Combination Tours> France> Cooking and Yoga in the Languedoc-Roussillon

France: Cooking and Yoga in the Languedoc-Roussillon
(Options: Painting/Art Classes)

Languedoc-Roussillon, France - 7 nights

Join us for a week of hands on traditional French cooking and energising Iyengar yoga practice. You will be staying in a beautiful spacious “Maison de Maitre” with shady gardens and a turquoise pool. Lionel is our English speaking French chef and his English partner Karen is a qualified yoga teacher.

La Maison Verte

In August you will be staying in the small town of Roujan, near Beziers. This house is a huge, stunning, rambling mansion full of French character and ambiance. It has doubles, twins and three single rooms, some are en-suite and some sharing bathrooms with one other room. The rooms are allocated on a first come first serve basis. The garden has lots of shady corners, pool and sunny lawns. Nearby, in the town, you will find shops, a post office, banks and cafes.

Cerf Gris

In September we are in a very small village called Moux near to Carcassonne. This is a beautiful big “Maison d’ Maitre” with a spacious kitchen and its own spacious yoga loft. The large airy bedrooms are twin, double and one single, some are en-suite and some share with one other room. The rooms are allocated on a first come first serve basis. The garden has an enticing pool, lots of shady corners, and a sunny lawn and its very own pair of nightingales. This village has a bakery, post office, chemist and one shop. There are some lovely short routes for an early evening stroll in and around the village.

Both houses are in the Languedoc region of France. A wealth of history lies in this area. Roman monuments, Greek ruins, medieval castles and ancient villages are set amidst a patchwork of vineyards, sleepy sun baked villages, farmlands, mountains and plateaus.

Cookery Classes

Lionel has many years of hotel and restaurant experience in France but his real passion is traditional family food. He will demonstrate and help you prepare delicious meals that you can cook with confidence for your family and friends when you return home. You will learn how to prepare sauces, soups, meat and fish dishes, pastries and desserts all in a true Mediterranean style. Many of recipes were taught to Lionel by his Grandma who was taught by her mother before. Some example are Gazpacho (cold soup) Aioli and Rouille (dressing for fish and seafood) Tian (aubergine bake) Moules (mussels) Pissaladiere (provencal tart) Asparagus with Sabayon (mousse dressing) Mediterranean veal chops, Fish with mint and olive tapenade, Crème caramel, Granite (Mediterranean ice) Nougat glace (fresh ice cream) and many more….

For breakfast you will have the choice of fresh croissants, crusty French bread, honey, homemade jam, yoghurt, juice, coffee and tea.

A typical lunch could be Cucumber mousse with virgin sauce, Chicken Balentine with vegetable cannelloni and rosemary sauce, fruit and local wines.

In the evening, after pre dinner drinks on the balcony or in the courtyard, you may enjoy Provencal butterfly (grilled cherry tomatoes, sliced mozzarella marinated in basil, chives and olives) Duck Magret pan fried with honey, vervienne sauce, vegetable tian and roast potatoes. Followed by a cheese course and a delicious dessert of Coconut tile with rosemary granite (frozen rosemary syrup ball).

These dishes are a typical example of the traditional family recipes that Lionel will prepare for you and ones you may learn to cook in your stay in France.

Yoga

Iyengar Yoga is suitable for all levels and a great introduction if you have not done any yoga before. We will build up the poses gradually from standing, sitting, twists to backbends and inversions (only if you feel you are ready). You will work at your own level, with props to help you access some of the poses. The aim is to distribute weight evenly over your muscles, bones and joints. Once both sides of your body become symmetrical undue stress is removed. These yoga poses affect and penetrate every single cell and tissue, leaving you feeling energized and calm. There will be a relaxation time at the end of the session for you body to absorb all the benefits of your hard work.

Karen has practiced Iyengar yoga for 14 years and trained as an Iyengar teacher 10 years ago. She has studied with the Iyengar family in India.

Art

Karen is also a practicing artist and teacher so there is the option to have art lessons. These classes are suitable for all levels, there is so much to inspire you around the house and garden. We have a wide range of materials for you to work with.

The classes will run at the same time as the cookery lessons.

Day One - Saturday

Mid/late afternoon arrival. Collection will be from the nearest airport or train station.You will be given a warm welcome by Karen and Lionel. After you have settled into your room there may be free time to have a wander around the village or relax and have a swim. Early evening we will have welcome drinks, an introduction to the week and a discussion about what you would like to cook and then the first of your fantastic four course dinners served with local wines. This is the time to get to know the other guests, some may have come from the other side of the world and some from France itself. The common factor is that everyone has come to be creative, learn new skills and have fun.

