Gourmet On Tour culinary adventures
. . . Paris, Cote d'Azur, Burgundy, Provence, The Southwest

Hungry travellers and lovers of fine cuisine, celebrate!

World-class cuisines taught by superb chefs throughout the world, set in seductive locations and amidst luxurious surroundings.

Gourmet On Tour has hand-picked the very best gourmet experiences and holidays. Exquisite locations provide the backdrop of over eighty cooking courses, culinary and wine tours in France, Italy, Spain, UK, Ireland, Thailand, China, Australia and the US.

Each programme is chosen with great care and experience, and the owners visit each venue personally to ensure a high standard in courses and accommodation. Locations are selected for their wonderful character and stunning surroundings with accommodation in cosy farmhouses or Renaissance palazzos.

You can discover the joys of cooking, using the finest local ingredients and learning the secrets from Michelin-star chefs to local Mammas, sharing their recipes of their grandmothers. Class sizes are small and personal and chefs can tailor-make menus according to your preferences. The excursions include market visits, truffle hunting, wine tastings, walking amongst olive groves and exploring age-old hillside towns. Non-cooking partners are welcome to join!

Gourmet On Tour's European operations allow them to foster relationships with the chefs and winemakers. Whether you have time for an in-depth course or just a short adventure, one thing about seeing cooking holidays is certain . . . it’s all about who you know.

What they offer: Culinary adventures for the solo hungry traveller, the couple on a romantic escape, a group on holiday, or the corporate team on retreat.

What they do: Match you with the perfect cooking course, gourmet vacation, or wine tour, for a day or a week - in France, Italy, Spain, UK, Ireland, Morocco, USA, Bali, Thailand, China and Australia. World-class chefs, culinary experts and wine masters make the experience unsurpassed.

CUISINE A LA ALAIN DUCASSE

• Learn French cuisine in an Alain Ducasse kitchen
• Taste the best of French wines with a sommelier
• Be seduced by the most romantic city in the world
• Sleep in world-class luxury near the Champs d'Elysees

A couple of years ago, Alain Ducasse opened a professional training school in a Parisian suburb, offering on occasion courses for the public. It was so successful that he has opened one in central Paris, with an ideal kitchen and groups limited to 8 people. Courses are half-day or full-day, and optional (at additional cost) are exceptional wine evenings with a sommelier.

Courses are taught in French, though the chef is Canadian and speaks English as well. Basic knowledge of French is sufficient for the cuisine courses, and we can also arrange a translator for you if desired (at an additional EUR 150 per group). For the optional wine evenings, good French skills are necessary.

Menu Cuisine : 3 days and 2 nights

• Spend either a half or full day in a professional kitchen, taught by a professional chef
• Enjoy optional gastronomic meals in Michelin-star restaurants and local brasseries
• Optional: Wine evenings at Alain Ducasse and tastings with a sommelier

The place and accommodation

Paris, of course, needs no introduction. Our Alain Ducasse culinary experience all takes place in central Paris, just north of the Seine River and not far from the Champs Elysées.

We offer two accommodation options. Plaza Athénée and Hotel Tremoille are in the same neighbourhood, the crossroads of fashion, entertainment and business. Since its inauguration in 1911, the Plaza Athénée has seduced an elegant Parisian and international clientele its legendary classical French style. Le Tremoille, once a centre of the jazz scene in Paris, has received guests such as Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Louis Armstrong, and Johnny Depp.

• Plaza Athénée: 188 rooms and suites in classic 18th-century style
• Le Tremoille: Small boutique hotel in contemporary design

THREE PERFECT DAYS IN PARIS

• Year-round
• 3 days
• Hands-on and / or walking tour
• Accommodation included

These three perfect days in Paris are a classy culinary exploration of this classy city. Choose from three options: a course exclusive to Gourmet On Tour at Alain Ducasse’s culinary school, a food lover’s market tour and cooking course with Paule Caillet, and a customised self-guided culinary itinerary uniquely prepared by Rosa Jackson, an editor at Time Out Paris.

