Les Voyages de Chantal
Travel experiences immersed in culture and terroir brought to you by Chantal’s Cheese Shop
Our passion for artisan cheese has brought adventure and discovery to our lives. Our travels in the US and France have often been rooted in a sense of place, as we’ve been lucky to have local guides — friends and cheesemakers eager to spend hours upon hours with us, taking us through their routines and practices, sharing their opinions and struggles, offering up cheese along with their wisdom.
A day at the creamery, a stroll through lush pastures, a craft beer at the local brewery, a simple meal in the kitchen, a traditional restaurant off the beaten path. Often modest, occasionally extravagant, these interludes of cultural immersion have left an impression. They’ve shaped the way we think about food and labor. Defined the meaning of artisan. Changed the way we think of value.
Travel has made us better cooks. Better listeners. Brought us closer to nature. And what we take home each time does not come in a box. It can’t be captured in a social media post. What we take home is a collection of moments that sit with us, that transform us, fermenting like milk into cheese — into something different, but ever connected in the echoes of terroir, memories lingering like notes of toasted hay in a funky alpine cheese.
It has been a great pleasure of this job, the neighborhood cheesemonger, recounting the stories of our friends and colleagues from behind the cheese counter. Sharing bites of cheese alongside a bit of history. Now, as we embark on the next evolution of Chantal’s Cheese Shop, we invite you to Les Voyages de Chantal, a travel experience immersed in culture and terroir.
Chantal’s in Provence
May 18, 2027 – May 29, 2027
Single Occupancy – $15,000 per person
Double Occupancy – $10,000 per person
Accommodations
Château l’Escarelle and the Villa Engardin
Ideally located in the heart of Provence, Château l’Escarelle spans 110 hectares of organic vineyards within 1,200 hectares of preserved nature, a true haven for biodiversity. Garrigue, oaks, and endemic species compose a wild and unique landscape. To protect and enhance this exceptional setting, the estate has launched conservation projects, notably in collaboration with LPO PACA, to study and protect butterflies. This project has identified over 100 species of butterflies, making Château l’Escarelle a pilot site for the preservation of these insects and local biodiversity. The unique terroir, with its limestone soils and vines planted up to 500 meters in altitude, gives Escarelle wines a sophisticated signature, expressing all the authenticity and elegance of the region.
The Villa itself, located at the upper end of the Engardin valley, immerses us into the natural beauty of the region with views over the whole valley. A picturesque backdrop to our exploration of Provence, we will enjoy the comforts of a luxury vacation entangled with cultural experiences and discussions of the importance of artisans, small scale agriculture, and the simple enjoyment of meals shared amongst friends at a table. When we aren’t diving into conversation, there will be time to swim in the pool, take a leisurely stroll to the nearby lake, or simply relax outdoors (in the true Provençal spirit.)
Marseille
The final night of our adventure will take us to Marseille. The hotel is TBD.
Activities
Our first day will commence with a morning meet and greet at a TBD location in the Vieux Port neighborhood of Marseille. We recommend arriving in Marseille at least a day in advance.
From here we will travel to the Chateau l’Escarelle for a relaxing first day at the estate, a comfortable welcome that includes our introduction to Provençal cuisine alongside leisurely activities featuring a 60-min massage. We hope to ease into a mindset open to discovery, take the time to breathe and center ourselves in the present moment.
From there, each day will bring new insight. Our travels will take us to charming villages, bustling cultural hubs, and the scenic Mediterranean coast. The itinerary will include a variety of exclusive activities; unique tours, private tastings, and educational workshops. These visits will highlight a small selection of our favorite producers, natural sites, and markets in the region.
FĂŞte du Fromage
We travel to Banon to join the annual celebration of their famous chestnut leaf wrapped goat’s milk cheese. A picturesque hilltop village with cobblestone streets and medieval architecture, Banon is a beautiful setting for the cheese festival, which features a producer’s market highlighting local cuisine: cheese, honey, wine, craft beer, ice cream, and more. On our stroll through town, we will meet these vendors and enjoy samples from those who offer. The official program is sure to include traditional music performances, costumes, and demonstrations.
Wine & Chateau l’Escarelle
We won’t need to venture far for this exclusive tour from our host vineyard. They will treat us to a guided dégustation and private look inside one of the most modern cellars in Provence, a behind-the-scenes exploration of their winemaking expertise, a philosophy that combines tradition and innovation.
A number of beautiful Provençal vineyards will make their way onto our agenda. Our selection process is ongoing, and although our shortlist is narrowing, we are not ready to announce these sure to be wonderful excursions.
Cassis & The Calanques
We make our way to the beautiful coastal village of Cassis, where a private boat tour of the iconic coastline awaits, a breathtaking landscape of turquoise sea and limestone cliffs. One of the must-see natural beauties of the region, the Calanques has been protected as a national park since 2012.
Cotignac
Resting at the base of a stark cliff, the tres joli village of Cotignac offers us the opportunity to explore a quintessential Provencal outdoor market, a lively day where the streets flow with local vendors selling artisan crafts, fresh produce, spices, and more. It will be a time to stroll and wander, through the market and local shops, taking time to admire its history and ancient architecture. Especially if you find yourself up for a short stair climb, to visit the ancient olive press and catch a glimpse of troglodytic dwellings carved out in the cliffside.
Moulin Deyssia
Here at Moulin Deyssia, olive oil, an ancient cornerstone of Provençal cuisine that we will meet again and again throughout our stay, receives the attention and care of the artisan. The small family-operated business with Italian roots, uses traditional practices passed down through generations.
Their beautiful olive oils will be featured in many of the meals we serve throughout our time in Provence. This visit will serve to reinforce the value of the artisan. We will be treated to a tour of the facility and orchard, enjoy a unique tasting, and stay for a picnic.
Cheese
Fromage. Our experience of France could not be complete without it! Cheese classes will be led by AnaĂŻs, our very own Certified Cheese Professional. AnaĂŻs has more than a decade working in artisan cheese, as a cheesemonger and instructor, and a lifetime of being French. She has been featured on podcasts, local television, and national conventions. As always, her course will be a lesson in history and culture. We will learn about the role cheese plays in Provence and beyond, tasting our way through a hand selected lineup of delicious French cheese.
Chocolate
Chris has been seeking out single-origin craft chocolate from small producers in the region, and he will lead a guided tasting featuring a curated selection of the favorites. We will learn about the artisans behind the chocolate, ponder the complexity of flavor, and discuss the practices we admire in a chocolate maker.
Meals and Cooking Demonstrations
Provence, a small region but a diverse geography, one that spans Mediterranean coasts and Alpine peaks, is home to 70% of France’s overall biodiversity. This rich tapestry produces a wide array of raw ingredients; fresh seafood, an abundance of fruits and vegetables, the now ubiquitous herbs de Provence – a terroir that provides grapes for rosé wine, olives for oil, and pasture for sheep and goats from which to produce milk to become cheese. All of this yields endless inspiration for generations of cooks and chefs responsible for iconic regional dishes from ratatouille to bouillabaisse.
We hope to capture and share that beauty at each meal, shared together. And to rediscover the table as a place to swap stories and ideas, to laugh with friends. Our menus will be rooted in tradition, composed of local ingredients, including from some of the folks we will meet along the way. The wines of our host will be a constant, and we will indulge in the gifts of the season, which in May means strawberries.
Of course, our exploration of Provence would not be complete without attention paid to the practical application in the kitchen. During our cooking demonstrations, we will learn a few central recipes while considering what concepts are universal, what we can take with us, what we can adapt, how we can make space for these habits in our daily lives.
This page will be updated as our itinerary develops.