Day Two - Sunday

Breakfast 8-9am. A typical French breakfast with plenty of tea and coffee.

Your gentle yoga class at 10.30 – 12. Karen will introduce the main standing poses with clear instructions and demonstrations. In each class you will start with a few minutes quiet breathing and then work through standing poses to realign and strengthen your body. Whatever your level you will soon feel at ease.

Lunch is served at 1pm. After your yoga workout you will be ready for a three course light lunch and a well earned rest by the pool.

At 5pm you will have your first cooking lesson to prepare a tasty three course dinner. Lionel will prepare the kitchen, so then it is aprons on ready to cook. He will demonstrate and give clear instructions then you will have a go…and don’t forget to keep tasting as you create!

Day Three - Monday

Breakfast at 8-9am. Each morning you can take your breakfast inside or in the morning sun by the pool.

Your second yoga class. In today’s yoga class (10.30-12) Karen will recap the standing poses plus some twists, perhaps using some blocks and chairs to help achieve the right alignment. The twisting poses are standing, sitting and laying, these poses keep your spine supple, cleanse the body and increase energy levels.

Lunch followed by pool, reading and relaxation time.

At 5pm you will have your second cooking lesson with Lionel and will dine on your creations. This could be a meat dish with the tastiest sauce…presented beautifully. Bring a little book to make notes.

Day Four - Tuesday

Breakfast at 8-9am.

After breakfast today your day is free for you to visit a local town/city.

If staying at Le Maison Verte, we suggest a visit to Pezanas for your free day. This historic old town is so full of atmosphere! It is crammed full of art galleries, unique boutique style shops selling anything and everything you can think of. There are fantastic restaurants with fine wines. It has a great atmosphere, especially at night when it really livens up with typical French music and banter. It's very stylish yet unpretentious.

For a quieter day you could walk along the beautiful Canal du Midi. Here you will discover a canal lined by trees, which meanders through the land of the Cathars, passing on the way locks, bridges and aqueducts of the time. It is lined with picturesque little villages, which have preserved their charm and gastronomy, practically intact since the canal's construction. The Canal du Midi was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

If staying at Cerf Gris, we suggest a visit to the ancient walled city of Carcassonne for your free day. Carcassone is the only fortified town in Europe still inhabited. The medieval city of Carcassonne has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1997. This magnificent fortress still stands proudly in wild and beautiful surroundings. Here you can walk along the city ramparts and relive 2500 years of history. There are many quality restaurants, cafés and shops selling local produce, arts and crafts.

We will provide you with a delicious picnic lunch, and see you back at the house for dinner. Early evening, before dinner prepared by Lionel, we will have a wine tasting at the local cave or at the house. This is an informative and often entertaining start to the evening.

Day Five - Wednesday

After breakfast today we will visit the local market and then back home for lunch. The locals are very friendly and keen to converse with you as they push that extra bunch of parsley into your bag. Just to wander with the crowd and take in the colours, sounds and smells is a delight in itself.

In the late afternoon there will be a yoga class in the shade by the pool, standing, laying and sitting poses. These poses will bring elasticity to the hips, knees and ankles and deep relaxation in a natural setting is so peaceful and calming.

Early evening is the perfect time for a game of Boules…but remember that Lionel, being the resident French boules ‘champ’ does expect to win!

Day Six - Thursday

Breakfast at 8-9am.

The yoga lesson is in the morning by the pool and will include backbends and twists (and inversions for those who feel ready). Back bends are exhilarating and  fantastic for stimulating the central nervous system to help you deal with daily stress better.

The late afternoon cooking lesson starts at 5pm. This class with be based on the products bought in the market the day before, maybe moules or fresh fish…in the tastiest of sauces (one of Grandmas specialties).

Day Seven - Friday

Breakfast 8-9am.

Last day, so we will put all our yoga poses together in the right sequence, so you can return home with a practice that you can remember. (10.30-12).

Your own progress will bring you satisfaction as your health and stamina improves, the details of the postures will become clear and your understanding will deepen.  Hopefully you will sign up to a yoga class back home.

Your last cooking lesson will start at 4pm. You will be preparing the final delicious farewell dinner. By now you will be feeling quite at home in our French kitchen. It will be a real team effort to create a four course dinner that not only tastes fantastic but looks beautiful too.

A toast to you, for all your creative energy, effort and attention to detail.  Sante!

Day Eight - Saturday

Breakfast and morning departures.

A bientot!

HOW TO ARRIVE

Le Maison Verte:

You will need to book your flight to Beziers or Montpellier (quick train journey to Beziers) from where a transfer can be arranged.

Cerf Gris:

You will need to book your flight to Carcassonne, from where a transfer can be arranged.

For further inquiries or to register, click here.



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