“Explore the food, wine, and cultural highlights”
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5 Day Flavors of The Loire Culinary Holiday in Missé, Deux-Sèvres, France
Circle of Misse, Impasse de l'Abbaye, 79100 Missé, France
French Cooking Holiday
Delve deeper into French cooking techniques, explore chateaus and learn more about artisan food on this five-day sight-seeing and culinary holiday in France. Start on a Monday or Tuesday, wrapping up on Friday or Saturday and immerse yourself even further in gastronomy, culture, and history of the Loire. All while picking up techniques, recipes and kitchen skills.
Meet the instructors
Aaron
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Highlights
- Welcome wine-tasting
- 4 half-day cooking sessions
- 3 hands-on cooking demonstrations (dessert/starter/cocktails)
- Visit an artisan food maker (cheese, nut oils, mushrooms, and/or a vineyard)
- 4 three+ course dinners including all beverages (wine, waters, etc.)
- Recipes, folder, and complimentary Loire Kitchen apron
- 4 multi-course lunches (including a scenic picnic)
- 4 nights accommodation with breakfast
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
5 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Group size: Maximum of 8 participants
Airport transfer available:
Poitiers–Biard Airport (US$ 63 per person)
Poitiers–Biard Airport (US$ 63 per person)
Airport transfer available:
Tours Val de Loire Airport (US$ 73 per person)
Tours Val de Loire Airport (US$ 73 per person)
Airport transfer available:
Nantes Atlantique Airport (US$ 104 per person)
Nantes Atlantique Airport (US$ 104 per person)
Accommodation
Facilities
- Environmentally friendly
- Garden
- Lounge
- Smoke-free property
- Bicycle rental
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Library
- Parking lot
- Wireless internet
Accommodation is on site, so your comfortable bed is but a couple of flights of stairs away. The well-appointed double bedrooms all feature a toilet and shower room tiled in classic French patterns. The first floor rooms offer views of the adjacent church tower and farmland, the top floor rooms offer sweeping views of the river and surrounding farmland of the valley.
Program
Day 1
Arrive after midday on your first day. We'll introduce you to Misse and the kitchen and give you time to get settled in after your journey. Then join Chef Aaron in the kitchen for a hands-on demonstration around the preparation of dessert along with a tasting of local wines. We'll then gather for dinner, a delightful three-course meal. After dinner you can relax with a glass in the lounge or library, then off for a pleasant night’s rest in your charming and cozy ensuite room.
Day 2
After a farmhouse breakfast of local bread, pastries, yogurts, cereals and other delights the next morning, you’ll head off for a tour of the farmer’s market in either Thouars (Tuesday). All these markets are in beautiful culturally significant settings with lots of things to see and treats to sample. You’ll also give you time to wander around, have a coffee and daydream. You’ll return to Misse and lunch on the treats you picked up at the market.
Afterward, you’ll gather to menu plan for dinner followed by a series of cookery sessions where you’ll learn techniques, recipes and work hands-on to prepare your evening meal. You’ll have an early evening break to freshen up and catch your breath before sitting down together to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Day 3
After breakfast the next morning, you’ll have a cooking session to learn some lunch dishes which you’ll then enjoy together. After lunch, you’ll visit deepen our knowledge and appreciation of local products by visiting a local producer of nut oils, cheese, snails, mushrooms, wine, spirits or other products, depending on the season, for a tour and tasting. The group will return to Misse in time for you to go for a walk, chill in the library with a book or simply hang out before you enjoy a three-course dinner.
Day 4
The next morning, after breakfast, you’ll have a final cookery session where the group tackle a complex dish or technique that fits with the your interests. After lunch, you’ll visit a chateau or fortress town such as Chinon or Fontevraud. If you have your own car, you are also welcome to use the afternoon to explore independently.
The group will gather again in the kitchen early evening for a cocktail demonstration. Once you've made your drinks, you’ll enjoy them during a hands-on demonstration of some techniques and dishes which will feature as part of your ‘Apero’ (French tapas) dinner party that evening.
Day 5
The next morning after breakfast (optional), you’ll have your final cooking session focusing on pastry or another specific aspect of French cookery. We will enjoy brunch, then it’s time for goodbyes as you venture off.
Included excursions
- Visit a chateau or fortress town such as Chinon or Fontevraud
- Visit Farmer's market
- Local products tour and tasting
Instructors
Aaron Tighe
Aaron is the C-of-M's executive chef. He comes from a family of restaurateurs and has been cooking professionally since his late teens. He has enjoyed a diverse career having worked as a violinist and conductor before embarking on a career in new media, working as an internet or “dotcom” evangelist. He has worked in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the USA. Cooking, wine tasting, and writing about food have remained a constant throughout. He has been writing and blogging about food since the late 90s, starting with pasta, and has continued with contributions to many sites.
Location
Located in the small farming commune of Missé in the most southern part of the Loire Valley, the house rests on the verdant banks of the Thouet River, a tributary of the Loire. Ancient Gallic for “tranquil,” the Thouet forms an oxbow (circles back on itself) here, forming the Cirque de Missé (Circle of Misse), thus the name. The house has fantastic views of farmland, cows, and pheasants. Further down the road, you’ll find vineyards as it is a part of the Anjou wine region.
