Peter and Sally at Château d’Agel
PETER SHAW
Peter Shaw has been a professional chef for over 15 years, in Switzerland and France. Self taught he follows no rules, but uses his eclectic talent to give his own interpretation of “Mediterranean Rim” cuisine.
His passions are wine and cheese. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the wines of the Languedoc, and is an acknowledged expert on the cheeses of France. Food and wine pairing is his speciality.
Not only does Peter love to cook, he loves to share his enthusiasm and knowledge, and will regale you with anecdotal stories of food and wine while he takes you around local markets, buys wondrous fresh seasonal produce and cooks you a meal to remember. If you love to cook, Peter will give you the chance to participate as much as you wish, and share a glass, whilst preparing your feast.
SALLY SHAW
Sally Shaw is your guide and hostess for the week.
Sally is a musician by training, and after 10 years of secondary school teaching in England, she came to France and has worked along side her husband, Peter, on their luxury hotel barge La Tortue. Sally has a keen interest in the history of the Languedoc, and has built up a vast knowledge of the region and its traditions.
Sally sings and plays the piano, and conducts an international choir in the village of Capestang. She loves to entertain people, both socially and musically, and has always gained much joy from making people happy.
Peter and Sally’s talents have now drawn them to Château d’Agel, where they can share with you their love of food, wine and entertaining, in this wondrous Cathar Castle in the ancient and unspoilt part of France, called the Languedoc.
Château d’Agel, Coat of Arms
Peter and Sally, welcome you to Château d’Agel
Agel is a small village, nestling at the foot of the Black Mountains about 40 minutes drive from Narbonne.
Although the château could sleep more people, Peter and Sally are offering exclusive holidays for up to 8 guests only. There are four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and each bedroom can be made up as a king size double bed or as twin beds. Prices start at €1,500 per person for a six night stay or €900 per person for a three night stay (prices based on two people sharing). Everything is included in these prices, including all accomodation, food, beverages, visits, pick-up and drop off, bicycles etc.
The service will be personal and friendly, whilst being efficient and discreet. Peter and Sally will be your only hosts, but you might occasionally catch a glimpse of the owner, Martine Ecal, or the maid or gardener. Peter and Sally will be living on the premises during your stay.
Not included in the price is your flight to the area, and any travel insurance.
The emphasis will be on superb food, using the finest local produce, matched with the best quality wines of the Languedoc. This accompanied with the fantastic back drop of the castle and the wonders of the Languedoc will create a holiday you’ll never forget.
Please find below two itineraries. These are suggestions only, as we are happy to design an itinerary to suit your needs and interests. Short break itineraries will be designed around these week long itineraries, dependent on the days of your stay.
GOURMET WEEK
This itinerary would suit guests who love gourmet food, wonderful wines and who want to relax and be pampered. You will also learn about the history and present-day life of the Languedoc.
Everyday, you will be presented with a wonderful breakfast, lunch, and dinner, complimented by Peter’s choice of wines from the region (except for breakfast of course!! – unless specifically requested!!!). Weather permitting; all meals will be served outside on the main terrace. If not, lunch will be served in the orangery, and breakfast and evening meal in the dining room.
Breakfast will be served from 8am onwards, unless otherwise requested, and will comprise of cereals, yoghurts, fruits, juice, croissants and local breads, along with coffee and a selection of teas. A cooked breakfast can also be available if requested.
There will be excursions every morning, returning to the château for a sumptuous lunch of a main dish with salads, followed by a cheese course. All will be accompanied with wonderful wines from the Languedoc.
The afternoons will be mainly up to you, although if you are inclined, we might slot in a couple of wine tastings or other similar shorter visits. You can “chill-out” at the château, read in the library, or relax by the pool. Or perhaps you’d prefer to walk or cycle in to the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Aperitifs will be served anytime after 6pm and your gastronomic evening meal will be served at around 8pm, unless requested otherwise. We can be flexible.
What better way to start your evening than sitting in the beautiful garden, sipping your martini, whilst listening to the cicadas and Sally “tinkling the ivories” in the background!
Please note… the following visits are a sample only. Visits can be altered to suit guests’ individual requirements.