Alain Ducasse:

The name of Alain Ducasse, with his Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris and around the world, is renowned wherever the culinary arts are cherished. Gourmet On Tour has an exclusive arrangement with Le centre de formation d’Alain Ducasse (ADF), Alain Ducasse’s professional culinary school on the outskirts of Paris.

Whatever a participant’s background, beginner or experienced enthusiast, our culinary adventure offers a full day of hands-on training at ADF, with a private driver picking up participants at their hotel. Available only on scheduled dates.

Food Lover’s Tour:

This walking tour is a unique opportunity to know the real Paris, starting with cuisinier and guide Paule Caillat. This unforgettable half day combines the pleasure of marketing, choosing ingredients, cooking and savouring a menu with the appropriate wine. Join a small group for daily cooking classes and expeditions to colourful and abundant open-air markets.

Culinary Paris:

Consider a customised self-guided tour by Time Out Paris editor Rosa Jackson that includes the bistros, brasseries and restaurants perfectly matched to your tastes. Rosa visits every shop, market, restaurant and café that is recommended on her itinerary, with a map locating the shops and restaurants. Long a resident of Paris, Rosa also writes for Food & Wine in the United States, and Food and Travel in the UK.

Accommodation is either at Le Tremoille or The Lancaster, both of the sumptuous boutique hotels just off the Champs-Elysées. Le Tremoille has received guests such asOrson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Louis Armstrong, and Johnny Depp. The Lancaster, once a private residence, is an eclectic but refined blend of styles and textures.

WINE EXPERIENCE IN BURGUNDY

• Gain entré into exclusive vineyards and cellars
• Sample the world's great red wines, deep and rich
• Explore the nuances and secrets of Côte de Nuits
• Slumber within the serenity of a restored country estate

Your wine experience in Burgundy, or Bourgogne, is a privately guided exploration into the cellars and vineyards of Côte de Nuits and even into Côte de Beaune, where some of the world's deepest and richest red wines are produced. Côte de Nuits is some 20 kilometres north to south and in some places just 300 metres east to west. But within this modest geography are a rich variety of nuances, ranging from the power of a Chambertin to the grace of a Musigny.

Extend you experience and also investigate the wines and vineyards of Côte de Beaune, just to the south of Côte de Nuits.

Menu Wine : 3 - 5 days and 2 - 4 nights

• Visit exclusive cellars and vineyards within Côte de Nuit and Côte de Beaune
• Learn to finesse the appreciation of Burgundy's finest red wines
• Explore the region with a bilingual wine guide

The place and accommodation

Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune are nestled within the famous wine region of Bourgogne, or Burgundy, just south of Dijon. Further south within Burgundy, towards Lyon, is Beaujolais, also well-known for its wines.

Two options are available for accommodation, both exquisite luxury properties with very different personalities.

• Château Ziltener: Restored, exquisitee boutique country house
• Château de Gilly: Renovated grand château and estate

THREE PERFECT DAYS IN BEAUJOLAIS

• Discover and explore France's culinary heartland
• Try the wines of Beaujolais with a local wine expert
• Dine in both Michelin-star and local-fare restaurants
• Sleep within the splendour of a restored château

This is a culinary adventure of sheer indulgence. No cooking, just eating, sleeping and wine tasting. Lodging is in one of France's finest château hotels. Venture through the Beaujolais's vineyards with a local wine expert... Sample French cuisine at Michelin-star restaurants and locals-only restaurants. Sleep in uncommonly rich, restored splendour.

A minimum of four people are required for this culinary adventure.

