Showing posts with label cooking classes in Provence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking classes in Provence. Show all posts

7 February 2014

Workshop in Provence April 2014


Do you love Provence? Do you love wandering in nature, admiring flowers and wild herbs?
Would you like to learn a bit of wildcrafting? Learn to forage for wild edibles
and how to turn all their earthy goodness into amazing meals?

Then "come get some dirt under your nails" in the Luberon.
— Saturday, April 26 - Friday, May 2, 2014 —

Five days of learning, cooking, eating, sipping, and much more
with Giuseppina of Venice in Provence Cookery School in Goult
and Terresa of la cucina di terrESa in Paris.
                
                   For more information and bookings please contact Giuseppina or Terresa.
                                                                              ::      ::
What we'll be cooking :

Cooking classes will be centered around wildcrafting, featuring dishes that "celebrate the vegetable kingdom”—both wild and cultivated, but not strictly vegetarian. Upon request a simple meat or fish dish can be included in mealtime menus, but will not be part of the cooking classes in Provence.

All dishes taught will be inspired by Provençal and regional Italian cuisine, as well as our own creative additions.



Program : April 26 - May 2, 2014

Saturday, April 26

Arrival day. We’ll welcome you with a scrumptious dinner and an assortment natural wines from the region to compliment our meal

Sunday, April 27

We’ll head off in the morning to the Coustellet farmer’s market, one of the best in the region, where you’ll meet local producers and learn how to choose the choisest fruits and vegetables from their seasonal offerings. We’ll return to the school and cook up a light lunch. You’ll have time for a short rest before heading out for our first wildcratfing trip

Giuseppina will introduce you to her “secret gardens.” We’ll fill our baskets with wild vegetables and herbs. Then back for a late afternoon cooking class where you’ll learn how to transform the wild plants we’ve gleaned into a savory dinner.

Monday, April 28


The day will be dedicated to discovering and learning about natural wines. TerrESa will initiate you into the world of natural wine and share with you her knowledge of this fascinating, poetic world.

We’ll have lunch at La Tour Cassée, a typical bistrot de pays, with great artisan fare. Then on to visit a couple natural winemakers to taste and procur our wines for the week. We’ll also visit an artisan cheesemaker and bring home an array of cheeses for dinner.

The evening cooking class will focus on how to improvise a savory dinner with “what’s at hand.” We’ll sip on some of the wines from our morning excursion and TerrESa will talk about paring natural wines with vegetable dishes.

Tuesday, April 29


We’ll start the day with a tour of the farmer’s market in the nearby town of Apt, visit a small farm or artisan goat’s milk cheese producer. Then a late morning cooking class and afternoon picnic (weather permitting).

The evening you’ll be free to get some rest, take a stroll around the village, and have dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Wednesday, April 30


We’ll start the day with a cooking class, preparing pasta, bread, pizza dough for Thursday’s gala dinner. After lunch we’ll spend the afternoon foraging then return to the kitchen for the 2nd portion of our cooking class and dinner.

Thursday, May 1

It’s market day in Goult! We’ll meet at 9 am at Café de la Poste, in the heart of the village, for a typical café-croissant breakfast then on to the marketplace to buy victuals for the day. We’ll take a tour of the village before heading back to the school to cook lunch.
You’ll have time for an afternoon rest before the evening cooking class where we’ll prepare an amazing “Italian Fiesta” for our last night together: antipasti of all sorts, delicious home-made pizzas, Italian sweets and more.

Friday, May 2


Five days have quickly come and gone. We’ve met people, made friends, learned many a culinary secret to add to our treasure of kitchen knowledge. It’s now time to bid each other farewell… But beforehand we’ll have a last café-croissant at Café de la Poste then say arrivederci !








The school :

Located in the village of Goult, the school sits perched on the top of the hill, offering a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and villages. It comes complete with an authentic Provençal garden and meandering olive grove.
Goult is a charming village situated between Gordes, Menerbes and Bonnieux, in the center of what is called the “Golden Triangle."






The teachers : 
— My name is Giuseppina Mabilia, I was born near Venice: my roots, my culture, everything I am comes from there. I stumbled on Provence some years ago, fell in love with the land and I decided to stay. That brought on a real change to my life. My greatest passion has always been cooking. One day someone asked if I could cook for them during their holidays. That’s how my story
began.
Today I'm a well-known personal chef in the Luberon and I’d love to share with you everything I’ve learned and experimented through these years: cooking delicious, elegant and tasteful recipes that highlight the gorgeous ingredients of the region with a touch of Italian lifestyle. I’m also very engaged in using local ingredients. My primary sources for food are local farmers, les marchés paysans, and what I call “my supernatural market:” wildcrafting in nature.



