One Day Artisan Food Tour

St. Remy

 

Our favorite tour by far! Your fully bi-lingual guide will pick you up at your hotel or rental villa around 9 am…or rendezvous in St. Remy. And then we hit the rue running! First stop: a visit to the only olive mill in St. Remy, where fifth generation brother-and-sister farmers tend 5,000 trees and make a wide range of fantastic products. We’ll comparison taste the various olives and oils…plus tapenades, anchoiade, sun-dried tomato spreads, confitures and all sorts of other homemade goodies. Then we’ll head back to the village where we’ll roam from shop to shop, tasting artisan chocolates, cookies and calissons, fruits confits, honey and more. At some point, we'll take a break for a wonderful coffee...gotta keep our energy up! After lunch in one of our favorite local spots (local wine included), we’ll head over to an excellent local patissier for a two-hour hands-on class where you’ll learn to make four or five different popular French treats such as croissants, pain au chocolat, macarons, lemon tart or other goodies. Then we’ll pop in at our favorite goat farm, to meet the goats, possibly see the milking and taste a few of the delicious award-winning cheeses made there.  If there’s time, we’ll slip into a local winery, to learn a bit about the varietals and wines of the AOC Les Baux and be led in a short tasting. The day ends around 7 pm. Note: this tour can be expanded to multiple days…or skip the baking class and we’ll replace it with other visits and tastings. 2021 Prices: This fully escorted one-day food tour is 300€ per person for adults, including lunch, baking class, all tastings. Under 18s pay 150€ (min age 14, please). Sorry, we can’t go out with fewer than two people but if your schedule is flexible, we’ll try to pair you with other fun foodies. Available: year round.

 

Foodies on the Loose!

A walking tour in St. Remy

 

St. Remy is filled with artisinal food producers, working in traditional ways, keeping local food traditions alive. And luckily many of them have shops and workshops, right in the heart of the village. To give you a taste, we're now offering our most-popular full-day tour--St. Remy for Foodies--in an additional way. You can still book an artisan food tour privately any day you like--meaning you and your peeps have the driver/guide to yourself for the day. (That day includes visits to an olive mill, a goat farm/cheesemaker and a baking class; see above.) But just about any day of the week can offer an edited version of the full-day tour...on foot...for mixed groups. This means you'll be paired with other travelers (tours are ten people max) for a very-full, very-filling, very-fun morning! Your guide will rendezvous with you at the Tourist Office around 9:30 and then we hit the rue running! Staying in the heart of the village (with minimal walking) we’ll roam from shop to shop, tasting homemade chocolates, cookies, calissons, nougat, honey, olive oils, tapenades, confitures and more. Along the way you'll get a taste of the rich history of this cobblestoned village ...and a glimpse into local life from your charming guide. The tour ends around noon and we'll happily recommend a restaurant for lunch. Or, we can do the same tour in the afternoon, starting around 2 pm. A cheese tasting with wine can be added for an additional 25€ pp. 2021 Prices: 80€ per person for adults, 50€ for ages 12 to 18 and 30€ for kids 6 to 12. Kids under 6 are welcome to join the party free, as long as they're fearless and willing to taste! If you're solo and we don't have others on the tour, we'll be delighted to tour you for 150€. Available: On demand, year round, whatever day you prefer, morning or afternoon.

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Easy Rider: An Ebike Tour for Foodies

St. Remy

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Discover the striking, natural beauty of the Alpilles Mountain region from the comfy seat of an electric bike. Your guide will choose a nice and easy route along the shady and peaceful canal des alpilles and the bike path without trafic. Along the way you'll visit a few of our favorite local artisan food producers on picturesque, family owned properties: *An olive oil mill where they make 6 award-winning oils and a wide range of other delicious local products such as tapenade and confiture and honey. * A small charming winery in a 17th century mas, where we’ll be offered wine (bien sur!) and other local products. * An authentic, off-the-beaten-track goat cheese farm where plenty of animals run free. We’ll milk the goats, taste the milk and of course sample the delicious cheeses. * A beautiful manade (ranch) where they raise bulls for the famous and traditional "course camarguaise…where we'll nibble their special bull saucisson. All told, you’ll be doing a roughly a 20 km loop with rides along the canal and a bike path in the gorgeous countryside surrounding St. Remy...with 3 to 4 visits with tastings depending on timing and schedule. Half day tours are 9 am to 1 pm or 2 pm to 6 pm. The half-day tour price includes electric bikes, helmets, bottled water, all tastings and your foodie bike guide. 2022 Prices: A half-day tour (for 2 people minimum) is 175€pp; additional bikers are 50€ pp. Kids prices depend on age and size. We can take kids of all ages, using a bike seat, a bike trailer or a "follow me."  Ages 9 and up usually ride their own bikes. Available: year round, morning or afternoon, but in July and August we suggest biking in the am to avoid the heat.

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Two Hour Hands-On Pastry Workshop

St. Remy

 

Working with a top local patissier in St. Remy, learn how to make a number of the most-popular French sweets. These might include traditional or almond croissants, pain au chocolat, macarons, lemon tart, mille feuille and religieuse. This is great fun for all ages...kids are welcome. In addition to new skills and more confidence in French baking, you’ll take home a bag of delicious goodies that you made yourself. The class is 40€ per hour, minimum two hours, per adult. (Most people do a two-hour class.) Kids 8 to 13 are 25€ per hour, with two paying adults. Under 8 is free with 2 paying adults. For kids classes, please inquire about pricing. For those who don’t speak French, we’ll send a translator for an extra 30€ per hour. Please note that we can't provide printed recipes for you to take home...but if you'd like to take notes, photos or even video, you're welcome to. Chef prefers to teach between 1 and 4 pm, Tuesday through Friday although other days are possible upon request. Available: year round.