Menu Gourmet : 4 days and 3 nights

• Thoroughly explore the countryside and vineyards of Beaujolais with a wine expert
• Taste Michelin-star cuisine and local fare in the heart of France's culinary centre
• Explore Lyon, the Renaissance city that is now a culinary focus of excellence

The place and accommodation

Lady Hamlyn discovered Château de Bagnols in 1987 and painstakingly restored the château to its former glory, creating what is now France's finest five-star deluxe château-hotel. Dating from the 13th century, the château is set amongst vineyards, forests and green hills in the heart of the Beaujolais countryside. Lyon is about 20 km away.

The 20 rooms and suites have been painstakingly restored, revealing wall paintings created when nearby Lyon was one of Europe's great Renaissance cities.

• Château de Bagnols: An elegantly renovated 13th-century château

LES CUISINES D'ALAIN DUCASSE

• Learn the kitchen style of acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse
• Choose from half or a full week of hands-on cooking
• Discover the magic of fresh ingredients and herbs
• Stay in either a converted abbey or country house

La Bastide de Moustiers, Moustiers Ste Marie:

Moustiers Ste Marie is a landmark in the region around Fayence, where the Provence of Giono meets up with the Lake of Sainte-Croix. La Bastide the Moustiers embodies the spirit of a certain kind of Provence: authentic, sometimes austere but always inspiring and extraordinarily rich both for its culture and natural beauty. There is the country-house whose vegetable garden nourishes a simple type of cooking, and a guesthouse where lunch is served beneath the trellis. It is a symbol of fine food, with Valensole cheeses, bread baked in Moustiers, and lamb from the alpine pastures.

L’Abbaye de la Celle:

L’Hostellerie is an Eighteenth century house next to a Twelfth century royal abbey, with a stunning Romanesque chapter room behind the cloisters transformed in a banqueting hall, with long wooden tables and sleek chairs.

The main house was remodelled by Sylvia Fournier in 1938 to become the first four-star small hotel in the Var; Charles de Gaulle stayed here in 1960 when he was writing his memories. There are enormous beds piled high with pillows in starched-linen cases; bathrooms decorated with friezes of wisteria and matching pale periwinkle tiles from the nearby village of Salernes; parquet floors in the restrooms; and leather sofas with Moroccan rugs in the living rooms.

In the kitchen, all the ingredients used by Chef Benoit Witz are the best and freshest available: the white mounds of Banon goat’s cheese, wrapped in chestnut leaves and runny to perfection, are made at a nearby farm; shiny red mullet are delivered at dawn from Marseille, and the herb garden is very generous with sage, rosemary, basil, dill, savory, citronella and peppermint.

CUISINE AT CHATEAU DE BERNE

• Try hands-on cooking of the best of Provençal style
• Explore the wines of the chåteau's own private winery
• Relax amidst the vineyards of this private estate
• Sleep in the luxury of the château and its serenity

Located in the heart of Provence, between Nice and Marseille near Lorgues, Château de Berne nestles in a valley amongst olive trees, thyme and rosemary. Here, the tradition of winemaking has been deeply rooted since 1750; the winemakers live for their passion of wine and give of their knowledge with generosity, talent and care.

Following a 16-year career as executive chef in restaurants of the French Riviera, Chef Vosgien broaden his talents as an international food consultant, travelling the world for hotels and restaurants from Singapore to Moscow to Paris. He joins the Château de Berne to offer lessons on the traditional cuisine of Provence, using wine, fresh market produce, handmade pasta, and a gallery of sauces.

Learn and indulge in a feast of the finest local flavours as fresh produce from the château’s organic gardens, along with delicacies from the local markets, are transformed into gourmet dishes. Enjoy meals on the terrace beneath the shade of a pergola, or else in the dining room, where the rustic charm of the vineyards is depicted in a hand-painted frieze arching across the wall beneath timbered beams.

The château and its auberge are a luxurious, calm, and sophisticated place, sheltered amidst 600 acres of vineyards and forests. Each guest bedroom is decorated with elegant accents and has its own balcony or sun terrace. The extensive grounds have an outdoor pool, gardens, tennis and boules courts.

