|
 Dordogne, France - 5 or 7 nights
Available April to October - Monday to Monday
Join us in Southwest France for a five or seven night total immersion in the French lifestyle. Pick-up a straw basket and each morning you will visit a different traditional market with your hostess and chef who will teach you how to select the best produce. In France gastronomy and life pair with market visits which are a a vital event held on the main square of the town.
 We will get inspiration for our menu as you shop together, according to the seasonal vegetables and fruits and what the fishmonger is offering that day. The area is known as France’s orchard and notable specialties include the prunes from Agen and the tomato from Marmande. You will learn how to cook in a simple manner without too many complications and conflicts of flavors. We will also give special attention to food presentation, as the eye should first be pleased when the plate comes to the table.
 Your hostess was born in the Cognac region in southwest France and studied English and American literature at Bordeaux University. Her love for travelling and sailing took her to the Caribbean Islands where she worked as a chef on luxury yachts. A few years later she settled in Ireland where she opened her first restaurant, soon to receive listings in several food guides, including the Michelin. In 1987 she moved to the Baleares islands in Ibiza to open her second restaurant where she developed her interest in Mediterranean cuisine. She has also been teaching an Italian Mediterranean cooking course in Tuscany for an Italian cooking school. Finally settled in the south west of France she is now running her own school where she hopes to welcome you to share with you her knowledge and passion for good food.
Each weekly program is designed to take advantage of the season’s produce and the special events happening in the area. As well as the shopping trips to the markets and local shops, the program includes visits to vineyards, organic farms, medieval villages and castles, antique markets, local artists and artisans. Each week will be tailored to suit the guest’s desires and special interests.  The home you will stay in is named after the two hundred year old mulberry tree which shades the side of the house. An original 18th century “master’s residence” it has been completely restored and has all modern comforts of today while retaining charm and authenticity. The walls are built in white stones mixed with ocre bricks and the rooms have exposed wooden beams, terracotta and oak floors. The house is set in an idyllic rural countryside, surrounded by its own garden, plum orchards, sunflower fields, and a mere two miles away runs the beautiful river Lot.
 You will have your meals al fresco on the terrace by the mulberry tree or weather not permitting in the veranda. You can relax by the swimming pool, tucked away behind the walls of the old barn, or if you feel active you can borrow a bicycle to explore the surrounding area.
There are five double bedrooms with queen size beds and they are all individually decorated and homey. They have adjoining stylish bathrooms, four of them are equipped with large walk-in showers, and one with a retro bathtub with shower. In each bathroom you will find complimentary toiletries and a hairdryer. SAMPLE ITINERARY (FOR THE FIVE NIGHT PROGRAM, ARRIVAL CAN BE ANY DAY) Day One - Monday  Afternoon/evening arrival
Settle at the house and over aperitif we will discuss the coming week schedule before the welcoming dinner which will introduce you to our south-west’s specialties and fine wines.
Day Two - Tuesday  After breakfast we depart to the nearby town of Villeneuve sur Lot for our first market expedition. We discover what produce is in season and wander through the colorful stalls to select the best ingredients for our afternoon class.
Lunch is waiting back at the house (lLunches for the week are buffet style, with a selection of salads, quiches, french charcuterie, cheese board , seasonal fruits, crisp fresh baguette and patisserie from the local bakery). Free time after lunch to relax in the garden or by the pool.  At about 3.30pm, roll up your sleeves for your first hands-on cooking class. We will prepare a three course meal and many extras in a supportive and friendly atmosphere whatever your skills level. Throughout the week we will cook famousFrench classical dishes such as Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourguignon, creme brulée, confit of duck, etc..., and more modern and lighter recipes with emphasis on impeccable presentation.
Dinner at around 8pm. We will sample a glass of crisp local Sauvignon before putting the final touch to our afternoon creations. Guests are invited to help to plate up the food to enhance their cooking skills from preparation to service. Day THREE - WEDNESDAY 
After breakfast, a five minute drive takes us to the village of Castelmoron for our morning shopping. After loading our baskets we head along the beautiful river Lot to reach a family run plum farm, where a charming pruneau museum will reveal all the secrets of the prune drying business, emblematic of the area. We are invited to sample their home produced specialties, chocolates, jams, chutneys. Lunch back at the house followed by an afternoon hands-on cooking class 8.00pm Dinner DAY FOUR - THURSDAY  After breakfast en route for our mid-week day excursion . The region is famous for its authentic medieval villages. We first stop in Monflanquin, on the list of one of "the most beautiful villages in France", strikingly set on top of a hill. After coffee on the square under the stone arcades, we continue our journey, through a rolling countryside, passing several beautiful castles and sunflower fields. We reach Monpazier, the best preserved bastide in the Dordogne, where many period movies are being filmed. We have lunch in one of the many typical restaurants and you have free time to stroll around the cobbled streets and a chance to shop for souvenirs.
End of the afternoon back at the house to relax after the day's adventures. Dinner is prepared by our hostess, but you are welcome to join in the preparation or you can decide to take time off, and sit in the garden with a glass of wine, waiting to be served. DAY FIVE - FRIDAY  After breakfast we are off to the nearby little town of Ste Livrade. The Friday market is always bustling and we have a wonderful choice of fruits and vegetales , all grown locally. It is also the best day to buy fish and seafood, brought from the Atlantic coast .
