June 17 – 24, 2024
Travel with four-time James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author, Cheryl Alters Jamison and other excited about food lovers of Provence.
Menu
June 17 – 24, 2024
Travel with four-time James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author, Cheryl Alters Jamison and other excited about food lovers of Provence.
If you have always dreamed of exploring Provence and basking in the enchantment of the lavender fields, June is the time to make it happen!
Hosted by four-time James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author, Cheryl Alters Jamison and yours truly Nancy McGee, your local tour leader for the week.
Monday, June 17 : Welcome to Provence !
Your culinary adventure in the south of France begins with airport and train station transfers from Marseille airport or Avignon TGV train station to settle into your gorgeous estate in the Luberon . Along the numerous amenities, the villa is equipped with a pool, gym, sauna, and petanque court. Your welcome cocktail will be followed by a delicious buffet with your hosts Cheryl, Nancy and other food lovers on your Provence culinary adventure.
Tuesday, June 18 : Roussillon & Coustellet lavender fields
Your day will start by learning all you need to know about lavender at the Lavender Museum in Coustellet. Your next stop will be at secret spot for a photo op of the stunning hillside village of Gordes. After lunch in Menerbes overlooking the stunning Provençal countryside, your lavender immersion will take you to the iconic Sénanque Abbey for a guided tour and more photo ops of the surrounding lavender fields. Back at the villa, you’ll don your Excited About Food aprons for some cooking fun with Cheryl.
Wednesday, June 19: St Rémy & Pétanque
Today is the day to pick up a few souvenirs and gift items at St Remy’s lively Provencal morning street market. After lunch, you’ll understand the sources of inspiration for a number of Van Gogh’s works including Starry Nights following a visit to the Saint Paul de Mausole asylum where he was interned. Back at the in the villa, a local pétanque expert will give you private instruction followed by a tournament with prizes and pastis. Then it will be time to don aprons for a second workshop in the villa’s kitchen with Cheryl and guest star michelin Chef Jean Pierre Novi.
Thursday, June 20 : Wine & Olive Oil
You will be introduced to a variety of wines as you visit a local vineyard at a charming family-owned Mas (ranch) straight out of your best south of France dreams. There will be a stroll amongst the vines, so dress for the country and be sure to bring a hat. After your picnic lunch in the vineyard, your culinary adventure will continue with a visit to an olive mill in the heart of the Alpilles managed by two sisters whose family has been producing fine olive oil in their 12th century abode for generations. Dinner will be back in Mallemort at a charming local bistrot .
Friday , June 21 : Marseille & Truffle hunt
You cannot leave Marseille without picking up some olive oil-based soap. You’ll be welcomed at Marseille’s oldest producer’s workshop where you’ll see how soaps are made. Next will be a stroll to the vibrant Noailles featured in the NYT as the up-and-coming district with a wide range of exotic shops and restaurants. A stop will be made at Maison Empereur boutique with a wide and sometimes “unusual” array of cookware and hardware supplies since 1827. Lunch will be at the iconic Rhul renowned for its Bouillabaisse. After lunch, you’ll be taken for a photo op at the majestic Notre Dame de la Garde basilica overlooking Marseille. On your way back to St Remy, you’ll visit Johan’s family property for a truffle hunt with his dogs, followed by a truffle based buffet with Champagne bien sur !
Saturday, June 22 : Les Baux de Provence & lavender workshop
This morning, you’ll relax at the villa where Elsa will arrive with bundles of ribbons and lavender for you to create your own lavender wand. Lunch will be at Bistrot du Paradou, a charming provençal bastide transformed into a restaurant frequented by jet setters. After lunch, we will travel along a picturesque route to the Carrière des Lumières that sits below the village of Les Baux de Provence. You will walk through the cavernous quarry, transformed into a spectacular art gallery to experience an audio-visual masterpiece. Dinner will be at the spectacular at the Michelin starred Beaumanière Cabro d’Or.
