Boutique travel company Art in Voyage is inviting travelers to follow in the footsteps of Julia Child, 75 years after she first set foot in Paris. “Cook Nice,” a six-day (September 3-8, 2023) journey of the city, led by Chef Kevin Fonzo, explores Child’s favorite neighborhoods while introducing guests to the same sights, bites, sips and aromas that first piqued her interest in French cuisine.
After a private transfer from Charles de Gaulle to one of two luxury properties in Saint Germain des Pres, the journey begins with a private cruise along Seine River. Guests will enjoy the sights and a glass of bubbles, followed by a traditional three-course dinner paired with French wines at Chez Denise in Les Halles.
On Day Two, guests will enjoy breakfast at Les Deux Magots. From there, Chef Fonzo will take guests to Shakespeare & Company, a bookstore on the Left Bank where Child often searched for books on French cuisine. A stop at a typical Parisian market affords Chef Fonzo the opportunity to introduce the group to the fresh seasonal produce before heading to Le Cordon Bleu. One of the most important venues for Child, Le Cordon Bleu is where she enrolled and spent six months learning everything she could about French cuisine. Guests will enjoy a lunch of their own making here, perhaps even a recipe Child prepared during her schooling.
After a leisurely morning on Day Three, guests will regroup with Chef Fonzo in time for lunch at Café de Flore, where Child and her husband Paul once dined among the city’s celebrated artists. One of the oldest coffee houses on Boulevard Saint Germain, Café de Flore remains a popular hangout for celebrities and travelers to this day. Then, her favorite dessert takes center stage as guests learn to prepare the French èclair under the tutelage of a local pastry chef. A sunset gathering at the Eiffel Tower is followed by dinner at the Michelin-starred Jules Vernes.
Day Four begins with a trip to Versailles, where guests take a private tour through the grand estate and enjoy a picnic lunch in the park prepared by Chef Gordon Ramsay’s team at the neighboring Trianon Palace Hotel. Back in Paris, a cheese-making workshop will enlighten guests about one of France’s—and Child’s—favorite foods, followed by a two-part dinner experience. The first stop is Le Verjus, located in the heart of the Palais Royal, followed by dessert at Brasserie Lipp.
On the final day in Paris, Chef Fonzo will lead a shopping trip through the markets followed by a cooking class and lunch. Free time that afternoon allows guests to enjoy some of the city’s best kept secrets or get adventurous and explore the city via bike. The grand finale is dinner at Le Grand Véfour, a historic spot dating to the 1780s and, more importantly, the site of Julia’s monthly romantic “rendezvous” with Paul.
“Cook Nice” will accommodate a maximum of 10 guests. Guests can choose from two host hotels in Paris: Pont Royal, where Child first stayed in Paris, or Hotel d’Aubusson, a darling of Saint Germain des Pres, dating to the 17th century. Pricing starts at $5,762 per person and includes hotel, most meals, classes, tastings, VIP tickets to Versailles, Eiffel Tower visit, Seine River cruise, private airport transfers, and transportation throughout Paris. Art in Voyage offers a three-night extension to Champagne following Paris, complete with luxury accommodation, excursions and tastings.
Chef Fonzo is a certified executive chef with the American Culinary Foundation and a James Beard Award nominee. He led the farm-to-table movement in Orlando, FL.
For more information, visit www.artinvoyage.com.
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