CUISINE & SPA ON COTE D'AZUR

• Cook a gourmand's lunch and prepare pastries
• Indulge in an 8-course dinner at the chef's table
• Revel in the beauty of the Italian Riviera
• Cast away stress with a Japanese-style spa treat

The place and accommodation

Transformed from its origins as an 18th-century 'mas' or farmhouse, Le Mas Candilles nestles quietly on the hillside of Mougins above Cannes, on the Côte d'Azur, the famous French Riviera. This luxurious hotel and spa is set within 40,000 square meters of terraced Provencal parkland, surrounded by mature cypress trees and old olive groves, with mesmerizing views across the valley to the pre-alps.

• Le Mas Candille : 40 rooms of luxury just 7km from Cannes

IN A MICHELIN-STAR KITCHEN

• Rub elbows with a Michelin-star chef in his kitchen
• Ramble through the labyrinth of the old Grimaldi fort
• Explore Côte d'Azur and its famed coastal lifestyle
• Sleep within the romance of a 13th-century residence

This is a culinary adventure that offers two hands-on cooking courses with Jean-Yves Johany, a Michelin-star chef, in his professional kitchen at Le Cagnard. Spend the morning learning the nuances and techniques of French cuisine, then lunch with the chef on the morning's course. The rest of the time is at your leisure to explore this seductive yet dynamic region . . . the perfume town of Grasse, the glamour of Monte Carlo and Monaco, the cafés of Cannes, the Mediterranean villages of Eze, Beaulieu, and Villefranche.

Menu Gourmet : 4 days and 3 nights

• Hands-on cooking courses with Michelin-star chef Jean-Yves Johany
• Prepare your own lunches with the chef in his professional restaurant kitchen
• Explore the region: Grasse, Cannes, Mougins, Monte Carlo and the Côte d'Azur

The place and accommodation

Le Cagnard is in the heart of Côte d'Azur, the famous French Riviera. This 13th-century medieval residence is perched on the ramparts of the Grimaldi fort, with simply breathtaking views. It was once the setting for the chivalrous romance between Nicolette and Aucassin, and it is imbued with the poetic spirit of Modigliani, Fujita and the famous Renoi.

Additional room nights can be arranged upon request, of course.

• Le Cagnard : Restored 13th-century residence in an old fort

PASSPORT TO PROVENCE

• Year-round except August
• 5 days
• Hands-on
• Accommodation included

In the company of French Master Chef René Bérard, discover the splendours of Provence. Find out all the secrets of a cuisine prepared with local produce from the markets of Provence. The course is held in a superb old house with its own herb-and-vegetable garden, which provides all the herbs and vegetables used in the fabulous dishes prepared and savoured by the fireside or in the shade of the garden in summer.

Participants will visit the Sanary and Bandol markets and local vineyards (with winetasting, of course), all enhanced with the fascinating story of Provence told by Chef Bérard.

A cluster of beautifully restored old buildings, including an Eleventh century monastery, is tucked away in the magnificent Provençal village of La Cadière d’Azur, overlooking the surrounding hills and majestic Bandol vineyards.

The Hostellerie Bérard is not a single house but a cluster of houses tucked away in the village. The ancient monks’ cells of this former Eleventh century monastery have been lovingly transformed into 40 bright, comfortable and delightfully decorated rooms. Daniele and René Bérard have decorated each guest room in delightful traditional Provençal style, harmonising perfectly with the warm and intimate atmosphere of the hostellerie.

Each room has its own personality and name—Bleu Méditerranée, Van Gogh, Pêche, Cezanne, Vert Provence - and offers beautiful views over the beautiful Provençal hills. Rooms have ensuite bathrooms.

The hostellerie is only a short trip away from the sea, the islands of Porquerolles and Embiez, and the mini fjords of Cassis.

