“GREAT COOKING SCHOOLS & RESTAURANTS OF EUROPE”
JUNE 2008 Hosted by Liz Long of Luscious Affairs
in association with Toujours France The French Travel specialist.
ITINERARY & INCLUSIONS

Today your tour begins in London on your arrival at our beautiful deluxe hotel, Jumeirah Lowndes, in the heart of Knightsbridge. Close to the most prestigious shopping precinct and some of the best restaurants in London, you are in the perfect location to enjoy your spare time.

This evening we will begin the tour with welcome drinks in the bar followed by dinner at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon. This restaurant’s philosophy is based on simplicity and the very highest quality food, drawing on Robuchon’s internationally renowned culinary expertise. The idea of the counter where you dine at L’Atelier is one of interactivity. The eating counter surrounds the entire kitchen where the diners’ food is prepared. Robuchon utilises this format as a chef can actually gauge the reaction of his clients, and even converse with those regulars that wish to participate. In turn, diners can watch their food being prepared by consummate professionals in the Japanese inspired layout.
A unique and unforgettable dining experience.

Today we have the first of our cooking classes at the prestigious Raymond Blanc Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, located near Oxford. This prestigious school provide a “hands-on” opportunity to develop your culinary skills in a practical and supportive learning environment, in the most luxurious and beautiful surroundings. This is a unique cooking / dining experience with Executive Chef Nurdin Topham, a colleague of Raymond Blanc. Our day includes aperitifs, canapés, gourmet lunch and an exclusive style of entertainment that you have possibly never experienced before!

In addition to this fabulous cooking experience, we offer this particular school to allow you to visit this timeless city of “dreaming spires” – with its mellow beauty and architectural elegance, Oxford is like no other city in the world.

This evening though we are staying at another luxury historic hotel in Oxford, the beautiful manor house hotel, “The Belfry”. We return to Le Manoir for an unforgettable gourmet dinner.

This afternoon, after returning to London, we enjoy a visit to the atmospheric Borough Market, the historic food market near London Bridge, discovering where the best restaurants in London buy their produce. The rest of the day is free at leisure to enjoy the London sights and shopping!

An evening dinner at the restaurant Maze, one of the famous stable of restaurants by chef Gordon Ramsay. Maze breaks the formal traditions of French cuisine, adopting Asian influences in tasting-sized dishes. The location is stunning, with contemporary design by David Rockwell and overlooking beautiful Grosvenor Square gardens in Mayfair.

Today we begin the second of our exclusive cooking experiences at the famous Leiths of London, with renowned chef Yotam of the fabulous restaurant, Ottolenghi. Leiths School of Food and Wine has an international reputation as a first class training school for chefs. Students come from all over the world to enjoy the dedicated teaching in a friendly atmosphere.
The guiding principle is to impart enthusiasm and instil a lasting love of good food and wine.

Evening at your leisure.

For a quintessential English experience, this afternoon we enjoy award-winning High Tea at Claridge’s or a similar prestigious hotel such as the Ritz – a gourmet experience not to be missed!

Evening at your leisure.

Today a group transfer will take you to the new St Pancras International and the Eurostar bound for Paris, in first class seats, it is served by a new high speed 186mph rail line cutting times by 20 minutes.

You will be met on arrival in Paris and transferred to our boutique hotel, the “West End”, centrally located close to the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower for the best shops, restaurants and sights. The West End is in a small street off the Avenue Montaigne, where you will find all of the leading haute couture houses such as Chanel and Christian Dior, and a short walk takes you to the Seine River and views of the Eiffel Tower. The West End Hotel Paris is a turn of the century building which was first a private mansion before being transformed into a Hotel.

This evening we begin our Paris experience with dinner at an exclusive restaurant overlooking the Eiffel Tower, the “Café de l’Homme”. This chic restaurant (where Tom Cruise famously proposed to Katie Holmes!) offers delightful cuisine in an exceptional setting with views across to the most famous of French monuments.

This morning a private guided tour of the most important sights and monuments of Paris, followed by free time for exploring or shopping at our leisure.

