About L'Ecole du Cuisinier Mondial
Featured Guest International Wine Authority Michael Broadbent (October 17-23, 2004)
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Join us at France's famed Chateau Detilly in the beautiful Loire Valley for seven days of culinary education, wine tasting, recreation, and relaxation.
Located in Beaumont-en-Veron, where the Loire, Vienne, and Indre rivers meet, this 16th-century chateau is the epitome of elegance—from its beautifully renovated rooms to its spectacular setting amid grounds that feature a formal rose garden and a working vegetable garden, a private chapel, and a pool. You will spend the week in the luxury of one of the chateau's high-ceilinged rooms, emerging each day to enjoy a wealth of activities that take full advantage of the chateau's surroundings and are designed to entertain as well as educate.
These weeklong sessions mark a new chapter in the long history of Chateau Detilly, as this centuries-old bastion of privilege swings open its massive doors to welcome an egalitarian collection of culinary enthusiasts from around the world. Be among the first to experience the splendors of this previously private residence, from its oldest architectural remnant (an 11th-century arch) to its most recent addition (the newly outfitted kitchen, which includes a French La Cornue stove). In keeping with the spirit of global unity that led a European hotelier to designate instructor Marc Vogel "Cuisinier Mondial" ("chef of the world"), l'ecole will draw together its diverse attendees around a common goal: the pursuit of the finest flavors to be found. Teamwork will be an integral part of the classes, and many participants will form lifelong friendships.
As part of the school's activities, you'll explore the endless variety of food and wine in the Loire region, from the riches of the chateau's own vegetable garden to its neighbors' wealth of palate-pleasing artisanal products such as cheese, wine, bread, and charcuterie. You'll also have plenty of time to spend on your own activities, with options including swimming, hiking (much of the surrounding area is a nature preserve), and, of course, conducting your own forays—food-related or otherwise—into this unique region.
One expedition we'll make together will take us to market day in nearby Borgueil, where we will purchase everything we'll need for the following day's cooking and dining at the chateau. At this outstanding example of a traditional French farmers' market, we will do as the locals do, purchasing from among an abundance of products at their very freshest, from just-picked produce to freshly netted seafood. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is just 100 miles away, and some of the finest oysters in the world are harvested in its nearby western region, creating an unexpected highlight for this day of acquiring authentic indigenous ingredients.