— My name's Terresa Murphy and I'm on a mission to undress vegetables, which I've been doing since 2008 during my vegetable cooking classes in my cozy kitchen in Paris, where wanderlust brought me many a year ago
It's all about coaxing the sublime flavors from the local produce I procure from marketplaces across the city and mingling them with other artisan ingredients—as close to their pristine selves as possible—to create delightful dishes of layered textures, savors and colors that will sing on the plate and palate.
Nothing too fancy, as “down-to-earth” is my touchstone, reflected in the inspiration I draw from the inventive flare of Italy's rustic regional cuisine and its many medieval recipes that I've gleaned over the years.
                :: ——————————————————————————————— :: 
Tuition and payment :

Tuition is 1850 euros per person.

A 40% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of reservation. Classes are limited to 8 students.

If we must cancel the program for any reason, we will refund all fees and deposits in full. Related travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Paypal is our preferred method of payment, as it is safe, easy to use, and allows for payment in your local currency. A request for payment will be sent to you through Paypal at the time of your registration.

What's included :

— 1 to 2 cooking classes each day.

— Outings each day (wildcrafting, farmers’ markets, artisan cheese producers, natural wine vineyards). We will have a mini-bus at our disposal for these excursions so that we can all travel together.

— All lunches and dinners except for Tuesday evening, which will be a free night for participants to do as they wish.

— Café-croissant breakfasts on Thursday and Friday

— Beverages (mineral water, coffee, tea, herbal tea) during the classes.
Natural wine from the Luberon and Ardéche regions with all meals, specifically chosen for each menu.

— Recipes from the classes in PDF form, list of the wines and related links, as well as any information gleaned throughout the week to be sent in a follow-up email to the class.

— Pick up and drop off at the Avignon TGV train station if coming by train from Paris. There will be one pick up and drop off scheduled (train information sent upon reservation).


For those arriving on an earlier or later train, there is bus service from the TGV station to Goult. Tickets are 2 euros (bus information and schedule sent upon request), with pick up at the bus stop in Goult.


For those preferring to rent a car, there are rental agencies at the TGV train station, as well (driving directions to the cooking school sent upon request).

What’s not included :

— Train tickets to the Avignon TGV train station.

— Lodging for the week. Upon reservation, a list of accommodations in the village (BBs, hotels, small apartments) will be sent to you, as well as any further information needed to help make booking as simple as possible.

Legal liability :

Students must sign a legal waiver (standard to the industry) upon arrival freeing Giuseppina, Terresa and their staff from any legal liability. We assume no liability for injury, delay, inconvenience, irregularity, loss or damage to person or property or additional cost resulting directly or indirectly from the following causes: fire, acts of government, thefts, delays, cancellations or for any other events over which we have no control.

No refunds will be given for any excursions or meals a participant misses or decides not to take.

Travel Insurance :

 We recommend that you purchase separate travel insurance in the event you must cancel your trip, as well as accident and health insurance, baggage and personal effects loss or damage.





5 February 2014

Workshop in the Luberon: 5 days of cooking, discovering natural wines and much more

Do you love Provence? Do you love wandering in nature, admiring flowers and wild herbs?
Would you like to learn a bit of wildcrafting? Learn to forage for wild edibles
and how to turn all their earthy goodness into amazing meals?

Then "
come get some dirt under your nails" in the Luberon.
— Saturday, April 26 - Friday, May 2, 2014

Five days of learning, cooking, eating, sipping, and much more
with Giuseppina of Venice in Provence Cooking School in Goult and Terresa of la Cucina di TerrESa in Paris.

For more information and bookings please contact Giuseppina or Terresa.
What we'll be cooking :

Cooking classes will be centered around wildcrafting, featuring dishes that "celebrate the vegetable kingdom”—both wild and cultivated, but not strictly vegetarian. Upon request a simple meat or fish dish can be included in mealtime menus, but will not be part of the cooking classes.