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Three-Hour Hands-On Bread Baking Workshop

Tarascon

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In a beautifully restored 18th-century mas (farmhouse) in Tarascon, 15 minutes west of St. Remy, learn to make a number of delicious and popular breads--Provencal, French and otherwise--in a fun three-hour class. Breads might include: a version of the classic French baguette, pains au lait (deliciously soft little sandwich breads reminiscent of brioche), dark Irish soda bread, rosemary focaccia, no-knead seven-cereal bread (cooked in a Dutch oven), croissants and pain au chocolat. You'll go home with recipes and of course, all the delicious things you made! Class can be taught in French or English or both. Prices: 150€ pp; minimum two people; group prices available. Available: year round.

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Family Style Meals from a Worldly French Chef

St. Remy

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After many years spent living abroad (she owned a French bistro in Brooklyn and an American cafe in Barcelona!) this charming self-taught chef is now back in her native Provence, living in St. Remy and cooking a comforting style of Provencal cuisine that often incorporates flavors she mastered on her travels including Spanish, Thai, Middle Eastern and Southern American. “I’m extremely curious and always learning,” she says. “I love to eat and always plan my travels around food shopping and restaurants!” While she’s happy to prepare plated meals served in multiple courses, she much prefers cooking family style, meaning one main dish with many delicious sides, which she believes makes for the most-welcoming table. A chef-prepared meal in your villa, with a customized family-style menu and wine, begins at 60€ per adult  (min 4 people). Or, she’ll prepare your meal in her own kitchen and drop it off for you for you to reheat as you wish. Meal delivery to rental villas from 50€ per person (min 4 people). Available: Year round.

 

Cooking Classes and More...in a Foodie Country House

Tarascon

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In an enchanting setting--a beautifully restored 18th-century mas (farmhouse) in Tarascon, 15 minutes west of St. Remy—enjoy a morning or late-afternoon cooking class followed by a meal. The multi-lingual chef/owner is a wonderful hostess and instructor who after 40 years abroad decided to settle in Provence and dedicate her time to her passion: food. "In my family, it's a religion," she says. While the entire property is charming--it has lovely gardens, a pool and a shaded, wisteria-draped terrace for outdoor dining--building the perfect kitchen for cooking, teaching and entertaining was of course priority #1...and today the kitchen is the heart of this historic home. Throughout the year, different menus will transport you across France and the five continents. Clients from California who cooked here recently wrote me: "We LOVED our class! It was incredible. We had fun, learned a lot and had a delicious meal. The chef could not have been more accommodating and welcoming." A morning class (10 am) with lunch or late-afternoon class (5 pm) with dinner is 170€ pp (min: 4 people). All meals include wine, juice or soft drinks. If you’d like to add a market tour, the total price becomes 200€ pp (min: 4 people). The nearby markets are Tuesdays (Tarascon), Wednesday (St. Remy), Thursday (Beaucaire or Maussane) or Sunday (Chateaurenard). Also available: Private chef service in villas throughout Provence, with or without cooking classes (dinner only begins around 100€ pp; villa dinner and cooking class around 180€ pp); dinner drop-off in villas throughout Provence (around 65€ pp); and full party- and event-planning services. Discounted prices for groups of 8 or more. Available: year round.

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The Perfect Provencal Experience

St. Remy

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Your day begins in the a colorful outdoor market where you’ll be met by a passionate foodie with years of experience leading market tours and cooking classes in the region. You’ll learn about local Provence specialties, collect an abundance of fresh ingredients and taste olives, cheese and wine along the way. Then everyone heads over to her charming home in the heart of historic St. Remy, to produce a scrumptious, authentic French country meal.  “My food is the opposite of complicated or pretentious,” she says. “I prefer local Provençale recipes where the emphasis is on very fresh, natural and high-quality seasonal ingredients. Everything is local, fresh and 100% house made."  2023 Prices: Collective group classes are offered every Wed, Thursday and Friday. The price of $195 pp includes market tour, class, 4-course meal with cheese, wine or soft drinks and coffee. The group size is 12 people max and you'll most likely be joined by other students but classes are usually 6 to 8 participants. Private classes are $225 pp but it's minimum 4 people. Kids are welcome and are priced accordingly; kids under 12 are usually free when accompanied by 2 adults. Classes are available: Every day except Sunday...although Wednesday (St. Remy market), Thursday (Maussane market) and Friday (Eygalieres market) are best. Please note you'll need to provide your own transportation to the Thursday and Friday markets. New this year: private group lunches and dinners are available, both at the school and in your rental villa. Available: year round.

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One Delicious Day: A Cooking Class and More

St. Remy

 

This lovely hotel in St. Remy offers cooking classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays, led by a chef who worked in Parisian Michelin-starred kitchens before a coup de foudre drew him to the sun-drenched south. The day begins at 9:30 with coffee and croissants, then you’ll head out to buy your ingredients: to the goat farm for fresh chevre, to the potager for vegetables, to the butcher for lamb or the poissonerie for fish, and to the olive mill if time allows. Cooking starts around 11 am. By 1:30, you’ll be seated in the shaded garden, ready to savor your quintessential, Provencal meal: tapenade on toasts; a puff pastry tomato/pesto tart with arugula salad; leg or rack of lamb (with confit garlic, olive oil-mashed potatoes and a vegetable tian); cheeses made in St. Remy and fondant au chocolat. Wine, coffee and mignardises are also included. For those who don't want lamb, chef will adapt the menu...and he promises that all dishes will be do-able back at home. Available year round except in July or August. 2023 Prices: 2 people, 179€ pp. 3/4 people,159€ pp. 5/6 people, 139€ pp. 

