OCEAN DELIGHTS
Cooking & Cycling, Noirmoutier / France Atlantic Coast

5 days / 4 nights (Monday through Friday) : US$ 2390/pers.

Program highlights :
- Cooking classes with Executive Michelin-star Chef
- Food & Fish markets visits
- Visits to producers
- Walking & Cycling trails
- Noirmoutier cultural tour
- Gourmet lunches and dinners
- Luxury B&B accommodation
- Transfers and ground transportation

France is rich in costline but not so rich in islands which is fine. Aside to Ile d’Yeu and Ile aux Moines which are linked to the continent by ferry, Ré, Oléron or Noirmoutier are easy to get there by car only. After spending to many years exploring France and especially the Atlantic coast regions, my favourite island is Noirmoutier, guaranteeing a local experience.

Noirmoutier is only 50 miles distance from Nantes TGV train station linked to Paris within only 2 hours. It’s smaller than Ré and Oléron with only 19 sq-miles, and certainly one of France most picturesque island with whitewashed handsomely groomed little towns and hamlets, lively food markets, hollyhocks pushing through the cobblestones, mimosas, fragrant pine forests, pristine beaches and golden dunes, rocky coasts, scenic fishermen harbors, oysters parks, saltmarsh and agricultural plantations. Noirmoutier counts 4 little towns and     10 hamlets.

Most important historic town is Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile which remains a village…To explore the France of yore while enjoying the bounty and beauty offered by Mother Nature, Noirmoutier is the prefect destination for a cooking and stress-free vacation

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Nevertheless Noirmoutier is on the Atlantic coast, the island is blessed with a mild climate that allows mimosas to bloom. It’s considered as Carcassonne, Southwestern France similar temperature while providing a fragrant sea breeze. Noirmoutier gains its recognition thanks to its fleur de sel, tasteful vegetables and especially flavourful potatoes, seafoods, oysters, and fish. The ones that we buy directly at the harbour when fishermen just arrived from work early in the morning.

Lifestyle Vacations gained recognition for VIP-service and top-quality culinary tours offered, and designed by Corinne A. Preteur. Exclusive Ocean Delights program includes fine cooking classes run by Executive Michelin-star Chef Patrice. He owned Le Restaurant du Château before starting a luxury B&B and cooking school activities few years ago.

Corinne will never forget her first class she attended in Noirmoutier : “It was a festival, and the word is not strong enough to express what it was, not only delightful, and refined, but hearty with appetizers, starters, fish, oysters, delightful vegetables, and amazing desserts. We spent  3 hours in the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous dinner using top-quality and fresh ingredients, organic vegetables and fruits that grow in the nearby village. It could be weird, but the salad and raw carrots had such a great taste that it remains unforgettable!”

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Our courses are operated in the B&B’s kitchen, perfectly equiped, and spacious enough to welcome 4 to 6 participants. The kitchen is bright with a large window opening to an outdoor court from one side, and from the other side, we can exit to the kitchen garden, and take the aromatic herbs we need for our dishes. Isn’t it convenient and wonderful ? Our program includes 3 hands-on cooking classes taught by Chef Patrice in French, and coordinated by Corinne Preteur in English.

Each class lasts 3 hours, scheduled in the morning or in the afternoon depending on the itinerary and visits, and followed by tasting lunch or dinner accompanied by wine.Executive chef Patrice provides a very clear and simple teaching, and takes a lot of time to explain the cooking techniques, as well as the presentation on the plate. Classes are hands-on, coordinated in English by Corinne Preteur. It’s geared towards amateurs and professionals, beginners and advanced

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Noirmoutier is a small island with no traffic. Cycling there is a heaven, and the best way  to visit local productions (saltmarsh, organic potatoes, vegetables and fruits, oystes, goat cheese). Walking 2-hour sightseeing of historic Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile (first inhabitants were the monks at the 9th) is operated by a professional tour guide.

However it’s necessary to take the car for visiting the professional fish market “La Criée” at l’Herbaudiere harbour, and for going to “Le Passage du Gois” which was the unique road to the continent before building the bridge in the 70’s. It’s still possible to drive there but only at low tide. Excursion by car incudes the visit at wind mills.Itinerary includes time free for shopping and relaxing, as well as gourmet lunches and dinners at starred restaurants

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From the moment you enter this former fishermen ground-floor house covered with pink tiles, you know you're in a special place.La Maison de l’Ile is the most elegant place to stay in Noirmoutier, combining a hotelier and chef’s experience to his wife’s sophisticated design eyes. Renovated few years ago, this B&B Inn is luxurious but not uptight, intimate but not cramped. It provides 5 rooms and suite accommodations decorated with a great taste celebrating the seaside atmosphere.