All dishes taught will be inspired by Provençal and regional Italian cuisine, as well as our own creative additions.
top

dishes

herbes
Program : April 26 - May 2, 2014
Saturday, April 26
Arrival day. We’ll welcome you with a scrumptious dinner and an assortment natural wines from the region to compliment our meal.
Sunday, April 27
We’ll head off in the morning to the Coustellet farmer’s market, one of the best in the region, where you’ll meet local producers and learn how to choose the choisest fruits and vegetables from their seasonal offerings. We’ll return to the school and cook up a light lunch. You’ll have time for a short rest before heading out for our first wildcratfing trip.
Giuseppina will introduce you to her “secret gardens.” We’ll fill our baskets with wild vegetables and herbs. Then back for a late afternoon cooking class where you’ll learn how to transform the wild plants we’ve gleaned into a savory dinner.
Monday, April 28
The day will be dedicated to discovering and learning about natural wines. TerrESa will initiate you into the world of natural wine and share with you her knowledge of this fascinating, poetic world.
We’ll have lunch at La Tour Cassée, a typical bistrot de pays, with great artisan fare. Then on to visit a couple natural winemakers to taste and procur our wines for the week. We’ll also visit an artisan cheesemaker and bring home an array of cheeses for dinner.
The evening cooking class will focus on how to improvise a savory dinner with “what’s at hand.” We’ll sip on some of the wines from our morning excursion and TerrESa will talk about paring natural wines with vegetable dishes.
Tuesday, April 29
We’ll start the day with a tour of the farmer’s market in the nearby town of Apt, visit a small farm or artisan goat’s milk cheese producer. Then a late morning cooking class and afternoon picnic (weather permitting).
The evening you’ll be free to get some rest, take a stroll around the village, and have dinner in one of the local restaurants.
Wednesday, April 30
We’ll start the day with a cooking class, preparing pasta, bread, pizza dough for Thursday’s gala dinner. After lunch we’ll spend the afternoon foraging then return to the kitchen for the 2nd portion of our cooking class and dinner.
Thursday, May 1
It’s market day in Goult! We’ll meet at 9 am at Café de la Poste, in the heart of the village, for a typical café-croissant breakfast then on to the marketplace to buy victuals for the day. We’ll take a tour of the village before heading back to the school to cook lunch.
You’ll have time for an afternoon rest before the evening cooking class where we’ll prepare an amazing “Italian Fiesta” for our last night together: antipasti of all sorts, delicious home-made pizzas, Italian sweets and more.
Friday, May 2
Five days have quickly come and gone. We’ve met people, made friends, learned many a culinary secret to add to our treasure of kitchen knowledge. It’s now time to bid each other farewell…
But beforehand we’ll have a last café-croissant at Café de la Poste then say arrivederci!
top

test

test
The school :

Located in the village of Goult, the school sits perched on the top of the hill, offering a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and villages. It comes complete with an authentic Provençal garden and meandering olive grove. Goult is a charming village situated between Gordes, Menerbes and Bonnieux, in the centre of the so-called “Golden Triangle.”

A bit off the beaten path, it has managed to preserve its authentic village life. The Café de la Poste, just off the town square, is where locals and visitors alike meet. English newsprint is on sale inside. The main street, Rue de la Republique, is lined with small boutiques: a brocante, wine shop, corner food store, butcher, baker…
top

test
The teachers :

My name is Giuseppina Mabilia, I was born near Venice: my roots, my culture, everything I am comes from there. I stumbled on Provence some years ago, fell in love with the land and I decided to stay. That brought on a real change in my life.
My greatest passion has always been cooking. One day someone asked if I could cook for them during their holidays. That’s how my story began. Today I'm a well-known personal chef in the Luberon and I’d love to share with you everything I’ve learned and experimented through these years: cooking delicious, elegant and tasteful recipes that highlight the gorgeous ingredients of the region with a touch of Italian lifestyle. I’m also very engaged in using local ingredients. My primary sources for food are local farmers, les marchés paysans, and what I call “my supernatural market:” wildcrafting in nature.
My name is Terresa Murphy and I'm on a mission to undress vegetables, which I've been doing since 2008 during my vegetable cooking classes in my cozy kitchen in Paris, where wanderlust brought me many a year ago.
It's all about coaxing the sublime flavors from the local produce I procure from marketplaces across the city and mingling them with other artisan ingredients—as close to their pristine selves as possible—to create delightful dishes of layered textures, savors and colors that will sing on the plate and palate. Nothing too fancy, as “down-to-earth” is my touchstone, reflected in the inspiration I draw from the inventive flare of Italy's rustic regional cuisine and its many medieval recipes that I've gleaned over the years.
top
Prices and payment :

Tuition is 1850 euros per person. A 40% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of reservation. Classes are limited to 8 students.
If we must cancel the program for any reason, we will refund all fees and deposits in full. Related travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Paypal is our prefered method of payment, as it is both safe, easy to use, and allows for payment in your local currency. A request for payment will be sent to you through Paypal at the time of your registration.

