Seven Day Gourmand’s Delight
Cooking, Wine-Tasting & Fine Dining

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The Loire Kitchen Food Year

The ultimate gourmet Loire holiday

This seven day gourmand’s delight features lots of hands on cooking, exploring local sites and villages, artisan food makers, lunch at one of several Michelin-starred restaurants and a walking or cycling tour along a dedicated bike path through vineyards along the Loire River. Start on Monday, wrap up Sunday and savour the full breadth and variety of every flavourful moment in-between. We truly share the best of what our gorgeous region has to offer during this amazing week. Arrive late afternoon/early evening on your first day to a tasting of local wines and then join us in the kitchen to prepare dessert before sitting down for a delightful three course meal. Relax with an after dinner drink in the lounge or library, then off for a pleasant night’s rest in your charming and cosy ensuite room.

Second Day

After a farmhouse breakfast of local breads, pastries, yogurts, cereals and other delights the next morning we’ll head off for a tour and shopping trip to the farmer’s market in either Thouars (Tuesday/Friday), Saumur (Saturday) or Neuville or Montsoreau (Sunday). Located in beautiful, inspiring surroundings, all these markets offer an abundance of visual delights, treats to sample and opportunities to explore history and culture. We’ll also give you time to wander around, have a coffee and daydream. We’ll return to Misse and lunch on the goodies we picked up. After lunch, we’ll menu plan for dinner and dive into a series of cookery sessions where we learn techniques and then prepare dinner. We’ll have an early evening break to freshen up and catch our breathes before sitting down together to enjoy our efforts.

Day Three

After breakfast this morning, we’ll gather for a cooking session focusing on lunch dishes which we’ll then enjoy together. After lunch we’ll visit deepen our knowledge and appreciation of local products by visiting a local producer of nut oils, cheese, snails, mushrooms and/or a vineyard, depending on the season, for  a tour and tasting. We’ll return to Misse in time for you to go for walk, chill in the library with a book or simply hang out with a glass of wine, before we enjoy a three course dinner.

Fourth Day

After breakfast today, we’ll have a cookery session where we tackle a complex dish or technique that fits with your interests. After lunch, we’ll visit a chateau or fortress town such as Chinon or Villandry. If you have a car, you’re also welcome to have the afternoon off to explore on your own.  We’ll gather again in the kitchen early evening and learn some new cocktail making techniques. We’ll sip our libations while watching and/or participating in some hands-on demonstrations of some ‘small plates’ that we’ll enjoy as part of an ‘Apero’ (French tapas) dinner party.

Fifth Day

After breakfast we’ll do a cooking session focused on a specific aspect of French cookery that we haven’t covered such as pastry, fish/seafood, mother sauces, etc. and prep a dish for tomorrow’s dinner. We will then head out for a gourmet lunch at one of the Michelin-starred restaurants in our region Le Restaurant Fontevraud or La Table de la Bergerie. We will take plenty of time over lunch, to give us time to savour this fine dining experience, accompanied by hand-selected wines. We’ll return to Misse for a relaxing evening with a light dinner.

Sixth Day

Today, after breakfast, we’ll embark on a Bicycle tour through the vineyards along the Loire on a dedicated cycle path between Saumur and Chinon. We’ll take a leisurely pace, visiting a vineyard and other sites along the way, enjoying lunch and a fun-filled afternoon on this very scenic route. We happily provide vehicle support for anyone not wishing to cycle. We’ll return for a cooking technique demonstration, followed by dinner.

Seventh & Final Day

The next morning after breakfast, we’ll have our final cooking session, followed by lunch and then farewells.

Highlights

• 6 nights accommodation
• Welcome wine-tasting
• 5 half-day cooking sessions
• 4 hands-on cooking demonstrations (dessert/starter/cocktails)
• Farmer’s Market Visit
• Visit to an artisan food maker (cheese, nut oils, mushrooms, and/or a vineyard)
• 6 Three+ course dinners including all beverages (wine, waters, etc.)
• 5 multi-course lunches (including a scenic picnic)
• 1 Michelin-Star lunch experience
• Breakfast each morning
• Recipes and folder
• Complimentary Loire Kitchen Apron
• Complimentary Loire Kitchen Tote-bag

Exclusive Packages

For six weeks each year, we partner with Epitourean for a series of bespoke trips with exclusive use of the Manoir, including classes, demonstrations, guided tours, private transfers and Michelin star dining. Costs vary depending on the type of package selected, but these private tours cannot be purchased directly with us or any other partner.

Costs

Cost per participant 1,920€ based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Cost for a non-participating partner 1695€ sharing double/twin room with private bathroom.
Cost for solo traveller 2,345€. Please note that this year we are promoting (s) solo traveller dates; these do not have single supplements and are priced at 1920€.

Costs

We are pleased to offer our courses through a number of exclusive partners worldwide. Costs vary depending on the type of package desired, private transfers, guided tours, exclusive use of the cooking school etc.

Please get in touch to let us know the dates that interest you, how many participants you are booking for and we’ll confirm availability, precise pricing and booking details.

We hate single supplements but associated costs are higher with solo participants. To address this in 2023 we are introducing (S) solo traveller weeks. These weeks are there to attract multiple solo travellers and they do not have a single supplement charge.

Price includes EVERYTHING except travel to France and transport to Loire Kitchen (we can arrange airport train transfers for a fee, please see our getting here page) and discretionary purchases at markets and other attractions. Deposit of €576 per cooking course participant is due at the time of booking. The balance becomes due 45 days before the start date.

Please note: The holiday schedule described above serves as a guide. We may occasionally need to change the order or location of certain events due to the season, weather or other logistical practicalities. If so, we’ll always aim to deliver the same experience and similar atmosphere.

SPRING, SUMMER & AUTUMN 2023 – AVAILABLE DATES