Heartland of Provence
Var countryside, Provence

To start, we were met at the airport by our chef/host Michael Altman. Michael whisked us off to his home and our residence for the next seven days, Mas de L’Hermitage. The inn is located in the Provencal countryside and is surrounded by the natural beauty of the forest and the pictureque views of grape vines from a nearby winery. The setting is serene. The accomodations are warm, inviting and comfortable – our room had an in-room shower and toilette and a kitchenette with appliances to make coffee/tea, a refrigerator and stove. Each day we began with a breakfast of assorted breads/croissants and home-made jellies in Michael’s kitchen. Michael then escorted us on our daily excursions which included a trip to the local olive oil mill, a farm where local cheeses are produced and a wine distributor. Lunches were in restaurants selected for both their cuisine and location. One particularly memorable excursion was a boat trip to St. Tropez with a visit to the local market and lunch. Along the way Michael shared with us local history and geography, as well as his culinary experience and expertise. He also seemed never to tire of our unending questions! We also were fortunate enough to visit during a school holiday and were delighted to spend time with his teenage daughter Lucy and son Thomas. After lunch it was back to the Mas where we had time to relax, take a walk and swim (which was a delightful surprise!). Early evening included our daily cooking lesson with practical advice and suggestions on application of culinary principles. The meals were both delicious and uncomplicated. Michael’s approach to cooking is refreshing. Our final evening was spent at an exquisite restaurant run by a world-famous chef and his family. This cooking vacation was in celebration of my mom’s 70th birthday. It was everything we had hoped it would be and more. The pace was perfect. It was perfect. One especially noteworthy item: Michael’s experiences, ranging from his worldwide cooking and restaurant background, through his daily life in Provence for the last 9 years, allow him the unique ability to relate the Provencal experience both as an oustider looking in and as an insider looking out. He is easily able to compare and contrast his various cultural exposures, which include Mexico, the United States and the UK, to the Provencal way of life in a way that allows you a clear understanding of the distinctions and similarities between not only the cooking but even more broadly, the cultures. I found this aspect of our journey particularly enjoyable and it truly enabled us to immerse ourselves in the culture and cuisine that is Provence.
The International Kitchen staff was extremely helpful. They researched questions, returned calls promptly and provided complete details on the vacations that were available. They helped identify the most appropriate vacation for our needs and wants and they were right on target! Every connection occurred as planned and without a hitch.
Karen M., NJ

The day trips were well-paced and included well-chosen locations showing insider knowledge of the area. The markets, goat farm and olive oil mills, esp. meeting some locals were very memorable as were tasting the local products. The restaurants chosen for meals out were superb and exceeded our expectations, even for France! Since we were the only cooking clients during that week, we had good hands-on training with a recipe book to take home from which we’ve already made several recipes to re-live our trip.
Mark A. and Valerie L., IL