Cooking in the charming Luberon in Provence

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For sure, Provence attracts visitors from worldwide, thanks to its breathtaking landscapes, its sunny and warm climate, its artistic spots and its delicious healty cuisine. But Provence is a wide region spreading from the southern Alps to the Mediterranean, and each tiny area boasts its unique character with its little villages and local producers to visit.

« This new itinerary and program have been created and raised for a couple of months during my last reporting in Vaucluse to discover the secrets of the lifestyle in Provence. It all begun at Buoux, a tiny Provencal village surrounded by cliffs and lavender fields which attracts climbers from worldwide. I didn’t climb but walked all along the trails of the Luberon Regional Park, discovering the villages nearby : Sivergues and its honeybee farm, Saignon on the hilltop built around its three religious buildings (chapel, the clock’s tower and the roman church) without forgetting Bonnieux and Lourmarin, amidst vineyards and olive trees, with picturesque streets, gurgling fountains, houses dating back from the seventeenth centuries, home to numerous artists bu also to artisans who found there the inspiration to keeping their arts alive. This program is dedicated to Veronique, a gilder on wood artist and owner of a quaint guesthouse, who made me discovering an amazing hidden paradise and introduced me to Francis Madden its Chef and owner… ». 
“Merci” Veronique !
Corinne A. PRETEUR
Founder & Director of Lifestyle Vacations

YOUR LOCATION

Located in the Bonnieux countryside, 40 miles west from Avignon, the property is a beautifully restored nineteenth century farm nestled between the Luberon hills and a mountain river. It’s absolutly the perfect place to explore the surrounding nature and the Provencal cuisine, and to relax under the centuries trees or around the pool or inside if the weather allows, or in the salon at the winter around the stone fireplace.
The elegant building shelters 11 spacious rooms furnished with antiques and individually decorated in a refined Provençal style. All have their private bathrooms with all amenities.

YOUR CULINARY EXPERIENCE

But the main interest for you, epicureans and food lovers, remains in the cuisine and its exploration ! Like major Executive chefs, Francis Madden has a true passion for cooking and loves to share the secrets of his cuisine with the food enthusiasts. Classes are held in the property, in the kitchen and in the organic vegetable riverside garden, as well as on the marketplace to purchase culinary essentials.
You will experience a unique flavoured Provencal gourmet adventure in intimate hands-on cooking classes with the chef. From the basics to the advanced, you will prepare each day a different three-course meal with fresh products only that you will pair with local wines and taste in a friendly atmosphere afterward.
Besides your classes and market’s purchases with the chef, you will join Isabelle, our regional guide, in private tours to visit a lavender distillery and local food artisans : a goat cheese maker, a honeybee farm, an olive mill, a traditional family vineyard and enhance your undertanding in the different wines from Provence. Each visit is followed by a tasting.

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SAMPLE ITINERARY

> Day 1 (Sunday)
Private transfer from Avignon TGV station
Welcome dinner at the property and night.

> Day 2 (Monday)
After your breakfast you will begin your first hands-on cooking class in the kitchen of the property. Today, you will pick some fresh herbs from the vegetable garden for use in your recipes
The class is followed by a lunch with the chef; participants will taste what they have prepared
Afternoon visit to a local food artisan, such as the honeybee farm in Sivergues
Dinner and night at the property

> Day 3 (Tuesday)
After the breakfast is an excursion to Gordes and a visit of the country market with the Chef. You will choose the ingredients for your second class.
Lunch of your efforts with the chef
In the afternoon, visit to a traditional family vineyard followed by a tasting.
Dinner and night at the property

> Day 4 (Wednesday)
Morning cooking lesson followed by a lunch with the chef
Afternoon visit to a goat cheese maker
Dinner at the Michelin starred gourmet restaurant « La Feniere » run by the female chef Reine Sammut
Night at the property

> Day 5 (Thursday)
Morning cooking class, probably and advanced one… !
Lunch with the chef
Afternoon private guided tour of the perched village of Lourmarin followed a visit to La Ferme Decouverte Gerbaud, producing organic Provencal aromatic herbs and essential oils
Farewell dinner at the property and night

> Day 6 (Friday)
After you breakfast, check-out and private transfer to the Avignon TGV station.

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PRICES PER PERSON

$ 3215.00 (based on double occupancy)
Single supplement : $ 330.00
Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange.
Call for updated rates
Special rate for two cooking participants : $ 6,350.00 (based on double occupancy)

Price includes : 5 nights single accomodation (except for our promotion rate which is based on a double occupancy), 4 hands-on three-hour cooking classes followed by the lunch, all breakfasts, all dinners (four at the property and one in la Feniere Michelin starred restaurant), private transfers from/to Avignon station, all ground transportation in a private minibus, private guided tours, excursions and visits mentioned in the itinerary, entrance tickets.
Not included : airfare to/from the USA and in France, drinks, personal insurance and personal expenses.

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2008 TOUR DATES

March 30 – April 4
September 7 – 12
September 21 – 26
October 5 – 10
November 2 - 7

A minimum of 4 participants is required for each session.
Tours are limited to 8 persons.

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