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5 Day Healthy Vegetarian Cooking Vacation in the French Alps
Chalet Savoie Faire, Fontaines-Naves, La Lechere 73260, France
France Culinary Vacation
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in in France
Seasonally inspired food, cookery lessons will vary from month to month, depending on what is available when you visit. This vacation specialises in organic, healthy vegetarian cooking, a fusion of French flavours and culinary delights to tantalise your taste buds. Local cheeses, fruits and vegetables are bought directly from the farmers markets, taking only the freshest ingredients into the large and spacious kitchen. The property is a hidden treasure in the heart of the French Alps, a remarkably stunning region of France with magnificent views from every window.
The old farm house is beautifully decorated, warm and cosy with many different eating areas and lounges, making you feel at home,
This fun hands on cooking adventure is all about learning simple, healthy and colourful dishes that can be easily replicated back in your own kitchen.
Meet the instructors
Nikki
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Highlights
- 3 half-day cookery classes
- A market adventure, discovering the local delights of the Savoie region
- A local stunning picnic on the mountains with local produce
- Sunset drinks and nibbles at a local venue
- Take home recipe's from Chalet Savoie Faire
- Daily breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner with wine, tea and coffee
- 4 nights luxury accommodation, bath robes, slippers and toiletries
- An afternoon at the natural thermal springs
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
4 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Group size: 2-8 participants
Airport transfer available:
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (US$ 277 per person)
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (US$ 277 per person)
Airport transfer available:
Geneva Airport (US$ 277 per person)
Geneva Airport (US$ 277 per person)
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
14:00
Check-out Time:
10:30
Facilities
- Barbeque facilities
- Café
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Honesty bar
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Meditation garden
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Smoke-free property
- Special menu request
- Terrace
- Yoga shala
- Yoga studio
- Bicycle rental
- Conference room
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Ironing / ironing board
- Laundry
- Library
- Meeting room
- Parking lot
- Wedding
- Wireless internet
Chalet Savoie Faire
Savoie Faire is at long last available for you to enjoy after five long years of hard work restoring this once-ruin. The farmhouse offers a cozy comfort that you will feel as soon as you walk through the front door. Colors are warm and make you feel at home, it is the perfect place to rest and watch the world go by. Your hosts, Nikki and Hugh, live in the adjoining house, where Nikki runs her cookery school.
This luxury mountain retreat offers you amazing value for money and a wealth of activities on the doorstep or a short drive away such as mountain biking, ski touring, Nordic skiing, road cycling, and hiking. The chalet sleeps eight and can be booked on a B&B, self-catered or fully catered basis. This flexibility ensures that you have the perfect holiday to suit your needs. There is also Wi-Fi available and free.
Whichever season you join this vacation, you will find that Chalet Savoie Faire is perfectly equipped and laid out to ensure maximum comfort. In the colder months, the floor heating keeps your toes warm and the triple-glazed windows will keep the cold out whilst sitting in front of the open fire. In the warmer months, you can enjoy your meals outside on a sunny terrace overlooking some of the most spectacular views in the French Alps.
The chalet is equipped with everything you need to make it your home away from home. There is a kitchen with oven, barbeque facility gas burners, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, music, movies, comfy sofas, and beds you won't want to get out of. The special attention has been paid to the beds since good nights sleep after a day on the mountain is essential. All beds are made up with quality bed linen, 100% woolen bed toppers, feather quilts, and as many pillows as you want.
The main house provides accommodation for up to eight people, with a beautiful open-plan living area, vaulted dining hall, and walled terrace with views across the valley. There are also three individually styled and beautifully appointed bathrooms in total. This property has been built with you in mind, it is spacious, warm, and a home-away-from-home. This is a dog-friendly chalet and the canine friends love the mountains as much as we do.
Amenities
- Barbeque
- Bathrobes and slippers in every room
- Beautiful quality bed linen
- Comfy sofas
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the chalet
- Individually sourced antiques and furniture
- Large selection of books and DVDs
- L'Occitane luxury toiletries
- Plasma TV and DVD in every room
- UK free view television channels
- Vaulted dining room with chandelier
Program
During this vacation, you will experience relaxing and hands-on learning, where you will build your understanding and knowledge of local food styles and learn how to confidently present your cuisine.
