"Cook' in Colmar", a program dedicated
to the arts and gastronomy's lovers

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Perfectly located on the "Route des Vins", Colmar is one of the best places to explore the culture and cuisine of Alsace.

Capital of the Alsatian wines, Colmar is also a city of art and history, showing to the visitors the riches of its unique heritage. Colmar has to be discovered by walking, all along rivers and canals, picturesque quarters such as "La Petite Venise", a cozy neighborhood of timbered fairy-tale buildings, "Le Quartier des Tanneurs" or "Le Quai de la Poissonnerie". Criss-crossed by medieval and renaissance architecture (from the 11th century to now), Colmar boasts extraordinaire houses, buildings and churches. Collegiale Saint-Martin (1235-1370), Koïfhus (1480), Maison Pfister (1537), Maison des têtes (1609) cannot be missed !
At the Santa season, Colmar hosts beautiful Christmas markets which feature handcrafted ornaments, gifts and food items. Enjoy the Christmas shopping while sipping mulled wine and "bredele" or Christmas biscuits !

As your cooking vacation has to be a unique experience, we have choosen for you a typical cookery school "La Cuisine du 15" owned by the chef Anny Mayer, native from the village of Eguisheim and former chef at the restaurants L'Arbeletrier and Hostellerie du Pape. Besides the traditional receipes that Anny has always the same pleasure to share with her trainees, you will also learn a more gastronomic and refined cuisine easy to do at home for special occasions.

Anny's school is located in the historic district, minutes walking from your charming four-star hotel « La Maison des Têtes », a seventeeth-century building among the most beautiful in the city.

Besides your cooking classes, we will discover the region by private minibus with our English-speaking guide : Colmar of course but also the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, the beautiful villages of Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr and Kaysersberg, Eguisheim and its vineyards, Strasbourg or Munster Valley, depending on the season.

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SAMPLE ITINERARY

> DAY 1 (Sunday afternoon) : Private transfer from Bale-Mulhouse airport to downtown Colmar. Welcome drink at the hotel with our tour co-ordinator who will brief shortly on the tours. Dinner in a typical Alsatian brasserie.

> DAY 2 (Monday) : Morning cooking class from 9:00 to 12:30 followed by the lunch at the school. At 3 :00pm you will join your guide for a sightseeing of Colmar. You will visit the best spots of the historic Colmar : Quartier des Tanneurs, La Petite Venise, Quai de la Poissonnerie, Maison Pfister, Maison des Têtes, Koïfhus (the old-custom), etc. Evening free. Dinner on your own.

> DAY 3 (Tuesday) : Morning cooking class with Anny Mayer followed by lunch. Afternoon excursion of the "Route des Vins" (north of Colmar) : Haut Koenigsbourg castle, sightseeing tours of picturesque villages of Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr. Visit of a typical brewery with a beers' tasting. Retun to Colmar around 7:30pm. Evening free. Dinner on your own.

> DAY 4 (Wednesday) : Full-day excursion in Alsace with two different options depending on the season and your request :
1/ "Route des Crêtes" (crests road) located in the south of Colmar. Arriving in Munster, visit of a cheese factory followed by a tasting. Lunch in a typical auberge-farm. In the afternoon, continuing tour in the mountains around the lakes and Bonhomme Pass. On the way back, stop to the great village of Kaysersberg that you will visit by walking. Visit of a traditional distillery of Alsatian "eaux-de-vie" (liquors). Return to Colmar around 6:30pm. Evening free. Dinner on your own.
2/ Strasbourg complete sightseeing tour including a lunch in the typical brasserie "Chez Yvonne" : visit of Conseil de l'Europe, European Parliament, Palais des Droits de l'Homme, historic quarters of the old-Strasbourg like the "Petite France" and its canals, Maison Kammerzell, cathedrale, etc.
On the way back to Colmar, you will stop at the village of Niedermorschwihr to visit Christine Ferber and taste her jams, probably to best in France. Return to Colmar around 6:00pm. Evening free. Dinner on your own.

> DAY 5 (Thursday) : At 9:00, visit of the market with your chef, followed by a three-hour cooking class from 11:00 to 2:00 pm. Lunch at the school. Free time for shopping in Colmar. Evening free. Dinner on your own.

> DAY 6 (Friday) : Morning cooking class with Anny Mayer followed by lunch.
Around 3:00pm, departure for your excursion to visit of Eguisheim, famous for its vineyards and wines. Visit of Domaine du Bollenberg on the hills by walking. This is where the famous "Clos Saint-Appoline" grands crus are growing. Your guide will show the cellars while explaining the process of wine-making, the vintages, etc. Wine-tasting farewell dinner at Domaine du Bollenberg. Return to Colmar at night.

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PRICES PER PERSON

$ 3,335.00 (based on double occupancy)
$ 3,035.00 for a non-cooking participant
Single supplement : $ 270.00
Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange. Call for updated rates.

Prices include :
• Round trip transfers from/to Bale-Mulhouse airport
• 6 nights accommodation in the most charming four-star hotel
(double occupancy)
• All breakfasts and lunches
• The dinner on Sunday and the wine-tasting dinner on Friday (drinks included),
• Four hands-on cooking classes (3 hours each)
• Colmar sightseeing tour
• One full-day excursion to Strasbourg or on the Crest Road
• Two half-day excursions and visits
• Vineyard visits and wine tastings

Not included : airfare from the US and from France, dinners which are not mentioned in « prices include », personal expenses and personal insurance.

Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange.
Call for updated rates.

Non-cooking participants can attend to a three half-day wine class at the Alsace Wine School (CIVA) in Colmar. Alsace produces one of the finest French white wines (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Sylvaner) but also an outstanding Tokay Pinot Gris which reveals all its flavours on a delicious poultry cooked served with a creamy mushroom emulsion. Private courses can be run in English for a minimum of 4 participants.
Please contact us for additional information.

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2006 TOUR DATES

December 3-9 : Christmas Markets' special

TOUR DATES

2007
April 1-7 (Easter Special)
May 13- 19
June 17-23
July 1-7 (Colmar Music Festival special)
July 8-14 (Bastille Day special)
August 12-18
August 19-25
September 2-8
October 7-13 (Christmas Market Special)
November 4-10 (Christmas Market Special)

2008
March 23-29
May 25-31
June 15-21
July 12-18 (Bastille Day Special)
August 3-9
August 17-23
August 31 - Sept 5
October 5-11 (Christmas Market Special)
November 2-8 (Christmas Market Special)

A minimum of 6 participants is required for the cooking classes

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