May is one of the best months for a vocation to Provence. It is a magical time! The air is filled with different fragrances. One can easily spot wisteria, acacia and tea-rose — that particular provencal mixture, that makes you dizzy, bringing a romantic mood. The fields are covered with red poppies and wild flowers.
In the middle of the month it is even possible to bathe in the sea — the water is warm enough, and the Sun shines brightly.
Also it is time when on the South coast of France, in Cannes, the famous film festival takes place. But even apart from it, at this part of the year something interesting happens here every day!
And exactly at this time we welcome you to join us in our adventure to feel the real Taste of Provence. Bienvenue à Provence, mes amis!

So, here is our may programme:

Arrival 17/05/2014 — We meet in Nice (at the airport or in the city center) and go to the hotel, where we check in. After that we will have a little sightseeing excursion around Cabris.

In the evening in this lovely village, that will become your home for the whole week, there will be a dancing festival. It’s a great feast under the sky. On a picturesque square, called to commemorate the name of the writer, André Gide, there will be a stage, around which there going to be tables from cafes’ and restaurants, situated near by. In the beginning there will be a dinner, which will turn into a great party afterwards! First kids will start dancing and having fun, as they are generally the most confident, but after an hour — not more — the adults will join them. And that’s where the fun begins! The music is great! From modern hits to french chanson. And everybody will dance until late night.

Day 1.
We will visit the festival of roses in a town called Opio. Its history is closely connected to the gorgeous flower. For many centuries in spring and summer the town and hills around it are covered with fragrance of famous rose of Provence, Centifolia. The atmosphere is magical!
We will see costumed shows, contests and market, where it is possible to buy and taste different things made of roses, including some very special types of culinary — rose water, syrups, jams, sweet petals and much-much more!

After we will head to Cannes, where something crazy is about to start! Everybody know that there is this festival, but it is not known, that this is a very open event, and everyone interested can visit — you only need to fill in the questionary and order tickets beforehand.
Yet it is not necessary to visit the actual festival to become its part. At this time the whole city celebrates! Men dress in smokings, women in evening dresses… The whole quay turns into some type of a catwalk, where everyone can feel like a celebrity! Beautiful people walk slowly and beautifully, dressed in beautiful cloths, beautifully dine in beautiful restaurants and beautifully smile to each other. In one of those restaurants you will definitely meet some celebrity, but here nobody rushes with signatures — everyone just smile and enjoy chatting.
When twilight comes on the huge screens they will show participant movies of the past years. People take off their shoes and just walk through the beach to chaise longues, where they cover in a duvet, open a bottle of wine and watch movies, listening to the sounds of sea. Doesn’t it sound amazing?

There in Cannes we will have dinner, enjoying the atmosphere.

Day 2.
We will learn the basics of french cuisine, cooking meat — daube provençale, grilled meat with herbs, lamb ribs… and lots and lots of vegetables! One cannot imagine Provençale cuisine without them. Fresh, aromatic and so tasty!

After diner we will go to Grasse. The world capitol of perfumes, for mass-audience it is known from the «Perfume», by Patrick Süskind. And no doubts, the city deserved it, as every new month brings new fragrances, as different kinds of flowers start to blossom. By the way, the first perfume was created here. That’s why we have decided to visit the Perfumery museum, known all over the world. Afterwards we are going to walk through old and charming streets of the city, and have supper in one of little lovely restaurants.

Day3.
La vie en Roses.
Or «The life in pink». Provence is also famous for its wines, rose wine in particular. We are going to visit a collection of wines, where about 700 wines are gathered from all over region. We will have an excursion around the winery, and observe magnificent fields where grapes is raised.

We will dine at home on a lovely terrace with breathtaking view on hills of Provence.

Day 4.
We will learn about fish and seafood, as without them Provence would not be the same. We will not only learn to cook, but also how to clean fish and open oysters.

In the evening, chef of one of the best restaurants of Cabris «l’Atelier À Cabris», Arnaud, will show us how he uses flowers in his dishes — especially in deserts!