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The Chef Invites You…

Near St. Remy, Graveson, Maillane

 

Our chef is a firm believer that cooking and eating should be, above all, fun. So this self-admittedly eccentric culinarian—who has cooked, run restaurants and appeared on TV all over the world—offers an interesting twist on the cooking school experience in Provence. He welcomes guests into his charming kitchen/workshop not far from St. Remy; it’s located in an 18th-century building on the grounds of the former hunting lodge of the Roi René in the 15th century. There you’ll listen to music (chef has 300-plus discs to choose from), cook side by side then enjoy the meal you’ve prepared, with great wines or whatever else you care to drink. Surrounding the house are farms and gardens (60 acres of melons alone!) and he sources the very-best fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. When the weather is nice, you’ll cook outside, under the platane trees, to the sound of the chirping cigales. ‘’I don’t see food as a business,” he says in perfect English. “I see it as a wonderful means of expression. I hate stiff formal kitchens, I hate boring. I love cool, interesting people and I love foreigners! You come, we’ll cook, we’ll eat, we’ll talk, we’ll have fun.’’ Details: Three-hour morning workshop (at 10 am) followed by lunch with wine: 150€ pp. Three hour late-afternoon workshop (at 5 pm) followed by dinner with wine: 180€ pp (includes four courses, plus a small gift cookbook in French). Group size: Normally it’s two to six people but larger groups are welcome. One of my recent clients wrote me about her workshop/dinner here: "Loved it - more than I expected - he's a gem! One if my best days in Provence so far and I've lived here for three years!" And my friends' well-traveled 20-year-old son said ''I think that was the best meal we've ever had.'' If needed, chef will provide pick up and drop off, within 1/2 hour of St. Remy, for 50€ round trip. If you'd like to add a market tour with the chef before your class (or in the morning of an evening class), add 100€ total to the price, no matter how many people. This chef also works privately and is available to prepare meals in rental villas and other venues. Available: Year Round. 

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From Le Marché to La Table

Fontvieille (near Maussane & Paradou)  

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So how did this young American chef end up running a culinary atelier in the tiny, charming village of Fontvieille? Originally from San Francisco, she graduated from Berkeley and was settled into a career in Silicon Valley when she met her now French husband, Charles, at the gym. After a few dates he announced he wanted to leave his tech job, move back to France and join the family farm. “As fate would have it,” she says, “I’d always dreamed of moving to France and quietly thought to myself maybe this is my chance!” After 6-ish months of trying to finagle a transfer abroad, she gave up and quit her job…so she could pursue her passion for all things culinary. First came an intensive course in French cuisine at Ferrandi in Paris, then a restaurant stage in Paris, then a job in one of the most coveted kitchens in Provence, the Michelin three-star Baumaniére (under chef Glenn Viel). Finally, she felt ready to do her own thing and she and Charles happened on the perfect home base: a former restaurant (with fully equipped kitchen) with an owners’ apartment above. Today, the kitchen is her classroom and the couple lives in the rest of the space. “When I host you for a cooking class,” she says “you’re truly in my home!” Classes might include visits to local marchés where you’ll pick up ingredients for your farm-fresh Provençal lunch or dinner. Or if there’s no nearby market that day, you might pop in to meet local purveyors and farmers, learn about their products and sample a few along the way. Either way, with this charming chef as your guide you’ll discover beautiful local produce, delicious regional dishes and of course some great tricks of the trade. Her 2023 offerings are as follows: * Private classes in the atelier (min 2 people) followed by lunch or dinner with wine begin at 140€ euros per person. * Market tour and lunch class with wine is 175€ per person. (min 2 people) * Classes in your rental villa (min 4 people) followed by lunch or dinner with wine are 175€ per person. * Private chef meals in your villa, with customized menus and wine, begin at 350€ plus the cost of ingredients (min 4 people). * Learn about fun French culinary traditions like apéro (happy hour anyone?) or how to create a next-level cheese plate; pricing on demand. Available: Year round.

 

Market Shopping + French Cooking Classes

St. Remy

 

This popular local catering company with charming husband-and-wife owners has a shiny professional kitchen for cooking classes and a large, welcoming dining room for  meals, both located just outside the village. (Before coming south, he worked in Paris at Guy Savoy and Ledoyen while she has an equally strong background in catering.) For 2020, they’re offering the following. A Morning at the Market. On Wednesday (market day in St. Remy), the chef will meet you in town at 9:30 to select your produce and taste a few delicious Provencal ingredients from his favorite vendors. At 10:30, everyone returns to the workshop to prepare either a starter and main course or main and dessert. Main courses can be fish, meat or vegetarian. Everyone enjoys a glass of wine with lunch and the day ends at 3:30. Typical dishes might include starters such as asparagus with citrus fruit sauce or parsnip soup with scallops; mains such as guinea fowl with Brousse d'Aix cheese stuffing or catch of the Mediterranean with seasonal vegetables and desserts such as a summer soup of strawberries with verbena or choux pastries with caramel brittle and red fruits. Pricing: 2 people (360€ total). 3 people: 480€ total. Four people or more: 144€ per person. Morning Workshop with the Chef. Not interested in a market tour or want to visit the market on your own? The chef also offers morning cooking classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Arrive at his workshop at 10 am to prepare either a starter and main course or main and dessert. As above, the main can be fish, meat or vegetarian and your lunch includes a glass of wine. Pricing: 120€ pp (min. 2 people.) Note: Class size is 20 people max so you may be paired with other students. Available: year round, but already fully booked in June.

