Edna Cochez Exclusive Tour

UPCOMING TRIPS

Monday, September 30 - Thursday, October 10, 2024

11 days / 9 nights

Savor France with renowned Panamanian chef and baker Edna Cochez, on this culinary-based trip that will take your senses on the journey of a lifetime. Edna offers online baking classes and inspires through social media bringing ingredients, techniques, and recipes alive. A must follow on social channels!

On this nine-night adventure, we’ll start our journey in the breathtakingly beautiful town of Bordeaux with experiences including a tour & tasting at a prestigious Bordeaux winery, breakfast in a bakery still using an 18th century oven and a trip out to picturesque Arcachon Bay to make chocolates and visit an oyster farm.

We then follow the Dordogne River into the luscious and hilly Dordogne Valley to spend two nights discovering regional specialties with local artisans before heading up to Paris on a high-speed train. Our adventure ends with three nights in Paris visiting some top food destinations the City of Light has to offer.

The culture, cuisine, and history of France experienced will be greatly enhanced while alongside your new friend - Edna Cochez!

Learn more about Edna here.

This trip is limited to 18 food lovers and we anticipate that it will fill quickly.

Price per person: $4,975 based on double occupancy
Single supplement $900
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due with registration

Tour includes accommodations for nine nights (4-star hotels and gîte cottage homes), excursions, transportation throughout the tour, wine at the included meals at lunch and dinner as listed in the itinerary. Price does not include airfare and transportation to and from France. You are welcome to make your own travel arrangements, or we are happy to assist with any of your needs.

For more information or to register, please email Kathy Denis at kathy@getawayalacarte.com.

CURRENT ITINERARY*

Meals provided are listed in parentheses. B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Monday September 30

DAY 1:

(Food on plane)
Join Edna Cochez on this culinary adventure on an overnight flight from Panama (or your home city) to arrive in Bordeaux, France.

Tuesday, October 1

DAY 2

(food on plane, D)
Arrival in the beautiful UNESCO designated town of Bordeaux with an afternoon check-in at the hotel located in the heart of the city, near the Grand Théâtre. We kick off our adventure with a welcoming apéritif before setting out for dinner, just a short walk from the hotel.

Wednesday, October 2

DAY 3

(B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel, the day begins with a journey in our private coach winding along the Route des Châteaux through the Médoc wine region on Bordeaux's left bank, known for the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. Our stop at one of the classified wineries includes a private tour and tasting followed by lunch in a local restaurant. Following lunch, we meander through the vineyards back down to Bordeaux. Once we reach Bordeaux you are free to walk around this majestic town and find the perfect place to enjoy dinner.

Thursday, October 3

DAY 4

(B, D)
Today we put on our walking shoes and head for breakfast outside the hotel at an artisanal bakery that is still baking bread in a wood-fired oven built in 1765 under Louis XIV. We then continue our walking tour of the city center while seeing the main sights and the striking 18th century architecture this majestic city has to offer. After free time for lunch, we meet up at a local “caviste” (wine shop) for a wine and cheese workshop. For dinner we dine at a top-notch restaurant located on Place de la Bourse, close to the Garonne River.

Friday, October 4

DAY 5

(B, L)
After our breakfast at the hotel, we head out for a day on beautiful Arcachon Bay, located just off the Atlantic Ocean. Our hour-long coach journey will wind through the forest of Les Landes, originally planted in the 18th century. Our first stop is a local Chocolate Boutique for a hands-on chocolate workshop with a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Artisanal Chocolate Maker). We then meet with an oyster farmer at his regionally-inspired wooden oyster shack and learn more about this delicacy before tasting the local variety of oysters as well as shrimp and several other specialties while sipping on perfectly paired wine. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the beach, people-watching from a café or shopping in the charming beachside town of Arcachon. We then head back to Bordeaux for dinner at your leisure.

Saturday, October 5

DAY 6

(B, L, D)
This morning we make our way to the Dordogne Valley, capital of French prehistory and home of 1001 castles, driving alongside the winding Dordogne River in a three-hour coach ride. Our first destination is the Medieval and Renaissance town of Sarlat to visit the expansive and renowned outdoor Saturday market, where we shop for dinner items to enjoy later in our gîtes (vacation cottages). Lunch will be in Sarlat, feasting on local specialties. The afternoon takes us to a truffle farm to meet with the farmers and their truffle-hunting dogs to discover the secrets behind this mysterious and expensive mushroom. Check into the charming cottage homes of Combas Village de Gîtes and after getting settled in, watch Chef Edna work her magic as she prepares dinner with fresh market items.

Sunday, October 6

DAY 7

(B, L, D)
After enjoying breakfast in your gîte, we head to a local market to shop with a chef, picking out fresh ingredients for a culinary workshop followed by lunch. In the afternoon we visit Marqueyssac Gardens, boasting magnificent boxwood gardens and spectacular views overlooking the Dordogne River. After dinner in Sarlat and strolling through the gorgeously illuminated town by night, be sure to pack your bags to catch a train for Paris tomorrow.

Monday, October 7

DAY 8

(B, D)

Today our private coach takes us to the train station to catch a high speed train for Paris. Enjoy magnificent views of France’s countryside while relaxing in spacious, comfortable first-class seats. Once in Paris, a coach will take us to the hotel for check-in before heading out for a river dinner cruise, enjoying Paris by night from the Seine River.

Tuesday, October 8

DAY 9

(B, L)

This morning after breakfast we take a short walk to explore delicious gourmet products at Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet food hall. Across the street sits the iconic department store, Galeries Lafayette, where we enjoy a spectacular view of Paris from the rooftop before meeting with a local award-winning baker for a VIP experience in the prep kitchen of his bakery. Lunch is at his adjoining bistronomique restaurant, featuring fresh food sourced from farmers in close-by Normandy. Our next stop is for shopping at the Grand Epicerie de Paris, another food hall featuring a dizzying amount of gourmet food products from across the world. We then make a short walk to Poilâne, one of the most famous bakeries in Paris to delight in the crème de la crème of French bread. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon with free time while discovering the sights the City of LIght has to offer before finding a place for dinner at your leisure.

Wednesday, October 9

DAY 10

(B, D)

More unique culinary experiences are on our agenda today as we join a passionate, local food expert for a walking food tour with several stops to savor specialties from some of Paris’ top food destinations. Be sure to save room for one last stop to delight in hand-crafted ice cream perfected by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France expert glacier. After free time, we then come together for another memorable meal at our farewell dinner.

Thursday, October 10

DAY 11:

(B)
Your exclusive tour with Edna Cochez ends this morning and you are free to return home or continue enjoying Paris on your own. Bon Voyage!

*Please note that excursions planned on this itinerary are based on our current plan. However, should any of our partner’s schedules change we might have to make necessary modifications.