French Chefs' Week

20-26 October 2013

YOU WILL DINE AT THREE SPECIALLY SELECTED FRENCH RESTAURANTS ——
EACH HOST CHEF WILL COME TO THE SPACIOUS AND PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN AT LE LAVANDIN TO ACQUAINT YOU WITH HIS OR HER SKILLS AS YOU COOK TOGETHER.

Come and join us for an unforgettable experience with the cuisine of the south of France —— an intoxicating blend of French, Italian and Mediterranean fare. You can expect to:

• Dine in extraordinary Provencal restaurants and bistros
• Assist with the preparation of a specially chosen menu side-by-side with three different Chefs on three different days
• Learn how to cook in the traditionally flavorful Provencal way.
• Participate in a personalized tasting of cheeses and wines in an intimate setting
• Explore the farmer's markets and the many wineries
• Visit the perched villages of the Provence

Experience the myriad antiquities that make the Provence so extraordinary
Read, walk, bike, swim, nap, daydream or whatever else appeals.

FABULOUS FOOD! BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE!!

You'll stay in luxurious rooms at the exquisitely landscaped and beautifully appointed Le Lavandin. Each morning will begin with a petit dejeuner---a french breakfast featuring the delectable breads, pastries and special morning offerings of the Provence.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday you will learn through hands on experiences how each Chef brought flavor, freshness and distinction to the meal you enjoyed the evening before. When the preparations are completed you will dine on the creations of the day accompanied by wines chosen to enhance each dish.

Tuesday and Thursday mornings will be spent with Olivier Hickman, www.wine-uncovered.com, acquiring extensive and unusual knowledge of French wines and cheeses.

But wait, there's more! In your leisure time you will have opportunities to visit the rich farmlands and the ancient villages of the Luberon and the Vaucluse. You may choose to see the quaint hill towns of Gordes and Roussillon or perhaps go to Avignon where the Pope built a palace and moved from Rome in the 14th Century. A pleasant drive will take you to ancient Arles where Van Gogh painted and where there is a 2000 year old coliseum still in use; stop in St. Remy on the way and visit the hospital where Van Gogh lived and painted during the last period of his life. Aix en Provence is a marvelous shopping destination in addition to having the "most beautiful boulevard in all of France" according to many---the Cours Mirabeau. Go to the famed Chateauneuf de Pape wineries and then over to those of the Cote de Rhone and the Cote de Ventoux. Museums, lively markets, breathtaking landscapes, romance and beauty are everywhere!!

And, of course, the Provence and Le Lavandin are perfectly located for trips before or after the workshop by car or train to Paris, Saint Tropez, Monaco, Florence, Rome, Venice to mention only a few of the possibilities!