Want a Unique Gourmet Experience in Provence? Book with Luberon Authentic Tours

When you book a gourmet picnic or all-day tour with Luberon Authentic Tours, you will see places that only locals know about! Are you passionate about nature? Guylaine and Franck invite you to discover the Luberon off the beaten track, aboard the legendary Defender (vintage Land Rover). You will experience breathtaking views from peaks accessible only by a 4×4 vehicle. During a Luberon Authentic Tours, you will see photos taken with hidden animal observation cameras. You will walk through the woods and find trees, plants, flowers, and herbs growing all around you. They will show you how to gather local aromatic herbs, a key ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine. After a nature walk, Guylaine and Franck will set up a picnic site highlighted by dramatic panoramic views. You will enjoy a delicious picnic lunch featuring Provençal flavours.

©Luberon Authentic Tours

Panorama Picnic

This is not a typical French picnic – no backpacks needed! Franck and Guylaine will provide a sumptuous lunch, followed by French cheeses and baguettes, a seasonal dessert, Laurent-Perrier Champagne, and wines from nearby Château St. Pierre de Mejans. Picnic tables and comfortable chairs will be set up in a shady spot. All a guest needs to bring is a sun hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothing, and walking shoes, such as sneakers or hiking boots.

©Tasha Anne Powell

The gourmet picnic menu changes weekly, depending on the client’s preferences and the seasonal availability of produce. Here is a sample menu:

– Pesto tartlets, candied tomatoes with thyme and honey
– Tapenade puff pastry lollipops
– Goat cheese mousse choux, candied zucchini
– Hummus, sesame, crunchy vegetable tarts
– Corn panna cotta, pepper mousse, pine nuts
– Marinated chicken skewers with herb sauce
– Involtini ham & ricotta basil cream
– Focaccia with cherry tomatoes and fresh rosemary
– Clafoutis (French dessert featuring stone fruit)

©Tasha Anne Powell

Olives and Wine after Lunch

After the nature walk and picnic, the tour will take you to the banks of the Durance River to observe the birds that inhabit the area. This wild river descends from the Southern Alps and offers stunning vistas. Next, you will visit a beautiful olive grove and learn about the characteristics of this symbolic tree of the South of France. Olive oil producers will welcome you for a tasting and provide an introduction to the cultivation and processing of the green gold of Provence. The day will wrap up with a visit to a historical vineyard, and you will share a few moments over a delicious glass of wine in an exceptional 13th-century château.

©Luberon Authentic Tours

Why Luberon Authentic Tours?

Guylaine and Franck are passionate about the Luberon and love sharing their discoveries with people who appreciate the natural beauty as much as they do. Both French natives, they have lived in Provence for over two decades, carefully restoring their pastoral property in Rognes.

Book your Stay at La Bastide des Amandiers

La Bastide des Amandiers is a stunning villa featuring three self-catered rental units on the premises. Boasting garden views and a private pool, this property offers a quintessential Provence experience. The large garden has lavender plants, almond trees, cherry trees, and an olive orchard. The Bastide is a short walk to many hiking trails and gorgeous views of the Luberon.

©La Bastide des Amandiers

Guylaine is an artist, and Franck is a business consultant; he also harvests his olives and extracts essential oil from his lavender plants. They started Luberon Authentic Tours at the request of their guests, who not only wanted a beautiful place to stay but also sought incredible experiences to accompany their time in Provence.

Book with Luberon Authentic Tours

For more information about Luberon Authentic Tours, please visit their website.
https://www.luberonauthentictours.com/

Follow @luberon_authentic_tours on Instagram.

Full-day tours include an olive oil tasting experience and a wine tasting at a local vineyard. Half-day tours are also available.

Guylaine and Franck are delighted to welcome you to Provence and hope you will choose Luberon Authentic Tours to enhance your experience in Provence.

A picnic is a universal term for creating a culinary experience in nature with some of your favourite portable foods. The French, though, take the word pique-nique to an elevated culinary level! My experiences in North America pale in comparison to the memorable pique-nique outings I have savoured in Provence.

How to Make Your Provençal Picnic

Tasha Powell

Tasha Powell is a food stylist and writer who specializes in working with celebrity chefs and leaders in the hospitality industry. She cooks and styles for monographs, cookbooks and Satellite Media Tours, working between North America and Europe. Take a look at her mouthwatering photos on Cooking with a French Twist. Since July 2020, she has offered themed Zoom cooking classes influenced by her travels in France and Morocco. Here are a few:

• Fusion Vegetarian Menu: Cheese Soufflé, Grilled Vegetable Kabobs, Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Lime Crème Fraiche & Floating Islands
• Fall in Provence: Carrot Soup, Seared Duck Breast and Chocolate & Pear Tarte
• 3-Course Gluten-Free Menu: Panisse, Grilled Shrimp & Chocolate Towers with Michelin Star plating techniques
• Food Styling Tips: Apéro Dînatoire, presentation & plating
• 4-Course Gluten-Free Menu: Cauliflower Steaks with Chimichurri Sauce, Zucchini Rollups, Roasted Leek Salad & Chocolate Lava Cakes, Michelin Star plating techniques
• Just Stuffed! Stuffed Aubergines, Tomatoes & Zucchini
• Provençal Cuisine: Baked Ratatouille Tian & Tarte du Soleil
• Add Sparkle, Shimmer, Silver and Gold to Your Culinary Presentations! By Lynn Neuberg of Easy Leaf Products and Chef Tasha Powell

Class listings can be found at Chef Tasha Events

Tasha also arranges culinary tours with Barbara Pitcher in Provence, France, in Marrakech, Morocco, in Sicily, Italy and in Parry Sound, Canada under Pitcher and Powell Cuisine and Culture.