Flavors of France
From a chef's cargo-bike kitchen in Toulouse to a château courtyard in the Loire. You’ll sit at the tables of the chefs, vignerons, and artisans who have been our friends for years.
“Henri at Cheau de Ferrand was the best. This was such an interesting tasting and an amazing lunch!! I loved the Bic(h) story, the venue and the delicious lunch.” - Shaliena U.
→ Loire Valley
Imagine yourself…
Mastering the art of blue-dye craftsmanship, blending wine in Saint-Émilion with a master vigneron, and dining in a château courtyard in the Loire Valley.
From the vines and the cellars, all the way to the table.
Most food tours start at the plate. We start where the food does and follow it the whole way.
The fields
Vines and Cognac country.
The makers
Aging eaux-de-vie at Sabine's distillery.
The hands
At Annette's workshop hand dying indigo.
The history
Cellars beneath the village.
The table
A château courtyard with the owners.
Friends You Haven't Met Yet
Our personal relationships in France open doors to experiences most travelers never have, like a chef sharing the secrets behind local dishes while sample bites cooked for us from his mobile kitchen, a winemaker walking you through family vineyards, or a warm invitation to enjoy lunch with a family in Cognac.
Alex - Toulouse
A trained chef who refuses to buy anything pre-made so he cooks regional recipes for us on the spot from his cargo-bike kitchen.
Annette - Toulouse
Opens her centuries-old workshop and teaches us the delicate art of blue-dye craftsmanship.
Sabine - Cognac
Shares her distillery’s production method then feeds us a long lunch and a Cognac and chocolate pairing for dessert.
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Be fully present. We’ve handled everything else.
✓ 4-5* Boutique Accommodations
✓ Airport meet and greet with private transfers
✓All ground transportation
✓ All meals listed in the itinerary
✓ Wine tastings and select alcoholic beverages with most meals
✓ All activities, experiences, tours, and sightseeing
✓ All taxes and tips for all drivers, guides, restaurants, and more
✓ 24/7 Tour Host
Exclusions: mandatory travel insurance, international airfare, hotel incidentals, and premium alcoholic beverages.
Just 6 – 12 travelers — small enough to fit inside a family kitchen.
"This was so much more than a food and wine tour."
"We did enjoy good food and wine everywhere, but it was the visits to crafspeople of all types that makde it special for me."
"What a fabulous way to see some unique locations in France."
"The food experiences were over-the-top. This was my 3rd trip with The Table Less Traveled, and I'm already planning the next one."
Flavors of France
Bienvenue en France
A private driver brings you from the airport to our hotel. We kick things off with a wine bar tour to celebrate the French apéro tradition. We'll taste rare southwest varietals like Négrette and Mauzac with a certified French Wine Scholar.
A chef, a cargo bike, and the Pink City
Our friend Alex is a trained chef who doesn’t buy pre-made food from vendors so he cooks regional recipes for us on the spot from his cargo bike-slash-kitchen as we walk the historic center. The evening is yours to explore the Pink City.
Indigo hands and a hands-on kitchen
We step into a centuries-old workshop with Annette to master the delicate art of blue-dye craftsmanship. In the evening, a hands-on cooking class in classic regional dishes.
Village Life
On our way to Saint-Émilion, we spend the day in the small village of Bazas, known for its cattle and foie gras production. We'll visit a farm and have lunch with the owner. After some free time exploring, we arrive to Saint-Émilion and spend the evening together.
Learning to blend, not just taste
An exclusive tour and tasting at Château de Ferrand, where we learn the art of wine blending and then sit down to an exquisite lunch. After a free afternoon, we gather together at one of our favorite chateau's for a dinner with a local winemaker.
Eaux-de-vie, a long lunch, and chocolate
On the way to the Loire Valley we stop in Cognac country. In a historic distillery, our friend Sabine walks us through the production method, then hosts a leisurely lunch on her property and we finish with a Cognac and chocolate pairing.
Châteaux and da Vinci
We explore the rolling hills where grand châteaux meet lush vineyards and then Clos Lucé, the final home of Leonardo da Vinci. The day ends with a relaxed village dinner.
A family atelier and a château farewell
We step into a family-run atelier where handcrafted wallpaper comes to life, each design a testament to time-honored craftsmanship. We watch the artisans at work, then close the journey with a private château farewell dinner.
À bientôt
An optional group breakfast before we say goodbye, with a private driver and transfer arranged for your next adventure.
Our itinerary is always evolving as we coordinate with our friends in France around their schedules. Consider it a vivid preview of what travel with us feels like.
Let's start with a conversation.
Whether you're wondering about the group dynamic, the activity level, or exactly what happens on day 7 — we're here. We'll reply within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked
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Our Flavors of France trip is a 9-day small group food journey through Toulouse, Bordeaux, and the Loire Valley, opening with a wine bar tour of the apéro tradition and closing with a private farewell dinner in a château. Along the way you'll cook street food alongside Chef Alejandro on his cargo-bike kitchen in Toulouse, sit down for a mushroom and wine tasting, visit Clos Lucé (Leonardo da Vinci's final home), watch artisans at work in a family-run wallpaper atelier in Tours, and share a relaxed village dinner built around the Loire's regional cuisine.
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Travelers should be comfortable engaging in activities like walking tours (lasting up to 4 hours), walking over sometimes uneven terrain like cobblestone streets, climbing stairs, and standing for extended periods. This tour is appropriate for those who are comfortable with some longer and moderately active tour days. If you have any specific questions you’d like to discuss with the tour host, contact us!
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There are only 6 - 12 travelers on this group trip. With fewer travelers, we can explore unique, off-the-beaten-path spaces that larger groups can't access, such as family-owned kitchens, bustling markets, and private homes.
This small size also fosters meaningful connections - whether it’s sharing stories over a meal with a local host or bonding with fellow travelers, our trips feel more personal.
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Our France trips are capped at 6–12 travelers, the same small-group size we use across every Table Less Traveled destination. It's what lets us book a private cargo-bike food tour with a local chef or a farewell dinner inside a château.