ANGEVINE ESCAPADE

Le Verger, an enchanting turn-of-the-century manor, located 20 minutes away from Angers, the capital of the Anjou region, in a small and intact community and A World in a Pan welcome you for a relaxing and rewarding gourmet and historical adventure.

The program includes:
> A sumptuous celebration meal, featuring Anjou's cuisine, at the manor with crystal glasses, chandeliers and fine china,
> A Cheese and wine paring tasting session, > a light lunch upon arrival prepared with local produce,
> One picnic in the green meadows of Le Verger, by its pristine pond all served with a selection of fine local wines,
> One breakfast featuring all our favorite French "Viennoiseries" such as croissants, pains au chocolat, brioches, fresh from the neighborhood "boulangerie", home-made jams and local honey,
> Osssne brunch featuring Anthony’s famous “pain perdu”.
Plus a tour of Lion d’Angers - a very curious name for a town since there were no lions in the area but it seems “lion” could come from “legion” and that the town could have been a garrison town or “legia” in the times of Cesar! - its XI Century church and picturesque Saturday open market, filled with wonderfully fresh local produce and much more.
The owner of Le Verger and host, the warm Anthony Murphy, who knows the region better than many locals, will welcome us in his home and brand new state-of-the-art kitchen. The tour starts on Friday at Noon and ends on Sunday at Noon.

Le Verger has three very large luxurious rooms with private bathrooms, and a suite with two other double rooms with a shared bathroom.
€ 350 per person, room with private bath, double occupancy basis.
Single room supplement, add €150.

Day one (Friday): We expect you to arrive at Le Verger in the late morning or at Noon. Once you are settled, Anthony Murphy will make you visit the lovely manor, which he lovingly refurbished, the park with its pond. A lunch made with fresh local produce will be served.
You’ll be given several options of visits in the area for Saturday afternoon, with historic landmarks such as the famous medieval Chateau d’Angers and its exceptional 17th century Apocalypse Tapestry, the Terra Botanica, a surprising Botanical Park filled with extraordinary plants, or a visit of the Cointreau Distillery, a world known liquor produced in Angers.
After your choice of tour in the area to introduce you to the beauty of this magical French region, filled with history, we’ll get ready for an unforgettable Wine and Cheese pairing session. We’ll challenge your palates with a broad selection of French cheeses that come from one of the best cheese shops in the region, served in unusual wine pairing combinations. Our selection of local A.O.C. wines can include: Côteaux de Lyon, Savennieres, Saumur-Champigny, Red Anjou …
Night at Le Verger.

Day two (Saturday): The day starts with a French breakfast where a selection of local breads, croissants, pains au chocolat, home made jams, and butter from a local farm are served. You will also be offered Anthony’s broad variety of teas form “Mariage Frères”, a world known Paris teashop, a South American coffee blend, cereals, and yogurt. During breakfast, we will decide on the evening menu based on the season and what is available and tasty in the area. Later in the morning, we go to the nearby town Lion d’Angers to shop for our ingredients at the colorful local market.
We’ll picnic in the grounds of Le Verger with local specialties bought at the market, such as rillons or rillettes, and freshly baked bread.
Around 5 we will start preparing the evening meal. A typical menu could be:
> Galipettes (giant stuffed mushrooms)
> Salmon « comme de Loire, au beurre blanc »
> Fresh salad with local greens
> Tourte Angevine (a local plum pie)
> Coffee
> Savennières wine (a local white dry wine)

Time to relax with a surprising aperitif (pre-dinner drink), the “soupe angevine” and some paté home-made by Anthony, especially for us. A true life in the chateau experience is what expects you for the evening de gala five-course dinner with dozens of candles in sumptuous chandeliers and crystal ware.

Day three (Sunday): Farewell brunch at Le Verger with Anthony's famous pain perdu (French toast), made with tasty French bread, and other delights!

ART DE VIVRE in the Lorey Valley with PARFUM DE FRANCE
The French country life is at its finest in the Loire valley. This unique tour combines cooking demonstrations with Chef Fabrice Bretel of the famous restaurant La Licorne, hands-on cooking ateliers, wine tasting, and French language classes!



Our 5-day program has been designed for gourmets and wine lovers, and combines the pleasures of preparing outstanding regional food, the tasting of delicate wines, and learning the basics of French, allowing you to apprehend and make the most of the French art de vivre in the Loire Valley, the Valley of the Kings of France.

It includes cooking demonstration classes with Chef Fabrice Bretel with whom you will share the truly special experience and learn about the endless variety of the regional specialities, plus two “Simply Cooking” hands-on ateliers with one of our Home Chefs, and 35 hours of French.
Explore the best of French culinary traditions with all the colour and flavors of its terroir and create stunning menus with a talented chef. Your gourmet address is La Licorne, in Fontevraud, where luxury is at the service of simple joys. Chef Bretel’s exclusive cuisine is in an 18C limestone residence in Fontevraud, steps from the famous Abbey. His cuisine blends local products and traditional dishes.

Surprise yourself with an unexpected approach to the art of wine-tasting with Thierry Germain and Michel Chevré from the Domaine des Roches Neuves. They will introduce you to the art of cultivating and tasting wine in Anjou and you will taste and learn to describe the aromas and flavours of some of the greatest local vintages. The Anjou vineyards are 20,000 acres of fertile land, home to over 28 appellations such as Savennières, Saumur Brut, Samur Champigny, Cotaux de Layon.