Back at the house for lunch. After lunch time to relax or a visit to the oldest water lily nursery in the world! Only 10 minutes from the house , we find the water gardens where the French impressionist painter Monet came to buy water lilies for his garden Giverny. Amazingly, the majority of all hybrid water lilies sold commercially today originate from this small nursery tucked away in atiny unknown village! 5.00pm hand-on cooking class followed by dinner. DAY SIX - SATURDAY  After breakfast we are back in Villeneuve sur Lot for our last market visit. There is time for those who wish to walk around at their own leisure, maybe do some shopping . Beware ladies, there is a very tempting shoe shop and many lovely boutiques.
Lunch back at the house followed by a free afternoon before getting ready for your Saturday night out! Dinner at one of your hostess' favorite restaurants. DAY SEVEN - SUNDAY  After a leisurely breakfast, we will take time to go over the notes made during the week of all the recipes cooked together. Here is a sample of some of the dishes we may have cooked, depending on the season:
Artichoke bottoms stuffed with goat cheese, salade niçoise, risotto with green asparagus, cream of sorrel soup homemade croutons, moules mariniere, grilled squid arugula salad with chorizo, chicken Provençale, braised lamb shanks with ratatouille, baked fillet of white cod with tapenade, warm chocolate fondant, cherry almond flan, pistachio and honey stuffed nectarines with mascarpone ice cream,apple tart, macaroons...  Lunch at the house
This afternoon is the last hands-on cooking class to prepare a festive goodbye dinner. This evening, a champagne aperitif to celebrate the end of a week where we have experienced a new way of living, sitting around the table with friends, good conversation, wonderful food and wine, just enjoying "the beautiful life" DAY EIGHT - MONDAY Breakfast and transfer to train station or airport for departure Au Revoir! GROUP SIZE A minimum of 3 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 8 participants. (The number of participants refers to how many persons are required to run the tour, not to how many persons you must have in your party. Please inquire.) HOW TO ARRIVE By Air
Bergerac (50mns drive) Via London-Stanstead Ryanair Bordeaux (1h45mns drive) Via London, Paris , and most European cities Toulouse Via London, Paris , and most European cities By Train
Agen Train Station (TGV from Paris) - 35 minutes to accommodation - (a 4 hour and 30 minute train ride) If you travel to Bergerac free pick-up from the airport will be arranged. From Bordeaux or Toulouse ( 1h 45mns drive ) we recommend you rent a car, or transfer can be arranged at a separate cost *These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour. BOOKING INFORMATION
FIVE NIGHT PROGRAM Double Room/US$2150
Non Participant/US$1225 SEVEN NIGHT PROGRAM Double Room/US$2650
Non Participant/US$1575
(Non-participating guests are welcome on all the excursions and join in at all the meals)
*Pricing may vary depending on market fluctuation After availability is confirmed, a 30% deposit and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 75 days before your arrival date. April 23-30
May 7-14
May 21- 28
June 4-11
June 18-25
September 10-17
September 20-27
October 1-8 *Please inquire about alternate dates and shorter stays FIVE NIGHT PROGRAM *Five (5) nights' accommodation
*All tuition
*All excursions
*All food, wine and drinks
*One (1) restaurant meal
*Complimentary apron
*Transfers from/to Bererac Airport only and Agen Train Station SEVEN NIGHT PROGRAM *Seven (7) nights' accommodation
*All tuition
*All excursions
*All food, wine and drinks
*Two (2) restaurant meals
*Complimentary apron
*Transfers from/to Bererac Airport only and Agen Train Station
Airfare and personal expenses are not included.
For further inquiries or to register, click here.
Click here to return to top of page. CANCELLATION POLICY
Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended. CLIENT REMARKS "Dear Jo-Ann, We had an amazing trip to France. We would have never found Sylvie without you. It was so reassuring to have your advice and "shepherding" as we planned our trip. We spent 5 glorious days in the Dordogne Valley where we cooked, napped and saw the sights at our own pace with our hostess Tres Bien, Sylvie. Thank you for leading us to her! My mother-in-law, my daughter and I had a trip of a lifetime with memories (and recipes) we will never forget! "Wonderful food, great accommodations, fantastic teacher. We felt like royalty." "Last summer my husband and I attended this cooking school. The highlights at were a small very compatible group of six persons, interesting menus including many vegetable dishes that were new to us along with excellent fish and chicken, the atmosphere was consistently relaxed, the accommodations were lovely--we had a beautiful room with private shower, a pool on the premises, living room and dining area were nicely appointed. We have used many of the recipes since we have been home; this is not always the case. Above all, we were so satisfied last summer , we intend to return in '08. Sylvie's has everything we could want in a cooking school vacation." "For the past few years I have enjoyed one week each summer as a guest in Sylvie's home and a student in her kitchen. I'll be back again this year because I can't imagine a summer without this experience: seeing the French countryside, visiting the local markets, and cooking the wonderful foods that are that country's bounty." Click here to return to top of page. MAP* This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE. 
*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location. Click here to return to top of page. |
Home 
Cooking in the Dordogne