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Teach the Kids to Cook

Near St. Remy...and in Other Locations

 

The more they learn now, the more they'll cook for you later! Kids cooking workshops are 60€ pp. This super-fun two-hour morning class is followed by a picnic lunch in the garden. Drop them off at 10:30 am and pick them up at 2 pm. What a great idea for a birthday party or just to get them away from their video games! Please note this class is available pretty much any day but we need four kids minimum to hold the class. It's also available in your own rental villa (for a small extra charge), and available evenings (hours would be roughly 4 pm to 8 pm). Available: year round.

 

Garden Fresh Cooking Class

St. Remy

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At this popular B&B outside St. Remy, one of the many attractions is the large, lovely garden…with 4000 rose bushes, herbs, vegetables, lavender, olive trees, fruit trees and much more. Owners Philippe (an artist/sculptor) and Anne-Marie offer cooking classes on request for two to six people at a time (larger groups can also accommodated). You'll start at 3 pm with a garden visit, after which everyone works together to prepare a casual supper with local wines and enjoys it together on the terrace or indoors. You'll be cooking and baking roughly 2.5 hours and you'll finish up around 7 pm. A typical menu might be Mezze (tapenade, hummus, aioli, brandade de morue), a starter of papeton d’aubergines or courgettes, a main course such as lamb, filet mignon of veal or roast chicken with garden herbs and potatoes...and a dessert such as a blanc mange or a fresh-fruit crumble. Special classes (gluten free, lactose free, etc.) are available on demand. Groups of four or more can have a private class. If you're fewer than four people, others may join your class. Class size is generally six students max. 2022 Prices: 165€ pp. Available: May to October.

 

Marketing, Cooking and Eating Together in a Gorgeous Private Home

Eygalieres and St. Remy

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Many travelers in Provence want to visit private homes….to see how the locals live, cook and entertain. This day was created to give you a taste of real life in Eygalieres,  with a very-talented home cook  and private chef as your host. “Food and cooking is probably for us the most important occasion to meet, share and enjoy life all together,” says the chef, who was born and raised in Marseille and lived there until age 30, except for four years in California as a teen. He now divides his time between Marseille, Aix and Eygalieres, where he cooks and teaches in a a charming 1750 farmhouse on a huge gorgeous property. The best day to do this is on Friday (when Eygalieres has its charming market) or on Wednesday (starting at the market in St. Remy). Meet at 9:30 am in front of the Tourist Office in St. Remy on Wednesday or in front of the Town Hall in Eygalieres on Friday. The chef will propose 2 to 3 different menu options and together you'll do the shopping. Then you'll hop into his van (8 guests max) to visit a local winery for tasting and to buy the wine for your meal. Back at his home, you'll prepare the meal together, most likely on the lovely shaded patio. Lunch will be served casually,  “which is just how we do it when we have good friends and family over,” the chef says. The day ends at 3:30 pm. Prices are two tiered and are current for 2021. For a private experience (you and your friends/family only), they range from 235€ pp (6 people) to 400€ pp (2 people). For a group experience, you'll be paired with other cooks and the price will be 190€ pp. Please note the group class only happens if chef has five people or more. This offering is also available for dinner instead of lunch, in which case you'll meet at 5 pm for marketing at local purveyors. Dinner prices are the same as lunch. Available: year round.

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Soirée the Easy Way:

A Provencal Drinks Party (with or without dinner after)

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So you've rented a gorgeous villa for your Provence vacation or you’ve settled in to your summer home...and now you of course you want to entertain! Or, just share a lovely, special evening with your friends and family...and let someone else do the work. We've got this! We work with a terrific chef, fully English speaking, who offers  a delicious selection of light or substantial, cold and hot party hors d'oeuvres such as mini ratatouille tartlettes; foie gras-stuffed profiteroles; rosemary skewers with lamb meatballs, mini tomatoes and roasted zucchini; mini Provencal onion tarts; smoked duck lollipop pizza; comte-and-rosemary shortbread; roasted cherry, thyme and goat cheese crostini, etc.  She'll arrive early to set up, stay on to serve and clean up. She can also suggest--or provide--the perfect drinks to accompany your chosen menu. If you'd like your drinks  party to be followed by dinner (served seated,  in courses, or buffet style), she'll be happy to do that as well; pricing depends on menu, format and number of guests. Pricing: A Provencal Drinks Party with all the accoutrements begins at 30€ pp, plus drinks if wanted, for a minimum of 15 people. This chef also offers a full-range of culinary and party planning services for larger events including weddings, birthdays, etc.

