doors to us so that we can discover their biologic agriculture
world: grapes, olives, lavander, cherries, herbs, forgotten
vegetables and of course their animals
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Day 7: Pastry cooking at la Mirande in Avignon
Morning: Free time in Avignon
This morning you will have leisure time in Avignon. There is
so much to do: visit the Palace of the Popes (the size of four
normal French cathedrals). This amazing and expansive structure
is the highlight of Avignon.
You can also stroll in the old streets in search of antic dealers
and art galleries, visit the daily covered market, or shop for
Provencal materials, ceramics, pottery and other specialties
of the region.
You will also have a huge choice of museums (10 in the old
Avignon) including one with paintings from Cezanne, Van Gogh,
Picasso, Degas, Modigliani,…
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Afternoon: Pastry Workshop at the 4 star Hotel La Mirande
The venue for our cooking session will take place in one of
the oldest and most prestigious properties in Avignon: the 4-star
hotel, La Mirande. The classroom is an impressive kitchen from
the 19th century with its ancient cast-iron stove.
Le Marmiton, which is the cooking school, proposes cooking classes
with many of the most re-known chefs of Provence. Under the
eyes of an expert patissier chef, you will spend 3 hours preparing
the most delicious desserts.
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Day 8: Departure
After our last breakfast together, we'll drive you to the Avignon train station.
Accommodation
We have chosen an elegantly restored farmhouse dating from the
XVIIth century located in the heart of Provence, in the Luberon.
In many ways this house speaks of Provence. The large salon
with its fireplace will seduce you with its charming and friendly
atmosphere.
Each room has a full private bathroom.
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Dates
Sept 25-Oct 2, 2011
Rate
$3,590 per person (land cost) + $550 for single room
Includes
- Avignon train station pick up and drop off
- A welcome reception
- All breakfasts
- All nights at our boutique hotel
- All cooking sessions (4)
- Five 4-course meals (4 dinners and 3 lunches)
- Wine and drinks with the included meals
- Entrance fees to all sites on the tour
- Transportation in a comfortable van with A/C
- A personal bilingual chauffeur/guide throughout the week
- Cold soft drinks, bottled water during day trips
- A free Paris planner for a self guided visit in Paris: suggestions
of hotels, restaurants and places to visit
Excludes
- Flights to and from France
- Train to Avignon
- 4 lunches and 3 dinners (we will still go with you for the non
included meals)
- Optional activities (those not described in the itinerary)
- Personal expenses and tipping
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