Sunday , June 23 : Cassis & Secret garden
Before arriving in Cassis, you’ll be driven to a secret garden where Chef Berard of the Hostellerie Berard will greet you for a garden tour followed by an apéro workshop followed by lunch in his private country home ‘La Bastide des Saveurs”. After lunch, there will be free time to stroll the quaint seaside town of Cassis with its’ the stunning calanques. Your last evening will be at the villa to relax with your new friends where you will raise a toast at a wine and cheese pairing farewell party.
Monday, June 24 : Au revoir !
Last croissant and café au lait, transfers to Marseille airport or Avignon high speed train station
Read here what Cheryl has to say about travelling with our tour guests.
About Cheryl
A four-time James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author, Cheryl is a lifelong Francophile. She made her first trip to France nearly five decades ago, in college, and has spent as much time as she could there, as well as in the French Caribbean. Cheryl has taught cooking classes in venues across the United States, as well as appeared numerous times on the Food Network, NBC’s Today Show, as well as on television across the world , from China to the UK. She’s the former culinary editor of New Mexico magazine and host of a weekly food radio show and podcast, Heating It Up. Her twenty cookbooks, many written with her late husband Bill—including Smoke & Spice, American Home Cooking, and The Big Book of Outdoor Cooking & Entertaining—have been widely recognized as standard setters, and have sold some 2 million copies. For a decade, she led culinary adventure groups to the Dordogne. After a few years’ hiatus, she decided was time again to share her love of the country’s South with other food- and wine-obsessed travelers, by pairing up with Absolutely Southern France. She lives just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico with a small flock of hens with outsize personalities. Find out more about Cheryl on her website, excitedaboutfood.com. Cheryl is also a guest contributor to our blog page . Read here what she has to say about her passion for the south of France.
Deposit
To secure a place on our tour, we ask that you fill in our reservation form, which indicates that your deposit of 30% will be required to secure your space. The balance will be due 2 months prior to the tour.
Discounts
100 euro early bird discount ending on December 10, 2023.
Included
All meals in the program including wine, breakfast, gratuities (guides & restaurants) and taxes, professional tour facilitator/guide, activities and entrance fees, transportation and accommodation as indicated.
Not included
Roundtrip airfare to France, gratuities to drivers, train to the south of France, any personal souvenirs or purchases, additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals, travel insurance (highly recommended) and trip medical coverage (required for travelers over 50 years of age).
Terms and Conditions
If insufficient numbers of participants register for the tour , in the event of conditions deemed unsafe for our clients, the tour may be cancelled or postponed. If Cheryl Alters Jamison is unable to travel, the tour will take place as planned. While we endeavor to operate all trips as described, we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary owing to circumstances beyond our control. Any changes will be of similar or superior quality and content.
Cancellation Policy
This is a packaged group tour with no refunds even in case of injury or illness or personal emergency. Cancellation must be notified by email to nancy@absolutelysouthernfrance.com. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance including medical assistance and cancellation. If you get sick from Covid or any other disease, before the trip departs or during it you will need to have your own medical and trip cancellation insurance to cover any costs incurred. If Cheryl is unable to traveln the tour will go ahead as planned with a substitute reputable Chef.
Payment
We accept Mastercard, Visa and Amex.
Travel with insurance – and rest assured
Check out SquareMouth, insurance specialists that compare coverage, including Covid, from 19 reputable providers. Just select what best suits you (Covid-19 cancellation, Covid-19 medical, cancellation, interruption, medical evacuation…) Prices are reasonable and well worth it for a stress free trip.
Arrival and Departure
You will be welcomed on arrival by Cheryl at a food and wine pairing buffet on June 17. Transfers to your accommodation on the first day and the last day of the tour to and from Marseille airport and Avignon TGV train station are included.
What to Pack
Phone chargers, medication, hat, sunscreen, bug repellent, comfortable walking shoes. Temperatures should be pleasant. We expect clear sunny skies with average daytime temperatures between 29C / 84,2F and overnight lows of 16C / 60,8F.
Accommodation
Your vacation home away from home will be in a fully private gorgeous estate near St Rémy equipped with a pool.
Transportation
You will be travelling in a comfortable air-conditioned coach with a professional driver.