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St. Remy Market Tour + Cooking Class + Lunch

 

What’s the difference between saucisse and saucisson? How do you tell a grossane from a bouteillan? Which is more flavorful, the Banon or the Picadon? The Wednesday market in St. Remy is one of the largest and most popular in the region. And there you’ll find a fantastic array of seasonal local products including olives and olive oils, fruit and vegetables, cheeses, poultry, meat, sausages, herbs, spices, seasonings, breads, sweets, wine, fruit juices and much more. Tour the market with our chef and not only will you get to taste; you’ll also learn a ton about the most-famous food products of Provence. Then you’ll head back to the chef’s kitchen workshop nearby for a two-hour class…and relax around the table over a luscious lunch that you’ve helped prepare yourself. 2021 Price: 180€ pp, minimum two people. Available: Wednesdays, year-round.

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Foodie Fridays

Eygalieres

 

Eygalières is a small, very quaint village not far from St. Remy...and their Friday market is super charming, filled with local farmers and food purveyors such as a bee keeper, a fisherman, a confiture maker, etc.  Leading your tour is one of my foodiest friends, who lives in Eygalieres and loves to share her local market with travelers. She takes terrific care of her clients! You'll start the morning off with a cheese tasting at Chez Emily, a wonderful local cheese affineur. From there you'll make your way through the market enjoying tastes of olives and cured meats, meeting locals and learning about the products. The tour runs approx. 2.5 hours and caps with a drink at everyone's favorite bar, the Café de la Place, on the terrace in the sunshine. 2022 Prices: 80€ pp for two people. 75€ pp for four people. 55€ pp for six or more. Price includes all tastings and one drink in the cafe. Group size max is 10. Available: year-round.

 

Foodie Market Tours

St. Remy, Eygalieres and Other Villages

 

What’s the difference between saucisse and saucisson? How do you tell a grossane from a bouteillan? Which cheese is stronger, the Banon and or the Picadon? The Wednesday market in St. Remy and the Friday market in Eygalieres (15 minutes east of St. Remy) are two of the largest and most popular in the region. There you’ll find a fantastic array of seasonal local products including olives and olive oils, fruit and vegetables, cheeses, poultry, meat, sausages, herbs, spices, seasonings, breads, sweets, wine, fruit juices and much more. This 90-minute tour with a local food expert lets you meet the producers, taste...and learn a ton about the most-famous foods and dishes of Provence.  2021 Prices: 55€ to 75€ per person, depending on which market, which guide and # of people; the min. Is usually two.Tours start around 10 am and are offered year round.

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Dinner at Your Door

Within 25 km of St. Remy

 

Maybe you just arrived in town tired from the trip. Or you want a cozy night in your pretty villa or gite but don’t feel like shopping and cooking. Maybe you have guests arriving and want to just relax and share a comforting meal. We work with a few terrific chefs who will deliver a homemade meal to your door. Then you simply re-heat and eat whenever it suits. This is not gourmet food but a delicious, simple, approachable meal…something all ages can enjoy: a main course like lasagna or beef stew or pork roast or chicken in wine sauce…with a seasonal salad…or fresh gazpacho….fresh baguettes…and a tarte or another lovely dessert…and a nice local wine. Clients who have done this rave about it, from start to finish.  2022 Prices: 60€ pp adults; 30€ for kids up to 10; delivery charge 10€; minimum four adults. Dinner drop off also available in the Luberon.

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Bouillabaisse Bash!

Within 20 km of St. Remy

 

We work with an amazing local chef, a former restaurateur from Marseille, who makes some of the best bouillabaisse around: chock full of fresh fish and seafood; perfumed with fennel, garlic, saffron and onion; topped with garlicky rouille and homemade croutons. He'll show up at your rental villa with his huge pot, plus everything else you need for the perfect hassle-free party: fresh baguettes for dipping, a green salad, wonderful wines and of course, a terrific homemade dessert. Price: 140€ per person, minimum four people. For more than four people, please inquire about pricing. To book (with 48 hours notice please or more).

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Cooking Class + Lunch or Dinner at Your House

All Over Provence

 

For travelers staying in rental villas, we've put a great twist on the idea of having a private chef come in to cook: our chef arrives a couple hours early and leads your group in a cooking class. Everyone agrees on the menu...the chef arrives with the ingredients and any necessary equipment...then you all cook the meal together with lots of guidance and tips from a pro! Afterwards, everyone gathers around the table for the meal, paired perfectly with local wines. (This is a very hands-on class but if your group has a few people that don't want the class, that's fine too.) Do a morning class followed by lunch (class at 10 am, lunch at 12:30) or a late-afternoon class followed by dinner (class at 5 pm, dinner around 8 pm). Kids are welcome and wanted, for both the class and the meal. Available: Year round, all over Provence, as long as the right chef is available and you have at least four people. Price depends on # of students, # of eaters and selected menu, but expect to pay 90€ to 150€ per person for adults.

 

Down on the Farm 

 

Provence is known for the quality and flavour of its farm-raised food and the sustainable methods used to grow it. This ½ or full-day tour is led by one of our favorite Provencal food experts, who just happens to be married to a tomato farmer! Join her for a great day visiting local farms, meeting the producers and of course, sampling. Depending on the season and your interests, your tour could include a dairy farm and milk producer, a sheep farm, a goat farm where you can sample just-made cheeses, an olive farm, an olive mill, a tomato grower, a farm producing the famous melons of Cavaillon, a fig farm growing 25-plus varieties (where you’ll taste a wide range of confitures made from the fruit), a vineyard/winery...and perhaps a flower farm that exports vast quantities of blooms to Northern Europe. A half-day tour is three to four hours; a full-day tour is eight hours with a break for lunch (the cost of lunch is extra). This tour is based in the St. Remy/Eygalieres/Les Baux area. Prices:  275€ half day, 400€ full day, for up to 4 people. For larger groups, please inquire.

