jlsayre

Anyone been on a casual cooking tour. Want it to not only have cooking but barge and wine. Maybe the south of france?

Francie

JS.
Don't know of any cooking schools while barging through France, but Hubby and I spent a wonderful week "Food Vacation" in Provence in the medieval village of Bonnieux. We stayed in a French woman's home while she demonstrated her Provencal cooking techniques each night. During the day we would visit varioius villages, tour mrkets, wineries, etc. The experience is something we will never forget.
Francie

cigalechanta

Francie, Was that at Nathalie Waag's house?

dabro95708

The 6-passenger hotel barge Etoile does combine casual cooking instruction with wine tours, bicycling and other sightseeing excursions.

This may be exactly what you are looking for and the barge cruises in Provence & Camargue.

The on-board chef - Cobie - is very talented and passionate about what she does, and she always welcomes guests in her kitchen.

Complete details on this barge trip are online at www.francecruises.com

Hope this will help,

John

jlsayre

Would love to know the name of the womans home in Bonnieux. Sounds what I am looking for. thanks

BevK

The best vacation we've had was with Cooking With Friends near Grasse in the south of France. It is based in Julie Child and Simone Beck's homes. The program is a week long and includes cooking classes in Julia's kitchen, tours of the market in Cannes, a cheese cave, a tour of the kitchen and meals at Michelin starred restaurants and more. The groups are small - 6 to 8 people (my family of seven did this together and it sparked a love of cooking in both of my sons). The program is run by Kathy Alex, who is American so there is no language problem. Classes and tours were usually in the morning, with afternoons and evenings on our own to tour the area. We stayed in Julia and Simone's wonderful French country homes. More info is available at www.cookingwithfriends.com. I would highly recommend it. All of us agreed it was our best vacation ever.

islandmom

AWWWW- I'm so jealous!

cigalechanta

jsayre, I'm sure it is Nathalie Waag. She cooked for awhile with Alice Waters.

jlsayre

I tried to look up Nathalie Waag's Bonnieux France and cooking schools but couldn't find anything can you help? How can I contact them? thanks

cigalechanta

you should be ble to do it here.
http://www.activegourmetholidays.com...provence.shtml

cigalechanta

P.S. I looked for an old postcard she sent me but no address but Bonniex is not a huge village, mail should get to her.

tourist

There is a list of cooking schools available at the following website:

http://www.women24.com/W24/Display/w...0_1550,00.html

If the link does not work, go to http://www.women24.com, click on travel, go to the bottom of the page to the topic "Cultural" and click on "Cook's holiday"

Francie

Cigalechanta,

Hi. Sorry I haven't answered sooner, but just returned from a trip to Calif.

In answer to your question...Yes, it definately is my friend Nathalie Waag's house. Sorry to report, but Nathalie no longer offers her cooking vacations in her home. Nathalie sold her village home to a couple (Americans) from Maine and keeps a small apt only in the house when she is bck in Provence. Most recently Nathalie W. divides her time between Bonnieux and Morrocco.

When Nathalie is back in Provence for the summers, she works for a couple (Hans Meijer and Candee Christoforides) in Dieulefit nearer to Bordeaux where they own a cooking school. Nathalie is a cooking instructor (along with other instructors) at the beautiful Chateau de Mazenc.

If you would like to search further, here is their website:

http://www.cookinginprovence.com

Also, you are correct that Nathalie and Alice Waters are friends. It was from Nathalie whom AW got her inspiration of cooking all fresh foods in season.

I will always remember fondly our wonderful week in Bonnieux at NWs home.
An experience will never forget!

Best, Francie

cigalechanta

Welcome back Francie, yes that url I posted above for jlsare mentions the chateau and Nathalie.

cigalechanta

P.S. Whatever happened to the plans Alice Waters had to open a restaurant in Paris?

Francie

CC,

I was wondering the same also. I heard it was going to be at the Louvre. Had you heard the same?

Francie

cigalechanta

Yes, Francie, but that was last year in the times that I read of those plans and I wondered if I overlooked it's opening but I guess not.

cmt

I haven't taken a cooking tout, but here are some that I've heard of:




http://www.cookfrance.com/site/pages/home.html

Some years this co. has a cooking/walking tour in Provence, but it doesn?t seem to have it on the current schedule. http://www.bctwalk.com/Country%20pages/France03.html

http://www.journalfrancais.com/ME2/A...C844460299C66F

For something in Sicily rather than France: http://www.sicily-hotels.com/cucina_...e/eleonora.htm

andy

To jlsayre-

I have something that is probably exactly what you are looking for...
We did a tour ( only 14 people max) thru Burgundy-during wine harvest season.

The tour encompassed visits to wineries and tastings- Wines you will NEVER see in the US, lunch and dinners- a lot in 2 and 3 star Michelin hotels, assorted cooking classes-very low key and easy...plus we stayed in awesome hotels and Chateauxs....

GO to www.villasandvoyages and click on Savor of France...

CALL the phone number and ask to speak to DAVID...they do not answer emails...

THEY do tours thru ALSACE,Provence,Burgundy,Champagne,The Riviera, and Bourdeaux....

You just have to pick which area you want to tour thru-ALL do the wineries and have cooking classes and fabulous meals....It was THE most awesome vacation we ever took!!!

It also included a one day Barge cruise with a picnic lunch on the Barge...FABULOUS TIME.....


Quick- go to their website and look!
You will be pleasantly surprised!!

andy

to jlsayre- I meant we ATE at 2 and 3 star Michelin restaurants!!

It was to die for!