DAY 1 - Saturday
At 4.00pm, Sally will be waiting to greet you at a pre-arranged pickup point in the regions of Beziers, Narbonne, Montpellier or Carcassonne. She will then transfer you directly to Chateau d’Agel. Once you’ve settled in to your elegant rooms, join Peter and Sally for champagne in the orangery. Take a stroll through the 5 acres of gardens, before aperitifs and your first gastronomic experience.
DAY 2 – Sunday
10:00am – Sally will take you to Saint Chinian for the Sunday street market. Saint Chinian is a bustling village, dating back to 825 when a monastery was founded by Saint Anian, possibly on the site of what today is the Mairie. The monastery prospered and with it the village that had grown up around. It survived the Albigensian Crusades relatively unscathed and emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries as a centre for the manufacture of high quality cloth. During the French revolution the abbey was dissolved and its buildings put to new uses. The former abbey church is now the village hall and hosts everything from exhibitions to village dances. If you enter the Mairie you will find an ornately painted staircase leading up to the first floor. In the courtyard behind the village hall you can still see the remains of what were once the cloisters. Saint Chinian is now one of the main “Appellations” of the Languedoc. Wander around the village and feast your eyes on the local produce in the market. On the way back to the chateau we can visit the Abbey de Fontcaude. This historic abbey situated in the heart of the garrigue dates back to the 12th century. Classified as a historical monument in 1975, the Romanesque church with its Gregorian choir, liturgical furniture and Gothic cloisters are well worth a visit.
(Photo and information on St. Chinian supplied by www.midihideaways.com/aboutstchin.html )
DAY 3 – Monday
Monday starts with a visit to Minerve, an ancient village that stands on a rocky outcrop formed by the valleys of two rivers: the Cesse and the Brian. It was once a Cathar stronghold, overthrown by Simon de Montfort and the Crusaders. There are museums explaining the history of the region and its geological features, and Sally will take you round the church where the altar dates back to 456AD. There are some little shops along the cobbled streets, or you might fancy a wine tasting in one of the caves. There are hundreds of dolmens (tombs) scattered around the hillsides around Minerve, and one of Sally’s particular favourites is the “Dolmen de Fados” (Tomb of the fairies) which dates back 5000 years. Ask her to wing her way there!!
DAY 4 – Tuesday
Peter and Sally take you to Narbonne, the ancient capital of Roman Gaul, and will guide you through the outstanding covered food market. Choose your dinner from the fabulous selection of fresh fish! Afterwards, visit the amazing gothic Cathedral with one of the highest naves in France; walk along the Via Domitia (a recently uncovered Roman road ); visit the Horreum (the underground Roman tunnels where food was stored for the markets): or just do some shopping in the chic boutiques.
DAY 5 - Wednesday
If the weather allows, Sally will take you to Lezignan airfield, to pick up a flight over the Cathar castles of the region. It’s a spectacular flight, circling over the coast and towards the Pyrenees. For those of you who can’t cope with small planes, Sally will take you around Lezignan street market, which is renowned throughout France, or up to Le Somail on the Canal du Midi. This village was built by Paul Riquet for the workers on the canal, and boasts many pretty buildings and an antique book shop. We might also have time to visit the Olive Oil factory at Cabezac.
DAY 6 – Thursday
This morning’s visit is to Carcassonne, the finest example of a mediaeval walled city in the whole of Europe. Visit the castle and walk the ramparts, and then wander the cobbled streets with many little shops and restaurants. It really is a fairytale city, just out of Walt Disney, and has in fact featured in many films. For those who have already visited Carcassonne we suggest instead a visit to Lastours ,a spectacular site of four ruined Cathar Castles- with, for the energetic, a climb up a steep rocky path to the remains, and wonderful views of the countryside. Or perhaps you’d prefer to visit the Abbey at Lagrasse and walk through the streets of this very unspoilt mediaeval village.
DAY 7 – Friday
After breakfast Sally will take you to a pre-arranged drop-off point in the regions of Beziers, Narbonne, Montpellier or Carcassonne, for your onward journey.
FOOD AND WINE PAIRING WEEK
This itinerary would suit guests who have a love of gourmet food and wonderful wines, and who want to learn how to cook successful dishes and pair them with appropriate wines.
The week includes:-
- 6 nights accommodation at Château d’Agel
- 6 buffet breakfasts of croissants and breads, cereal, fruit, jams, yoghurts, coffee, tea, freshly squeezed orange juice
- All lunches and evening meals.