LE MAS DES OLIVIERS

• April, September, October
• 7 days, maximum 8 people
• Hands-on
• Accommodation included

Le Mas des Oliviers is a renovated Provençal villa overlooking the Mediterranean on the Côte d’Azur. Each day will be a balanced mix of hands on cooking lessons, cultural excursions and time to enjoy the beautiful property and spectacular view. The breathtaking views towards the Bay of Cannes, Les Iles de Lérin’s, and Cap d’Antibes help to make this culinary holiday exceptional.

Located just 15 minutes from the glamour of Cannes, yet only 10 minutes away from the wild red cliffs of the Esterel, the villa offers the sophistication and excitement of the Riviera in a tranquil and relaxed environment.

Each day begins with a breakfast of fruit, pastries, cereal, juice and coffee outside on the beautiful terrace. The day is a balanced mix of hands-on cooking lessons, cultural excursions, and time to relax. Each cooking lesson is followed by lunch or dinner and includes wine. The theme is French cuisine, and its offered in abundance but without sacrificing a relaxed experience in Provence.

The classes are set up in an intimate, hands-on manner, so that complete novices can sit along side professional chefs, yet both be educated and amused. Chef Frédéric Rivière patiently teaches the skills and techniques required to prepare beautiful French cuisine. His warm personality instills the confidence to produce some of France’s most famous dishes.

Participants will also learn about local produce, wines and cheeses, as well as how to select a wine to match a meal. After completing a lesson, the evening is at leisure before dining.

As well as some of the more complicated dishes, there are several simple and delicious recipes included in the recipe manual each participant receives at the beginning of the week. The manual also contains a wealth of information, including a glossary of French cooking terms, conversion tables, and a list of the recipes to be prepared and cooked.

CRILLON LE BRAVE

• October
• One week, 8 people
• Hands-on, wine appreciation
• Accommodation included

The countryside surrounding the village of Crillon le Brave offers many opportunities for visitors to explore the history, culture, and natural beauty of Provence. Lively village markets, medieval towns, Roman ruins, Provence’s best antiques market, cycling and walking trails, the vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape and the Câtes du Rhône, enormous fields of lavender, and the studios of some of Provence’s best artists and artisans—all are nearby.

Hostellerie de Crillon le Brave rated a Top 20 International Hideaway by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report and is a member of the prestigious association of Relais & Château. We invite you to make this country house hotel your home in Provence. Step through our doors and enjoy the art de vivre of this land of the sun.
Join Chef Philippe Monti for an exciting hands-on cooking program at Hostellerie de Crillon le Brave. Whether experienced cook or novice, you will find this a rewarding taste of Provence.

The Crillon le Brave Wine Experience spans five days. We cover the Rhône Valley from the Côte Rôtie and Condrieu in the north to Châteauneuf du Pape and Tavel in the south. We also take a peek at up and coming Côtes du Ventoux producers who will surprise you with the quality of their wines.

Spend Thanksgiving with guest chef and cooking teacher Sara Monick for a special edition of Cooking in Provence, in November. We promise you turkey—maybe the best you’ve ever tasted—and many other special moments to make this a Thanksgiving to remember.

Hostellerie de Crillon le Brave is a collection of village houses linked by narrow cobbled alleyways, secret gardens and spectacular terraces. There are 31 bedrooms in seven different restored village houses. All guest rooms and suites have private bathrooms.

LE MARMITON

• May, June, September, October, November, December
• 2 to 5 days, 6 to 10 people
• Hands-on
• Accommodation included

This culinary programme is at the Hotel La Mirande, a stunning Seventeenth century mansion adjacent to the Palace of the Popes. Here, the best chefs in the area are invited to guide participants through the recipes of Provençal and French cuisine.

This is an excellent opportunity for participants to experience one of the most refined French hotels and to be taught by the best chefs the region has to offer.

The classes are a practical, hands-on experience with no more than twelve participants, working around the kitchen table. The original wood-fired, cast-iron oven of the kitchen dates back to the Nineteenth century and adds to the ambiance of the old kitchen. The various dishes prepared are savoured at the end, along with selected wines.

