Take one charming medevial hill town in Provence. Add 11 enthusiactic cooking students and a master french chef. Let them loose in an authentic farmhouse kitchen. Gather the freshest local ingredients. Pour in a lot of virgin olive oil and Bandol wine, sprinkle liberally with garlic and aromatic herbs... et voilà ! - a foolproof recipe for a gastronomic gateway.
The village of La Cadière d'Azur is perched on a cliff and is blessedly off the beaten tourist track. There is not a T-shirt shop to be found. Its one and only hotel, Hostellerie Bérard is the ongoing passion of René and Danièle Bérard. He's a master French chef. She's the boss. Both were born in the village and five years ago they began their Passport to Provence cooking classes to help Francophiles like me discover the region and its flavours.