Dear Friends,
2023 will be my fourth Culinary Tour, and every year, I add a few more interesting areas and things for you to discover. Daily trips may have added activities & surprises, which is a good thing.
The following price & itinerary includes all of the following: 10 days of hotel accommodations, all breakfasts, and all meals are 3 to 4-course meals, with choices.
(All 8 luncheons, 4 dinners, are all accompanied by wines & beers, coffee, etc, and sometimes aperitifs too, only 4 evenings will be at your leisure). All bus travel, entrance & tickets to daily activities (see activities below) are included. All daily travels (from March 3 to March 12) are with a 44-seat Deluxe A/C and Heated Motor Coach.
Every new day is more enticing than yesterday!!!
The discounted cost is $3200 (normally $3695 ) all taxes are included, per guest, twin occupancy. Single occupancy is available at $475 additional. (That price does not include the airfare from the States to Paris, nor the train tickets for Paris to Bordeaux and Bordeaux to Paris. Take the TGV, the Fast Speed Train, which takes about a couple of hours from Paris.
(From Paris, take from Gare Montparnasse Station to Bordeaux (Gare Saint Jean, in Bordeaux, there is only one train station ), these train tickets are inexpensive, book them online ahead ).
Friday, March 3rd –Meet Chef Didier in Bordeaux, at La “Tavern du Midi Restaurant” across from Train Station Gare Saint Jean around 2:30 pm). La Taverne du Midi - Restaurant in Bordeaux
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Chef Didier’s cell: 773-620-3986
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Email: chefdidierdurand@yahoo.com
( If you arrive early, have a bowl of fresh mussels with a Stella Artois or espresso, I probably will be there myself, if you are late, we will wait for you.).
Friday, March 3rd –the Tour begins:
Leaving Bordeaux, with the bus, going to a 3-star Hotel, in Sarlat-La-Caneda, where we will stay for 3 nights as we visit that area
Stop at Les Eyzies to see the Cro-Magnon Man (Les Eyzies-de-Tayac)
Welcome cocktail at the Hotel
Welcome dinner at a Sarlat Restaurant
Back to the Hotel (across the street from the restaurant)
Saturday, March 4th:
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Taking our Deluxe, a/c & heated bus (the same bus for the whole trip, Mr. Abdel, he is wonderful!! ) to the town of Les Eyzies
Visit of "Le Gouffre de Proumeyssac", called "The Cristal Cathedral", near the town of Rocamadour. The most famous cave in Europe and the most interesting geological site, with stalagmites & stalactites.
Visit of the 100 years old Magnificent Gardens of Marqueyssac
Lunch: Restaurant La Traverse: Le Bourg 24250 CÉNAC AND ST JULIEN
Visit of Chateau Des Milandes and the life of Josephine Baker
Visit of its surrounding Gardens and the many Falcons and Birds of Prey
Dinner downtown Sarlat
Return to the hotel
Sunday, March 5th:
Breakfast at the Hotel
Visit of the town of Sarlat, and its market. There is a wonderful Cathedral (Mass at 10 am)
One-of-a-kind Lunch, with 14 courses, and a degustation style menu, made of every part of the goose, many geese are loose in the town, walking down the street to celebrate that special weekend. This is a Feast Goose, attended by hundreds of guests from all over the world, all courses are accompanied by local wines. Enjoying many attractions of this two-day event, taking place in the medieval heart of this town.
Dinner at your leisure. But after that wonderful 14-course lunch, we usually meet for a beer at a local café, around 6.30 pm. The chef is buying!
Back to Hotel
Monday, March 6th:
Breakfast at the Hotel
Check out of Hotel. Bus to visit the Lascaux IV Caves, world known and unique opportunity to explore primitive painting from 20.000 years ago
Lunch at La Dornac, visit to a goose farm
Visit of Collonges Rouge, a picturesque red brick town. Where we visit a little shop where you can buy honey, mustards, etc...
Going to a new 3-star hotel in Perigueux for 2 nights. Arrive at 7 pm.
Dinner at your leisure
Tuesday, March 8th:
Breakfast at the Hotel
Depart 9am to Limoges store SAMIE PORCELAINE
Hunting & visit a truffle farm, we will unearth fresh truffles with Loris, the specialized Doggy. Option to bring some back too! Mensignac: Truffle farm
Lunch at a Restaurant in Perigueux.
Back to the hotel at 4 pm
Dinner at your leisure
Wednesday, March 8th:
Breakfast at the Hotel
Visit of the local 3 different farmers' markets around the Cathedral in Perigueux medieval town
Cooking class in a Charcuterie in Perigeux (Charcuterie Mazieres)
Lunch in the old town in Périgueux
Visit: Clovis Reymond Distillery 49 Rue Gabriel Reymond, 24140 Villamblard
Class on Foie Gras, that Chef will lead.
Arriving at 7 pm at a new hotel, 3 stars, in Bergerac
CHÂTEAU DES VIGIERS
Dinner at a local Restaurant in Bergerac
Thursday, March 9th:
Breakfast at the Hotel
9 am. Depart Hotel to visit the Car museum at the Château de Sanxet in Pomport
Lunch in Monbazillac where Chef trained during his cooking school (La Grappe d'Or).
IVBD Educational wine tasting where we will understand more about winemaking.
