Learn first hand what makes the food in Provence so full of flavor and aroma. We have several options for those seeking to learn the art of Provencal cooking.
Hotel La Mirande - Avignon (Michelin star restaurant and Relais & Chateaux Hotel)
La Mirande, originally a cardinal's palace dating from the time of the popes in Avignon, was transformed in the 17th century into an "hotel particulier" by the addition of a facade designed by the architect Mignard. Today it remains one of the most perfect examples of the period. Located in a tranquil cobbled square at the foot of the Popes' Palace, protected from the noise and bustle of the town, the hotel offers you the comfortable elegance of its 18th century interiors, a secluded garden, terraces and the quality of life in former times.
La Mirande has had its own cooking school since 1994, Le Marmiton (literally the kitchen boy), where you can attend cooking classes with the most renowned chefs of Provence. The classes are set in an authentic 19th century kitchen and are a practical "hands-on" experience, limited to a maximum of 12 participants working around a huge wood-block table. The kitchen's original stove is fired up with oak wood three hours before the class begins. Aprons, cooking utensils and translated recipes are provided and there is always someone there to help translate the chef's commentary if need be. The resulting meal is savoured with selected wines.
MARC HERACLE : LES CUISINES DU SUD
Cuisine style : Provencal, Italian
Tel. 33 (0)4 42 61 87 47 - Fax 33 (0)4 42 61 82 27
E-mail : marc.heracle@net-up.com
Set in a magnificent 17th century antique bastide in the heart of Aix-en-Provence countryside, your chef is Marc Heracle and owner of Arnajon Chateau, will treat you to enchanted afternoons of cooking, preparing down-to-earth dishes you can recreate at home.