W HATSCOOKIN’

PROVENCE MARKETS & COOKING

May 12nd - May 21st 2017 From May 12nd to May 21st 2017

Arrival at Marseille airport, transfer to mas (villa) in the . Unpack, settle in and unwind. Depending on arrival time and how tired guests are you can either visit a pretty, nearby village or have a dip in the heated pool. For dinner you will be treated to an in-house wine tasting sampling some of the best wines of the area which will be paired with the excellent local food products of the Luberon.

Visit the small, picturesque hilltop village Opedde Le Vieux, built high on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by lush vegetation. On reaching the top of the climb your effort will be rewarded by the incomparable view. Reach the charming town of Ménerbes of Peter Mayles 'A Year In ' fame in time for lunch. Have a stroll through the town and return to homebase for dinner.

Morning excursion to L'Isle Sur La Sorgue, described by some as the 'Venice of Provence'. It is an attractive town with a moat of flowing water encircling it dotted with numerous water mills. Go food shopping at the huge market (one of 's largest) that every Sunday invades the town and buy goods for the afternoon cooking class. After lunch head back to the mas (villa) and take part in a fun, hands-on cooking class creating a full-course Provencal meal to be had for dinner.

*All activities are subject to change on the basis of which options are deemed to be the most suitable in terms of current culinary standards, the weather conditions on a given day, and other relevant criteria. THE LUBERON AREA

Named after the mountain range in central Provence between Cavaillon and Manosque, the Luberon has a maximum altitude of 1,256 metres and an area of about 600 sq. km. It is divided into three areas: the craggy Petit Luberon in the west, the higher Grand Luberon mountains, and the smaller hills of the Luberon Oriental in the east. It is a patchwork of hilltop villages, vineyards, ancient abbeys and mile after mile of lavender fields. It’s a rural, traditional region renowned for its great food and wine. Nearly every village hosts its own weekly market, packed with stalls selling local specialities, especially olive oil, honey and lavender.

The markets in spring are especially enticing, with cherries, strawberries, asparagus and what is considered one of the glories of Provence: the intensely sweet and juicy Cavaillon melon.

Olives are also an essential part of Provencal culture, at every market you will see all sorts of different olives cured in different ways. In Luberon olive oil is taken as seriously as wine, with the same system of appellation to ensure origin and quality – AOC (appellation d’origine controlée).

Though Luberon produces some very good wines if you're looking for outstanding wines you'll need to head for and the Rhone wine trail, starting at Chateauneuf du Pape.

Lastly you cannot be in France and not mention cheese, notably, the delectable goat cheeses which are a specialty of the Luberon – the local star among them, Banon, with its distinctive chestnut-leaf wrapping. THE MAS DOUBLE ROOMS ALL WITH PRIVATE BATHROOM

BIG, HEATED, OUTDOOR POOL

PRIVATE GARDEN WITH WOODS

FREE WIFI

W HATSCOOKIN’ PROVENCE SCENIC TOURS

F u . n i n g . R e n e a l . E n l i g h t t: +39 339 228 9054

e: [email protected] The magnificent, Medieval papal city of Avignon, with its famed bridge (sorry, no dancing), awaits you after breakfast. The highlight of the city is the soaring Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in the world and seat of the pope in the 1300s. Explore this lovely city with its boutique- lined streets, leafy squares and impressive Medieval wall that entirely circles the city. Avignon also has many excellent restaurants you can try at lunchtime before reaching story-book pretty Uzès, a city that is renowned for its Rennaissance architecture. Stroll through the town to catch the main sites: the ducal palace, the cathedral and the arcaded central square, Place aux Herbes. Return to mas in time for dinner.

The breathtaking tiered village of Gordes is on the morning agenda which juts out spectacularly out of the white-rock face of the plateau. Gordes hosts a wonderful food market on Tuesdays. Get a bite to eat at one of the outdoor stands or at one of the town's excellent boulangerie and find a spot on a park bench overlooking the valley below. Before setting back home stop at one of the classic postcard landmarks of Provence, the Abbaye de Sèanque. In the afternoon take part in a second convivial cooking class back at the mas (villa) followed by dinner.