The atmosphere
You will be enabled to understand your ingredients, the importance of the combinations of color and texture to produce an amazing array of dishes you can carry along as you cook for family and friends. You will be picking your own mushrooms, vegetables, and berries depending on the season.
You will also be using ingredients that are easily sourced from local suppliers such as cheese and wine. At Chalet Savoie Faire, they are also conscious that food budgets need to go a long way. So recipes are affordable and delicious.
The kitchen
Enjoy the cooking course in a relaxed and fun atmosphere, gaining confidence each day. The kitchen is beautifully appointed with plenty of room. It has been designed to feel as close to a chalet kitchen as possible, so skills can be easily replicated. It is attached to a large dining room where we share the meals you have produced.
The training
Having been in the Catering industry for more than 25 years, working and developing menus for hotels, chalets and yachts, Nikki has put together a program that will motivate you back into the kitchen. The course is fun, hands-on, with interesting and easy recipes that can be replicated back in your own kitchen.
You will look at ingredients, how they work together, different ways to cook the same item but with completely different twists and importantly the art of presentation to the table.
Chalet Savoie Faire French Cooking Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and afternoon tea
- Arrive into Chalet Savoie Faire and settle into the luxury accommodation
- Go for a walk around the village
- Afternoon tea will be served and Nikki will talk the guests through the program
- This is followed by pre-dinner drinks and a three-course meal with wine
Day 2: Cooking class, local forest walk
- 08:30 Breakfast is served in the dining hall
- 09:30 - 13.00 Into the kitchen, you will make two entrees, two main vegetarian meals, one dessert, one afternoon-tea cake, and a pre-dinner snack
- Everyone will be eating together either in the top dining room or on the outside terrace under the apple trees (depending on the time of year)
- In the afternoon, you can take a walk or a snowshoe into the local forest. You can also rest by the fire or in the sunshine depending on the time of year
- Pre-dinner drinks and nibbles will be served in the lounge area, you can go through recipes during this time
- 19:30 The evening meal will be served
Day 3: Local market trip, picnic in the mountain area, and cooking class
- Today, a trip to the local market to purchase local farm fresh produce and enjoy a picnic in a stunning mountain area
- 14:00 - 17:30 In the afternoon, the group will start cooking
- During the evening, you will get to enjoy the meal together in the kitchen dining area
Day 4: Cooking class and thermal spring
- 09:30 - 12:30 Cooking class
- Next, get down to the local thermal restaurant, where a three-course vegetarian lunch awaits you
- Then, get into the natural thermal spring to relax
- Pre-dinner drinks will be served in the top private bar area, followed by a three-course meal
Day 5: Departure
A beautifully prepared breakfast awaits you in the top kitchen dining room before your departure.
Included excursions
During this vacation, you will be going on a trip to the local market to select fresh ingredients that will be cooked with during your stay.
- A trip to a natural thermal spring, to soak and relax for 3 hours
- Sunset drinks and nibbles at a local restaurant
- Mountain picnic
- Gentle guided hike
Instructors
Nikki Shields
Nikki was born in Melbourne, Australia and has always had a passion for food, wine, and rustic architecture. After her stint at Hotel and Catering College, she left for Europe in search of a new dream. Nikki has run training and cooking courses the last 15 years and promotes a relaxed atmosphere where she will build your confidence and knowledge through learning fundamental culinary techniques. She likes to achieve the right balance between hard work in the kitchen and enjoyment with food creativity. She prides herself on delivering a high-quality service to all her guests.
Location
Savoie
The medieval county of Savoie (or Savoy) became French by the vote in 1860. Savoie is dominated by the Vanoise range, the second most important one in France after that of Mont Blanc. Savoie is famed for its world-class ski resorts, amongst which is the clutch in the Trois Valles, including Courchevel and Mribel. The ski trains are a popular means of reaching the slopes easily and painlessly.
