KITCHEN SUPPERS - 26-29 September 2008

    WHAT THE WEEKEND IS ABOUT
     
    Most of us nowadays have little time to plan our meals for the week, let alone do the shopping and cooking for it. Which is why our daily supper so often turns into a quickly defrosted convenience meal or a last minute take-away. Cooking supper has become a chore, sometimes an irritable one at that...
     
    This week is aimed to put oomph back into the life of the kitchen supper to make it something to look forward to - a calm, relaxed moment, to reflect on the day's events.
     
    With a little knowledge you will know what to stock up on, and how to turn it swiftly and simply into an enjoyable experience - both the preparation and the eating of it.
     

    WHAT THE WEEKEND INCLUDES

    • 3 nights accommodation in simple but tasteful surroundings
    • cookery demonstrations and excursions
    • all meals including all wine - both at home and in restaurants
    • all transport to and from the airport and on all excursions
    • tutored winetastings

     
    HOW MUCH THE WEEKEND COSTS - 650 euros
     

     
    ITINERARY

    day 1 friday - pick-up from Carcassonne at 12.40; a one-hour drive to our base in Cruzy for a late lunch; a visit to an olive oil press or an organic honey gatherer (or both) with tastings afterwards; home for a cookery demonstration on flavour combinations, followed by dinner.
     
    day 2 saturday - after breakfast a visit to Narbonne's famous covered market for a guided tour on what to buy; home for lunch followed by a tutored winetasting, followed by another cookery demonstration on cooking from your cupboard, then dinner.
     
    day 3 sunday - breakfast is followed by a visit to the pretty village of St Chinian and its openair foodie market, then after an aperitif on its 'cosmopolitan' square we'll either head home for lunch or into the Gorges of the Orb river for a picnic (a gentle hike afterwards); in the afternoon another cookery demonstration with the fresh produce we bought in the market, then our final dinner.

    day 4 monday - a lazy breakfast after which we'll leave for the airport...
     
    Guests will go home with a guide of the week's ideas and recipes containing all the dishes demonstrated during the week as well as wine guidelines... and hopefully with happy memories and a firm resolution to return the following year, either for another course or for a carefree B&B holiday!
     
    The school also offers a variety of art weeks, to include creative writing, painting, photography and printmaking. (see creative courses)
     
    For more information, please contact info@petracarter.com