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:
25th October to 31st October
11th April to 17th April (2010)
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.
