TRUFFLE ‘MASTERCLASS’, CAHORS, PERIGORD, FRANCE

3^rd to 6th February 2008

Sunday 3rd February:

p.m. Guests arrive and Check-in to Hotel Terminus, Cahors

Dinner at Restaurant L’Auberge du Vieux, Cahors

Monday 4^th February:

a.m. Chefs Masterclass & tasting lunch in ‘Le Balandre’ kitchen with Gilles Marre

p.m. Truffle hunt in local truffle orchards with Pierre Sourzat

Dinner at Restaurant L’Auberge du Vieux, Cahors

a.m. Visit Pebeyre Truffle Processing Factory

p.m Lunch & Visit Truffle Market in Lalbenque

Gastronomic Truffle Dinner prepared by Gilles Marre

a.m. Check-out & visit to Truffiere de la Bergerie, Sainte Foy de Longas, home of Hugues Martin, President of Ste Alvere Truffle Market - http://www.sainte-alvere.com

p.m. Return to UK

Places are restricted, so an early indication of your provisional attendance would be welcomed. Please call the office on 01935 83819

COSTS:

The cost of this Chefs Masterclass and truffle visit to Cahors, France INCLUDES:

Single occupancy accommodation at Hotel Terminus for 3 nights on Bed & Breakfast basis

Chefs Masterclass with Gilles Marre & tasting lunch

Visits to Truffle Market, Pebeyre Factory, Truffle hunts in Cahors and Ste Foy de Longas

Gastronomic Truffle dinner, including wines

TOTAL: £560

‘Truffle Masterclasses – January/February 2007’

Chefs’ Testimonials:

‘Nigel Hadden-Paton (Director of Truffle UK) certainly knows his truffles …. His passion for the black diamond is refreshing, fun and infectious.’
Greg Nicholson

‘The recent Chefs Masterclass to Cahors & Périgord was extremely enjoyable and informative in all aspects, from truffle biology, horticulture, wholesale production, right through to its culinary uses.’

‘A lot of this was due to Nigel Hadden-Paton of Truffle UK Ltd, whose knowledge and enthusiasm for this black edible ‘diamond’ was incredibly infectious.’

‘I would have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone especially those with an interest in French cuisine and truffles.’ Tim Powell

Teaser (my chocolate truffle hound) and I, joined our host on his farm near Marlborough yesterday (15/08/06) to help him with his truffle harvest.

I have never seen such an abundance of truffle – all just breaking the surface – some rotten but plenty ready for the kitchen.

Within seconds of entering the 15 year old broadleaved plantation, Teaser had found the first ‘nest' of about 6 truffle, the biggest weighing 352 grams.

Our farmer friend, who was wearing leggings and knee pads, plodded around on all fours under the hazel canopy, dextrously flailing his hands to and fro over the forest floor like a concert pianist. Using nothing but his 'eye' and intimate knowledge of what signs to look for, he plucked one truffle after another from the ground, sometimes having to tease them out with a garden trowel.

After 40 minutes, Teaser was bored, our host's knees were hurting and anyway his basket was full! We walked back to the farmyard – stopping en route to lower the basket and give our arms a rest.

We sat at a table in the garden and brushed our spoils clean, then weighed them. Over 4 kilos of top quality truffle and a further 2.5 kilos of damaged or maggotted truffle – to be used for inoculum. Not a bad day at the office!