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 such as olive oil, cheeses, truffles, nougat,
chocolate and of course its rich selection of local wines, including the famous
Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The tour includes hands-on cooking sessions
led by French chefs, as well as visits to markets, vineyards, olive tree fields,
local restaurants and cultural visits. | |  |

© J.Hagan | | Whether
you are a culinary professional or an amateur, you will be able to experience
cooking sessions with different professional French
chefs who will guide you through the delights of the art of French cuisine.
The settings for your cooking program will be at 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. |
Here
is a summary of what to expect:The complete itinerary
will be posted soon. Email us to receive it in priority. -
Go hunting for Spring truffle, also called the white truffle, specialty
of Provence. We will be accompagnied by a local farmer and its dog who will teach
us how to find the truffles under the oaks.
- Learn with a French "sommelier"
how to taste the famous Cotes du Rhone, Chateau Neuf du Pape wine.
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Make chocolate specalties with a French chocolate maker and bring them
with you after your session. - Prepare a Provencal lunch with a famous
chef from the region: he will go with you on the market to teach you how to recognize
quality produts. With him, you will prepare a local dish. - Walk with
a local producer of olive oil through his olive fields. He will share with
us his knowledge and passion. The visit will end with a tasting of his olive oil
and tapenade. |
- 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. - Stroll and shop on the incredible
markets of Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue: the biggest Provencal market and the biggest
antique market in Provence: table cloths, jewelry but also spices, herbes de Provence,
lavender, olives, cheese and much more.
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| | - Attend a demonstration
of nougat making, the specialty of Provence: from almonds and honey to nougat.
At the end, everybody will be able to enjoy this delicacy. |
Accommodations
We have chosen an elegantly restored farmhouse dating from the XVIIth century
located in the heart of Provence, in the Luberon (25 minutes east of Avignon).
The luxury guesthouse offers 12 bedrooms with private full bathrooms all with
high comfort, tranquility and relaxation, with its heated swimming pool set in
over 2 acres of private grounds, landscaped with pine and 100-year-old oak trees.
The house has 2 living rooms for you to enjoy, with antique furniture,
game tables, a fireplace and a piano. | | 
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We will take all our breakfasts and some dinners there. The refined cuisine
of the Chef, based on fresh seasonal local products, is an innovative blend of
Provencal and contemporary gastronomy. From your bedroom window, you will have
a breathtaking view of the Mont Alpille and internationally renowned vineyards.
Each room has: a flat screen TV set, telephone, heating and AC, a minibar, a safe,
ADSL and WiFi and a big full bathroom. | |  |
Dates & Rates
April 18-25, 2009 Price: TBD Email
us now to let us know you are interested and we will email you the itinerary and
pricing soon.
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