Each one is different, furnished with king-size or twin beds, with a direct access to a private terrace or garden. All are air-conditioned, and provide private bathrooms with modern amenities.The property has a wifi internet access. The private pool and open-air Jacuzzi are just perfect to relax after cycling the island, and visiting historic sites, and local producers.Remember you stay at a chef’s house! Delicious home-made French breakfasts with many tasty selections are served in the dining room on on the terrace when weather allows.

Dinners are just amazing…La Maison de l’Ile offers the serenity of a quiet residential neighbourhood while being a short stroll walking to the middle of hustle and bustle with shopping, restaurants, cafés, pristine beaches, and cycling safe paths

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DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 (Monday) : Welcome to Nantes and Noirmoutier
- Welcome at Nantes TGV station, and private transfer by car to Noirmoutier.
- Check-in. Walking tour in Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile charming little town. 
- Welcome aperitif and dinner at the property.
- Overnight at La Maison de l’Ile.

Day 2 (Tuesday) : Market visit, cooking class & lunch. Afternoon cycling tour to the north of the island, including visit to producers. Gourmet dinner at Michelin-star restaurant.
- Morning home-made breakfast at La Maison de l’Ile.
- Food market visit with the chef, 3-hour cooking class and 3-course tasting lunch accompanied by wine to follow.
- Afternoon cycling tour to the saltmarsh, and to the goat cheese farm nearby l’Herbaudière which is only 3 miles distance to the property.
- Relaxing time at the property.
- Gourmet dinner at Le Restaurant du Chateau, 2 blocks to the property.
- Overnight at La Maison de l’Ile.

Day 3 (Wednesday) : Morning visit to oysters, mussels and vegetables/fruits producers. Afternoon cooking class followed by food & wine paiting dinner.
- Morning home-made breakfast at La Maison de l’Ile before enjoying visits to local producers. Today, participants will meet with an oysters and mussels producer, and also with Serge who produces unparalleled organic vegetables and fruits. All will guide you through their farms, and offer tastings. Unpossible to taste the oysters without a glass of Muscadet dry white wine!
- Lunch at l’Epine village. 
- Afternoon walk or relaxation on beaches before returning back to the property at around 4:00pm.
- Hands-on cooking class starts at 4:30pm. It celebrates the healthy Atlantic coast cuisine using freshest ingredients from the island and from the ocean.
- Food & wine pairing dinner follows the class.
- Overnight at La Maison de l’Ile.

Day 4 (Thursday) : Fish market visit, cooking class and lunch. Afternoon visit to Le Gois & wind mills. Dinner at Michelin-star restaurant.
- Morning home-made breakfast at La Maison de l’Ile
- Early morning visit to the fish market at l’Herbaudiere with the chef. You will meet with fishermen and wholesalers. Fish market is called La Criée.
- We will be back to the property at around 10:30am for starting our 3rd and last cooking class with Executive Chef Patrice. Class is geared towards fish and shellfish.
- Tasting lunch follows.
- Afternoon visits and relaxing. We will drive to Le Gois, located south. This road drives to the continent at low tide only. It’s absolutely unique ! On the way back we will stop at the wind mills which is another great spot on the island, and offer scenic views for photos.
- We will be back to the property at around 5:00pm to relax, or make shopping.
- Gourmet farewell dinner at Michelin-star restaurant La Marine.
- Overnight at La Maison de l’Ile.

Day 5 (Friday) : Morning free for shopping or relaxing. Noon check-out. Transfer to Nantes TGV station.
- Breakfast at La Maison de l’Ile. Morning is free for relaxing or shopping.
- Open-air market is scheduled on Fridays.
- Noon check-out.
- Private transfer by car to Nantes TGV station

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PRICE PER PERSON (double occupency) : US$ 2,390.00
Single supplement US$ 330
• Please note that prices are subject to change based on exchange rates. Call for updated rates.

PRICE INCLUDES
• Nantes train station round-trip transfer
• 5 days ground transportation by private car
• 2 days Bicycle rental
• 4 nights luxury B&B accommodation, double occupancy
• 4 home-made breakfasts
• Welcome aperitif and dinner at the property on arrival
• 2 gourmet dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants
• 3 hands-on cooking classes celebrating the fine and healthy Atlantic coast cuisine, and    followed by food & wine pairing tasting lunches and dinner
• Food and fish markets visits with the chef
• Visits to local producers as detailed in the itinerary
• Guided sightseeing of Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile by walking with a professional tour guide
• Excursion on the island by car to Le Gois, and to wind mills.

NOT INCLUDED
• International airfare to France
• TGV to Nantes
• Drinks at the restaurants for dinners
• Personal insurance and personal expenses

2012 TOUR DATES