IVBD (Interprofession of Bergerac and Duras Wines) 1 Rue des Récollets, 24100 Bergerac
Return to the hotel
Dinner at your leisure in Bergerac,
Friday, March 10th:
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Lecture of the two Cyrano’s De Bergerac Statues by a local guide
Visit & degustation of the wines of Lunch at Chateau Haut Sarthes
Followed by lunch. This is the only Bergerac available in Chicago at all Binny’s
Visit of underground Saint Emilion, its collegiate church, and its cloister
Cooking class (with Master Chef Michael GUEDJ): Hangar 18, 3 Cr Edouard Vaillant, 33300 Bordeaux
Arrive at Bordeaux hotel at 6:00 pm
Going to a 3 stars hotel in Bordeaux for two nights, close to the train station so we can go back to Paris on Sunday easily, or just stay in town.
Evening at your leisure.
Back to the hotel
Saturday, March 11th:
Breakfast at the Hotel. Depart at 9 am.
Visit & Degustation at Chateau Giscours https://giscours.com/en/ 10 Rte de Giscours, 33460 Labarde
Plus they have a wonderful souvenirs shop
Mademoiselle Margaux Chocolate Boutique & Degustation of Chocolates.
https://www.mademoiselledemargaux.com/boutique/
Lunch in Margaux
Discorvering Route des Grands Crus: Departmental 2
Afternoon tasting in Margaux
Visit of Bordeaux, La Cite du Vin, on the banks of the Garonne River
Return to Hotel
Dinner in Bordeaux Brasserie
Back to Hotel
Sunday, March 12th:
Breakfast at the Hotel
Memoir of the Trip
Visit of several Bordeaux Farmers & Antiques Markets if desired
Morning at your leisure
2023 CULINARY TOUR RESERVATION FORM DISCOUNTED
Please complete ONE form per person, to be returned to :
Chef Didier Durand 3818 North Richmond Street, Chicago, Illinois 60618
www.chefdidierdurand.com chefdidierdurand@yahoo.com
Enclosed is my (our) reservation (s) for the Culinary Tour in France from March 3rd to March 12th, 2023. I (we) have included a personal check, money order, or Zelle direct deposit for $ 750 per person. Make check payable to : Didier Durand
Your Name:_______________________________________________________
( Please print your name as it appears on your passport ).
Signature & Date:___________________________________________________
Complete Address:__________________________________________________
Home Phone:_____________________
Cell Phone:________________________
Email (please write capital letters _____________________________________
Roommate Name (if any):________________Birthday Date/Month:___________
( Please book me at the additional single occupancy rate of $ 475 to be paid along with this filled reservation form, so this first check is $ 1225).
Payment Schedule: all amounts are per person, $ 750 due at reservation, along with this filled form ( $ 1225 if you are booking on a single occupancy rate ). Welcome to Chef Didier’s Culinary Tour of your Life!
Second: $ 850 by December 31st, 2022
Third :$ 750 by January 15th, 2023
Fourth & Final: $ 850 by February 1st, 2023
This is 10 days for a total of $ 3200 (including taxes) per guest, twin occupancy. Includes all hotels, breakfast, lunches, 6 dinners, all wines, aperitifs, drinks, everyday activities & visits, in a 44-seat Deluxe Coach A/C or heated bus. The whole trip can be paid at once or several payments as you wish. Credit card payments: Please add 3% )
This Tour is exclusive, with around 20 Guests only, a limited invitation to a memorable & culinary experience, personally directed by Chef Didier as you discover, with him, his birthland, filled with so much history, and culinary treasures, meeting his friends and his friends he calls « family », where he started to learn the profession of being a cook, 40 years ago. Local English-speaking guides will showcase many, one-of-a-kind, special sites, visits, and places, that no one had seen or done before. BON VOYAGE. Questions @ 773-620-3986 THANKS!
2023 OENOPHILE TOUR RESERVATION FORM DISCOUNTED
Please complete ONE form per person, to be returned to :
Chef Didier Durand 3818 North Richmond Street, Chicago, Illinois 60618
www.chefdidierdurand.com chefdidierdurand@yahoo.com
Enclosed is my (our) reservation (s) for the Culinary Tour in France from April 21st to April 30th, 2023. I (we) have included a personal check, money order, or Zelle direct deposit for $ 825 per person. Make check payable to : Didier Durand
Your Name:_______________________________________________________
( Please print your name as it appears on your passport).
Signature & Date:___________________________________________________
Complete Address:__________________________________________________
Home Phone :_____________________Cell Phone :________________________
Email (please write capital letters ):_____________________________________
Roommate Name (if any):________________Birthday Date/Month:___________
( Please book me at the additional single occupancy rate of $ 425 to be paid along with this filled reservation form, so this first check is $ 1250).
Payment Schedule: all amounts are per person, $ 825 due at reservation, along with this filled form ( $ 1250 if you are booking on a single occupancy rate). Welcome to Chef Didier’s Oenophile Tour of your Life!
Second: $ 850 by January 31st, 2023
Third :$ 850 by February 28th, 2023
Fourth & Final: $ 850 by March 15th, 2023
This is 10 days for a total of $ 3375, normally $3695 (including taxes) per guest, twin occupancy. Includes all hotels, breakfast, lunches, 5 dinners, all wines, aperitifs, drinks, everyday activities & visits, in a 44-seat Deluxe Coach A/C or heated bus. The whole Trip can be paid at once or several payment as you wish. Credit card payments : Please add 3% )
This Tour is an exclusive, around 20 Guests only, limited invitation to a memorable & culinary experience, personally directed by Chef Didier as you discover, with him, his birthland, filled with so much history, culinary treasures, meeting his friends and his friends he calls « family », where he started to learn the profession of being a cook, 40 years ago. Local english speaking guides will showcase many, one of a kind, special sites, visits, places, that no one had seen nor done before. BON VOYAGE. Questions @ 773-620-3986 THANKS !