(Options: Customized Programs, Day Cooking Classes, Artisan Visits)
Provence, France
Available year round

Provence is a land of warm-hearted people, delicious cuisine, and spectacular structures built over its 2500-year history as one of the major centers of trade on the Mediterranean. It has been the home of your guide, Madeleine, for over 15 years now, and she will share the special corners and treasures she has discovered. As you wander through Provence, you will pass through orchards of olive trees and fruit, vine-covered hill sides and plateaus, and rows of vegetables that will show up at the plentiful market stalls.

Madeleine specializes in intimate behind-the-scenes visits to food artisans, hikes through the countryside that end with a visit at a local winery, or with some of the best fried calamari you've ever had, and personalized multi-generational outings.

Her friends the beekeeper, the baker, the vintner(s), the chocolatier, the pastry-maker, the potter, the cheesemaker, the olive oil miller and more will welcome you into their workshops, and occasionally into their homes and gardens to share a special moment (and often lunch) together. 

COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF ERIK

A cooking class with Chef Erick features fresh ingredients from the market and the surrounding country side, stories and history to enliven each dish, and local wine and cheeses to round out the 4-6 dishes prepared. Each class is three hours of instruction/preparation followed by the feast of your labors.

Surrounded by the bounty of Provence, the urge to share it comes naturally in this sun-drenched country. The many varieties of fish at the market come straight from the Mediterranean Sea just a half an hour away -- leading every market day to be fish day in our house. The olives are pressed nearby and give a smooth and fruity golden green oil to drizzle over vegetables, bread, pasta.. The wines in our "backyard" are amongst the most distinguished, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, Tavel, and more. Mushrooms grow in the the hills, tomatoes are sold ripe from the field July through October, and fresh cheese from goats and sheep raised and tended locally is there for the asking.

Erick's classes can be scheduled for a morning going through lunch, or an evening going through dinner. (10am-3pm or 5pm-10pm). Each class includes the 3 hours of instruction, 4-6 dishes, and the meal following accompanied by local wines and cheeses.

PROVENCE TOURS

Here are some of the possible day trips that can be organized for you, or for a loved one, or for your group of friends and family (maximum 7 people). The day begins between 9 and 9:30, and concludes at 6PM.

A market tour followed by a walking tour of Avignon, Arles or St. Remy; a picnic in the countryside. The day begins at 9:15/30 at your hotel or b&b (which can be in Arles, Avignon, Nimes, St. Remy de Provence, and any of the Alpilles villages such as Fontvieille, St. Etienne du Gres, Les Baux de Provence...) – the day of the week and the village you are staying in will determine which market we go to.

A DAY OF ARTISAN TOURS: with a pick-up at 9:15/30 in the morning at your b&b/hotel/gite, Madeleine can bring you to visit two artisans in the morning, to lunch in the countryside, and an artisan in the afternoon. Please look at the artisan possibilities and choose what interests you most.

Lavender - The Purple Waves of Provence Lavender... the word alone brings to mind a heady perfume, fields of blue, purple rows rolling with the landscape. A perfume, a delicate flower, sachets, bath bubbles... Pictures of lavender adorn many a guide to Provence. From late June through mid- August, these fields draw us from afar.

The Chocolate Maker - Though chocolate comes from the new world, no one can deny that the French (and the Suiss and the Belgians) have taken it to a new level. Madeleine has a couple marvelous chocolatiers locally – chic, generous, and talented. Come visit the shop(s), taste, go behind-the-scenes, and perhaps learn a few tricks.

Truffles: the Black Diamond - When living in Provence, how can one not be tempted by the winter diversion of truffle hunting, nor be left unaffected by the dramatic shift at the top restaurants to menus featuring these treasures?

The Organic Vintner - Jean-Paul Cabanis has been making wine organically for over 25 years. Walking softly on this earth, he has learned over the years, to make a wine with grace and elegance, to drink and to keep, tending the earth all the while. A natural teacher, he revels in explaining the various steps of the process, throughout the year.

Olive Oil les Baux de Provence - Though some attribute the use of olive oil to an Italian influence, in fact, olive oil has been a main source of cooking oil in Provence -- as well as oil for light and lubricating wheels -- for over two millennia now. We have a special blend in the Valley des Baux de Provence. Come and taste it.

Cave Verger des Papes - At the top of the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape you'll find the ruins of the Chateau, and just below, the restaurant and wine cellar of the Verger des Papes. Guy and Jean-Baptiste welcome us with generosity and a selection of marvelous wines to taste. Enjoy a mini-winetasting class, and send some delicious wines back home to your cellar.