- All beverages, including wonderful wines from the region
- Transportation during the week in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, including transfers at the beginning and end of the week from a pre-arranged location.
- Guided tours to St Chinian market, Narbonne (market and city tour), olive oil factory, goats cheese farm.
- Wine tours and tastings. Peter will serve 3 different wines with each lunch, and three with each dinner. He will provide you with tasting notes on each, and talk about why he has chosen those wines to suit the particular course. There will be visits to local vineyards, and you will be provided with tasting notes.
- Cookery demonstrations. Peter will provide menus for each lunch and evening meal, plus recipes. He will demonstrate how to cook each meal, and you will have hands on experience for certain dishes.
- Peter will also provide notes on the twenty cheeses he will serve throughout the week, and will entertain you with his anecdotal stories on each cheese.
Programme
Please note, this is an example only. Certain dishes and visits might be changed to suit the seasonal choice of food, and the guest’s requirements.
Saturday
Arrival at Château d’Agel at around 4pm. Champagne reception, time to relax and unwind before your first gourmet evening meal.
Sunday
Breakfast. Departure to the colourful outdoor market of St. Chinian. Return to Château d’Agel to hear Peter’s tips on how to make the best salad dressing for mouth-watering salads. Lunch on the terrace comprising pâtés and meats just bought from the market, served with three different salads, and followed by 3 different cheeses. Have a relaxing afternoon by the pool, or walk off a few calories in the amazing local countryside before joining Peter in the kitchen, for your first demonstration. Learn how to make Tomatoes stuffed with Brandade (a local dish made with salt cod); how to cook lamb to perfection; how to make Puy lentils a tasty accompaniment; and most importantly how to turn the lamb juices in to a tasty sauce: Find out how to make tonight’s dessert, brioche pudding.
Relax on the terrace after dinner with a vintage Armagnac.
Monday
Breakfast. A morning demonstration on how to make Peter’s Tomato and Pepper tart, with herb and parmesan crust, plus a selection of salads. There will also be a certain amount of preparation for the evening meal. A late morning visit to the beautifully restored Chateau St Jacques d’Albas, to sample a range of their Minervois wines. After lunch, and a relaxing afternoon, Peter will demonstrate how to make “Chevre Chaud” in a hazelnut crust; he will show how to cook duck in three different ways; and how to make a Lemon Soufflé without it falling! Perhaps this evening, Sally will play the piano a little whilst you sip aperitifs in the garden.
Tuesday
Breakfast. A morning visit to Narbonne, the capital city of Roman Gaul. Let Peter walk you round “Les Halles”, the highly renowned covered food market, explain the many and varied Mediterranean fish on display and what his choice of fish for the evening meal will be. Sally will then show you round the rest of Narbonne. Perhaps you’d like to see the Cathedral, and the labyrinth of underground Roman warehouses, or perhaps you’d prefer to sip coffee outside the Café Moka and soak up the atmosphere of this attractive city.
Back to the château for lunch, relax and then help Peter prepare the evening meal. This evening, Peter will show you how to make Bourride, a fish soup; he will demonstrate how to cook fish to perfection; and show you how easy it is to make his Vanilla Bavarois. Again, enjoy your evening meal on the terrace, under the stars, accompanied by the chirping cicadas.
Wednesday
Breakfast. How to cook spiced quail and couscous is the demonstration this morning, and how to “cook” a “mi-cuit” Foie Gras. We’ll visit Domaine Barroubio, home of the best Muscat in the region, before another sumptuous lunch. In the afternoon, Sally will take you to the Olive Oil factory, and then to visit the Goat’s cheese farm. If we’re lucky enough, we might be there for milking time.
What are Gesiers? How do you prepare them? What’s a perilade of fish? These are just a few of the questions Peter will answer in his demonstration this evening.
Thursday
Breakfast. This morning you will prepare “Moules” (mussels) and potatoes for your Moules Frites lunch. Peter will also show you how to make his chocolate and ginger mousse for your evening dessert. After lunch, relax and do your own thing until 5pm when Juliet Bruce Jones (Master of Wine) will come to the château for an in depth tasting of the up and coming “stars” of the Languedoc. What special surprise is in store for you for your final evening at Château d’Agel?
Friday
Breakfast. We say our goodbyes and then you will be transferred to a pre-arranged location at around 10:00am for your onward journey.