In the Northern Hemisphere we are enjoying the sunshine and heat of summer. With the better weather we are out in our gardens or balconies and enjoying time with family and friends sharing in good food. For our Southern Hemisphere friends, we hope this blog tides you through to warmer months ahead.   

At Luxury Gold you’ll know we are passionate about delicious authentic and local food. But did you also know that we are committed to bringing vegetarian options to the fore on our tours? As part of The Travel Corporation’s 5-year sustainability strategy we have committed to reducing not only our carbon impact but also food waste. As such this blog shares only vegetarian and vegan recipes. It also features recipes with vegetables that are seasonal and that you just might have growing in your outside space. We hope that you will try them and have a meat free barbeque! 

Watermelon and Feta Skewers Recipe Here  

Photo by watermelon.org

These skewers are not just beautiful with the contrasting colors of the watermelon and feta but will also cool you down during a warm summer’s day. We love them with a touch of mint added but you can also quickly grill them on the BBQ if you want. The variations are endless! 

Beetroot Hummus Recipe Here 

Photo by pretty simple sweet

Can you see a color theme appearing? Once you’ve tried this bright hummus you will never go back to the plain original! The flavors are balanced beautifully in this recipe and what is even better is that you can make it ahead for easy prep. Cut up some vegetables to dip into it or use it as a spread in your burger bun. 

Vegan Burgers Recipe Here  

Photo by Jamie Oliver

Speaking of burgers we love Jamie Oliver’s recipe. This easy recipe is vegan, healthy and satisfying. Meat lovers will have nothing to complain about. If you aren’t too keen on some of the spices the base can easily be modified to suit all tastes.  

Tomato and Zucchini Tart Recipe Here 

Photo by A beautiful Kitchen

Do you have tomatoes and zucchini growing in your vegetable patch? Have so much produce you’re not sure what to do with it? Well this is the recipe for you! Not only is this tart delicious it looks beautiful and will impress guests. It reminds us of the flavors of France. Feeling inspired to go on vacation? We’re ready for you.  

Strawberry shortcake Recipe Here 

Photo by Ricciardo Cuisine

The Luxury Gold team have lots of strawberries ripening and look forward to making this strawberry shortcake. Sometimes less is in fact more and this recipe is just that, a perfectly fresh combination of strawberries, cream and sweet shortcake. This dessert will round off a perfect BBQ! 

Pimm’s Cup Recipe Here  

Photo by Pimm’s

We know that any BBQ isn’t complete without a drink and we are sharing our favorite from the UK. Pimm’s was originally blended by James Pimm as an aid to digesting oysters in 1840. It is a gin-based spirit with a fruity flavor. Now it is a signpost of British summertime. Start perfecting your cocktail now in time for Wimbledon!  

Watermelon Lemonade Recipe Here  

Photo by BBC Good Food

Remember the introduction of this blog where we spoke about Luxury Gold’s commitment to reducing food waste? This is a recipe that does just that. It reuses the watermelon you’ve used in the skewers to make this fun non-alcoholic cocktail that is simple to make but is a showstopper.  

“I do not believe there is another city on earth so beautiful as Paris in France, nor another people with such an appreciation of the beautiful as the French.” – Edward Hopper

Following the fantastic news that France has added both the United States and Canada to its green list, many travelers are eager to book their summer sojourn in Europe. Luxury guided travel in France is a popular choice among holidaymakers, providing peace of mind with the backing of an experienced travel company.

Famed for its culinary splendor, rich viticulture and art history, France offers so much for every type of visitor. For those who love urban excitement, Paris has it in abundance while those seeking history or art can find it in over 130 museums in the capital. There’s also plenty to discover in the countryside, from the fragrant olive groves to the many chateaux dotted about the landscape. Vineyard tours are plentiful in one of the world’s top wine-producing countries.

A Luxury Tour in France

If this sounds heavenly, then the French Vogue luxury tour is a great option for your summer getaway. Featuring off the beaten track experiences alongside the major sights, this 10-day adventure combines the best of city and country so you can appreciate France from both perspectives.

Your journey begins in Paris, the City of Light. After checking into your elegant hotel, just steps from the Eiffel Tower, there is time to explore the nearby vicinity including the magnificent Moorish style Trocadero. In the evening, you’ll gather with your fellow travelers for dinner right by the Seine River, to soak up to romance of this wonderful city.

On Day 2, you’ll be escorted to Château De Vaux-Le-Vicomte for a VIP Experience exclusive to Luxury Gold. Explore the beautifully-landscape grounds of the oldest château in France and hear more about how the design set a precedent in architectural styles.