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Discover the Wines & Olive Oils of Les Baux

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The famous Vallee des Baux-de-Provence (aka the AOC and AOP Les Baux), has roughly 500,000 olive trees, its farms and 12 mills producing 500 tons of oil per year and another 140 tons of table olives. It's also known for wine: vast rows of grape vines shimmering in bright sunshine on fertile plots in the foothills of Alpilles Mountains. So why not discover both on the same day? Led by a professional sommelier, you'll depart St. Remy at 9.30 am (or any village within 10 km of St. Remy). By 10 am you'll be settled in at one of the best wine domains, having a cellar visit, presentation and tasting. Lunch will be in one of our favorite nearby bistros; the cost of lunch is extra. At 2 pm, we'll visit a terrific olive mill, learn about the different olives and the process of pressing oils. Then we'll have time for one more winery visit before returning to St. Remy (or wherever you're staying) around 5 pm. This day has everything: stunning scenery, terrific tasting, lots of learning and a lovely lunch! If you prefer to skip the olive mill, you can visit three wineries instead of two. 2022 Prices: Full-Day Wine Tour. 1-2 people, 360€ total. 3-4 people, 480€ total. 5-7 people, 550/700€. Half-Day Wine Tour (no lunch, two winery visits with tasting), from 2 pm to 5 pm. Prices are 2 people, 320 total; 3-4 people, 420€ total; 5-7 people, 550/650€ total. It's also possible to start at 1:30 pm and add a third winery to the half-day tour for a small surcharge. Available: Every day except Sunday, year round.

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The Holy Trinity Tour: 

Wine, Goat Cheese and Olive Oil

 

Ok so we decided that if wine and olive oil is a good way to spend the day, then an even better way would be to add goat cheese to the mix! Departure at 8.45 am from your hotel. First stop is the goat farm/goat cheese maker where you can play with the goats, learn a bit about the cheese-making process and of course taste a delicious selection of fresh goat cheeses. Then, enjoy a bit of free time in St. Remy before lunch, which is at your cost. After lunch, it's off to a wonderful winery in Les Baux, for a cellar visit and tasting. Finally, we cap the day at the olive mill to learn about this important local "liquid gold" and taste the various varieties. Return to your hotel around 5:30 pm. All tastings and transport included, from hotels within 10 km of St. Remy. Otherwise, we can pick you up for a small extra charge or you can meet the guide in St. Remy. 2022 Prices: 2 people: 440€.  3/4 people: 540€. 5/6/7 people: 600€ to 750€. Available: March thru October, except Sunday.

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Why Cook on Vacation: Private Chef Dinners!

Various Villages

 

You’ve rented a villa with a smashing kitchen but don’t feel like cooking on vacation. Or you have guests staying with you and you’d like to really roll out the red carpet. Or you’re celebrating a special occasion. Whatever the reason, having a private chef in to cook is a lovely indulgence…and you deserve it! We work with all the top private chefs in the region and will find one available on your dates. They’ll prepare a multi-course dinner using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and provide the perfect wines to accompany. Price depends on menu and number of guests but expect to pay anywhere from 75€ to 175 € per person. A standard menu format is: two hors d'oeuvres with Champagne served at 7:15, followed by a four-course dinner--with perfect wines--served at 8 pm. Available: year round.

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CULINARY ACTIVITIES IN THE LUBERON AND VAUCLUSE

 

Around the Farmhouse Table: The Seasonal Art of Provencal Cooking

Southeastern Luberon

 

In a beautiful 18th century farmhouse in a tiny village in the southeastern Luberon, a charming American has opened a unique and welcoming retreat, combining her passions for hospitality, local food, wine, fitness, art, nature, horses and more. This is a deliciously inviting space where like-minded people can share, learn, cook and grow together...to be active and be still...to experience the wonderful artisans and products of the region...and immerse themselves in the peaceful beauty of this lesser-known corner of Provence. A great way to experience it is to come for a cooking class followed by a traditional 4- to 5-course French meal. Your hosts for the day will include a "local mama from the village" and the goal is to give guests "an authentic all-day immersion into the healthy and seasonal art of Provencal cooking." All ingredients, including wine, are sourced from local producers within 50 km. This 4-hour experience normally runs 11 am to 3 pm but can be adjusted to your schedule. 2021 Prices: 120€ pp (2 person min), with wine pairings extra at 20€ pp. If you wish to spend the night, B&B rooms and suites are 100€ to 200€ per night and include a traditional French breakfast.  

 

Market-Fresh Class & Luberon Lunch 

in Maubec (30 minutes east of Avignon, 10 minutes south of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue) 

 

After 10 years as a chef instructor at The Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyon, Jean-Marc realized his dream of combining his passion for French cuisine and his love of sharing that passion with others. He opened his own cooking school in 2001 in Lyon, the cradle of French gastronomy. In Spring 2015, he took that dream to new heights and brought his school to Provence, settling in a small hamlet in the Luberon, not far from Avignon.  Here he and his wife Alice work with the bounty of the countryside, using local, seasonal and mainly organic products, and welcome travelers from all over the world. Jean-Marc's standard offering is a one-day hands on class. It starts with a welcome coffee with homemade pastries, during which the students get to know each other and Jean-Marc introduces the day's menu. Then you'll shop for ingredients, either at the outdoor market on Saturday and Sunday or at a farmers’ co-op (“Naturellement Paysan”) where local farms sell their products all year long. With guidance from Jean-Marc, you'll cook a three-course menu plus amuse-bouches, and enjoy the meal with wine, overlooking the Luberon mountains. An “apéritif” is served before lunch. Timing: 8:45 am to roughly 3:45 pm. 2021 prices: 1 to 6 people are 230€ pp. (For larger groups or private classes, ask for pricing.) 

