30 Apr 2018
Tags: Food, Gastronomy, Dordogne, Cooking Classes, Culinary, France, Food tastings
Well-known for its foie gras, truffles, cheeses and Côtes-de-Bergerac wines, gastronomy is a highlight of any trip to the Dordogne, which is why regional rental specialists Simply Périgord is introducing Délicieux Dordogne, a food tour for 2018. Guests will be able to enjoy behind-the-scenes visits to local producers, trips to village markets for the freshest of ingredients, and cookery lessons both at home and with master French chefs and bakers, all while having a relaxing stay in one of Simply Périgord's beautiful holiday homes.
Widely regarded as France in a nutshell, the Dordogne is renowned for its stunning chateaux-dotted landscapes, prehistoric caves and beautiful villages. Alongside its culinary delights there is much to see and do across these ancient lands, whether getting active with a spot of golf, kayaking, horse riding, hiking or cycling or taking in the cultural sites.
DÉLICIEUX DORDOGNE
A highlight of the tour is a trip to the market in Le Bugue, one of France's most vibrant and delicious village markets. Here, in the company of Jane Jills-Monks – a renowned tutor of French cuisine, guests talk to the stallholders and buy the freshest of local produce direct from the growers. Then, for the ultimate field-to-fork experience, guests return to their holiday home for a cookery lesson with Jane, learning how to transform these ingredients into dishes, and receiving tips and tricks to use back at home.
The culinary week kicks off with a meal at the Michelin-starred Vieux Logis restaurant (pay locally), housed in a former tobacco drying house in Trémolat. With a menu of traditional and regional specialities, the meal is a perfect introduction to the food culture of the Dordogne. Over the rest of the week, guests will experience this culture first hand with a whole host of epicurean encounters. They will: hunt for rare Périgord truffles with a local famer and his enthusiastic Border Collie; enjoy tastings and tutoring with an artisanal ice cream maker, saffron producer, beekeeper, cheesemakers and snail farmer; and learn the art of patisserie from the Patisserie Cauet team. The tour ends with a visit to the Domaine de Neuvic, where guests tour the acclaimed caviar estate, tasting the delicacy washed down with a glass of fizz.
Price: the five-day Délicieux Dordogne package (exclusively available for guests staying in Simply Périgord's properties) costs from €330pp, including all visits, tastings and lessons (excluding meal at Vieux Logis). Private transfers can be arranged for guests. Available May to September 2018.
BEST PROPERTIES FOR EPICUREAN EXPLORERS
While food tours can be arranged from any of Simply Périgord's properties, the following houses are particularly recommended for epicurean explorers. Each is centrally located to all of the producer visits and features a large kitchen, perfect for the included cookery lesson.
This is a beautifully restored rural property with pool in a totally private setting close to the village of Paunat, equipped and furnished to a very high standard. The large pool has a generous sunbathing and dining area with stunning 180° views across open country. Expect French styling at its best, with a roll top bath, exposed stonework and beams, lovely old wooden floors, an open fireplace, and a spiral staircase leading down to the newly installed kitchen-cum-dining room with terracotta tiled floors and limestone work surfaces. A door leads out to a delightful covered dining area overlooking the pool and rural scene beyond. Price: one week's self-catering rental from €1,135 (mid-season) rising to €1,550 in high season.
Situated in the tiny village of St Marcel du Périgord, with its popular local restaurant, this charming cottage enjoys a scenic location with its far-reaching vista across the open countryside. Boasting old-style terracotta flooring and exposed stonework and beams, it still maintains the character of the traditional Périgourdine honey-coloured stone properties this region is famous for, but with contemporary touches throughout. The two double bedrooms make this a great base for a small family, or two couples holidaying together. Spend the days soaking up the picture-perfect views, bathe by the swimming pool, appreciate the quietness of the private setting or enjoy a game of table tennis. Price: one week's self-catering rental from €970 rising to €1,320.
Set high up in the heart of the vineyards around Bergerac, close to the village of Gageac-et-Rouillac, Les Vignes is a charming cottage with uninterrupted views right across the countryside and surrounding vineyards. The large garden is mainly laid to lawn and offers plenty of space for children to play whilst the private swimming pool is gated. There is a covered pergola along one side of the pool with barbecue area, providing an ideal spot for outside eating. A delightful cottage, set in a very tranquil location with lovely views yet close to the main town of Bergerac with its many amenities. Price: one week's self-catering rental from €1,405, rising to €1,895.
Set in almost two hectares of land, this property is only accessible via its own private path, meandering through woodland to offer ideal seclusion. Sleeping up to 8 people across four en-suite double bedrooms, the beautifully restored farmhouse also includes a wood burning stove, well equipped kitchen and a spacious dining area. A large swimming pool enjoys stunning views across the nearby countryside and is accessible from stylish French doors from each ground floor room. Surrounded by woodland and meadows, the house is well appointed and in a very private setting. Price: one week's self-catering rental costs from €1,500, rising to €2,400.
Following an extensive refurbishment, this attractive stone property, located between the Dordogne villages of Audrix and St Chamassy, is offered for the first time to the rental market in 2018. In 3.5 hectares, in a totally private location, this is an ideal haven for those seeking some p&q. The ensemble sleeps up to 10 guests with four large bedrooms in the main house and another in the guest annexe which also has a kitchen, sitting area and en-suite – perfect for teenagers or grandparents seeking their own space. Outside soak up the countryside views; relax by the swimming pool with its large sunbathing terrace and pool house (equipped with a summer kitchen and dining area); challenge others to a game of tennis; or unwind in the outdoor Jacuzzi. Price: one week's rental costs from €1,880 rising to €2,800.
For further information on Simply Périgord visit
simply-perigord.com or call +33 5 53 54 54 31
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PRESS ENQUIRIES: Julia Spence, Natalie Postlethwaite, Hugh Collins
Julia Spence Public Relations
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