Additional Services
Absolutely Southern France is happy to assist with roommate matching as well as pre and post tour travel arrangements in France.
Read here what Cheryl has to say about travelling with tour participants.
If you have always dreamed of exploring Provence and basking in the enchantment of the lavender fields, June is the time to make it happen!
Hosted by four-time James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author, Cheryl Alters Jamison and yours truly Nancy McGee, your local tour leader for the week.
Monday, June 17 : Welcome to Provence !
Your culinary adventure in the south of France begins with airport and train station transfers from Marseille airport or Avignon TGV train station to settle into your gorgeous estate in the Luberon . Along the numerous amenities, the villa is equipped with a pool, gym, sauna, and petanque court. Your welcome cocktail will be followed by a delicious buffet with your hosts Cheryl, Nancy and other food lovers on your Provence culinary adventure.
Tuesday, June 18 : Roussillon & Coustellet lavender fields
Your day will start by learning all you need to know about lavender at the Lavender Museum in Coustellet. Your next stop will be at secret spot for a photo op of the stunning hillside village of Gordes. After lunch in Menerbes overlooking the stunning Provençal countryside, your lavender immersion will take you to the iconic Sénanque Abbey for a guided tour and more photo ops of the surrounding lavender fields. Back at the villa, you’ll don your Excited About Food aprons for some cooking fun with Cheryl.
Wednesday, June 19: St Rémy & Pétanque
Today is the day to pick up a few souvenirs and gift items at St Remy’s lively Provencal morning street market. After lunch, you’ll understand the sources of inspiration for a number of Van Gogh’s works including Starry Nights following a visit to the Saint Paul de Mausole asylum where he was interned. Back at the in the villa, a local pétanque expert will give you private instruction followed by a tournament with prizes and pastis. Then it will be time to don aprons for a second workshop in the villa’s kitchen with Cheryl and guest star michelin Chef Jean Pierre Novi.
Thursday, June 20 : Wine & Olive Oil
You will be introduced to a variety of wines as you visit a local vineyard at a charming family-owned Mas (ranch) straight out of your best south of France dreams. There will be a stroll amongst the vines, so dress for the country and be sure to bring a hat. After your picnic lunch in the vineyard, your culinary adventure will continue with a visit to an olive mill in the heart of the Alpilles managed by two sisters whose family has been producing fine olive oil in their 12th century abode for generations. Dinner will be back in Mallemort at a charming local bistrot .
Friday , June 21 : Marseille & Truffle hunt
You cannot leave Marseille without picking up some olive oil-based soap. You’ll be welcomed at Marseille’s oldest producer’s workshop where you’ll see how soaps are made. Next will be a stroll to the vibrant Noailles featured in the NYT as the up-and-coming district with a wide range of exotic shops and restaurants. A stop will be made at Maison Empereur boutique with a wide and sometimes “unusual” array of cookware and hardware supplies since 1827. Lunch will be at the iconic Rhul renowned for its Bouillabaisse. After lunch, you’ll be taken for a photo op at the majestic Notre Dame de la Garde basilica overlooking Marseille. On your way back to St Remy, you’ll visit Johan’s family property for a truffle hunt with his dogs, followed by a truffle based buffet with Champagne bien sur !
Saturday, June 22 : Les Baux de Provence & lavender workshop
This morning, you’ll relax at the villa where Elsa will arrive with bundles of ribbons and lavender for you to create your own lavender wand. Lunch will be at Bistrot du Paradou, a charming provençal bastide transformed into a restaurant frequented by jet setters. After lunch, we will travel along a picturesque route to the Carrière des Lumières that sits below the village of Les Baux de Provence. You will walk through the cavernous quarry, transformed into a spectacular art gallery to experience an audio-visual masterpiece. Dinner will be at the spectacular at the Michelin starred Beaumanière Cabro d’Or.
Sunday , June 23 : Cassis & Secret garden
Before arriving in Cassis, you’ll be driven to a secret garden where Chef Berard of the Hostellerie Berard will greet you for a garden tour followed by an apéro workshop followed by lunch in his private country home ‘La Bastide des Saveurs”. After lunch, there will be free time to stroll the quaint seaside town of Cassis with its’ the stunning calanques. Your last evening will be at the villa to relax with your new friends where you will raise a toast at a wine and cheese pairing farewell party.
