Running with Knives & Americans in Provence

Slow Travel Food Experiences in the South of France...

With Kim Pitchford and Ken Jourdan

Location: The Rhone Retreat, Gaujac, France

The bounty of Provence at your fingertips, we’ll enjoy local artisinal products, marketplace hunts forprovisions, the stellar wines of Provence, and hands on culinary workshops.

The Rhone Retreat will house all participants and all meals included in the tour will be offered there. Itis a lovely and peaceful property, with two separate cottages, the main chateau and a cooling pool!Each cottage comprises two bedrooms, a full bath, and a kitchenette. WiFi is included property-wide.

Our host, Ken Jourdan, is a twenty year veteranmasseur, and all participants are welcome to receiveone sixty minute massage during their stay. Ken, theowner and proprietor, was born in the Seychelle Is-lands, and grew up traveling the world. He is fluent inEnglish, French, Spanish and Franglais!

After culinary school in NYC, an apprenticeship at aMichelin starred restaurant in Paris, and eight yearsowning Dine by Design Catering, Kim Pitchford isgetting back on the road. To that end, and partner-ing closely with a few foreign foodies, she's hasopened Running with Knives, a slow travel cookingclass tour, designed to explore small regions inFrance and Italy, learning their cuisines, wines andtraditions.

This includes the following items:Seven nights in Gaujac at the secluded Rhone Retreat;Meals, except as indicated on the itinerary;Ground transportation to all outings;A one hour massage for each guestTransfer to and from Avignon TGV.

Not included are Air fares, meals that are not marked as “included” in the itinerary; tips for personalservices and for meals, cost of any extra charges such as telephone calls, insurance.We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for the trip. Among the coverage optionsyou should consider are cancellation, medical, evacuation, lost luggage, and delayed luggage.

If you should need to cancel your reservation, you will receive a refund according to the followingschedule, and you must notify us in writing of your intention to cancel. Refund will depend on the datepostmarked on your notification of cancellation. Prior to 90 days before Day 1: all fees minus $20090 to 60 days prior to Day 1: 50% of tour price.Within 60 days prior to Day 1: no refund

The cost for the 7 day tour is $3,500 USD per person, double occupancy. For a single room, the costis $4,500. Groups of eight receive a ten percent discount, and may pick their dates.

A deposit of $1200.00 will secure your place and registration. The balance of $2,300 ($3,300 for asingle room) is due no later than 60 calendar days before Day 1 of the tour. We will not accept morethan 8 registrations. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will forward your registration confirmation, andother necessary information.

Day 1, Thursday

We will meet you at Avignon TGV train station. After arriving in Avignon, it is a 25 minute drive toGaujac and the Rhone Retreat, where you will enjoy a relaxing afternoon and get your first taste oflocal specialties served around the pool. Dinner will be on property with your first sip of our 5 gener-ation neighbor/winemaker’s excellent varietal … literally a stone’s throw away.

Day 2, Friday

Breakfast/Brunch at your own speed, whether an early bird or a late bloomer. A stroll around Gaujacto familiar yourself with the surroundings, visit the winemaker and see how he brings grapes to thebottle. Dinner is a walk away at the fabulous, La Maison, where Chef Christine Teste, recentlyawarded a Bib Gourmand by Michelin, explores French Provencal cuisine revisited with exoticspices and her husband, Pierre, a sommelier, who will introduce us to local wines that will delightany palate.*

Day 3, SaturdayAn early breakfast and then we are off to Uzes. The gem of our region, Uzes, a haven of Dukes, istoday transformed into arguably one of the most picturesque villages in the south of France. Andmarket days are magical! Here we will purchase all the provisions necessary for the afternoon’sclass, straight from the farmers who grow them. After the baskets are full, you may stroll around andfind the café that best fits your desires for lunch.

With bellies full, we will migrate slowly back to Rhone Retreat, with those interested, stopping in St.Quentin la Poterie, widely known for ….yes… artisanal pottery, before making it back to Gaujac.Next up, our first class at the old church school……time to put on the aprons, because tonight we en-joy what we have prepared. Bon appétit!

Day 4, SundayAfter an early breakfast we push off for Avignon, the city of the Popes. The double walled fortifiedcity, home for 180 years to many Popes, and the infamous and often sung about….Pont d’Avignon.We will explore the churches, cobbled streets and for those who wish, tour the Palais-du-Pape or Pal-ace of the Pope. After, with a little direction, you may select one of the many numerous and charmingsidewalk bistros for lunch. We meet up and head back to Gaujac for another culinary adventure. Re-member we dine on our creations.

Day 5, Monday

Breakfast and a relaxing morning…..massageswhen possible.

Then off to Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape for a winetasting and a visit to the Brotte Museum. After-wards, we will head up to the ruined castle withspectacular views of the entire region and enjoya fresh picnic.

With the eyes and appetites nourished, we willhead back to Gaujac for a relaxing afternoon.Dinner in the garden will be inspired by localcuisine in a casual atmosphere.

Day 6, Tuesday

Breakfast and then off to discover some of our local producers. Nothing sweeter than going to thesource, we will visit a local honey producer and learn the basics of their production. Then off to theolive farmer, another staple in the provincial lifestyle.

Day 7, Wednesday

Breakfast in the garden and prepare for the mar-ket in Bagnols-sur-Ceze.

After selecting the necessary provisions for ourafternoon class, you will have the chance to picka local café to grab a bite to eat before headingback to Gaujac. Massages are available beforeour afternoon class. With the final preparationsbehind us, we will sit down to enjoy your ultimateculinary treat.

Day 8, Thursday

Early breakfast, then bags will be loaded and offto Avignon to say our first farewell....becauseremember….”Once you Gaujac, you always goback.”

Release and Waiver of Liability

By signing this, the customer acknowledges that travel, especially travel to foreign countries, con-tains inherent risks which may result in delay, rerouting or changing itinerary, theft, cancellation,sickness, injury or death. The customer, realizing this, agrees to hold harmless Running WithKnives, Kim Pitchford, Ken Jourdan, and any of their assistants, for any damage due to an act ofnegligence of the hotel, carrier, restaurant, company or person rendering services included in thetour. Further, no responsibility is accepted by Running With Knives, Kim Pitchford Ken Jourdan, andany of their assistants, for any damage or delay due to sickness, pilferage, labor or disputes, ma-chinery breakdown, quarantine, government restraint, weather or any other causes beyond its con-trol.

You agree, by accepting the additional inherent dangers and risks associated with the classes orprojects, not to make any claim against or seek any compensation from Running with Knives, KimPitchford, Ken Jourdan and any of their assistants, in respect to any personal injury, illness or deathsuffered by you, or damage to or loss of property sustained by you as a result of your participation.

Should a tour be canceled, the entire amount paid will be refunded within fourteen days after thetour’s cancellation. Once this occurs, Running with Knives, Kim Pitchford, Ken Jourdan or their as-sistants, have no obligations regarding any additional costs or fees related to the issuance and/orcancellation of airline tickets or any other travel reservations.

We accept no liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refund-able ticket. Nor do we accept liability for canceled flights.

We do recommend trip insurance which you purchase from your travel agent. If we have to cancel atour for lack of students, we do not take responsibility for airline tickets that you have purchased. Norefunds for now-shows, early departures or deviations made by you during the trip.

Signature ____________________________________________ Date ____________________

Signature ____________________________________________ Date ____________________