Author: maryse

Visit a French family brewery in Lille and taste some beers

Posted on by maryse

The Motte-Cordonnier name has been renowned in the North of France for 10 generations. Indeed, this family has always been involved in the region’s brewing scene. That’s why Henry recently got his family together to give new life to the Motte Cordonnier brewery.

And their first beer, René, was recently launched. Its name pays tribute to their great-grandfather, who built the Armentières, an ancient brewery that was destroyed during the First World War.     

Come and visit this family-run business, where every member is working to give their name a new meaning in the world of brewing. You’ll have the chance to discover their best-seller René, a gold medal-winning beer at the France-Bière challenge. You may also be lucky enough to discover their future beers – Emile, Camille and Fernand. 

Meet with a French Pyrenean sheperd and try his products

Posted on by maryse

Come and meet Alexis Jammes and experience transhumance – moving sheep from one pasture to another to provide better conditions for the flock depending on the season – as if you were a shepherd. At 27, Alexis lives in the mountains, always surrounded by his flock of sheep.

He settled in the Aure and Louron valley which are, for him, a real point of reference. He keeps a breed of meat sheep that are famous for their exceptional quality and better traceability thanks to the numerous Pyrenean farms.

With hiking sticks in hand, come and discover this traditional craft, guided by Alexis, who knows the valley better than anyone! Engage in a conversation with Alexis to discover his passion during an active hike amidst the breathtaking landscape.   You will be captivated by his daily routine and have the opportunity to savor a delicious traditional meal prepared with sheep-based products.

Try traditional French mirabelle plum in the heart of Metz

Posted on by maryse

Mélanie Demange is considered as “mother” of the Mirabelle Plum in the region. Mélanie became involved in the agricultural world at a very young age and, at 21, she crossed paths with Mr. Maucourt, who opened the doors for her to take over his family business.

Today, even though some ancient techniques have been replaced by machines, Mélanie remains deeply committed to traditional orchards and methods.

You are invited to explore La Distillerie de Mélanie, the flagship store located in the city of Metz. Visiting  the shop is a fascinating experience where you can learn a lot about the traditional Mirabelle Plum. A second shop is in Marieulles Vezon, where you can discover the process to create Mirabelle products. After all, what would be a stay in Lorraine if you didn’t get to try Melanie’s Mirabelle liquor?

Make your own cheese in the heart of Paris 

Posted on by maryse

For 5 years, Laiterie La Chapelle has been crafting cheeses from cow milk, along with other dairy products like yogurts, desserts, right in the heart of the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It’s the first and only Parisian dairy that processes milk from the region, sourced from a farm located just 35km from the dairy. Furthermore, it’s the first urban dairy to mature its cheeses in the heart of Paris.

Come and explore the art of cheese-making by crafting your own tommette cheese, a little Tomme, a traditional cheese from French mountains. Guided by a cheesemaker from Laiterie La Chapelle, and after a few minutes of training, you’ll get hands-on experience in creating your tommette.

You’ll work in an authentic cheese-making environment right in the dairy’s production room, and your cheeses will then join the cellar. After a necessary 3-month period for your tommette to develop all its flavors, the time will come for you to savor your own cheese.

Visit a cereal farm near Paris and make your own pasta with fresh semolina

Posted on by maryse

After a year of looking for ways to improve his business, in 2017 Martial Machaudon decided to transform the family wheat farm into an artisan dry pasta factory, aiming to rediscover the natural flavors of cereals in his products.

Through his 17 hectares of sustainable agriculture, Martial wants to work with respect for the environment. Clay-limestone soils and his expertise enable him to grow durum wheat and give his dry pasta a unique, flavorful taste. 

In this experience, you will embark on a tour of his fields, during which Martial will explain the harvesting process and share his knowledge about transforming wheat into semolina. Then, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the workshop to cook your own pasta. After the workshop, a lunch will be organized at the farm where you can enjoy the pasta you’ve prepared. You can’t get more “farm-to-table” than that.