Our Le Marmiton programme is designed with flexibility in mind and there are no activities scheduled outside of the cooking class. Programmes offered range from one to five days, allowing participants enough time to explore historic Avignon and the Provençal region.

Accommodation is at the Hotel La Mirande, originally a cardinal’s palace dating from the time of the popes in Avignon. It was transformed in the Seventeenth century into a hotel particulier and remains today one of the best examples of the period.

Located in a tranquil cobbled square at the foot of the Palace of the Popes, protected from the noise and bustle of the town, the hotel offers an unforgettable elegance of its Eighteenth century interiors, a secluded garden and terraces, and the quality of life of former times.

WITH A BORDEAUX WINEMASTER

• Join a master sommelier for tastings of Bordeaux's wines
  
• Gain entry to private cellars in Medoc and St Emilion
• Leisurely explore Bordeaux by private car or bicycle
• Sleep within a restored 18th-century wine estate

If you're interested in wine and want to learn more, or are a connoisseur and aficionado, or if you're looking to take your enjoyment of wine to another level...

The wines of Bordeaux are known the world over. Join an internationally renowned wine sommelier, Dewey Markham, for one, two or three days of winetastings and exclusive, private visits to the region's finest cellars.

Born in New York City, Dewey was director of L'Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris before shifting his focus entirely to the wines of France. A noted author about Bordeaux wines, he has taught at Ecole du Vin (Bordeaux), Lycée Agro-Viticole (Bordeaux), International Hotel and Gastronomy Institute (São Paulo), and the Culinary Institute of America (New York). Wrote the Boston Globe, "What Markham doesn't know about wine making in Bordeaux wouldn't fill an eggshell. You could say he wrote the book - and you'd be right".

And if two to four nights aren't enough, extend for as many as you wish. We can add additional days of activities, or simply extend your château stay so that you can explore this history-rich area of western France.

Menu Wine (vineyard visits and winetasting) 1, 2 or 3 days of wine

• Spend a guided day discovering the fabulous rich wines of the Bordeaux region
• Make private cellar and vineyard visits with an internationally known winemaster
• Explore western France by your private car or on the quiet backroads by bicycle

The place and accommodation

Château Meyre is a private wine estate in the heart of Médoc, Bordeaux, between the vineyards of Moulis and Margaux. Comfortable accommodation is offered in nine uniquely designed rooms. The château has been planted with vines for more than three centuries. It has been recently restored and sits amidst 17 hectares 30 km north of Bordeaux.

• Château Meyre: nine unique rooms in a restored estate

IN THE MEDIEVAL SOUTHWEST

• Work with the chef to prepare a classic French dinner
  
• Explore regional vineyards and sample local wines
• Relax with a boat picnic on the Canal du Midi
• Sleep within the walls of a medieval walled citadel

The wines from the province of Aude have been known and appreciated since
the time of the Romans. The main types of wines grown here are: Corbières, Minervois, Fitou, Limoux and the Cabardès.

And if three nights aren't enough, extend for as many as you wish. We can add additional days of activities, or simply extend your hotel stay so that you can explore this history-rich area of southern France.

Special promotion: Receive an additional night free at Hotel de la Cité, subject to availability. In the winter season (1 Nov - 28 Nov and 3 Mar - 31 Mar), stay 4 nights for the price of 3. In summer (1 Apr to 31 Oct), stay 5 nights for the price of 4 (requires an additional night in addition to our regular three-night package below).