One of the best ways to experience Paris is through a foodie tour with your Local Expert. Sample the freshly baked goods at a patisserie, and let your turophile loose in the tiny cheese shops. You’ll also visit chocolatiers and small cafés serving up the delightful gourmet fare that has made France famous. Lunch is served at the Eiffel Tower, where you can admire the panoramas of Paris over a glass of wine.

Roman Relics and Charming Markets

Head south to Avignon on board one of the fastest trains in the world, the TGV. After lunch, marvel at the well-preserved Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the only example of a three-story aqueduct that is left standing, a testament to the thousand men who built it over a five-year period in the first century.

Your luxury accommodation for the next three nights will be at the Château de Fonscolombe, a historic building set amid the lush landscape of Provence. There is plenty of time to enjoy all the estate has to offer, perhaps you can ask the concierge to arrange a picnic in the colorful park that the estate sits on?

Wander the artisan stalls of the lively St Remy market before lunch at the Michelin-starred Maison Prévôt, an institution that celebrates the best of Provencal cuisine.

Begin Day 6 with a guided walk through Arles, following the footsteps of the great artist Van Gogh. He stayed in the town for 14 months, painting over 200 masterpieces of its features and surrounding countryside. Stop by the Arles Amphitheatre to hear the echoes of the chariot races that took place here 2,000 years ago. In the afternoon, stroll amid the olive groves of Moulin de Calanquet, where olive oil has been produced since the 19^th century. Hear more about the family who has owned the mill for generations and sample their oils, jams and spreads. You’ll continue on to the charming village of Les-Baux-de-Provence, perched in the Alpilles Mountains.

Provence Your Way to the Glamour of Monaco

After browsing the market in lovely Lourmarin, you have a choice with Provence Your Way. Follow a guided walk through the trees, spotting the many works of contemporary art or experience one of the most insightful wine tasting tours in cellars designed by Jean Nouvel. Sample award-winning wines produced using organic and biodynamic principles.

After a few wonderful days exploring rural France, the next stop on your journey is the glamorous Principality of Monaco. This jet set paradise has been ruled by the Grimaldi family since the 13^th century and is host to the Formula 1 Gran Prix. Some of the most expensive real estate in the world can be found here, which is unsurprising when you discover that over 32% of its population are millionaires.

In Monaco, you’ll spend three nights in lavish accommodation overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Pass by the cathedral to see where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace are laid to rest, and admire the royal palace, which was built nearly 1,000 years ago.

Should you wish to explore Nice, it is just 30 minutes from Monaco. The city has some wonderful museums and a beautiful promenade walk along the French Riviera.

The Wonders of the French Riviera

After a Relaxed Start, embark on the late morning drive along the Moyenne Corniche Road to see some of the most staggering vistas of the Mediterranean. See the opulent villas built during the Belle Époque era on this winding road hewn from the rocky hillside.

Join a Local Expert to explore the fascinating Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, one of the most incredible buildings on the coast. Art lovers can admire the enormous collection of works from across the globe, while those with a preference for botany will find plenty to examine in the nine gardens that surround the villa.

You’ll bid goodbye to France with a celebration dinner on the French Riviera, savoring the extraordinary gourmet flavors of the country.

Elite Experiences on the Chairman’s Collection

Select departures on the French Vogue tour are Chairman’s Collection journeys, which offer experiences that have been personally curated by Stanley Tollman using his extensive connections from a life in travel.

This provides our guests the exclusive opportunity to dine with Count Richard de Warren at his family’s property, Hotel Alfred Sommier. Over an expertly-prepared Parisien meal, the Count will share stories about his family history and developing the mansion into an exquisite hotel.

Discover Why France is Top Trending Summer Destination

If you’re looking for a luxury small group tour to France, you’ll find exceptional comfort and space on our French Vogue tour this summer.  Your Travel Director and Well-Being Director will provide any support and assistance you require on your tour, so you can simply relax and enjoy your travels.

From the historic walled city of St-Malo to relishing the produce of farm-to-table vineyards in the Loire Valley, this tour will indulge all your senses.

You can now book your French Vogue tour with up to 15% off for journeys in summer 2021. Turn your travels into gold with a luxury summer escape to France.

At Luxury Gold our love of food runs deep. On every one of our luxury guided-tours guests are able to enjoy a meal at a critically acclaimed restaurant. Whether it be a meal at Michelin-starred Mamma restaurant in Capri on our Ultimate Italy vacation or Hoshinonaruki in Tokyo on our Majestic Japan guided-tour. Our love and passion for desserts is as formidable as their savory counterparts and in this blog we will be focused on all things pastry!

