Gastronomy & Wine

French may have ceased to be the international language of diplomacy, and France has ceased to set the tone for the contemporary art market, but Paris invariably remains the world capital of the highest gastronomy and the mecca of gourmets. And it’s not just a matter of a variety of regional recipes — many countries are rich in them, but rather in the exceptionally reverent attitude of Parisians to culinary art and in the ability to turn lunch or dinner into a unique masterpiece. Gastronomy is taken so seriously here that recipes can be debated as serious political issues, and as the best chefs are listened to as if they were public figures.

To understand the 16,000 Parisian restaurants, terraces, and bistros, we offer you to get acquainted with several gastronomic star restaurants, as well as with eminent «brasseries» — with their separate history and purpose, with the most famous confectioners, with truffle, snail, or chocolate professionals.  

The tour will begin in the center of Paris, will pass through the Place de la Madeleine and Place Vendôme on the Left Bank of Paris. The most famous confectionery houses in Paris: the confectioneries of Pierre Erme and Stohrer — pastry chef Maria Leszczyńska — the wife of Louis XV, the elite gastronomic shops «Fauchon» and «Edyard», the bakery of Eric Kaiser and, of course, the oldest and most legendary restaurants in Paris, which have become a landmark of the city. Paris is worth trying.

Meet your local chef in a traditional Parisian café. Follow the chef for a local market visit and learn about culinary traditions. You will then shop for the fresh ingredients for your menu in specialty stores like butcher and cheese shops, just like any Parisian would. Cook the entirety of a traditional French lunch in a private apartment kitchen.

After a well-earned apéritif of Champagne, enjoy your delectable dishes in a chic setting.

There is the city of Colmar near the Loches River not far from the border with Germany. The local climate, favorable for growing grapes, has contributed to the development of winemaking in Colmar since ancient times. The city is famous for sparkling and white wines, as well as culinary masterpieces of Alsatian cuisine.

Colmar is very picturesque. It is literally an open-air museum. The ancient city successfully combines architectural styles of different eras, ranging from late Gothic to Art Nouveau. The pearl of the city is the Little Venice quarter with small canals and bridges immersed in geranium flowers.

The Alsace Wine Route is one of the most famous wine routes in France and the backbone of the Alsace tourist route. Beautiful vineyards are the main attraction of the region. It is here that some of the best white wines are made: spicy Gewürztraminer and delicately sweet Muscat, refreshing Riesling and Pinot Blanc — each wine is wonderful in its own way and goes well with traditional hearty and delicious dishes. You can try local wine in the wineries generously scattered along the Wine Road. Medieval castles and half-timbered Renaissance houses, decorated with flowers, in picturesque villages have gained great fame for this route.

The finest place to learn about how cooking came to be so significant in Europe is Alsace. Alsace natural heritage is rich and delicious, including charcuterie, sauces, a huge range of cheeses and meats, organic vegetables, and wines, which come from mountains, vineyards, and the Rhine River. Join your chef for a cooking class using local, seasonal, and organic ingredients while visiting Alsace. A four-hour immersive event that includes a delectable supper and wine tasting.

Just 20 km from Reims is the town of Epernay, where champagne houses of famous brands — Moet & Chandon and Mercier — are located. On the outskirts of Epernay was the abbey of Saint-Pierre Doville, where at the end of the 17th century a monk named Dom Perignon discovered the process of champagne, initiating the production of champagne. Today, underground wine cellars are located here, which stretch for almost 100 kilometers.

Today with your driver-guide discover the Pays d’Auge, which consists of two departments: Calvados and Orne with a principal town of Lisieux. Learn about its rich history, art, and cuisine. You will have an opportunity to try local specialties like a heady cider, calvados, salted caramel, creamy milk, and a variety of spicy cheeses.

The tour follows the valley of the Touques River. You will admire wonderful landscapes as the Touques meanders through apple orchards bordering old manors and wooden steepled churches.You will pass through Lisieux, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in France with its Carmelite convent, a home of Sainte-Therese also known as St.Theresa of the Infant Jesus, where the basilica shrine was built to honour her. 

From the windows of your car, you will explore the Chateau of St. Germain de Livet. It is a magnificent example of Norman architecture complete with a fabulous, glazed tile façade, turrets, and a moat. For cheese tasting you will stop in Livarot. Their unique flavours so highly coveted that they merit a national protective branding label. Try some of them and you will be convinced that the quality of the dairy products in Normandy is unique in the world.

Once again, the Touques river leads us across the country through the heart of the Pays d’Auge and its charming rural landscapes to Coudray-Rabut, where you will indulge in a welcome pear brandy, sip of hard cider or the famous apple brandy: Calvados. After tasting with your guide, you will head to one of the local restaurants in Deauville. This glamorous beach town is famous for its American Film Festival and numerous equestrian events.

To round up the day, you will take the stunning coast road to Honfleur, located at the mouth of the Seine River. Honfleur is considered as the jewel of Normandy. Its colorful, quiet port gave inspiration to numerous impressionists such as Claude Monet and Eugène Boudin. The town houses a museum dedicated to the latter. You will stroll on cobblestone streets, along the Quai Saint Catherine with its elegant, medieval, half-timbered façade buildings, before visiting the largest wooden church in France: Saint Catherine’s Church.

The visit to the oyster farm begins with a film about the different techniques of oyster farming. Portuguese or flat oysters, harvested in rhythm with the tides, the history of oyster farming; and so on. There, you will get complete information about oysters. The visit continues in the workshops of this family-run business, where you will see the oysters being washed and sorted. After the excursion, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch.  

In the afternoon, continue to Cancale the oyster capital of France. There is nothing tastier than sitting on the waterfront of Cancale, the oyster capital of France, eating freshly caught oysters and throwing empty shells right into the sea. In general, the Emerald Coast of France is a unique place for gourmands, and seafood lovers. Here the town of Le Vivier-sur- Mer specializes in growing mussels.

There is not a single factory or livestock farm near Cancale. The city drains of Cancale are not discharged into the sea, while sewerage is settled away from the ocean. Therefore, the purity of the water near its shores corresponds to the first degree. If you are in those parts, be sure to go to Cancale. There, you can still buy oysters at the local market on the waterfront.