Taste local products at a French oyster farm in Rochefort, near the Atlantic Ocean

Posted on by maryse

Since 1990, Philippe and Julie Menadier have been oyster-farming in the Seudre swamps near Marennes and the Ile d’Oléron. In 2020, the Menadier family inaugurated a magnificent tasting hut at the heart of their farm, enabling them to share their passion for oyster-farming, which punctuates their daily routine.

The quality of their Label Rouge products and their way to do this job with passion have strengthened the reputation of these independent producers over the years.

Come and discover this tasting hut and enjoy Philippe and Julie’s oysters. The hut offers also shrimps and mussels, so you have a wide array of options to try fresh produce direct from the sea. It’s an excellent opportunity to enter Philippe and Julie’s world, rich in experience, who are always happy to share their anecdotes and their passion for this craft.

Discover the craft beers brewed in a French Abbey near Saint-Omer

Posted on by maryse

Nestled in a region steeped in history, Cairmarais Abbey, built in 1140 and renovated in the 17th century, bears witness to a rich historical heritage. It’s within this magnificent backdrop that exquisite beers are meticulously crafted.

The aspiration is to brew abbey-style beers, a nod to Clairmarais Abbey’s historical role as a brewery, when Charlemagne, a French king, had entrusted the monopoly of beer-making to monks, which lasted between the 9th and 14th centuries.

You will embark on a tour of the brewery led by the passionate Laurent Delafosse. He’ll tell you all about the history of the place, the founding of the Cairmarais Abbey in 1140 and the origins of the brewery. Afterwards, a tasting of traditional beers awaits you. This experience is a unique journey that harmoniously combines tradition, heritage, local crafts, nature, walks and intriguing discoveries.

Get to know the Thai community & their traditional dishes in the center of Berlin

Posted on by maryse

The Thaipark, also known as Preubenpark, has always been a cultural meeting place for people in Berlin. The park was established in the mid-90’s when many Thais, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and other Asian people came to Germany. They met with their families in the park to eat their favorite dishes, to picnic and to exchange news from their faraway land.

Today, both guests and local Berliners are attracted by the delicious and foreign smells of Asian food and are increasingly interested in tasting the dishes.

You will discover this cultural meeting place for all Asians from Berlin and Germany. What started as a small meeting among friends far away from home developed into a weekly event which invites all those who are curious to simply try authentic Asian dishes.  

Learn how chocolate is made in the heart of Budapest 

Posted on by maryse

My Choccy is a unique place where guests can explore over 100 varieties of chocolates. This charming chocolate shop founded by Gabor Vanya along with his family – his wife Edina Makrai and his daughter Vivien Vanya – resembles a jewelry box. It’s the perfect spot to take a break, whether on the terrace or the second floor. They make each chocolate by hand in their local Budapest laboratory.

During the chocolate tour, you’ll appreciate to delve into the history of chocolate. Learn fascinating details such as when and where its consumption started, how it gained global popularity, and the regions worldwide where cacao is grown and produced.

In parallel, taste different kind of chocolates from the decadent hot chocolate to the famous pralines. If you feel like it, you can also indulge in My Choccy unique creations, such as their peanut/onion/chili chocolate.

Discover a 500 years old Hungarian wine cellar in Tokaj

Posted on by maryse

Tokaj Hétszőlő is a more than 500 years old vineyard which has been owned by several kings, sovereigns, princes, and generals. Tokaj Hétszőlő’s philosophy is based on the consciousness of its impact on the environment, therefore the owners take great pride in organic wine making. That’s why they decided to use environmentally conscious features including solar panels or rainwater collection. 

Through the visit, you will walk around the vineyard while also gaining insight into how wine was produced in medieval times through the Tokaj Hétszőlő museum. After this activity, you will have the opportunity to taste some of Tokaj worldwide famous wines like the well-known Aszù sweet wine, in the Knight’s Hall.

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