Origins of Pastry

Pastry as we know it today – in all its crumbly, flaky, buttery glory – is a far cry from where it all began in ancient and classical times. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used a filo-type pastry (a simple mix of flour and oil) to create honey cakes, fruit pastries, sweet tarts and dumplings stuffed with dates and nuts. They even added natural sweeteners available to make these delicacies.

The Romans also created a plain paste made up of flour, oil and water which wasn’t created for consumption but to protect meat whilst cooking and as such was discarded.

Medieval masterpieces

In the late Medieval period fuller pastry recipes that resemble the shortcrust and puff versions we are more familiar with today started to appear. In the 14th century, what is believed to be the earliest English language cookbook, refers to chastletes and coffins – early pies and tart cases. To add color to the dough, egg yolk and saffron were commonly used in the 15th century. At a similar time chefs became more daring with their creations and developed the hot water crust pastry and hand-formed game pies that were usually the star of banquets and galas.

Decorated Pies

‘Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie’

Do you remember the nursery rhyme where birds fly out of a pie and sing for guests? You might ask yourself how they did this? In medieval times the crust was thick, and could be baked first, and would rise forming a pot, hence the term “pot pie.” The lid would be removed from the pie, and the birds would then be set inside, the lid put back on, and then this wildly entertaining dish placed before the host of the party.

Enter French Fancies

In the 17th century, pastry-making became increasingly fashionable – British bakers prided themselves on the techniques and elaborate decorations used for their creations and were inspired further by the culinary developments happening across the Channel in France. Puff pastry was supposedly created by French painter and apprentice cook, Claude Gelée, in about 1645, when he accidently created a laminated dough when trying to make a form of rolled butter cake. The addition of butter or lard to pastry led to rich buttery confections that helped grow the popularity of French pastry desserts to the epitome of fine dining. French pastry master, Marie-Antoine Carême (1784–1833), is widely considered to be the first ‘celebrity chef’, bringing pastry into the world of grande cuisine. His creations were elaborate and queues would form to see the windows of his Paris patisserie shop where they would be on display. He later went on to cook for European leaders including Royalty. It was Carême who developed the layered Mille-Feuille, a pastry with a ‘thousand leaves’ which is often filled with cream and fruits.

Modern Day Deliciousness

French Fancies. Photo by Sebastian Coman Photography

Fast forward a couple centuries and ‘French Patisserie’ is still as revered but the trend has truly gone global with thousands of regional variations. Pasty can be found in Michelin-starred restaurants in elaborate and delicate desserts or on picnic blankets in the form of pies or quiches. You can eat pastry for every meal, whether it be a pain au chocolat in the morning, a Cornish pasty for lunch or a fruit cobbler topped with American style drop biscuits after dinner. What the team at Luxury Gold are sure of is that the versatility of pastry needs to be explored with many a taste test!

To whet your appetite, we share some of our favorite ‘French Patisserie’

• Paris Brest Recipe Here

Paris Brest by Serious Eats

The Paris Brest patisserie is a wonderful combination of crisp choux pastry and a praline mousse. It was created upon request from the organizer of the Paris to Brest bicycle race in the early 20th century. Its circular shape represents the wheels of the bicycles racing.

• Mille-Feuille Recipe Here 

Mille Feuille. Photo by Dilyara Garifullina on Unsplash

Mille-Feuille or ‘a thousand leaves’ in French where this delicious dessert comes from is composed of three layers of light as air puff pastry (hence the thousand sheets) filled with a vanilla custard. The modern version has been elevated in lots of different ways including the addition of fruit and chocolate marbling by chefs worldwide.

• Opera Recipe Here  

Opera Cake. Photo by Meilleur du chef

These are easily identifiable next to other French delicacies by their thin and oh-so-pretty layers of almond and coffee soaked sponge, ganache, coffee, buttercream, and topped off in a very glossy chocolate glaze. The Luxury Gold team’s favorites are adorned with gold leaf. 

• Palmiers Recipe Here 

Palmiers. Photo by The Little Epicurian

These will have you thinking of a holiday in no time! Shaped like a palm leaf these cookies are a melt in your mouth treat that combines lots of butter and sugar. Even better they are easy to make at home.

• Tarte Tatin Recipe Here  

Tarte Tartin. Photo by Meilleur du chef

We couldn’t finish a blog about pastry without a nod to the famous Tarte Tatin. This tarte where the fruit is caramelized in butter and sugar prior to baking the pastry was first invented in the Hotel Tatin in the 1880s close to Paris. Legend has it that it was baked upside-down by mistake but still served to guests. Regardless of the origins of this tarte its popularity has spread and you can find different versions in many restaurants and homes.