Simple Ingredients, Sacred Traditions and Every Meal Tells a Story
Savouring authentic Gascon food is like a crash course in mindfulness, disguised as pure, unadulterated indulgence! Each bite, from a mouthwateringly crisp and crackling duck confit to a wide variety of creamy delicately flavoured cheeses, invites you to slow down, relish the moment, and fully engage ALL your senses. By focusing on the flavours, textures, and aromas of the world-famous local cuisine, you naturally tune into the present—an extremely helpful skill during life transitions, reminding us that sometimes, change is best approached one delicious bite at a time!
During my From Troubled to Triumphant Transformational retreats, every meal is a celebration of Gascon savoir faire using fresh fruit and vegetables that are practically bursting out of the potager. I’m not just serving Gascon food—I’m serving all things homemade, homegrown and oh-so-intesely-comforting. If not straight from the garden then plucked from the Eauze weekly fresh food market at some ungodly early hour – food that would (and does) make any foodie swoon.
Brunch and Dinner? Absolutely included. But it’s more than just morning and evening meals—it’s the ultimate mindfulness eating experience à la française. Picture yourself digging into a rich chickpea ratatouille with a side of fluffy, lightly buttered couscous, or twirling penne coated in a lush, homemade basil-and-pine-nut pesto, topped with tangy sheep’s cheese. And that’s just the start. Ever tried a paella from the southwest of France? It’s the kind of dish that makes you pause after the first bite, savouring the saffron explosion, and the smoky chorizo that assaults your taste buds to define this regional favourite. And let’s not forget the cèpe mushrooms—earthy and rich, they make my omelettes so filling, that I have to serve them at dinner instead of at brunch. Oh yes, the soups and sweets. Gazpacho; made from either tomatoes and peppers or cucumber and homegrown mint, cool and refreshing at the end of a hot summer’s day, or thick and wholesome pea or bean soup with a crusty piece of baguette on the side on a cool spring/autumn day, always make my guests sigh happily. Sweets, for those who still have a petit creux, are made by the best patissière in the region, as I suspect I could NEVER equal her expertise (and have finally given up trying.)
Brunch is all about flavour and abundance. Think crusty French bread, a croissant or two on Sundays, a variety of carefully chosen creamy artisanal cheeses that practically melt in your mouth, and homemade jams so good you’ll be plotting how to smuggle a jar home. Pair that with local honey (I know the bees who make it personally), thick, creamy yoghurt (or as the locals call it, “yahourt”), a sprinkle of homemade muesli, and fresh orange juice for a start to the day that’ll make you feel so energetic that you’ll be rearing to go! You’ll also get the chance to whip up a little sandwich masterpiece at brunch (think goat’s cheese, honey and sunflower seeds) to devour during your Camino de Santiago hiking adventures and our other field trips, like our visit to an authentic fresh food market, and our forest bathing and wild swimming expeditions.
Plus, in case you need a snack when you get back, tea, coffee, and gateaux are available 24/7 for your dunking pleasure. Dark roasted French coffee stirred with a vanilla stick and a floating a dollop of cream – I also know Adoré, the milk cow personally. Her milk is so thick that the cream has to be scooped off before it can be poured. Or freshly shaved ginger with lemon in a cup of steaming redbush tea – my favourite revitaliser!
Special treat on Days 4 and 6: I’ll whisk you off to a local gem of a restaurant that showcases the best of this region’s legendary cuisine. Heads-up, though—these meals aren’t covered in the retreat price, but trust me, they are entirely worth it. It’s our way of supporting the local economy – since COVID restaurants here in deepest rural France have suffered – and giving you the chance to eat in a family-owned and operated French restaurant – the all-time favourite chef and kitchen of the locals. Unpretentious Gascon food, but real, it will set you back no more than 15-30 euros for a three-course meal with wine, depending on your choices.
Talking about wine, I do not have an alcohol licence, so I cannot serve wine, but you are very welcome to bring a bottle to dinner, maybe a local vintage that you have tasted and been bowled over by during one of our excursions. Budget about 7 euros for a decent bottle, and no more than 20 euros for an exceptional one. Armagnac, the local brandy, will set you back a bit further.
Of course, if you have any food intolerances, allergies, preferences or just can’t stand a certain ingredient, I’ve got your back. Just let me know during booking, or at least 4 weeks before your arrival, and I’ll customise your meals so every bite is pure joy (sincere apologies, but sometimes this does incur an additional fee.)
Looking forward to welcoming you at my table and wishing you “Bon Appétit!”
Do you feel uber-stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted? Do you feel mentally and physically drained and unable to cope with the never-ending and ever-increasing demands made of you? Escape to a little French farm, surrounded by horse paddocks on the edge of an ancient forest where you can rest, relax and recharge your batteries during a transformational From Troubled to Triumphant retreat.
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