Friday, June 22nd - Chenonceau, Amboise, Wine Tasting,Cooking Class

More chateaux today! First, my favorite, Chenonceau, whose most famous resident was Henri II’s favorite (as they say in French), Diane de Poitiers. This is really a women’s castle. It is dainty, elegant and chic. Diane invented chic, she wore only black and white after her husband’s death, but did it with such elegance that others followed her.  This castle's main gallery crosses over the river Cher.  For the first time, the builders put the kitchen on the lower level.  This made it possible for the boats to come directly to the kitchen to deliver provisions.

While this castle belonged to Henri II's mistress, his wife Catherine de Medicis (a very crafty queen) took the castle back from Diane de Poiter upon Henri's death. You can see the symbol of this love triangle in the emblem of Henri II, an H, C and in the middle a D!

            Tana, Sophie, Hayley, Sage, Natalie, Sam, Carolyn and Linda in front of the Chateau de Chenonceau

                             Can you make out the H, the C and the D?

After Chenonceau we went to the town of Amboise for lunch. This town is also the site of another castle from the medieval times. Our lunch choice was excellent, I must admit. We went to a small creperie on one of the rue pietons (pedestrian streets). We had galettes, otherwise known as savory crepes, of ham, cheese, mushroom and egg. Along with my crepe I also had some cidre brut, bubbly cider, which does not at all resemble the cider we are used to in the states (tastes more like beer).

                                Galette au jambon et fromage avec un cidre!
More bus travel to begin the much anticipated winery visit! Yes, only a few of us adults will be able to partake in the degustation (wine tasting). Our French winery guide was of course a suave young gentleman. All the young girls were swooning and he played the crowd well. We tasted around ten wines, from red, white, rose and brut (like champagne but cannot be called champagne because it is not grown in the region of Champagne). We were feeling pretty good and I have pictures to prove it. I think I bought some bottles to take home!

This dog was a resident of the winery.  He was just eating up all the attention from the tourists.  He knows that when the bus pulls up, it's time to head outside!

     Ahh, one of the many pleasures of France.  Linda, Tana, Jeremy and Carolyn enjoying the wine tasting.


Alright, you might think the day is done, but no..we still have the cooking class to look forward to. Now this is the highlight, I think, of the tour and the most authentic experience. It takes place in a professional cooking school kitchen. We are split into two groups, appetizer and main meal/dessert. There are three chefs that demonstrate what each group is to prepare. Our group prepared the main meal and dessert. Hayley and Sage did a great job with the desserts with a little help at the end from Sophie and Sam. The rest of us prepared the main meal. Sam and I were masters at the crepes – no surprise there.

                    Sage, Natalie, Hayley, Same and Sophie, chefs extrodinaire!

                                       Our main meal

                                          and finally, dessert



Then we had the pleasure of enjoying the meal of salade de crudies, corn crepes with quail, avocado and apple and finally, berries with whipped cream and orange sorbet. You really have to see the pictures to appreciate it.

Now we can say the day as ended. And what a day it was. The students are now well-rested and acclimated to the time change. They are more comfortable speaking French and ordering ice cream (which we have at least once a day). Looking forward to the Caves of Lascaux tomorrow. Lots of bus riding for us to relax.