Day 5.
We will be welcomed to the Au Pays d’Audrey farm, where there are lots of fruit trees, grapes and more than 400 olive trees. Also it produces jasmine, iris, roses, violets and orange flowers for a well-known cosmetic company l’Occitane. It produces olive oil and amazing soap with violet and rose flowers as well.
Plus to that, we will have a masterclass, cooking provencal appetizers.

After the farm, we will travel to old olive mill, that produces second to none olive oil in the region. Which is pretty impressive. Neither chef, nor a casual cook cannot leave it without some shopping — the variety of olive oil is unbelievable.

In the evening we will go on a concert of famous singer ZAZ in Antibes. Isabelle Geffroy or just Zaz is a young and perspective singer, that exited not only France, but the whole world! Her style is some weird mixture of soul, jazz, acoustic, folk and french chanson — «a bit of everything», as she calls it. And that’s what made her nickname ZAZ — all types of music from A to Z and back again.

Day 6.
A masterclass from an Italian chef Andrea Giuseppe Gallo will take place. Italy is not that far away, and Provence has taken the best of it. We will learn how to cook a proper italian pasta, risotto and many other tasties. And of course will eat it all afterwards with great pleasure! 
But do not be afraid to gain weight — we will work it all out after lunch, when a great hill-walk is planned. We will walk to a small village Gourdon, situated on top of a mountain. We will get there, wandering mysterious hidden paths with unbelievable views. In the village it will be possible to visit local craft shops, which are very difficult to leave without goods, have to admit.
After that, we will climb even higher, but do not worry — not on foot anymore. And from there, from far-far away above the clouds, you will see the whole Provence below your feet! There we will have a picnic with traditional snacks and, of course, rose wine.

Day 7.
In the morning we will do some food shopping! Visiting local craft shops, markets, pastries, where you will see, taste and try a lot of different amazing tasties and fascinating things, both to eat and to take home. The favorite is sweet-shop, where you can get things like violet-petals in sugar, flower syrups, liquors and jams.

After that we will make a feast! Learn how to cook provencal chicken, duck fillet, and much more. And also deserts, and a party cannot happen without them! Then we will feast, drink wine and discuss what we’ve learned, and what we did not — as cooking is a very deep topic.

After that we will make a feast! Learn how to cook provencal chicken, duck fillet, and much more. And also deserts, and a party cannot happen without them! Then we will feast, drink wine and discuss what we’ve learned, and what we did not — as cooking is a very deep topic.

In brilliant mood we will come back to Cannes to walk on a quay, have some cocktail in a lovely little bar.

Departure 25/05/2014 — Transfer to Nice (airport or city center).

Price: €2200 per adult. For couples and kids there are discounts.

Price includes:

• Breakfasts on terrace with amazing view on Côte d’Azur
• 5 cooking masterclasses (workshop, ingredients)
• Excursions and tastings
• Dinners, picnics and 4 suppers
• Vehicles and guide
• Transfer Nice — Cabris

Additional costs:
— Residence (Please see below the list of suggested residences)
— Ticket, visa (if applicable) and insurance

Suggested hotels and guest houses:

1.Auberge du Vieux Château — Cabris, France

2.L’Horizon Hotel — Cabris, France

3.La Rochelière — Tourrettes sur Loup, France

4.Le Mas du Naoc — Cabris, France

5.La Marlette — Cabris, France

For families and groups of friends it is possible to book a villa with few bedrooms, swimming pool and breathtaking view on Provence.

Who will be with you:

Sasha Demyanenko — Chef de Cuisine of Tastes of Provence tour. Will make your trip tasty! No… VERY tasty! Will teach how to cook with french accent and basics of professional cooking.




Elena Tonnelier — Sous-Chef and the spirit of the trip. Will help with basics of provencal cuisine, show the secret paths to places, where you can gather aromatic herbs and will make you feel home in Provence.




Andrey Tonnelier — Our Lead, with capital latter, as you can see! Will show the most hidden, unknown yet magical places of Provence. Will tell stories, that you would never hear on group bus-tours. And will make sure, you fall in love with Provence!




To apply, and with any further questions, please contact — elenatonnelier05@gmail.com, sasha@cookingtime.ru

You can also ask questions in comments below.

To be continued!