Alternatively, you can fly to a number of airports. As one might expect of such an alpine stronghold, there are some very impressive mountain passes, many of which can only be crossed in summer, that includes the Col de lIseran, known as the highest pass in Europe at 2,764 meters. The scope for those to whom heights hold an appeal is endless in this alpine department.
Fontaines Naves
Fontaines Naves is a picturesque mountain hamlet situated 15 minutes away from the nearby town of Moutiers and is only 30 minutes from the ski resorts of Valmorel and Meribel/ Courchevel. The stunning lakeside town, Annecy, is a 50-minute drive.
Food
A hands-on cookery course, Nikki will teach you a range of skills to fully embrace all variations of vegetarian cooking. To expand your meat-free repertoire, get the best out of your vegetables, and learn about seasonal produce. The classes are small, meaning you will get a lot of time and attention.
The meat-free courses aim to help those who are reducing their meat intake or those who have given up altogether. This will inspire you with an array of veggie recipes that are easy to re-create at home and geared to make you a natural in the kitchen.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Organic
- Raw food
- Pescatarian
- Lactose Free
- Whole food
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Cross-country skiing
Nordic skiing considered as a hugely popular in the Savoy region of France and in particular around Fontaines, Nave. The world-class cross-country ski trails are on the doorstep of Chalet Savoie Faire and all the runs are well marked. The Nordic ski trails around this beautiful area have a worldwide reputation amongst those in the know.
Hiking
The vast number of marked trails in the area ensures that walkers can trek safely whilst enjoying the stunning views the area has to offer. Ramblers and hikers get to see the mountains at their best from snow-capped peaks to shady forests and magnificent waterfalls to picturesque Savoyard villages.
Mountain biking
Whether you prefer your mountain bike action to be cross country, downhill, all mountain/enduro, freeride, or trail riding. The French Alps provide some of the best terrain and backdrops in the world. The area around Fontaine, Naves is also the perfect setting for the increasingly popular activity of mountain bike orienteering, combining the skills of map navigation, and mountain biking.
Ski touring and ski mountaineering
It is about getting away from it all and being far from the ironmongery of ski resorts. The stunning scenery surrounding Chalet Savoie Faire is some of the most beautiful in the French Alps, it will quite simply take your breath away. There is no doubt that this is nature at her best.
Snowshoeing
Racquettes Neige as it is known in France has to be one of the most beautiful and environmentally friendly ways to experience the mountains. The area around Chalet Savoie Faire in the French Alps is one of the most spectacular and stunning to explore. Indeed Naves is renowned for being a remarkable winter games area.
Whitewater rafting
The Savoie region provides a perfect backdrop for rafting and other whitewater activities such as canyoning, canoeing, air boating, river boarding, and hydrospeed. Whitewater (d'eau vive, in French) activities are becoming more and more popular in the French Alps. The best time to enjoy these water-based activities is from May to September.
What's included
- 4 nights luxury accommodation
- 3 vegetarian cookery lessons x 3 hours
- A Chalet Savoie Faire apron
- A recipe selection
- Full board including breakfast, lunch, and dinner with wine
- Entrance to thermal springs, 3 hours of relaxation
- Local restaurant - 3 course meal
- Excursion to the market with cheese tasting
- Ongoing support and recipes on line
- The return transfer is free of charge if you travel by train - Albertville or Moutiers
What's not included
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers
- Personal injury
How to get there
Recommended Airports
LYS
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport
112 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 277 per person
GVA
Geneva Airport
82 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 277 per person
Arrival by airplane
The closest airports are Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA) and Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS). Transfer to and from the airport is not included in the price. However, transportation can be arranged at an additional price. For more info, kindly send an inquiry to Chalet Savoie Faire.
Arrival by train
If your arrive at the local train station, Albertville or Moutiers. The transfer is included in the price, it is 30 minutes away from the property. If you need assistance in getting from the airport to the train, Chalet Savoie Faire is happy to help arrange it for you.
Airport: Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport
Airport transfer available:
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (US$ 277 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Geneva Airport
Airport transfer available:
Geneva Airport (US$ 277 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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