Monday, June 24 : Au revoir !
Last croissant and café au lait, transfers to Marseille airport or Avignon high speed train station
Read here what Cheryl has to say about travelling with our tour guests.
About Cheryl
A four-time James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author, Cheryl is a lifelong Francophile. She made her first trip to France nearly five decades ago, in college, and has spent as much time as she could there, as well as in the French Caribbean. Cheryl has taught cooking classes in venues across the United States, as well as appeared numerous times on the Food Network, NBC’s Today Show, as well as on television across the world , from China to the UK. She’s the former culinary editor of New Mexico magazine and host of a weekly food radio show and podcast, Heating It Up. Her twenty cookbooks, many written with her late husband Bill—including Smoke & Spice, American Home Cooking, and The Big Book of Outdoor Cooking & Entertaining—have been widely recognized as standard setters, and have sold some 2 million copies. For a decade, she led culinary adventure groups to the Dordogne. After a few years’ hiatus, she decided was time again to share her love of the country’s South with other food- and wine-obsessed travelers, by pairing up with Absolutely Southern France. She lives just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico with a small flock of hens with outsize personalities. Find out more about Cheryl on her website, excitedaboutfood.com. Cheryl is also a guest contributor to our blog page . Read here what she has to say about her passion for the south of France.
Deposit
To secure a place on our tour, we ask that you fill in our reservation form, which indicates that your deposit of 30% will be required to secure your space. The balance will be due 2 months prior to the tour.
Discounts
100 euro early bird discount ending on December 10, 2023.
Included
All meals in the program including wine, breakfast, gratuities (guides & restaurants) and taxes, professional tour facilitator/guide, activities and entrance fees, transportation and accommodation as indicated.
Not included
Roundtrip airfare to France, gratuities to drivers, train to the south of France, any personal souvenirs or purchases, additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals, travel insurance (highly recommended) and trip medical coverage (required for travelers over 50 years of age).
Terms and Conditions
If insufficient numbers of participants register for the tour , in the event of conditions deemed unsafe for our clients, the tour may be cancelled or postponed. If Cheryl Alters Jamison is unable to travel, the tour will take place as planned. While we endeavor to operate all trips as described, we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary owing to circumstances beyond our control. Any changes will be of similar or superior quality and content.
Cancellation Policy
This is a packaged group tour with no refunds even in case of injury or illness or personal emergency. Cancellation must be notified by email to nancy@absolutelysouthernfrance.com. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance including medical assistance and cancellation. If you get sick from Covid or any other disease, before the trip departs or during it you will need to have your own medical and trip cancellation insurance to cover any costs incurred. If Cheryl is unable to traveln the tour will go ahead as planned with a substitute reputable Chef.
Payment
We accept Mastercard, Visa and Amex.
Travel with insurance – and rest assured
Check out SquareMouth, insurance specialists that compare coverage, including Covid, from 19 reputable providers. Just select what best suits you (Covid-19 cancellation, Covid-19 medical, cancellation, interruption, medical evacuation…) Prices are reasonable and well worth it for a stress free trip.
Arrival and Departure
You will be welcomed on arrival by Cheryl at a food and wine pairing buffet on June 17. Transfers to your accommodation on the first day and the last day of the tour to and from Marseille airport and Avignon TGV train station are included.
What to Pack
Phone chargers, medication, hat, sunscreen, bug repellent, comfortable walking shoes. Temperatures should be pleasant. We expect clear sunny skies with average daytime temperatures between 29C / 84,2F and overnight lows of 16C / 60,8F.
Accommodation
Your vacation home away from home will be in a fully private gorgeous estate near St Rémy equipped with a pool.
Transportation
You will be travelling in a comfortable air-conditioned coach with a professional driver.
Additional Services
Absolutely Southern France is happy to assist with roommate matching as well as pre and post tour travel arrangements in France.
Read here what Cheryl has to say about travelling with tour participants.