The program also includes two hands-on cooking ateliers with your host Sylvie Reeves, an experienced coach. Sylvie is passionate about French and cooking. As we advocate sustainable cooking, we will invite you to visit the farms where the restaurant gets the ingredients for delicious recipes to get your ingredients fro your cooking atelier.

Get a better understanding of French culture by learning the basics of French. The language centre is in Fontevraud within walking distance of the Royal Abbey. The tour includes 35h of French immersion which combine classes and activities.

Throughout the ateliers and outings, you are accompanied by your language trainer whose role is to facilitate understanding and encourage you to engage in natural conversation. Make sure you bring your French-English dictionary with you.

Dates:
24th October to 30th October (2010)

Prices of your Parfum de France tour include accommodation, transfers from and to Tours, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), a glass of wine per meal, and local tours.
Euros 1600 per person, room with private bath, double occupancy basis. Single room supplement, add Euros 200.

Tentative Tour Schedule
Day 1 ( Sunday)
Sylvie, your host, welcomes you in the historic village of Fontevraud L’Abbaye. She will introduce the week program designed with you in mind around a cocktail. Before dinner, you will be able to explore the old streets of this delightful town.  Dinner will be served in the gourmet restaurant of the hotel (three course meal and local wine). 

Day 2 ( Monday)
In the morning, Sylvie welcomes you in her home for a day full of gastronomic discoveries around the Loire Valley and a French class. This region is called the garden of France and is described by writer Michelet as a homespun dress fringed with gold”. You’ll prepare lunch with Sylvie getting to grips with French and gastronomy. In the afternoon, you’ll walk behind the scenes of Saumur history indulging in a discovery trail and visit the Distillerie Combier where they make the famous absinthe. Dinner will be served in the gourmet restaurant of your hotel. (three course meal and local wine). 

Day 3 ( Tuesday)
“From the garden to your plate” is today’s motto! You’ll spend the morning selecting some of the ingredients of the recipes that you will make in the afternoon under the expert guidance of Chef Bretel. You will learn and practise some vocabulary through this convivial and stimulating activity.
Light lunch at the hotel (two course meal and local wine).  In the afternoon, Chef Bretel will give you a warm welcome to a wealth of flavours and textures. You’ll cook with fresh and locally prodcued ingredients, spending a very convivial evening at La Licorne.

Day 4 ( Wednesday)
In the morning, you’ll meet at Sylvie’s to practice French while you learn to prepare a traditional French three course meal.  Make the most of the afternoon to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Fontevraud and the neighbouring villages of Montsoreau and Candes St Martin. Visit the Abbey of Fontevraud, the largest abbey complex in Europe nestled at the heart of the Unesco World Heritage where a tour in English has been organised.  Here is the chosen resting place of Henri II, King of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, his son Richard I and the wife of his other son King John, Isabella of Angoulême. Not death but life however now triumphs at Fontevraud. The Abbey welcomes over 200 000 visitors each year. In the afternoon, we have organized a boat trip on the Loire whilst learning about the history of this majestic river. Dinner will be served at your hotel (three course meal and local of wine).  .

Day 5( Thursday)
In the morning, you’ll be captivated by the visit and demonstration of the Cadre Noir and the National Horseriding school: a unique equestrian world, Saumur being the capital of the horse.
Before lunch, you’ll have an hour of free time to shop in Saumur and then will have lunch with Sylvie in the heart of town.
In the afternoon, La Licorne’s chef will generously reveal his cooking tricks and techniques You’ll have plenty of opportunity to improve your culinary skills on his hands-on workshop. In the evening, you’ll taste your stunning dishes in a very convivial atmosphere with Sylvie.

Day 6 ( Friday)
In the morning, you’ll visit the outstanding Château de Brézé, with an underground fortress that housed up to 2000 people! An extraordinary, self-contained universe with the nobleman’s quarters, a rampart walk, bakery, cellars. The vineyard is the only wine production site in France to have been in constant use for 800 years. Lunch near the Chateau. In the afternoon, a wine expert of the Domaine des Roches Neuves in Varrains, will guide you through an exploration of wine tasting. He will explain the different appellations and terroirs, the production techniques, and the wines of the region. A visit of the cellars is completed by a wine tasting session. Your nose and palate develop as the session unfolds to interpret the different savours and aromas inherent in each wine.

Sylvie invites you for an aperitif and a farewell buffet at her home for your final evening in the exceptional setting of Fontevraud.

Day 7 ( Saturday)
Transfer to Tours after breakfast to take Fast Train to Paris.

Taste the vibrant colors of fresh produce and feast your eyes on the delectable presentation your host will assist you in preparing. Let your creativity loose and fear not mingling and blending spices, herbs and freshly picked perfectly ripe vegetables before creating a layout of dishes as tasty as it is lovely.
The three course menu is based on seasonal fresh produce from farms around Paris. Meal includes a glass of wine.

U$ 90 per participant - for a three hour class

Take a stroll about a Parisian farmer’s market with Laura, buy freshly picked flavorsome produce from local producers and learn to become a full-time or part-time Locavore!

In Laura’s studio, learn to transform, sublimate, and enjoy preparing hands-on a three course meal … then sharing it around a delightfully dressed table.

Sample menu: Broccoli flans with salmon eggs Salmon in Bacon Robe Leeks fondue Pears in red wine A glass of wine This is a wonderful opportunity to visit a Parisian market, to learn to select the freshest products, and to realize how easily you can succeed in putting together a three course meal.

The tour lasts four hours. Participants meet at the metro exit at 10 am, walk to the market, and then to Laura’s Parisian apartment where they prepare the meal.

Fee : U$ 120 per participant for a 4 hour tour.