Colors of Burgundy

You have a piece of paradise and offer your guests a truly unique experience. The combination of beautiful countryside, gorgeous villages, magnificent accommodation, food to die for, fantastic wines, top restaurants, cooking- both hands on and demos plus all the little extras made for a perfect holiday. You also really went out of your way to spend time with us and make our stay extra special which we very much appreciate. Jenny and I enjoyed every minute and have very special memories that will last a lifetime. I certainly feel as though I Ieft a little piece of me in Burgundy. Jacqui M, South Africa

If anyone wants to enjoy a 4 star experience at a lovely retreat in Burgundy France, I would recommend the Colors of Burgundy. I must say that when I read the description and price on your website, I was a bit surprised at how much one week would cost, particularly for someone like me who is not a formal cook. But having gone through this experience, I must say it was worth every cent and exceeded my expectations. From the transfers to and from the train station, accommodations, meals, wine, hands-on cooking classes, guest chefs, and excursions, this has it all. First of all, we took the train from Paris and arrived at the Montbard Station in the early afternoon. We were met at the station by Nancy, who spoke perfect English and briefed us on our what to expect. Upon arriving, we met Katherine who was our hostess and chef for the week. We were thrilled that she spoke English and she made us feel very welcome and comfortable in her home, along with her French husband Yannik. The rooms were very generous, modern, and each had an ensuite bathroom with luxury French toiletries. Rooms and bathrooms were attended to daily. Wi Fi was available throughout the home. Apart from the excellent accommodations, food and wine was abundant and delicious (even wine during cooking lessons). At dinner, we would receive our itinerary for the following day. The lesson plans were well thought out, and ingredients were measured and prepared for each day's lessons. There were times when some of the guests did not want to participate and decided to relax and read by the fireplace in the adjoining great room. No one was made to feel awkward or forced to participate. We had daily excursions to local towns and villages, which included a history of the town, a visit to charming farmers markets with our ingredients list, educational wine tastings at excellent wineries, and backroom tours of bakeries and chocolate shops. Katherine and her family and friends are charming, warm, knowledgeable, and accommodating to your every need. The only thing I believe Katherine could not do was change the weather from rain to sun, but we did see a double rainbow outside our window as a special treat. Katherine gave us a parting gift of the recipes and itineraries from the week, a special treat for sure. This was a very special experience that will not be forgotten. And thank you to The International Kitchen for the apron, tote and notepad, an unexpected gift that is being well used. I had so many hesitations before I went, I hope that after reading some of my thoughts, that guests will feel comfortable with moving forward with a trip of this type. I hope to enjoy more of your offerings in the future. Thank you again for all the time and effort you put into making these trips available. You have done an incredible job making sure they are perfect in every detail. Nancy F., CA

Katherine is a great chef, very organized and helpful in the kitchen. She organized the classes so that we cooked one thing. This was good because we learned how to fully cook that item. Then before dinner each of us would describe how we cooked the item so the other guests could also learn. It would have been helpful to see demonstrations of the other items cooked. We did not learn to cook as much food from the Burgundy region as we thought we would, however the items we learned to cook were great. The cooking level varied depending on the item you cooked but there was something that we learned on every level. Katherine's philosophy on local food and cooking definitely matched ours -- organically grown, in season and not too many ingredients. She would often just go out into her garden and gather herbs and vegetables and bring them back in to cook. I would say that this trip was worthwhile. We would definitely try another The International Kitchen cooking school after this experience. What were some of the special moments of the trip? The wine tour guide was super friendly and has an amazing knowledge of Burgundy wines. He took us to small wineries where we shared samples with the farmer/producers in their wine cellars. It was an extraordinary experience. The wine and cheeses Katherine provided for the meals were absolutely delightful. The croissant making lesson from the village baker was fantastic. Visiting a local chocolatier. Mustard tasting and shopping at Maille in Dijon. Katherine is a fantastic hostess. The accommodations were very comfortable, and the house was warm and cozy, in a beautiful little town alongside a river, and the wine never stopped flowing. The staff was extraordinary, friendly, and helpful. The other guests were delightful and fun to be with. The only negative would be we spent more time driving in the van than anticipated and would have liked a little more free time to rest and explore on our own. Fred & Marian L., MO

The farm is comfortable, with a very nice kitchen. The accommodations were quite satisfactory. Katherine is delightful, thoughtful, engaging and knowledgable. She made every effort to accommodate our preferences, which included a complete reworking of one day so that we could see Beaune and the vineyards of the Cote d'Or. Our cooking classes covered quite a lot of territory, and we ate a lot of very good food. Two wine tastings during our week were excellent and informative. Charles, MA