This location provides dozens of pleasant walks along the river and outstanding hilltop views of the Thouet Valley. Comfortably secluded, although the châteaus and castles of the Loire Valley including Chinon and Saumur are a short drive away, the Thouet Valley exudes peace, relaxation, and contemplation. Add to that the medal-garnering vineyards encircling the area, the beautiful and abundant produce, award-winning goat cheeses and other renowned culinary specialties, and you have the perfect place to eat, cook, and feast the senses.
Built on the grounds of a 12th-century abbey, the house stands next to the Church of Saint-Pierre, on the trail used by Breton and Norman pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela. The original bell-cote, sitting in the shadow of the more modern 17th Century bell tower, is visible from the lane leading to the house. The pilgrims' route, now part of the Thouet valley bicycle trail and the French national hiking route, GR36, runs from Ouistreham on the Norman coast to Bourge-Madame on the Spanish border.
Food
Meal highlights
- Breakfast: local bread, pastries, yogurts, cereals, and other delights
- Lunch: multi-course and scenic picnic
- Dinner: Three+ course including all beverages (wine, waters, etc.)
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Lacto-ovo Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Organic
- Raw food
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Pescatarian
- Seafood
- Whole food
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)
The biggest megalithic burial site in the region, consisting of seven dolmens, lies just up the road from Circle of Misse at Taizé.
Just a little further on, sits the beautifully quirky Chateau of Oiron. Now a contemporary art museum, it served as the inspiration for several scenes in the fairy tale Puss in Boots and was home to an eccentric who collected many strange items to fill his cabinet of curiosities. The church at Oiron, also worth a visit, is a jewel of gothic and renaissance architecture.
A half-hour from Circle of Misse, the historic city of Saumur dominates the Loire with its imposing Castle, offering the visitor a true taste of Loire architecture, fine wines, and culture.
Chinon, home of the French author Rabelais, the ruins of Chinon castle, and a prized red wine is also half an hour away. A stroll down the wonderful tiny streets of Chinon reveals a wealth of restaurants, cafes and smart shops. In the 15th century, Chinon castle was the residence of Charles VII, the Dauphin of France. It is the place where Joan of Arc came on March 8, 1429, to recognize the Dauphin and to urge him to declare himself king and raise an army to liberate France.
In the 11th century it was the primary residence of Henry II. He, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, their son King Richard I “The Lionheart” and Isabelle of Angouleme, wife of King John “Lackland”, were buried at the nearby Fontevraud l’Abbaye. Snugly in château country, Fontrevraud l’Abbaye serves as a perfect jumping-off point to many of the most famous châteaus and vineyards of the Loire region. Châteaus include Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Ussé, Langeais, Montreuil-Bellay, Villandry, and their accompanying towns and cities. Vineyards include those of: Bourgueil, Saumur, Anjou, Chinon, Thouarsais, Vouvray, Savennières, Touraine, and Haut-Poitou.
What's included
- 3 hands-on cooking demonstrations (dessert/starter/cocktails)
- 4 half-day cooking sessions
- 4 multi-course lunches (including a scenic picnic)
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 three+ course dinners including all beverages (wine, waters, etc.)
- Breakfast each morning
- Complimentary Loire Kitchen apron
- Farmer’s Market visit
- Recipes and folder
- Visit an artisan food maker (cheese, nut oils, mushrooms, and/or a vineyard)
- Welcome wine-tasting
What's not included
- Travel to France
- Transport to Circle of Misse
How to get there
Recommended Airports
PIS
Poitiers–Biard Airport
55 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 63 per person
TUF
Tours Val de Loire Airport
86 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 73 per person
NTE
Nantes Atlantique Airport
110 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 104 per person
Arrival by airplane
Paris – Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
This is the default choice for transatlantic and long-haul travelers. As the second largest airport in Europe, it has regular flights from/to almost every major city.
On arrival at CDG airport, you can:
- Hire a car at the airport terminal
- Take a high-speed train (TGV) direct from Terminal 2 to Tours (St Pierre des Corps) or Poitiers. Loire Kitchen team can advise you on which station to come to when you book your travel. Please note that the minimum recommended transfer times from the plane to the train is 80 minutes (Terminal 2) and 90 minutes (Terminals 1 and 3).
Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is the second airport in Paris. There is a direct bus service to Paris Montparnasse, from where you can catch high-speed trains (TGV) direct to Tours (St Pierre des Corps), then change for Saumur.
Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE)
Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) is the nearest International airport. It is served by flights from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. There is a train service from Nantes, centre city to Saumur.
We arrange pickup of all guests at Saumur or Thouars station. Saumur station can be reached from Paris, Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and Nantes airport.
- Saumur: included
- Thouars: Included
Arrival by car
Driving is an excellent option if you want to fill the car with food and wine to take home. There are ample opportunities to visit wineries, cavistes, and food stores. The organizer will send directions and GPS coordinates.
Airport: Poitiers–Biard Airport
Airport transfer available:
Poitiers–Biard Airport (US$ 63 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Tours Val de Loire Airport
Airport transfer available:
Tours Val de Loire Airport (US$ 73 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Nantes Atlantique Airport
Airport transfer available:
Nantes Atlantique Airport (US$ 104 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
10
Early bird Discount
This listing has a early bird discount of 10%. You must pay the deposit before 2025-Jan-31 to qualify for this discount.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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