Gascony is home to some of the finest ingredients and noblest dishes of French cuisine, including succulent magrets and confits of duck and goose; foie gras partnered with freshly baked pain de campagne, tangy local chévre and brebis cheeses, plump Agen prunes marinated in orange blossom water and sweet and melting Armagnac croustades.
The elegant 18th century Chateau lies in the heart of Gascony. It is a sumptuous region of rolling hills carpeted with maize, sunflowers and fruit trees, and on the horizon the majestic snow-capped Pyrenees. The climate is gentle – we are south of Nice. During the week we will be visiting Pau, the nearby elegant spa town, as well as enjoying dinner at Michel Guerard’s renowned 3 Michelin star restaurant.
The Chateau is a gem. A palatial hall with a sweeping double staircase leads to stylish sitting rooms, a clubby billiard room and the airy jardin d’hiver full of scented citrus trees. Upstairs the extremely comfortable parquet floored bedrooms are light and spacious with stunning views down the valley through the tall chateau windows. The hand some ensuite bathrooms are bright and fresh. Outside there is a luxurious heated swimming pool and a gracious terrace bordered by a classical stone balustrade where we will be serving lunch and dinner. The extensive, landscaped private estate includes an immaculate 18 hole golf course – a perfect pastime for non-cooking companions. Golf lessons with a Pro can be arranged.
Vacation Itinerary:
- Saturday - welcome aperitif of Pousse Rapier, introduction to the week, dinner on the terrace.
- Sunday - introduction to French ingredients followed by class, lunch in Jardin d'hiver, afternoon free for swimming, walking, golf or relaxing, cheese tasting of the delicious local cheeses, dinner.
- Monday - class, lunch on the terrace, free, visit to Armagnac distillery, dinner
- Tuesday - day trip to Pau to visit the fruit & vegetable markets, dinner at home
- Wednesday - class, lunch in the jardin d'hivier, afternoon free, class, talk and tasting on Fois Gras, gourmet dinner of Fois Gras
- Thursday - morning market trip to Tarbes to stock up on ingredients for impromptu class, lunch, afternoon free, dinner at Michel Guerard’s restaurant; Les Près d’Eugénie
- Friday - class, lunch on the terrace, afternoon free, drinks on the terrace and a round up of the week, dinner
- Saturday - departure.
Faculty Information:
Eric Chavot - Head Chef of the 2 Michelin star Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge. Eric's CV includes his time as chef/ patron of Interlude de Chavot and as head chef of The Restaurant Marco Pierre White and Nico at Ninety. AA Gill has described Eric's work thus 'faultlessly assured, elegant, thoughtful, poignant, intelligent, top of the range & exceedingly rare'.
Matthew Harris started in the Bibendum kitchens with Simon Hopkinson in 1987 as a chef de partie, and has now been head chef for 8 years. Matthew's cooking is classic & contemporary French, his early training was in the family's seminal Brighton restaurant Le Grand Gousier. Bibendum remains one of the stars in the London Restaurant scene and under Matthew's guiding hand is as inspired and sophisticated as the day it opened.
Other Activities:
Gascony is home to some of the finest ingredients and noblest dishes of French cuisine, but also the wine tasting of well-known wines. Wines range from the robust vins de terroir of the Madiran and Cahors to the fragrant whites of the Jurançon and elegant Cabernets from Southern Bordeaux, and, of course, the angel’s digestifs Armagnac from Chateau Laubade.
Facility Information:
The Chateau is a gem. A palatial hall with a sweeping double staircase leads to stylish sitting rooms, a clubby billard room and the airy jardin d’hiver full of scented citrus trees. Upstairs the extremely comfortable parquet floored bedrooms are light and spacious with stunning views down the valley through the tall chateau windows. The hand some ensuite bathrooms are bright and fresh. Outside there is a luxurious heated swimming pool and a gracious terrace bordered by a classical stone balustrade where we will be serving lunch and dinner. The extensive, landscaped private estate includes an immaculate 18 hole golf course – a perfect pastime for non-cooking companions. Golf
lessons with a Pro can be arranged.
Notes:
£2,100 (USD 3651$) - per person
Single Supplement: £200 (USD $348)
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France
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