Colors of Burgundy
Considered the gastronomic heart of France, the Burgundy region is perhaps most famous for its diverse array of exquisite wines and its local culinary pleasures such as beef bourgignon and coq au vin, making it an ideal destination for a cooking vacation in France. Local chefs are famous for using high-quality, ultra-fresh local ingredients to create rich and hearty dishes, some of which are only available locally.
Marigny-le-Cahouet, the location of your Burgundy wine tour and cooking vacation, is a charming, typical, sleepy French village, with a bar, bread shop, provisions shop, small traditional village school, maire and post office. Meandering its way alongside is the stunning Burgundy Canal. Ever changing with the seasons, it is lovely to jog, stroll, cycle or cruise the waterways, taking in the magnificent scenery. The village is beautiful all year round, with the summer sun blazing across the trees, and the autumn leaves that glow with fiery reds and oranges.
Just 10 minutes away is the medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois, one of the most picturesque towns in Burgundy, and home for your cooking vacation in France. The majority of its medieval town center remains intact after hundreds of years of use and activity. Semur has achieved a balance between offering the amenities and access that a modern town must have while preserving its quaint appearance and its relaxed, pleasant attitude. The town is nestled within a loop in the river Armançon, which winds its way casually through the town bordered by houses on either side. The town’s medieval wall and battlements remain a popular tourist attraction, and throughout the year its ramparts are lit at night in a breathtaking display.
Your hosts Katherine and her husband Yannick look forward to welcoming you at their lovely home. Katherine grew up in England and spent much of her childhood visiting France, where she moved at the age of twenty-two. She and her husband Yannick eventually settled in Burgundy, where Yannick has worked at house restoration and as a Barge Pilot and Katherine as a Chef for the American/French Barging Company. They eventually combined their areas of expertise to complete their dream restoration of a beautiful, two hundred year-old farmhouse in Burgundy where they host special gastronomic vacations.
Travel to France on a Burgundy wine tour and cooking vacation and discover why this is one of France’s top culinary destinations!
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Trip Details
You will have scheduled cooking classes and can also help prepare the evening’s dinner, resulting in an intensive cooking experience with 6 (or more) cooking sessions. Chef Katherine hopes to inspire your way of cooking; guiding you to trust your own senses, teaching you to use ingredients that are simple and full of color to produce easy and fantastic menus! During your hands-on cooking experience, you will prepare classic French dishes: bouef bourguignon, coq au vin, tarte tatin and crème brulee. Using the freshest seasonal ingredients from a local Burgundian market, create a selection of colorful and fragrant lunches, simple suppers and scrumptious desserts. Class themes might include:
- knife skills and fragrant herbs
- breadmaking with the local organic baker
- fresh produce selected from the daily market
- secrets of traditional French cuisine…. and much more!
Itinerary
Day One
Sample itinerary. Order of activities and specific excursions subject to change depending on the specific dates booked.
- Transfer to your accommodation from Montbard train station. Please plan to arrive at about 4:00 PM.
- After settling in, enjoy a local Burgundian aperitif and welcome chat.
- You will have plenty of time to explore the village and meander along the canal before dinner where you will discuss the week’s program and delight in a wine tasting with our expert Brendan Moore who will explain the sometimes confusing appellation of Burgundy’s famous wines that you will explore on your Burgundy wine tours.
- Dinner will be prepared by your hostess.
- Overnight.
Day Two
- After a breakfast, you will have your first French cooking class, in which you will discuss basic knife skills and learn how to combine fragrant herbs with local ingredients.
- Lunch will follow based on your efforts in the courtyard, weather permitting.
- Following lunch, visit the Vineyard of Flavigny on a Burgundy wine tour, where the movie “Chocolat” was filmed.
- Dinner will be cooked by the group and your hostess.
- Overnight.
Day Three
- After breakfast, depart to the heart of the Dukes of Burgundy’s home, Dijon, where you find ingredients at the market for the afternoon cooking class. Return via the Ducal Palace.
- A rustic lunch from the market will be enjoyed in the courtyard, and then you will be treated to a bread making lesson with the local organic baker.
- After your return to the property, you will be cooking with produce from the Dijon market, your second hands-on cooking class.
- Dinner will be cooked by your hostess and all those who wish to join in.
- Overnight.
Day Four
- Breakfast.
- After breakfast Katherine will be concentrating on requests from all the guests, mastering the secrets of traditional French cuisine, for example classic sauces, vinaigrettes, veloutés and stocks, creating the perfect pâté, smoking a sublime duck fillet, or even basics of tempering chocolate.
- Dinner will be cooked and served by your hostess where she will demonstrate seasonal recipes from her cookbook
Day Five
- Breakfast.
- A free morning to meander along the Burgundy canal before heading out to Michelin starred Bernard Loiseau for lunch in the beautiful surroundings of their gardens.
- Returning home you shall be preparing a light supper with ingredients from the potager.
- Overnight.
Day Six
- Breakfast.
- This morning you shall be preparing lunch together and then taking a trip into the local town of Semur en Auxois.
- Your farewell supper will be a culmination of all you have learned during your stay.
- Overnight.
Day Seven
- Breakfast followed by transfer to Montbard train station. Au revoir!
Trip Details
Included in the 6-Night Trip
Accommodations
6 nights accommodation
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 4 lunches
- 6 dinners
Classes & Instructors
You will have scheduled cooking classes and can also help prepare the evening’s dinner, resulting in an intensive cooking experience with 6 (or more) cooking sessions. Chef Katherine hopes to inspire your way of cooking; guiding you to trust your own senses, teaching you to use ingredients that are simple and full of color to produce easy and fantastic menus! During your hands-on cooking experience, you will prepare classic French dishes: bouef bourguignon, coq au vin, tarte tatin and crème brulee. Using the freshest seasonal ingredients from a local Burgundian market, create a selection of colorful and fragrant lunches, simple suppers and scrumptious desserts. Class themes might include:
- knife skills and fragrant herbs
- breadmaking with the local organic baker
- fresh produce selected from the daily market
- secrets of traditional French cuisine…. and much more!
Excursions
- Burgundy wine tour to Flavigny with winery visit
- Excursion to Dijon with its wonderful market
- Visit to Semur en Auxois
Transfer Details
- Roundtrip ransfers from/to Montbard train station (please contact us for our train recommendations)
Miscellaneous
- Wine class on Burgundian wines with tasting
Not Included
- Lunch out on day 5 (cost is paid locally).
Accommodation Information
The beautiful converted farmhouse has a warm, inviting interior, with a spacious living room and dining room, an outdoor heated pool, outside dining area, professionally equipped kitchen, and 5 bedrooms (one on the ground floor). The bedrooms can be king or double twin and all have private en suite bathrooms.
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Pricing & Tour Dates
Year-Round Pricing:
(for a minimum of 6 people)
6-night Program
US$4885 per person based on double occupancy
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Single supplement: please inquire.
Tour Dates
Burgundy cooking vacation is available select weeks April to November for a minimum of 6 people. Please inquire for 2023 dates and availablity.
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