What's included :
1 to 2 cooking classes each day.
Outings each day (wildcrafting, farmers’ markets, artisan cheese producers, natural wine vineyards). We will have a mini-bus at our disposal for these excursions so that we can all travel together.
All lunches and dinners except for Tuesday evening, which will be a free night for participants to do as they wish.
Café-croissant breakfasts on Thursday and Friday
Beverages (mineral water, coffee, tea, herbal tea) during the classes. Natural wine from the Luberon and Ardéche regions with all meals, specifically chosen for each menu.
Recipes from the classes in PDF form, list of the wines and related links, as well as any information gleaned throughout the week to be sent in a follow-up email to the class.
Pick up and drop off at the Avignon TGV train station if coming by train from Paris. There will be one pick up and drop off scheduled (train information sent upon reservation).

For those arriving on an earlier or later train, there is bus service from the TGV station to Goult. Tickets are 2 euros (bus information and schedule sent upon request), with pick up at the bus stop in Goult.

For those preferring to rent a car, there are rental agencies at the TGV train station, as well (driving directions to the cooking school sent upon request).

What’s not included :
Train tickets to the Avignon TGV train station.

Lodging for the week. Upon reservation, a list of accommodations in the village (BBs, hotels, small apartments) will be sent to you, as well as any further information needed to help make booking as simple as possible.

Legal liability :
Students must sign a legal waiver (standard to the industry) upon arrival freeing Giuseppina, Terresa and their staff from any legal liability. We assume no liability for injury, delay, inconvenience, irregularity, loss or damage to person or property or additional cost resulting directly or indirectly from the following causes: fire, acts of government, thefts, delays, cancellations or for any other events over which we have no control.
No refunds will be given for any excursions or meals a participant misses or decides not to take.

Travel Insurance :
We recommend that you purchase separate travel insurance in the event you must cancel your trip, as well as accident and health insurance, baggage and personal effects loss or damage.

top

9 January 2013

How to make risotto with truffles

Last Friday I gave the first cooking-class of the year , and the very first one as “Venise en Provence ” the Cookery School I’m going to open next springtime on the top of the hill in Goult .
As my house isn’t ready yet I went to the one my students rented for their holidays :the Bastide at the “Mas de Rosemarie” (here the kitchen) a very beatiful hamlet near Joucas and Gordes.

PC300152 (Copier)
My clients , a lovely young couple of Americans asked me a lesson about truffles : January is a good month for this so I proposed a menu with truffles from the beginning to the end . They have three children so we cooked for five and even if the youngest boy did not appreciated so much the taste of truffles he loved the dessert , a truffled chocolate jelly .


















The menu was :

Risotto with truffles  
Tenderloin cooked in claryfied butter with Truffles on the top
Radicchio di Treviso Salad (here you can know everything about this vegetable)
Roasted Potatoes
White chocolate Jelly with Truffles
So…. the Risotto and some photos of the market of truffles in Menerbes .

Picnik collage3
Picnik 5

Picnik collage6

Risotto with Truffles

Ingredients for 4 servings as a main dish , as a starter you can make half the dose
400 gr of Carnaroli Rice
2 liters of vegetable broth
40 gr of black truffle
50 ml of Prosecco or a good white wine
30 gr of good quality fresh butter
1 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp of grated Parmigiano Reggiano
2 grains of freshly  grounded  pepper : a white Sarawak for example or a Kappad ( some peppers have an “animal” smell , here we prefer something more herby and fresh just to give a spicy note without overwhelming the truffle)

Making the broth is very simple : pour 2 liters of water in a stock pot, add 2 coffee spoons of sea salt, 1 leek, a rib of celery without the green leaves, a carrot ,a parsnip ( that gives a very good taste) . You can add other vegetables ,herbs or spices  though this is just a basic broth with a light taste that you can use for so many things .Let simmer gently for about 45 minutes and that’s all . Done! To make risotto keep your broth warm .
Now : pour the oil in a pan ( I recommend something heavy ,the best is copper or a very good quality  non-stick one ) and when it’s warm throw the rice and stir gently till the grains become translucent ,then add the Prosecco ,mix and begin to add the broth . This is important : add one laddle at a time and stir ,when the broth is absorbed add another one . Cooking the rice will take about 18 minutes so after 15 mn it’s better to taste it . In the meantime you’ll have grated half of the truffles and cut very finely the rest . When your rice is almost cooked ( I mean it should be “al dente” ) add the grated truffled and mix well.Now you are ready to  give the final touch : this is very important . Follow me : you’ll have the butter, the Parmigiano, and the pepper ready at your side,  your risotto is “al dente", good ! If you like it creamy and not dry add one ladle of broth , it should be a little bit more liquid than the way you like it. Stir. Turn off the fire. Now  add  the butter, the pepper and the Parmigiano ,mix well : this is the way to get that ‘creamyness’ people like in Risotto. Cover and wait  2 minutes before serving with the rest of sliced truffles on top . Bon Appetit ! Hey...wait a minute : and the chocolate jelly ? Coming soon !


