The South of France

June 26 - July 3, 2010 (Only 6 Rooms)

Hosted by Debbie and Barry Frangipane, with Chef Gui Alinat

With its dramatic alpine landscapes and sparkling Mediterranean coastlines, Provence was long a treasured secret of artists and wealthy recluses. Today, the region is a favorite destination for Parisians on holiday and travelers from around the world. You are invited to join our exploration of quaint villages and seaside hideaways, as we discover Provencal cuisine and culture.

We will spend our week in Provence in a well appointed French country house, overlooking the dramatic landscape. With room for just 12 fortunate guests, accommodations afford both comfort and privacy. Every day, guests will enjoy fabulous meals at the villa prepared by celebrity chefs Gui Alinat and Dolce Debbie.. A Provencal native, Chef Gui will also treat us to the area's most renowned restaurants.

The artisan heritage of Provence is legendary, and provided the inspiration for countless works of classical art and literature. As we visit the timeless villages that dot the countryside, you will meet farmers, bakers, painters, sculptors and other locals, each of whom contribute to the region's rich cultural patchwork.

With Chef Gui and Barry as your guides, you will experience the foods, wines and friendships that they both discovered as young men living in the French countryside. Along the way, you will soak in the views, from endless fields of lavender, to idyllic fishing ports and sun drenched beaches. The winding cliffside roads of the Cote d'Azur will take your breath away as we glide along in our private limousines.

As a guest of hosts at home in the region, you will experience a rare inside look at a culture that at the same time embraces leisure and values diligent artisanship. You will quickly find yourself put at ease, eager to venture off on your own. Every part of the villages, cities and ports is filled with new discoveries. If at any moment you are confronted with a question about custom, language or direction, answers are but a phone call away. Guests are provided with a prepaid mobile, pre-programmed with numbers for each of the hosts, available at any time and for any reason.

On market days, follow Gui and Debbie as they go in search of ingredients for the evening's masterpiece. Local vendors are both friendly and knowledgable, and most everything you find was grown or prepared nearby. Provence is famous for its herbs, vegetables fresh from the garden, and the markets are teeming with seafood caught the night before. Always welcome to suggestions, your chefs are eager to hear which ingredients you find most irresistible.

Each meal in the country house is an event, an intimate gathering of friends around the table, with a seemingly endless supply of delicious food. Your chefs will take you on a gastronomic tour of Provence, showcasing staples of the region's diverse agriculture. Local breads pastries are delivered daily, and complimented by fresh herbs and rare cheeses.

Wine is also in abundant supply, and the Provencal vintners are among the world's most acclaimed. The Mediterranean climate, also enjoyed by Italian winemakers to the south, ensures that the hills of Provence yield strong vines and firm, rich fruit. In addition to enjoying the finest local wines at the villa, you will enjoy an exclusive visit to the cellars of one of France's most renowned producers.

We hope you will join us as we explore a timeless culture and feast on exquisite delicacies in the culinary capital of the world!

June 26 - July 3, 2010 (Only 6 rooms total)

Price:  This trip has already been closed! Come join us on another trip!

What's Included:

• Seven Nights En Suite in our country house
• Ground Transfers beween Airport and property
• Champagne Welcome Reception
• All Meals & Wine with Meals
• Bouillabaisse dinner at “Chez Fonfon”, a Marseille tradition
• Al fresco dinner in Arles restaurant
• Lunch at Aix’s famous “Les Deux Garcons”
• Guided tour of “les baux” medieval fortress
• Private wine tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape
• Hands-on cooking lessons with Chef Gui at the estate
• Various activities at the property (hiking, petanque, cooking classes, etc…)
• Market days in towns such as Aix, Isle sur la Sorgue and St. Remy
• All transportation in private air-conditioned limousines
• Exclusive Gala Dinner
• Helicopter Transfer from Airport is Available (optional)

To read testimonials, click here.