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. 2024 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. 2024 Prices: 100€ 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€. And if you have a larger group, we can discount the per person price. 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, easy route along a shady, peaceful canal and a bike path without traffic as much as possible. Along the way you'll visit a few of our favorite local artisan food producers on picturesque, family owned properties, such as:  * 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 and off-the-beaten path goat farm where plenty of animals run free. We’ll milk the goats, taste the milk, learn a bit about cheesemaking and of course sample the delicious chevre. * 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 in the gorgeous countryside surrounding St. Remy...with no climbing of hills unless you want to! We'll have 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. 2024 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. Typical starters include a millefeuille of crispy fresh-herb ravioli and goat cheese on a bed of greens with caramelized grapes. One super-popular main course is a cross between a Provençal seafood stew and a Spanish zarzuela: market-fresh fish and shellfish in a rich tomato broth with almonds, potatoes and roasted red-pepper aioli on the side. A chef-prepared meal in your villa, with a customized family-style menu and wine, begins at 80€ 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 60€ 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."  2024 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

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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. 2024 Prices: 2 people, 185€ pp. 3/4 people,165€ pp. 5/6 people, 139€ pp. Available year round except in July or August.

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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.’’ Three-hour morning workshop (at 10 am) followed by lunch with wine: 180€ pp (two people), 170€ (four people), 160€ (six people). For larger groups please inquire. Three hour late-afternoon private 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. New in 2024: Cooking Class Dinner Parties. Join other foodie travelers for a class and meal, every Thursday evening from 5 pm to 9 pm, in a beautiful new space in the chateau. Price:150€ pp. 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, transportation can be arranged at an extra cost.  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, is available to prepare meals in rental villas and other venues, and offers dinner delivery. 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 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. When 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 months of planning, she 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 L’Oustau de Baumaniére (under chef Glenn Viel). Finally, she felt ready to do her own thing and stumbled upon a former restaurant for sale, the perfect place to set up what would become her cooking school. Lunch classes might include visits to the local marché 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, learn about their products and sample a few along the way. She also offers masterclasses honing in on specific dishes or techniques (like handmade pastas, cheese making, knife skills, etc.). 2024 Prices: Class & Lunch (3-4 hrs), 150€ person. Marché Tour, Class & Lunch (4 hours), 175€ person. Masterclass (2.5 hrs), 110€ person. New in 2024, a series called Cooking & Conversation. In partnership with a French teacher, this class combines the fun of cooking with the joy of learning the beautiful French language in the kitchen. Cooking & Conversation (2 hrs), 160€ person. 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. Whatever class you choose, 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. Available: Until June 1, 2024 and after January 6, 2025.

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An American Chef in France

Available in the Alpilles (around St. Remy), the Luberon and Wine Country

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This beloved American chef has worked in Provence for 25 years, in some of the region’s top hotel kitchens, and also ran a prestigious cooking school for 7 years. Today he has his own lunch-only café, leads market tours and bike tours, gives cooking classes in Avignon…and loves to offer private-chef meals in rental villas. Whether you’re visualizing an elegant dinner party or just a special family treat, he’s your man! He’s perfectly poised to cook for you in the Luberon, the Alpilles (around St. Remy) and in Wine Country. Speaking of wine, all menus include a generous Provencal aperitif with rosé wine to begin; wines paired to your meal can be added at market prices. Chef will send a seasonal menu with multiple choices for every course…and trust me they all sound amazing. Starters include a chilled terrine of roasted Provencal vegetables, goat’s cheese mousse and pistou; foie gras crème brulée with hazelnuts, julienne Granny Smiths and bitter salad; smoked salmon with poached asparagus, egg mousse and black olive puree; or a crispy goat-cheese “cake” with braised dried figs, salad of bitter greens salad and julienned Serrano ham. Good, right? Mains include seared Mediterranean sea bass, celery root purée and green vegetables in a warm vinaigrette; mustard/rosemary-marinated pork tenderloin with red wine reduction, charred cauliflower/broccoli and garlic-confit mashed potatoes; roasted breast of Guinea fowl with artichokes in barigoule, Provencal potato purée and Parmesan cream; and lavender-marinated duck breast with heirloom faro risotto and a red wine/Porto "caramel." And the desserts sound equally irresistible! Please note everyone at your table eats the same menu but chef will happily adjust for dietary restrictions.  2024 Prices for private chef, per person for 4 to 6 people, with or without cooking class: Three courses (entrée, main, dessert) are 145€. Four courses (entrée, main, cheese, dessert) are 155€. Five courses (entrée, fish course, meat course, cheese, dessert) 165€. 7-Course tasting menu (you pick the dishes) 195€. Cooking class in your villa with a 3-course menu 195€. 2024 Prices for private chef per person, for 7 + people, with or without cooking class: Three courses,145€. Four courses, 155€. Five courses, 165€.  7-Course tasting menu (you choose the dishes), 195€. Cooking class in your villa with a 3-course menu, 195€. Kids pricing on demand (depending on how many and what ages). Available at an extra charge: Lead server 180€, extra servers 150€ per server until midnight, 30€ / hour after midnight. Tent, tables, chairs, glassware and additional party rentals upon request. Available: year round.