This evening, another exclusive experience when we visit the superb Ritz Hotel for a cooking class at the renowned Ecole Ritz Escoffier.
Afterwards we enjoy the fruits of our labours with dinner at the school. Auguste Escoffier, the famed creator of Peach Melba and so many other dishes that have given lustre to the name of French cuisine, was the first Head Chef at the Ritz Paris.
True to the spirit of this pioneer of modern cuisine, the cookery school that bears his name is dedicated to handing on his secrets to gourmet cooks from all over the world. Our class is followed by dinner.

Today we visit the renowned Cordon Bleu school in Paris for a cooking class in one of the most famous institutions in the world! The philosophy here is based on the French “Art de Vivre”, the art of living. Here you will find out why French Chefs are often considered the world’s best, and learn some of their techniques for yourself!
After your transfer back to the hotel, we enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Paris and we will provide you with some suggested sights and shopping areas for you to discover. Dinner is also free at leisure.

Day at leisure.

Tonight we propose drinks at Hotel Costes (optional) before dining at the charming and exotic Buddha Bar (included).
 “Dining at the Buddha-bar means removing yourself from the frenzy of urban life and plunging into a rejuvenating bath. As soon as you’ve entered this remarkable place with its monumental proportions, you’ll be enthralled by the charm of its soothing, exotic atmosphere. The bar mezzanine, enlaced by 18th century style wrought-iron balustrades, looks out over the dining area where the gigantic Buddha – the bar’s namesake - sits serenely enthroned.

The amber-coloured lighting, rich mahogany furniture, Chinese and Japanese art objects, Khmer statues, decorated wood panels, lush reds and gold, luxurious fabrics and Portuguese mosaics all come together to create an opulent and refined décor.
In Buddha-Bar wonderland, your taste buds travel to distant lands and inventiveness nests in your plate. The chef calls upon his charms to create a culinary art score that skillfully combines exotic delicacies with high-class cuisine” The Buddha bar is a truly unique dining experience!

From Paris today we leave for Florence, flying from Charles de Gaulle Airport (please note this fare is NOT included in your tour price – we will provide you with the price at time of booking).

We will be met in Florence by a local guide who will take us on a half day tour of the city before transferring to the stunning Villa San Michele. The Villa San Michele is part of the Orient Express
Group of hotels and provides you with an unforgettable stay, in superb rooms and facilities including beautiful grounds and cooking school within the hotel. This C15th converted monastery is located in a wonderful position overlooking Florence.

During the following days here you will have plenty of free time to relax and experience the extraordinary surroundings and ambience of one of the most beautiful hotels in Italy! There is also a shuttle service should you wish to return to Florence for shopping.

This evening we dine at the prestigious hotel restaurant to celebrate the beginning of our Italian experience.

Today we enjoy a cooking class at the villa in its renowned kitchens. This Tuscan cooking experience is different again from what has gone before, and here you will learn some true “Italian Delights”!

This evening is at your leisure, however, we will have access to shuttle bus transfers to Florence for dinner.  We will recommend a list of local trattorias and restaurants for you to choose.

Today the second of our Italian-based cooking classes takes place, at a local farmhouse-style cooking school, Tenuta San Vito. The San Vito estate lies in Montelupo Fiorentino, in the green Chianti hills, the perfect setting to discover the joys of Tuscan cuisine!

A stay in Tuscany would not be complete without further discovering the beautiful Tuscan countryside and the wonderful wines of the region. Today we visit the renowned Osteria di Passignano, in the Val di Pesa.  The Antinori family owns the vineyards all around the Abbey from which Chianti Classico Riserva di Badia a Passignano is produced. The wine is aged in the cellars under the monastery. In 2000 the restaurant "Osteria di Passignano" was opened under chef Marcello Crini, connoisseur and enthusiast of Tuscan eno-gastronomic culture, aiming to offer guests the experience of discovering the area, its traditions, its passions and wines through Marcello's great cooking.

This morning our transfers take us to Florence airport and sadly, to say our farewells before travelling on to other destinations to extend your holiday, or to fly home.