Roman treasures, shady squares and colorful sun-baked houses await you at Arles, a town which inspired many Van Gogh masterpieces and which has many noteworthy Roman monuments to see. On our way back home after lunch stop at the small, but very elegant St Remy. Take a walk through the quaint historic center and perhaps get drinks at an outdoor café to people watch. Have dinner at the mas.gardens of the Abbey Saint-André offer a promenade that stimulates mind, body, and spirit. Return to mas in time for dinner. *All activities are subject to change on the basis of which options are deemed to be the most suitable interms of current culinary standards, the weather conditions on a given day, and other relevant criteria. THE MARKETS AUTHENTIC AND INSPIRING TOURS FOR SMALL GROUPS

Visit handsome Aix en Provence with its leafy boulevards, grand public squares lined with 17th and 18th century mansions and moss-covered fountains. You will have free time to find a place to eat at one of the many cafés or bistrots scattered throughout the town. Aix is also home to one of France's most important art museums, Musé Granet, which holds works by Matisse, Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne. Return to mas for dinner.

After breakfast head off to the town of , on Friday mornings the streets spill over with stalls laden with bread, olives, cheese, fruit and other food products. Reach the town of Orange in time for lunch. After getting a bite to eat visit what is one of France's most impressive Roman sites, the Théatre Antique, one of three intact Roman theatres left in the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Next stop visit one of the wine cellars of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, one of the world's great-wine growing regions, to savor the superb wine produced here. Return to Luberon for dinner.

After breakfast visit Roussillon, once the center of local ochre mining today it's home to atrists' and ceramicists' workshops. The town is marked by its russet-red color as villagers are required to paint their houses according to a prescribed palette of 40 tints. Hike the Ochre Trail, often called the 'Provence Colorado' and marvel at the enchanting scenery of the warm colors of the ochre cliffs contrasting with the lush green of the surrounding trees. Farewell dinner at the mas (villa).

After early breakfast transfer to Marseille airport. Again as there will be only one transfer to the airport please make sure your flight departs after 10 am, if you book a flight that departs much earlier than the suggested time you risk having to get to the airport by your own means. The exact departure time will be communicated once we’ve received all flight information.ommunicated once we’ve received all *All activities are subject to change on the basis of which flight information. options are deemed to be the most suitable in terms of current culinary standards, the weather conditions on a given day, and other relevant criteria. WHEN THE GOOD LORD BEGINS TO DOUBT THE WORLD, HE REMEMBERS THAT HE CREATED PROVENCE. Frederic Mistral PROVENCE W HATSCOOKIN’ PROVENCE SCENIC TOURS

F u . n i n g . R e n e a l . E n l i g h t t: +39 339 228 9054

e: [email protected] WHATS COOKIN’ YOU ELEVATED MY EXPERIENCE INTO A LIFETIME MEMORY. LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT TRIP. David Marrangoni, Pittsburgh, PA USA

“A DELIGHTFULLY AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE... delicious food and wine… Marco and Claudio are incredibly accommodating as well as knowledgeable and informative hosts – Nancy L Lynches,Pittsburgh, USA

"I CAN’T RECOMMEND THIS HOLIDAY ENOUGH, it was relaxed, fun, educational and entertaining. High points – the cooking classes, wine tasting, and the beauty of the country." – Anthony Lopez Haslemere, UK

"WE INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE… with Marco and Claudio who after five years are more like family than anything else. The first cooking holiday we attended was with strangers, and these strangers are now our closest friends. Each year we go back our group gets bigger and bigger as more friends join us. Catherine Oakley London, UK

FUN. REAL. ENLIGHTENING. READY TO GO?

PRICE INCLUDES: Rates

- ACCOMMODATION € 2600 PER PERSON - ALL BREAKFASTS AND DAILY LUNCH OR DINNER € 400 single supplement - ALL TRANSPORTATION MENTIONED IN ITINERARY Price does not include airfare - ENTRANCE FEES TO ALL GARDENS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY;

- WALKING TOURS THROUGH ALL THE All payments cam be made by bank TOWNS; transfer, transferwise or credit card.

- HANDS-ON COOKING LESSONS. Please contact us to receive a booking form with our bank details, along with our terms & cancellation All rooms are double bedrooms policy. with en suite bathrooms and wifi. contact us: FUN. REAL. ENLIGHTENING. [email protected] www.whatscookin.it WHATSCOOKIN

t: +39 339 228 9054

e: [email protected]

w: www.whatscookin.it

Via Galileo Galilei, 31, 57122 Livorno (LI), ITALIA, P.I. 01815830490