Chocolate Retreat in Provence

 

I forgot on Monday to mention I’m running off next day (6:00 am /TGV) to Villeneuve les Avignon, In fact I overslept (a first) and woke up at 5:01! Oh la la la la

Somehow I made it to the train, just.🤸‍♂️Villeneuve is a stunning, small, medieval Provencal village you never heard of, just 10 minutes outside Avignon .

I am here for a 5-day chocolate 

And jam retreat. And yes, it is a religious experience. I lost count of the times I died & went to heaven this week.

Darling  Shannon and Wlady Grochowski of La Châtelaine Chocolat Co. of Montana and Burgundy are our celestial guides. “So kind of you to let me come”,😊 Shannon and Wlady (is 100% Parisian btw).

We stayed at heavenly l’Atelier de hotel.My room is much bigger than my Paris chambre de bonne.

My atelier in the Hotel de l’Atelier. 

I am trying hard to remember what croissants look like. Practice makes perfect🥐🥐🥐

Across the street Shannon explains about les herbes de Provence and the famous Provençal garrigue. 

We will infuse our tempered chocolate with thyme, menthe & jasmin Shannon hand-picked herself. 

Such pretty place settings Shannon set out for each of us! 

We attack the chocolate.

We try desperately not to give into dipping into the Valrhona melted chocolate 🍫 with our fingers. Some of us succumb. Oscar Wilde said, “ The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it”.

After much blood, sweat and tears over the melting chocolate

We go back to the hotel’s outdoor garden for an l’apero and grignote/snacks)

Then a strawberry tarte (4 different kinds of berries) Shannon threw together. Oh la la la

Meet Gemma on the team. I am allowed to walk her as much as I want, though she flirts with everyone equally and not as discriminating as she might be.

More croissant studies from day 2, jam-making day!🤸‍♂️ More to come dear PBers. Please share and visit my Etsy shop for lovely Real Paris mail 💌 in your mailbox 📮