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| Immersive Cruises in Burgundy and the South of France Combine Daily Cooking Classes, Gourmet Dining, and Wine and Food Excursions. (Pictured: Enchante' cruising the Canal du Midi) |
By Anthony Diaz (Anthony@herman-almontepr.com)
European Waterways has announced the return of its popular culinary themed
charter cruises in France for 2021. Offering the ultimate in gastronomic
experiences, these unique ‘foodie cruises’ feature enhanced, more immersive
wine and food excursions, daily gourmet dining, and onboard cooking classes
presented by master chefs. Cruising the idyllic countryside, far from the
crowded streets of major cities, they include “vine dining” at local wineries,
“shopping with the chef” for evening ingredients, and meals paired with local
wines that reveal the fascinating history and cuisine of the cruise
regions. Guests can even go truffle hunting in the nearby hills and visit
an escargot farm, in season.
‘Foodie Cruise’ charters are available on the company’s luxury hotel barges L’Impressionniste
in Southern Burgundy and Enchanté on the Canal du Midi.
“Our themed cruises offer the ultimate escape from the busy cities,” said Derek
Banks, managing director of luxury hotel barge cruising specialist European
Waterways. “Since hotel barges hold just a small number of people, they
create the perfect ‘travel bubble’ for groups of like-minded friends,
special-interest clubs and families – who will have the boats all to
themselves. Themed cruises are especially fun because everyone is sharing their
particular passions with people they know.”
Cheese and Truffles on the Canal du Midi
European Waterways’ ultra-deluxe Enchanté is a stylish, 8-passenger
double-decker hotel barge with an open-plan show kitchen, where guests can
observe their skilled master chef preparing gastronomic masterpieces.
Itinerary highlights include a visit to a goat farm for a comparative
tasting of young and mature goat cheeses. Guests will also visit an olive
press and taste the famous Lucques green olives, as well as Picholine or
Ascolana tapenades, which are made with puréed or finely chopped olives. They
will similarly visit the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne, where they’ll
discover specialty chocolate and other sweet offerings produced by the city’s
many artisanal confectioners. It’s all capped with a stop at a local boulangerie,
or bakery, to enjoy freshly baked bread and pastries.
Also on the itinerary is the food market in Narbonne, a former Roman
Mediterranean capital, where guests will accompany the vessel’s chef in picking
ingredients for the evening meal. This will be followed by an educational
tour and wine tasting at Château Pique Perlou in Minervois. Another day
will be dedicated to truffles, with guests experiencing the art of cavage,
or truffle hunting, in the hills of Minervois, after which they will taste the
famed white variety, known as “white gold”. They will also tour La
Cargolade farm, named after the traditional Languedoc dish of snails. The
farm specializes in the Petit Gris variety of escargot, as well as olive oils
and seasonal vegetables. Guests then return to the hotel barge to watch a
cooking demonstration with the truffles found that day.
For a limited time, guests can save 10% off the whole barge charter price of
Enchanté if they book by January 8, 2021. With the special – based on 8
passengers traveling – charters are just $43,560, a saving of $4,840 off the
$48,400 price, departing April 4, 2021. This price includes a $150 per
person Culinary Cruise supplement.
Savoring the Moments in Burgundy
European Waterways’ 12-passenger L’Impressionniste hotel barge cruises
Southern Burgundy, with an elegant décor that includes hardwood flooring,
comfortable leather sofas, and large picture windows for a perfect view of the
rolling French countryside. Among the culinary highlights is a visit to
the Abbaye de Citeaux, home to Cistercian monks. The monks have been making
cheese for over a century, using the milk of the white Montbéliarde cows that
graze in their meadows.
New to the itinerary is a drive through the slopes of Côte de Beaune, home to
the great names of Burgundy wine. This is followed by a private tour and
tasting at Domaine Chanson, one of Burgundy’s most historic producers, and a
gastronomic lunch in the Domaine’s château. Guests will also visit the
Chevaliers du Tastevin, the fame fraternity of wine enthusiasts, located in the
wall-enclosed Grand Cru vineyard of Clos de Vougeot.
A walking tour of old Dijon is a popular excursion, with a visit to its mustard
shops and indoor food market to select ingredients for the next meal.
Guests will then visit the Edward Fallot Moutarderie mustard mill – a
family-run establishment that has been making the spicy condiment since the
1840’s. The tour includes a private tasting of their diverse
mustard-based products.
Along with the Midi region, Burgundy also enjoys a reputation for fabulous
cheeses, which can be explored with a visit to the Gaugry Fromagerie – a famed
specialist that still produces the traditional raw milk Époisses, as
well as Plaisir au Chablis, a soft and mellow cheese matured with
Chablis.
“If you enjoy world-class cuisine and fine wines in picturesque surroundings, a
cruise on a luxury hotel barge is for you,” said Banks.
Book With Confidence
European Waterways is currently offering fleet-wide specials of 10% off on
cabins and whole barge charters for 2021, valid when booked by January 8,
2021. The company’s “Book with Confidence” policy provides flexibility in
rescheduling future cruises, should they be impacted by government
restrictions. The health and safety of guests are also top priorities, with
strict protocols in place that include crew and passenger temperature checks as
well as deep cleaning and disinfecting of all cabins and public surfaces on the
boats. For more information, visit www.europeanwaterways.com
About European Waterways
Hotel Barging is a boutique, unique experience which offers an immersive,
all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery” that focuses upon the culture,
history, fine wine and gourmet cuisine of the region. With a 6 to 20 person
capacity and 1:2 crew ratio, European Waterways are able to provide an
impeccable level of on board service and can transport their guests on the
intimate inland waterways that are inaccessible to larger vessels. This
fascinating network of smaller canals allows for flexibility, spontaneity and
ample opportunity to hop off and explore the beautiful surroundings via
bicycle, or on foot. In addition to this there are daily, chauffeured
excursions “off the beaten track” to a wide variety of enthralling locations,
from exquisite wine tastings to private tours of stately homes. With over 40
years’ experience and a fleet that spans nine countries it is the largest
luxury hotel barging company in Europe. For more information, call
1-877-879-8808 in the U.S. and 1-877-574-3404 in Canada, or visit www.europeanwaterways.com.
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