Domaine d'Esperance, the 18th century country home of le Comtesse J. L. de Montesquiou Fezensac, is surrounded by vineyards and the gently rolling hills of Gascony. Set in the heart of Bas-Armagnac, 1 1/2 hours from Bordeaux, the fresh air and rural atmosphere make it an ideal setting for the relaxed study of the art of French cooking.
Classes of 9 students are held in the spacious kitchen and taught by Chef Natalia Arizmendi, a gifted and humorous teacher who plans classes to take advantage of the changing seasons and uses fresh ingredients at their best. Natalia Arizmendi, a "Grand Diplome" of the Cordon Bleu, has taught both cooking and pastry for more than 10 years. A gifted and humorous teacher, she shares the refinements of her skills. Chef Arizmendi has planned the series of seminars to take advantage of the changing seasons to use fresh ingredients at their best. Autumn and winter courses will nourish and warm you with robust stews and flavorful roasts; spring and summer will bring the delights of fresh vegetables, salads and cold buffets.
Six times a year, one-week seminars are held in the spacious kitchen. Enrollment is kept to a maximum of nine. After a welcoming buffet, the course begins Monday afternoon and continues through Friday night. Each morning is devoted to theoretical instruction; in the afternoon you will gain practical experience, preparing the evening meal under the supervision of the chef.
2006 Dates: March 27-April 1 - spring dishes, June 12-17 - buffets, summer dishes, weekend courses can be organized for groups of 4 or more persons.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Upon arrival in Bordeaux, the chef will have a buffet lunch ready. After settling into the rooms, there will be hands on cooking class with dinner from the class preparation.
Day 2 - After breakfast, the chef will demonstrate a three course meal. After lunch, the group will visit a thirteenth century bastide. Later in the afternoon, students cook a three course meal under the supervision of the chef which will be served in the dining room.
Day 3 - After breakfast, again the chef will demonstrate a three course meal to be served for lunch. In the afternoon, the group will visit area castles and vineyards or enjoy relaxing around the swimming pool or playing tennis. The evening meal will again be a dinner prepared by the students under the supervision of the chef. Dinner is served in the dining room.
Day 4 - After breakfast, the group will visit the market at Eauze, purchasing produce for the lunch. There will be time for resting or for area visits after lunch. The evening meal will be prepared by the students under the supervision of the chef with dinner served in the dining room.
Day 5 - After breakfast the chef will demonstrate a three course meal, serving it for lunch. Visits in the afternoon will be to vineyards and a special visit to the Domaine d'Esperance winery. Hands on class preparing dinner with the chef will be served for dinner.
Day 6 - After breakfast, there is a visit to a vineyard and a cellar in Sauternes on the way to Bordeaux.
Other activities
Included in the program are group visits: on Wednesday morning to the local market, and on Saturday morning to the cave and aging cellars of neighboring domaines, followed by a buffet picnic before departure. The week's schedule allows ample free time. Depending on the season, the weather or your mood, you can read by the fire, walk in the wooded pathways or vineyards, take a swim in the pool, or taste the Armagnac from the Domaine's cellars.
Accommodation
Lodging is provided in the fresh and comfortable guest rooms of the house, each with two single beds, and a private bath.
Testimonials
"We could not have imagined a more enjoyable time. Natalia is a marvelous chef as well as a wonderful person. Her knowledge of cooking and her desire to teach were very evident in how she conducted the lessons. We were most impressed the effort Claire and Natalia made to insure that we had the very freshest ingredients to cook with, the amount of personal effort made every day to make sure our side trips were tailored to our interests and the many calls made to personal friends to allow us to visit their estates. This all made us feel very special..." John & Nanci H., Clayton, Ohio
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Bring a friend and qualify for a 10% reduction per person. Price includes:
- 5 nights accommodation;
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners;
- Cooking school tuition and excursions;
- Transfers to and from Bordeaux.
Also see tour packages in:
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Cooking School
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