A Culinary Adventure in Provence

Presented by BoatShed Cheese

St Remy de Provence, France

30th April – 7th May, 2017
(8 days / 7 nights)

Only 2 places remaining!

Day One – Sunday          ARRIVAL

  • Group transfer by TGV from Tours to Avignon TGV then to St Remy de Provence or your own arrangements to the TGV Avignon for transfer to hotel.
  • Check into your beautiful spa hotel and perhaps sit by the pool in the sunshine.
  • Walk around town, dinner and olive oil tasting and dinner in a lovely local restaurant.

Day Two – Monday      ART AND HISTORY

  • Breakfast
  • AM. This morning will be a little relaxed with time to dwell on your lovely breakfast and then a leisurely walk up to the Van Gogh clinic and painting stops along the way. You may prefer to acquaint yourself with the town and as this a public holiday, there will be some local festivities but we haven’t been able to have the details confirmed yet.
  • PM. At about midday, our driver will collect us for a leisurely and picturesque drive through the Luberon – one
    Of France’s most loved regions. Lunch in a lovely local café. Although lavender won’t be in full bloom, we will visit a lavender producer as well as stop in some of the most popular towns to walk around the quaint little streets and spend some time in the village shops.
  • Dinner in St Remy at a lovely restaurant specializing in Bouillabaisse and Aioli – two Provencal favourites!
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Day Three – Tuesday 2nd May FOODIE HEAVEN AND PROVENCAL FAVOURITES

  • Breakfast
  • AM: This morning we will have an insight into the area’s best artisan producers with lots of tasting along the way. We’ll roam from shop to shop, tasting homemade chocolates, cookies, nougat, flavored salts, honey, olive oils, tapenades, confiture and more. Then we’ll move on to a cheese tasting at the most beautiful ‘cheese cave’ in the area, matched with local wine.
  • Lunch at the best local pizza place – De Pepe
  • PM. This afternoon, you will have some free time to shop, wander the streets and enjoy the ‘joie de vivre’ of this beautiful Provencal town.
  • Tonight we learn to cook Provencal favourites at a special evening cooking class and then dine together with the chef at his family home… a real treat! Chef Yvan is known for his outgoing personality and wonderful food and this evening will be a highlight!
shopping in st remy

Day Four – Wednesday         MARKET AND PATISSERIE

  • Breakfast
  • AM. This morning we visit the fabulous St. Remy market which winds up and down the avenues under the beautiful plane trees. A smorgasbord of produce, cheese, spices and Provencal specialties will all feature. There will be plenty of time to wander off if you wish and lunch will be at the famous
    ‘Le Café de la Place’ which is the best place to be on market day, and watch the world go by.
  • PM. This afternoon we will enjoy a ‘hands on’ pastry class and learn to make several French specialties. Our teacher for the day has worked in many well known restaurants and we will learn all the tips and
    tricks to easily replicate these recipes at home.
  • Dinner this evening will be at the fabulous restaurant ‘Gus’ – known for its lively atmosphere and great service. If you are an oyster lover, tonight is the night to try some new French varieties. Market specials are always great too as the chefs get their catch straight from the boats in Marseilles.

   Dining on the terrace if the weather permits!

lavender
patisserie3
gus restaurant

Day Five – Thursday             MARSEILLES, SUN AND SEAFOOD

  • Breakfast.
  • AM: Depart for a day trip to fabulous, exciting Marseilles where we will meet our private chef, Gilles. We will see the fishing boats and walk around the old fishing port then go to the fish market. Various varieties will be explained to us before we buy those we require for our regional fish soup. A short walk to the other shops for spices, vegetables and cheese and we will head to Gilles’ family home to cook!
  • Depending on the energy level of the group, we will have some time to walk around Marseilles or enjoy a drink on the promenade or take the local train which winds around the old town before heading back to St Remy for a quiet evening after such a busy day.
  • • Dinner plans will depend on the energy levels of the group!
day5
evening street scene

Day Six – Friday      AVIGNON GOURMET WALKING TOUR AND PAPAL PALACE

  • Breakfast.
  • AM: Today we enjoy a gourmet walk around the old cobblestoned streets of this gorgeous town and visit the best artisan shops to discover the traditions of Provencal food and shop where the locals shop.We will enjoy a generous tasting of local cheeses, cured meats, olives and taste some local olive oil. Our morning concludes with an introduction to Chateauneuf du Pape and a glass of this famous wine.
  • You will enjoy some free time for lunch – perhaps in one of the many bistros in the famous Place d’Horlonge before we meet again. This afternoon you can choose free time, the 14th century Palais du Papes or a boat ride on the tranquil Rhone River.
  • Dinner tonight is at the lovely L’Ail et la Cuisse in St Remy. Lovingly cooked local food and just a stone’s throw from our hotel!
day6
avignon2

Day Seven – Saturday    STUNNING SCENERY, OLIVES AND WINE

  • Breakfast
  • AM:  For our last full day, today we head to the stunning Vallée des Baux-de-Provence where roughly 500,000 olive trees and 12 mills produce 500 tons of oil per year and another 140 tons of table olives. This area is also known for wine: vast rows of plots in the foothills of Alpilles Mountains.
  • With our expert guide, we will start our day with a visit to a goat farm and olive mill before lunch in a historic, centuries old family farmhouse. The property is also a working farm and has been in the same family for generations. After lunch we will enjoy a picturesque drive around Les Baux before stopping at a wonderful local winery. This day has everything: stunning scenery, terrific tasting, and a lovely lunch. Spending a day in the countryside will also be relaxing and invigorating.
  • Return to our hotel to relax before our farewell dinner!
day7a

Day Eight – Sunday           DEPARTURE

  • Breakfast.
  • Group departure for those going to Marseilles airport
  • Group departure for those heading back to Paris.
  • As this is the regular Sunday Artist Market in St. Remy those with time to spare can leave their luggage at the hotel and take some time to wander around the streets and peruse the local artwork before departure.

Rate per person sharing twin room: € 2350

Single supplement: € 500

 

TO BOOK PLEASE CONTACT:
Tamara at BoatShed Cheese
Ph.: 0414-250-754
tamara@boatshedcheese.com

Rate per person includes:

  • Seven nights accommodations in St Remy de Provence,
  • Recipe folder, recipes and apron,
  • Meals: daily breakfast, lunches and dinners as per itinerary, wine included,
  • Cooking classes and excursions as per itinerary,
  • Entrance to all excursions,
  • Transportation for all excursions,
  • Group transfer from Le Calabash to St Remy de Provence,
  • Return/departure group transfer from St Remy to Paris.
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Testimonials

My first trip overseas without children or husband and what an absolutely wonderful and unforgettable experience it was, due in no small part to Tamara of Boatshed Cheese. Her expertise, patience, guidance, and recommendations, and the little extra touches she planned for us every step of the way, combined to make this one of the most enjoyable travel experiences of my life. I would heartily recommend Tamara of Boatshed Cheese to anyone contemplating a gourmet tour. I have already booked my next trip!! Sarah, Melbourne.

…the perfect trip away for anyone interested in food and cooking and Tamara was always there to coordinate everything for us. I have learnt so much, and made new friends along the way.  Tamara, thankyou for the food adventure of a lifetime!

Sue English-Donkers, Melbourne

…the most fantastic culinary adventure I have experienced! I cannot express strongly enough, how much I recommend Tamara and the expert team she has put together to plan our Culinary Journey through the finest regions of France.  This trip was a dream come true and I look forward to the next! Laura, USA

We reserve the right to substitute some activities on the itinerary in circumstances (such as weather) which are beyond our control

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