 <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgiuseppinamabilia.blogspot.it%2F2013%2F01%2Fhow-to-make-risotto-with-truffles_9.html&media=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F-pLFvA7xMttc%2FUO0bv2dV1VI%2FAAAAAAAABfY%2Fm5AGSIFdk5k%2FPC300152%25252520%25252528Copier%25252529_thumb%2525255B5%2525255D.jpg%3Fimgmax%3D800&description=How%20to%20make%20a%20risotto%20with%20truffles" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a>

16 June 2012

A day in Provence : cooking class in Gordes

I work as personal chef in the Luberon and there's a house where I'm oftenly called . It's name is Fontblanche , just near the village of Gordes Last week I went there for a cooking class and even more : I organized a full day experience in Provence beginning with a café & croissant at the Café de la Poste in Goult the village where I live.


We met at 8:30 am and took the time for coffee.....then we left towards Isle sur la Sorgue
for shopping at the market ( on thurdays the market is smaller than on sundays when you  have also antiques but easier if you want to buy food )


We had not a fixed menu : everybody said that we'll improvise with what we'll find on the market ,so we bought :Zucchini ,salads, radishes,beans, potatoes,garlic, onions, fish,cheese,rhubarb and strawberries.


 Shooting at the market is not so easy : Veronique didn't want ,then I talked with her  and she explained me that so much people just takes pics and go , without buying nor caring of what she does . And she does magnificent pulp of fruits slowly cooked with raw cane sugar and much love .Then she  agreed to be photographed....if you go to the market look for her and try her products : they are absolutely marvellous . I bought some caramel au beurre salé that I used to make the icing for a chocolate cake .
Walking in Isle sur la sorgue

It was funny to see how they propose a typical venitian aperitif ! ( I come from Venice)



Then we went to the restaurant : I choose "Le vieux bistrot"  in Cabriéres d'Avignon , a charming village on the road to home . The owner , Vincent , is very agreeable and the rapport quality-price one of the best of Luberon . We had lunch under the pergola ,the light was amazing !




They brought us some delicatessen while waiting for the main course.




The presentation doesn't need to be commented , the flan of carrotes was very very good  (normally I don't eat flans as they have not much  taste and mostly too salted )


And then came dessert , a Café gourmand composed of various types but I succeed to shot only one ; they've been eaten in one bite . 


Happy moments.....




We left the reasturant at 3pm then I came home to prepare everything I needed for the cooking-class .We started at 5pm , the menu was :
Entrée : La tourte de courgettes ( an ancient recipe of Nice) and a green salad with radishes and fresh garlic
Plat : Poisson à la marseillase ( another typical recipe not very well known ) and a green beans , white beans and small potatoes salad
Dessert : Rhubarb and Strawberries crumble


Making the tourte



We cooked all together like a family , it was so funny!



 And finally everything was ready for dinner .



The night was sweet and warm....we had a wonderful dinner.

27 May 2012

Farewell Provence : a cocktail in Goult


I live in Goult ,a small village in the South  of France where I work as a personal chef and I do cooking classes on demande . Last  year Erica & Irwin took a sabbatical period and came to Goult , to try how's life in the countryside and abroad at the same time ( they live in Sidney ) They stayed 9 month here and they're leaving next wednesday so they wanted to organize a cocktail to say goodbye to the friends they made here and asked me if I was available to do it : I was very pleased to accept ! Yesterday morning I went to the market in Apt for shopping : I wanted to prepare a very typical Provençal buffet for this special occasion . I found the first melons and they were simply delicious ,  abricots , lots of vegetables to serve with anchoiade and another sauce with mustard , I prepared a pissaladière , a focaccia with seeds and oregano, a cold tomatoes soup and a choice of  local goat's cheeses and some  amazing Brie . This morning I met them at the ' Café de la Poste' they were so happy for their Party yet a little bit sad for leaving...






Goult