Menu Cuisine (cooking) 4/5 days and 3/4 nights

• Visit the market with the chef for ingredients and then prepare them for dinner
• Explore local cuisine with visits to a village baker, country cottage chef, and beekeeper
• Indulge in classic French cuisine at Michelin-star restaurants
• Discover a local winery and sample regional specialties in a winetasting

Menu Wine (vineyard visits and winetasting) 4 days and 3 nights

• Spend a guided day discovering the five regional appellations of regional wines
• Cruise the Canal du Midi in a private boat, with a picnic and regional wines
• Ramble the ancient alleys and streets of the fortress citedel, Carcassonne

The place and accommodation

The walled city of Carcassonne stands high on a hill above the River Aude, overlooking the valley of Lauragais and the lush Minervois vineyards. It is Europe's largest fortified citadel.

Inhabited since the Sixth century BC, Carcassonne was once a Roman town, fortified in the Third century AD. It developed into a flourishing medieval town to which the Crown granted a second line of ramparts in the Thirteenth century. Restored in the Nineteenth century, the citadel is a witness to a thousand years of military architecture and 2,500 years of history. High above, the largest hawks in the world fly freely around the town centre.

Within the citadel's walls and standing between two historic landmarks, the Romanesque Château Comtal and the Gothic Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, the Hôtel de la Cité is set in its own glorious gardens. With its solid stone walls, wood panelling and stained-glass windows, the hotel offers luxurious hospitality.

As befits a hotel of such unique character, each of its forty-two guestrooms and nineteen suites and junior suites is individually furnished and decorated with more than a dash of aristocratic style. The rooms in the Hotel de la Cité are not all identical, varying in shape, layout and interiors.

Part of the Orient-Express group of luxury hotels:

• Hotel de la Cité: 60 rooms within the walls of this ancient city

WALNUT GROVE

• January - November
• 5 days, maximum 8 people
• Hands-on, demonstration
• Accommodation included

The enjoyment of cooking is all about confidence, being relaxed and understanding the ingredients. These five pampered days in the Loire Valley of northern France are overseen by experts in a professional kitchen and based at an idyllic rural French farmhouse nestled in a walnut grove.

Walnut Grove always maintains a maximum ratio of four people and one chef. The professionally equipped kitchen is located across the courtyard from the farmhouse and has been exclusively designed for the use of course participants. With a high ceiling and exposed beams, the large kitchen is light and airy and retains a soft country ambiance, as does the beautifully renovated farmhouse, which also has exposed beams, an open fireplace, and four lovely ensuite bedrooms. A personal butler is always on call. This beautiful property and tranquil grounds are surrounded by a walnut grove.

Excursions include a local French market, traditional organic bread baker, or perhaps a local chateau and its beautiful grounds.

Dinner each evening is a six-course gourmet dinner, with fine wine and intimate conversation. The first evening’s six-course gourmet dinner is an introduction to the culinary themes covered by the week’s cookery course, with explanations by Maynard Harvey and Benedict Haines, two modern chefs who use the freshest ingredients with an emphasis on distinct flavours and clean, meticulous presentation. Daily courses begin with a demonstration followed by a hands-on class, with preparation of the gourmet dishes for the evening meal, such as duck confit with foie gras terrine or smoked haddock and brie soufflé.

Maynard Harvey’s experience includes working with Chef de Cuisine Richard Brooks (Princess Diana’s personal chef), and at the prestigious Savoy Hotel, London. Most recently Maynard was the chef/patron of the award-winning restaurant Seland Newydd. Benedict Haines also has a distinguished career in gourmet cuisine, including working Michelin-star chef Ian McAndrews and as head chef of the highly acclaimed country house hotel Tyddyn Llan.

	Judith von Prockl-Palmer - established Gourmet On Tour in 2000 (it launched in summer 2001), was born in Germany. Her passion for cuisine was nourished by living and working in Singapore (where she and Scott Rutherford first met), Kuala Lumpur, Mexico, Los Angeles, San Francisco and now London. Judith earned a degree in business administration and began her career with advertising agency Lowe Lintas, in Asia, handling accounts such as Unilever and Johnson & Johnson. Before Gourmet On Tour, Judith worked as marketing manager in book and magazine publishing and in international marketing at Amazon.co.uk, in London.