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Days of Wine and Truffles

Southern Luberon

 

This adorable Franco American couple moved to the South of France from Chicago in 2003 to take over the his family's vineyard and find a better quality of life. So just like on Green Acres (remember?), they traded in their high-flying jobs in finance and PR for fresh air, starry skies and organic farming in the bucolic Luberon region of Provence. That was nineteen years ago. Today their 11-hectare farm (in Cadenet, near Lourmarin) produces grapes, olives (1000 trees!), lavender, apricots, cherries, plums, apples, pears, pomegranates, figs, almonds, hazelnuts and—wait for it--black winter truffles. Yes, la famille owns 50 mature olive trees and another 950 trees (that they they planted themselves—yikes!) and a stand of oak that regularly produce the prized tuber melanasporum, AKA truffes noirs, AKA Black Gold. They also produce tuber aestivum--black summer truffles--as well. Sign on for one of their truffle tours and you'll learn about how truffle trees are cultivated, the special conditions necessary to grow truffles, the signs nature gives to indicate your trees might have truffles beneath them, dramatic stories about the extreme lengths people will go to in order to steal or even sabotage, all while watching their expert hunter's duo of dogs dig for the hidden treasure and come up with "black gold" before your eyes. You'll learn how to clean and prepare fresh truffles, what dishes taste best with truffles, how to tell the difference between a real truffle and the fakes from China...and then tuck into a sampling of fresh truffle hors d'oeuvres, truffle ice cream with truffle honey, with Champagne, and a tasting of their truffle salt, organic olive and truffle oils. Available: Winter season is roughly Nov 15 to March 15; summer season May 1 to September 30. Summer tours are at 10 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday. Winter tours are at 10 am and 2:30 pm Monday through Friday. Tours take roughly 3 hours. For 2-15 people. 2023 Prices: 96€ for adults, 72€ for ages 10 to 17, 48€  ages 2 to 9.

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Olive Picking Party in Provence

Cadenet

 

This 11-hectare farm (in Cadenet, near Lourmarin), run by a Franco American couple, produces a wide range of fruit, nuts, black winter truffles, wine grapes and olives...lots and lots of olives...from 1,000 olive trees. A couple years back the owners began inviting travellers to join in the harvest and it became a huge hit, a wonderful rite of fall in Provence. First, learn how olive trees are raised, farmed and found in the wild...and how the precious oil is made. Then head out into the orchard to pick three different ways, learn about pruning and more. There will also be time to discover the rest of the property with its wild herbs, grapevines, truffle trees and beehives. Finally, everyone heads for the outdoor kitchen to enjoy a post-picking party with charcuterie (pâté, ham, sausage, etc.), cheese, truffle products (truffle oil, truffle salt, truffle honey) and more. And of course you’ll taste the estate’s organic extra-virgin olive oil and other olive-based products. It’s all accompanied by red and rosé wines...all you care to drink. Plan to stay at least three hours. Prices: 32€ adults; free for kids under 17. Available: Depends on the season but roughly late October to late November, weekdays only.​

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Barrels of Fun: Grape Stomping in Provence

Cadenet

 

This 11-hectare farm (in Cadenet, near Lourmarin) produces olives, fruit, nuts, black winter truffles...and wine grapes. They make their own wines with syrah and grenache...and have just planted 10 additional varietals which will yield unique wines in a few years. A couple years ago, they started hosting grape stomps for friends and then opened them up to the public; they’re now wildly popular. First you’ll learn how grape vines arrived in Provence and how to harvest them. Then it's off to handpick the grapes. Afterwards, you'll crush organic muscat (table grapes) and organic syrah-grenache by foot, in a big barrel, with a view of Cezanne’s famous Mount Ste. Victoire in the background. You’ll finish the day in the farm's summer kitchen, nibbling cheeses and charcuterie--with the farm's own truffle honey, truffle oil and truffle salt—and all you care to drink of red wine and rosé. Great fun for all ages...and you’ll learn French drinking songs too! Plan to spend at least 2.5 hours. Prices: 75€ per adult, 50€ for kids (10 to 17) and 25€ ages 2 to 9. Minimum: 2 people. Available: Weekdays only, from early August until end of October, depending on weather and grapes! 

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Truffles and Wine in the Southern Luberon

 

If you're staying in the Alpilles region of Provence (near St. Remy), this is a great escorted one day outing to discover two of the iconic Provencal delicacies: truffles and wine. We'll depart at 8.30am from your hotel and head for a very small pretty village in the Southern Luberon, to have a truffle hunt and tour with or favorite trufficulteurs! Then we return to their comfy outdoor kitchen for truffled hors d'oeuvres and Champagne. In the afternoon, we'll visit two top wineries in the Luberon AOC area  with tastings, finally returning around 6 pm to your hotel. Note: pick up within 10 km of St. Remy is included in the price. Otherwise meet the guide in St. Remy or pick up can be arranged for a small surcharge.2022 Prices: 2 people 600€. 3/4 people: 750€/800€. 5/6/7 people: 900€ to 1260€. Available: year round except Saturday and Sunday.

