AVIGNON « Cooking in the City of the Popes »

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Our location : “La Mirande” in downtown Avignon

A globally important cultural center since pre-Roman times, Avignon is a city of great history and beauty. The 14th century Popes’ Palace dominates the old city-center as the most prominent remaining example of the town's long and prestigious history, overlooking the Rhone river and the famous Saint Benezet's bridge from a hilltop. The city-center is filled with winding mediaeval streets with cobblestones glowing in the warm southern sun, and ancient buildings nestled into each other along the pathways.
Choosing Avignon in Provence as your French destination is also having the guarantee of an elegant place to stay. La Mirande is the best. This small luxury four-star hotel, adjacent to the Popes’ Palace, has been beautifully renovated in the style of an 18th century noble's palace. Here, also, time has stopped : the elegant rooms, lobby, tea room, restaurant, bar and terraces create such an atmosphere of calm and rest that guests slip away into centuries past, enjoying luxuries uncommon in our modern busy world.

“Le Marmiton”, your cooking school

Here you will experience the authentic Provençale cuisine in a rare spot, hidden away from time. Le Marmiton is one of the most reputed cooking school in France, located in the stone building of La Mirande. The original 19th century kitchen of this ancient house have been renovated while maintaining its charm and authenticity. Around a huge wood-block table you will share the secrets of the most renowned chefs of Provence in intimate hands-on classes of 10 participants maximum.

Usually Le Marmiton organizes the classes with a different chef for each class. Quite frankly, it’s not “our cup of tea”. For Lifestyle Vacations, you will experience the Provencal cuisine with the Executive chef Jean-Claude A., in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Cooking classes of three-hour each take place every morning (as we asked). Afterwards, you seat around the massive oak table as taste what you have prepared. It’s the time to relax and continue the discussions with your chef.. According to the season and the fresh products from the market, you will experience different recipes and keep the right techniques to success your meals. In January and February, you could explore the delicacy of truffles, a program available on week-ends only, but which can be completed by a Lyon or Paris’ culinary and shopping discovery.
Check our programs in both cities !

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Excursions and visits besides your hands-on classes

Aside from your busy schedule of learning French culinary secrets, and exploring the unique and elegant La Mirande, you will discover the city of Avignon with a private English-speaking guide. An excursion on the Wines Route of Chateauneuf-du-Pape is also proposed, including a visit of a vineyard with a wine expert followed by a tasting. Symbol of Provence, the olives develop a dynamic activity : the occasion to stop at the traditional mill “La Balméenne” located in the village of Beaumes-de-Venise (an hour drive from Avignon) and see how the black and green fruits are transformed into the finest “virgin extra” nectar. The visit is also followed by a tasting.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

> DAY 1 (Sunday)
Private transfer from Avignon train station to La Mirande. Check-in at your hotel. Around 7:00pm, a welcome aperitif will be served at the bar or in garden (if the weather allows) where you will meet with your guide. It will be the occasion to review your weekly program.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel

> DAY 2 (Monday)
After your breakfast, you will follow your first cooking class with the Executive chef Jean Claude A. Your three-hour hands-on class from 9:00 am to noon is followed by the lunch (you will taste what you have prepared).
At 3:00pm, you will join your guide for a private Avignon sightseeing.
Dinner by your own (a listing of selected restaurants will be given to you)
Overnight at the hotel

> DAY 3 (Tuesday)
After your breakfast, here’s your second hands-on class !
After the lunch at “La table d’hote” (your cooking school’s kitchen), your chauffeur will drive you in a private minibus to Chateauneuf-du-Pape on the “Route des Vins”. Visit of a vineyard with a wine expert, followed by a wine tasting.
Dinner by your own (a listing of selected restaurants will be given to you)
Overnight at the hotel

> DAY 4 (Wednesday)
After your early breakfast, you will walk to “Les Halles” the market of Avignon. With your chef Jean-Claude, you will buy the ingredients for your third cooking class beginning around 10:30 am. After your lunch, we thought that a free afternoon will be appreciated to do some shopping or simply relax.
At 8:00pm, you will dine in a typical bistro (country-style cuisine).
Overnight at the hotel

> DAY 5 (Thursday)
It’s already your last class ! Time is always running too fast when we spend good time in wonderful places…
The cooking class will take place today from 9:00 to 12:00. After the lunch at the guest table, you will go to Beaumes-de-Venise (about 30mn by car). The city is famous for its sweety wines (wonderful with a foie gras for example or with a dessert). Beaumes is also the place of “La Balméenne”, a traditional mill dated back 1925 which produces a finest virgin-extra olive oil. Visit of the mill followed by a tasting. On the way back to Avignon, you will stop to visit a vineyard.
Farewell wine tasting dinner at La Mirande (with 4 different wines by the glass)
Overnight at the hotel

> DAY 6 (Friday)
After your breakfast, private transfer to Avignon TGV station.

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PRICES PER PERSON

$ 4,350.00 (based on double occupancy)
$ 3,960.00 for a non-cooking participant
Single supplement : $ 935.00
Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange.
Call for updated rates
Special rate for two cooking participants : $ 8,550.00 (based on double occupancy)
$ 350.00 discount for a non cooking participant

PRICE INCLUDES :
private transfer from/to Avignon train station to the hotel
5 nights accomodation at La Mirande (double occupancy) in a Deluxe room
5 breakfasts
4 hands-on cooking classes of three hours each, followed by lunches at the guest table
welcome aperitif (glass of champagne and home-made salty pastry) served before your dinner
two dinners at La Mirande (one is a “food & wine harmony” with 4 wines by the glass included)
one dinner at “Le Bistrot Lyonnais” run by Yves Meudan
private sighseeing tour in Avignon (English-speaking guide)
Two excursions to Chateauneuf-du-Papes and Beaumes-de-Venise in a private air-conditioned minibus, escorted by a private guide
Private visits of the vineyards with a wine expert
Private visit to the olive oil mill
Wine and olive oil tastings at the vineyards and at the mill

Non-cooking participants: all lunches at the guest table
with the cooking participants are included in our price

NOT INCLUDED : airfare to/from the USA and France, the dinners on Day 2 and 3, drinks with the meals (except for the dinner on Day 5), personal expenses and personal insurance.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on exchange rates

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TOUR DATES

2007
April 9-14
May 7-12
June 11-16
August 26-31
September 17-22

2008
April 7-12
May 12-17
June 9-14
September 1-6
September 15-20

A minimum of 8 participants is required for each session.
Tours are limited to 12 persons

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