The Goatcheese Maker - One of the many delights of Provence is tasting the many varieties and qualities of goat cheese. Madeleine has a number of different cheese-makers who each have a slightly different and personalized way of making their cheese, marketing, and caring for their goats. Flavors, affection, hard-work. It all comes together in a little "crotin"!

Romana Taverna - Provence is named thus through its historical role as the Provincia Romana, or the Province of Rome. And there is a wonderful Roman restaurant nestled in the ruins of Glanum. Should you be tempted by the exotic delicacies amidst a glorious view, you will be taken there with pleasure.

The Beekeeper - There are artisanal honeys available on all the markets of Provence. Each stand offers at least 4 or 5 varieties, if not more. It is a magical activity, working with the bees to collect and share the transformed nectar of the many flowers of our region. And what about a cooking class specializing in dishes enhanced by these different succulent flavors? If Sophie is available, one can be arranged for you.

The Potter's Shop - When we go to visit we are invited back into the potting room, where they throw the pots on the wheel and form other dishes in molds. Veronique gives us a detailed tour through the many steps in making her beautiful wares.

The Baker - The Fassy family have run the bakery in Maillane in a direct line for 6 generations. Jean-Pascal has only recently taken over the bakery from his father, alongside whom he worked for the past 25 years! He carries his knowledge and expertise with grace and generosity, sharing recipes and tips with pleasure.

A visit to the most pretty villages of the Luberon (over one or two days)

Departure at 9:15/30 from your hotel/b&b/gite for a personalized tour through the Luberon. If you enjoy hiking, this is a wonderful region to do so, and I can easily include a morning or afternoon walk during this day of hillside discoveries. Lunch can be either a picnic prepared by Madeleine or at a lovely cafí with terrace. Back to your hotel by 5pm.

Introduction to artisanal cheese-making

This can be an all day affair, with visits to one or more cheese-makers to taste, explore, experience. Or, for those truly enamored of this age-old activity, Madeleine can propose a full week of visits and interviews, all tastings included.

Intensive Chocolate class for 1-3 people

10 hours instruction over three days, plus (or not) daily visits. The instruction is in French with myself at your side to interpret. Chocolate classes can be scheduled either in early November or in February/March, during "chocolate season".

Spend a day at a family-owned organic winery

Depending on the time of the year you visit, this could include pruning in the vineyards, harvesting, cellar work, tasting from the tanks, and more. Personal instruction from the wine-maker, and lunch "en plein air" (weather permitting) included

Early morning bakery visit

Ever wish you could just walk into that bakery at the crack of dawn (or before!) and sneak pastries and/or bread right from the oven? Are you a passionate baker and/or pastry maker? Would you like to be a fly on the wall while pros swirl expertly around you making pastry dough, cookies, fougasses, meringues, ganaches, ice-creams and more? Perhaps take a turn yourself at shaping the dough for fougasses and country bread? We can start the day at 5am or at 9:15 – depending on your sleep needs. Coffee and breakfast with the baker, followed by a leisurely walk through a sleepy Provençal village, or into the hills for a nap in the countryside. A picnic of specialties from the bakery, salad, charcuterie and organic wine can easily be arranged.

A day of winery tours

Pick your region: Chateauneuf-du-Pape/Gigondas and the Cotes du Rhone Villages; Pic St. Loup; Bandol and Cassis; Organic and biodynamic; We can visit two to three wineries in the day, tasting 15-20 wines. So get your palette ready. With the many years of running a cooking school, and my close connections to the wineries and vintners of Provence, I have many marvelous addresses to share with you, delicious wines to taste, and generous individuals to learn from.

GROUP SIZE

A minimum of 1 participant is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 7 participants.

HOW TO ARRIVE

Nearest Airports/Train Stations:

Marseille - a full hour's taxi ride to Avignon or you can take the Marseille shuttle service (for clients from America you still must take another plane and switch in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid..., there is not yet an American airline that flies direct to Marseille)
Nimes Domestic Airport - one hour (which would mean switching planes in Paris to the domestic line, Air Litoral, or coming in from London or Ireland on Ryan Air)
Montpelier - 92km - 1 1/2 hours
TGV (high speed train from Charles de Gaulle)  - within 10 minutes taxi ride to the bed and breakfast.

*Be sure that the reservations are combined with the airline reservations so as not to be lost if a plane is delayed. Allow sufficient time (at least an hour and a half) to get from plane, pick up luggage and find said train station.

BOOKING INFORMATION

For further inquiries or to register, click here.

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CANCELLATION POLICY

Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

CLIENT REMARKS

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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.

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