 

The Luberon for Foodies...by Bike or by Car

 

Choose your bike--road bike, hybrid or electric bike--and then off you go on a glorious full-day adventure in the Luberon, with a professional bike guide leading the way. Depending on the day of the week and the time of the year, your day might include a local market, an olive mill, a goat farm for a tasting of fresh goat cheeses, an ancient bread bakery still in use, a studio making superb confitures, the winery made famous in Peter Mayle's movie A Good Year and a tasting of truffle products. (We work only with English-speaking professional bike guides, one of whom is also a chef with 20 years experience working in Provence.) Plus you'll experience some of the top sites in the Luberon such as the Abbaye de Senanque, The Chateau of the Marquis de Sade and the historic hilltowns of Gordes, LaCoste, Bonnieux, Menerbes and Oppede le Vieux. No matter what's in season (poppies, lavender, sunflowers, olives, grapes, fruit, etc.), you'll experience stunning scenery, taste wonderful artisan foods and best of all, go at whatever pace feels perfect to you. Total cycling is about 60 km or 38 miles but that's flexible. The day starts in Bonnieux around 8:30 am and ends about 5 pm. Available: Every day except Sunday. 2022 Prices: Cost: 350€ pp for two people. 250€ pp for three to six people. For larger groups, please inquire. We can take kids of all ages, using a bike seat, a bike trailer or a "follow me."  Ages 9 and up usually ride their own bikes. Price includes bike rental, helmets, market tastings, artisanal visits and tastings, restaurant lunch and any museum entry fees. Note: This same tour can be done by car, for 50€ less per person, including lunch and tastings.  

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Cooking with a Top Chef

Isle sur la Sorgue

In beautiful Isle-sur-la-Sorgue--known as the center of the antiques trade in the South of France-- we work with a charming, well-known English-speaking chef who offers cooking classes for private groups at his highly regarded restaurant. You'll prepare a starter, a main course and dessert. Classes last two hours, so you can choose either 10 am to noon or 5pm to 7pm, then have an aperitif and a meal (with wine) afterwards. Available every day except Tuesday and Wednesday, year round. 2022 Price: 1080€ (for up to 6 people); 180€ for each additional person. Non-cooks can join for the meal at 60€ pp.

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Discover the Vineyards & Villages of the Luberon

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Your guide on this private tour is a professional sommelier, formerly of the Michelin three-star Baumaniere. And she's got a great day planned, taking you to visit two of the most popular villages in the Luberon and two of the best wine domains. The tour departs St Rémy (or nearby) with pickup at 8.30 or 9 am. First stop is the beautiful historic hilltop village of Gordes with the Senanque abbey, and follow with the famous perched village of Roussillon, where they mine ochre to make pigments for paint.  Everyone who visits loves it. Then you'll have lunch. After lunch it's all about the wine,  with tastings and cellar visits at two of the region's best domains. The tour returns to St. Remy or nearby around 6 pm. (Note: Pick up and drop off is available within 10 km of St. Remy.) 2021 Prices: 2 people, 550€ total. 3 or 4 people, 600€ . 5 to 7 people, 700€ total. Lunch is extra. Available: Every day year round. 

 

Winter Truffle-Market Tours

Richerenches, in the Vaucluse

 

The ancient village of Richerenches, in northern Provence,  has the largest black truffle market in Europe!  It’s in the department of the Vaucluse, which produces more than 90% of the exquisite black truffles (tuber melanosporum) sold in France.  The Saturday morning market runs from mid-November to late March…and attracts restaurateurs, exporters and truffle lovers from far and wide. The best way to do the market is with an expert tour guide…and I’ve got just the person. She lives nearby, knows the market in and out, often cooks with truffles…and loves to share her passion. As you poke amongst the stalls, you’ll learn what makes for a great truffle harvest; how to choose, clean and preserve them; what wines pair best with them; what local restaurants specialize in them…and much more.  You may even meet some trufficulteurs (truffle hunters), who work the market with their bulging linen bags, meeting discreetly with “courtiers” who evaluate and buy their precious “black gold.”  You’ll break for coffee at the locals’ favorite café—permanently permeated with the smell of fresh truffles--and visit a few historic Templar sites too.  You might even be able to enjoy a wonderful local tradition: a communal lunch of truffled omelettes (with salad, cheese, bread, wine and dessert) served in the village hall. Tours are 3 hours (or longer if you have lunch) and cost €150 for the first person, 75€ for each additional person. Group prices available and lunch is extra. You’ll meet your guide in Richerenches or at the Bollene exit (#19) of the A7 autoroute.  Available: Saturday mornings, mid Nov to late March.

 

Why Cook on Vacation: Private Chef Dinners!

Various Villages

 

You’ve rented a villa with a smashing kitchen but don’t feel like cooking on vacation. Or you have guests staying with you and you’d like to really roll out the red carpet. Or you’re celebrating a special occasion. Whatever the reason, having a private chef in to cook is a lovely indulgence…and you deserve it! We work with all the top private chefs in the region and will find one available on your dates. They’ll prepare a multi-course dinner using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and provide the perfect wines to accompany. Price depends on menu and number of guests but expect to pay anywhere from 75€ to 175 € per person. A standard menu format is: two hors d'oeuvres with Champagne served at 7:15, followed by a four-course dinner--with perfect wines--served at 8 pm. Available: year round.