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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.) They currently offer 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 roughly 80€ pp, depending on how many kids and their ages. 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. Price: 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. 2023 Prices: For a private experience (you and your friends/family only), prices range from 930€ (2 people) to 1770€ (8 people). For a public group experience if available (it happens for 4 to 16 people), you'll be paired with other cooks and the price will be 225€ pp. Sometimes the chef offers a version of this experience for dinner instead of lunch, in which case you'll meet at 5 pm for marketing at local purveyors. 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. 2024 Price: 200€ 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. 2024 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.  2024 Prices: 80€ 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.  2024 Prices:  70€ pp for four adults; 60€ pp for more than four adults. 30€ for kids up to 10; delivery charge 10€. 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: 150€ 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. 2024 Prices: 400€ half day, 600€ 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. 2024 Prices: 2 people 500€ and 100€ for each additional person. 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! 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 the delicious fresh chevre. Then we'll hit one or two wineries in the AOC Les Baux de Provence, for tasting and cellar visits if possible. Finally, we'll cap the day at a local olive mill to learn about this important local "liquid gold" and taste the various varieties, oils and other local products. Timing is roughly 9 am to 5 pm but flexible. Pick up and drop off are included within 10 km of St. Remy; otherwise there's a small charge or you can meet your guide in St. Remy. 2024 Prices: 2 people, €600. Additional guests are 100€ each. The cost of lunch is extra. Available: March thru October, everyday except Sunday.

 

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.

 

PRIVATE CHEF MEALS, MARKET TOURS & MORE...IN AND AROUND ARLES 

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Cooking at the Culinary Crossroads: Yalla Habibi! 

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This talented Beirut-born chef worked in Provence for many years, turning locals and tourists on to the vibrant flavors of Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine. And now, after a couple years back home in Lebanon—which left us all craving her super-fresh hummus, tabbouleh and baba ganoush—she has returned to Provence, settled in Arles and unveiled her latest menu of culinary offerings, available year round. Market Tasting Tour in Arles. Along with all the classic Provencal foods, this huge, colorful Saturday morning market is heavy on the North African ingredients…and our chef is the perfect guide. This is her happy place, her home base, and she knows everyone! Rendezvous with her at 9 am for a 90-minute market tour, during which you’ll taste, talk, laugh (trust me!)…and learn how to use these new ingredients in your kitchen back home. Then settle in at a local cafe for a cool drink and a nibble. Timing: 9 am to 11 am (but flexible), Saturdays only. Price: 80€ pp; group prices available. Market tastes are included but your café drink is extra.  Private Chef. She’ll work with you to create the perfect menu for a one-of-a-kind lunch or dinner in your home or rental villa, within an hour from Arles. Menus can include Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Provencal, Italian, vegan and vegetarian options; served in courses or family style. The price includes all ingredients, food prep and clean up; for an extra fee she’ll stay on to serve. A typical meal might start with an array of dips (hummus, moutabal, baba ganoush), with pitas and veggies…then move on to kibbeh bil sanieh: layered ground beef, bulgur, onion, pine nuts and spices, baked to a beautiful golden brown. Another terrific main is stuffed vegetables (filled with rice and beef or lamb) in a minty tomato sauce. Salads include a super-fresh, lemony tabbouleh or perhaps a fattoush: greens, vegetables and herbs in a sweet/sour dressing with sumac spice and pomegranate molasses. And for a sweet finish, everyone loves the mouhalabieh (orange blossom flan topped with grated pistachios). Meals start with an apero; she’ll bring a favorite local rosé or whip up some Lebanese Mojitos with fresh mint, lime, Arak liqueur or rum. Pricing depends on the # of courses, # of guests and menu complexity but expect to pay roughly 150€ pp (2 adults), 100€ pp (4 adults) and 80€ pp (6 adults). Wines paired to your meal are extra and kids’ prices are on demand. Cooking Classes. Learn the basics of homestyle Lebanese cuisine with a hands-on class in your home or rental villa; class is usually 2 hours and followed by lunch or dinner. Pricing: 150€ pp (2 adults), 125€ pp (4 adults) and 100€ pp (more than 4 adults). Kids and group prices on demand. Catered Parties. Wouldn’t it be fantastique to throw a cocktail party in Provence? Chef will work with you to create the perfect food-and-drink package and happily handle the décor, flowers and music if wanted. Food can be served passed, buffet style or family style, for 8 to 80 people.

