Taste Gascony! Cooking Weekends in the Country

Taste Gascony!

3-Night Cooking Weekends in the French Countryside.

Discover the rural gastronomy of Southwest France from Foie Gras to Armagnac and all the delicious fresh produce in between on this exclusive ‘French Kitchen Adventure’! From the colorful Farmers Markets of Gascon villages to private tastings in cellars and kitchens, to the ample table of the Relais de Camont. this is a perfect 3-night weekend break or add-on to a visit to Paris or Provence (just 4 hours from Paris)

Friday: arrival afternoon in Agen by TGV from Paris or from near by Toulouse or Bordeaux. This adventure in good cooking begins at Kate Hill’s French Kitchen at the Relais de Camont. The 18^th century farmhouse fills with the fragrant perfume of good food cooking with a traditional Gascon dinner—a Poulet Henri IV or Poule-au-Pot. Discover the taste of Gascony from Aperitifs to Armagnac!

Saturday: Kate escorts you to the picturesque and bustling weekly farmers market at Nerac, the center of artisan food producers in Gascony. Artisan food producers sell their own wares and offer samples to their favorite visitors- like us! Lunch out in a charming café or a shady pique-nique by the river. Return to the French Kitchen for a fun and easy cooking class #1- Gascon Traditions—introducing you to foie gras, duck and other regional and seasonal specialties. Aperitifs to Digestives accompany our dinner and feature a wine tasting of local regional wines from Madiran, Cahors, Buzet, & Cote de Gascogne.

Sunday: After a relaxing morning, Cooking class #2—French Basix is influenced by the potager and herb gardens at Camont- what’s fresh, in season and out the kitchen door. How to make fresh herb sauces for braised poultry using parsley, lovage, rosemary and thyme, vinaigrettes for starling good salads and French soups, a primer creating simply elegant soups from fresh garden ingredients like shallots, watercress, and celery root. A leisurely long Sunday lunch and a free afternoon to relax in a garden hammock with a good book or along la voie verte— paved towpath on a bike follow class. Evening wine and cheese tasting on Kate’s Dutch Barge- the Julia Hoyt followed by dessert and armagnac tasting.

Monday: French Kitchen breakfast class #3- Kate’s Keeping Kitchen reveals the secrets of butter pastry and hot breads fresh from the oven to serve with homemade jams and confitures from Kate’s garden larder.

This all-inclusive gourmet package for the Weekend (Fri/Sat/Sun- available Sept- April ) includes:

• 3 nights accommodation at the Relais de Camont,
  
• 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners, including wine and beverages accompanying meals,
• 3 hands-on and demonstration cooking classes and
  
• market and shopping tour in Nerac or Agen

Sample Weekend Program

• Day 1: Dinner and accommodation
• Day 2: accommodation, breakfast, market visit, cooking class #1, and lunch. Evening free and walk or taxi to dinner on own at nearby restaurant.
• Day 3: accommodation, breakfast, cooking class #2, lunch, light supper of wine and armagnac tasting with cheese and dessert.
• Day 4: breakfast cooking class before departure at noon.
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Price: 1500€ per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement 250€

Note: Does not include air fare or transportation to and from Agen or other transportation exclusive of pick up from train station and local transport for market visit.

Kate Hill at French Kitchen Adventures –– www.katehill.blogspot.com

email: kate@thefrenchkitchen.com