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CULINARY ACTIVITIES IN THE LUBERON AND VAUCLUSE

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One Perfect Private Luberon Chef

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During the day, Monday through Friday, this charming French couple (both born in Nice, they’ve worked all over the world), run their 18-seat Luberon restaurant together. In the evening, she’s home with their two young sons while he does private cheffing in rental villas, for groups of four adults or more. He offers a simple formula: starter, main course and dessert for 60€ per person. Kids under 10 are 30€ each. You’ll have a choice of three starters (two of them vegetarian), three mains (one meat, one fish, one vegetarian) and two desserts. Everyone eats the same menu. The cuisine is 100% homemade, from fresh, seasonal, local products. If your group wants something other than what the chef is offering that evening, the price will depend on the complexity of the meal and the cost of ingredients. The price includes: the meal with fresh breads, the chef cooking on site, the service and the clean-up. Extras such as an aperitif, amuse, wine or cheeseboard–can be added as a supplement. Dinners are served traditionally, in courses, but the chef is happy to serve family style if you prefer. He works in the Luberon only, between Les Taillades, Isle sur la Sorgue and Saint-Saturnin les Apt. Minimum: four adults. Available: every evening year-round, except Sunday, in the Luberon only…between Les Taillades, Isle sur la Sorgue and Saint-Saturnin les Apt. Cooking classes and cooking demos are also possible in the couple's home, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm; please inquire!

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From Paul Bocuse to the Vaucluse...

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Born and raised in Normandy, this career chef is now mostly retired but still loves to do the occasional private chef gig in Provence. (He says he’d rather not take clients away from younger chefs who need the work more than he does. How lovely is that?) His food is superb which is no surprise…he ran several highly regarded restaurants and spent 17 years teaching at the prestigious Paul Bocuse Academy, founded by the famed Michelin three-star chef in Lyon. There are no set menus or dishes; he’ll work with you to create the perfect lunch or dinner, based on what’s freshest at the market. 2024 Pricing: Chef charges a minimum of €580 flat fee for 6-8 people (max 10), plus the cost of the food, which usually runs about €10 per person depending on the menu. The final cost will depend on the complexity of the menu you choose and the work involved. He’ll happily discount if you book multiple meals…and can bring along a waiter/waitress for an additional €150. And no worries about the wine; his wife is a full-time wine-tour guide and together they’ll choose the very best pairings to accompany your meal, if wanted! Available: year round, across the Luberon.

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Meals at your Door...and Much More

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With a background in fashion design, this charming Swiss chef (who speaks French, English and German), fell in love with food while working in renowned kitchens in the South of France, from five-star hotels to gastronomic restaurants on the Cote d’Azur. “Everything I learnt along the way has given me the confidence and passion to deliver the finest-quality dining experience and service,” she says. These days, she prepares delicious Instagram-worthy meals in her professional kitchen in the Luberon, then brings them to you with heating instructions or stays on to reheat and serve for an extra €50 per hour. This can be for lunch, dinner or a buffet with drinks. “My fresh, seasonal, healthy meals are cooked with love,” she says, “and delivered to your door so you can enjoy a tailor-made dining in the comfort of your own place.” Based on your wishes she’ll create a suggested menu at €60 (starter, main, dessert) to €70 (aperitif, starter, main, dessert) per person, plus a €10 to €15 delivery charge. Prices are based on a minimum of six people but smaller groups are fine too, at a slightly higher price. Dishes can be fish, meat, vegetarian or vegan; all are based on the freshest produce, with delicate flavors, interesting textures and global flavors, presented in a modern Provencal style.  She also offers something she calls Supper Club, which happens in a peaceful hilltop garden with spectacular views, just outside the picturesque village of Gordes, or in the garden of her own three-room inn in St Saturnin. Together you’ll prepare a meal using fresh ingredients collected at the local market and enjoy it outdoors. Supper Club happens on request, for 6 people max, and the price depends on the menu. She also offers more traditional cooking classes in St. Saturnin, for up to six people, at prices ranging from €130 to €165 per person, including wine. And if you’d like to stay the night, guestrooms are €120 to €132 per night and she’s happy to add a lovely breakfast, brunch or dinner. All offerings available: year round.

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Why Cook on Vacation: Private Chef Dinners!

Various Luberon 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 €80 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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Dinner at Your Door

 

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.  2024 Prices:  70€ pp for four adults; 60€ pp for more than four adults. 30€ for kids up to 10; delivery charge 10€. Available: across the Luberon, year round. Dinner delivery also available in St. Remy, Arles and the surrounding areas. 

 

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. 2024 Price: 180€ pp (2 person min), includes class, lunch and wine. If you wish to spend the night, B&B rooms and suites are 100€ to 200€ per night and include a traditional French breakfast. Available: year round.

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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. 2024 Prices: 108€ 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 in the Morning, Wine in the Afternoon

 

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 8.30 am from your hotel and head for a very small pretty village in the Southern Luberon, to have a truffle hunt and tour with our 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.2024 Prices: 2 people, 800€; 4 people: 1000€ Price includes transport, truffle tour and two winery visits with tasting. The cost of lunch, if wanted, is extra. Available: in both winter and summer truffle season.

 

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. 2024 Prices: Cost: 350€ pp for two people. 300€ 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, including lunch and tastings.  

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Cooking with a Top Chef

Isle sur la Sorgue

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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. 2024 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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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.

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