Foodie France: Taste Your Way through Paris, Champagne, & Burgundy

France’s food and wine scene is often regarded as the best in the world, and for good reason. This 12-day itinerary around Paris, Champagne, and Burgundy is a foodie’s dream.

Photo courtesy of Tony Lee

Now that travel to France is on the table once more, there is nothing we’d rather head into the weekend dreaming about than a culinary exploration of Paris, Champagne, and Burgundy, so that’s exactly what we have for you.

This twelve-day adventure will take you through Paris’s tastiest spots and then out to Champagne, famous for its bubbly, and finally to the wine region of Burgundy. Along the way, your tastebuds will go through a journey of their own.

They say that the best way to learn a destination is through its food. This itinerary will bring that idea to life, and we think that by the end of your exploration of French food and wines, you’re likely to agree.

Day 1
Paris

Your adventure starts in the City of Love. After you’ve touched down, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the heart of Paris. Take the day to acclimate to the time difference and perhaps enjoy a stroll on your own.

This evening, we recommend dinner at Café de la Paix and can assist with your reservation. This historic venue is perfect to introduce you to Paris’s many culinary charms. The restaurant-bar was inaugurated in 1862 and exudes Second Empire elegance, dishing up spirited French gastronomy. In the summer, you won’t want to miss a spot on the terrace, which faces the Opéra-Garnier.

We have several hotels in Paris that we adore, and we will be able to choose the right one for you based on your tastes and your location preferences.

Day 2
Paris

Now that you’ve become acquainted with Paris, it’s time to dive into the city’s culinary scene. Start your day with a gourmet tour of St Germain des Prés, a neighborhood famous around the world for its art galleries, restaurants, and fashion boutiques. Foodies will be pleased to know it is also home to one of the most famous chocolatiers, an open-air market, a shop featuring cheeses directly from the Alps, and more.

Today, your local guide will take you through all of these hidden gems in Saint Germain des Prés, sampling the goodies along the way. At the end, you’ll be treated to a glass of champagne in an ancient vaulted cellar, or, if you’d prefer, a full-on champagne tasting with three different types of the bubbly stuff!

Enjoy lunch at a French bistro, if you’ve still got room after your morning of tastings, and then take some time to yourself this afternoon for shopping or exploring.

This evening, head to the legendary Seine River, where you’ll board a luxury vessel for a private dinner cruise. Experience the art of French table service at its finest with a sumptuous dinner followed by champagne out on the deck to admire Paris as you glide by.

Day 3
Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte (from Paris)

It’s time to make your first foray outside of Paris, and today you’ll discover two royal palaces with your driver-guide, both with a very different feel. First, head to the very grand Royal Château of Fontainebleau, the largest of the French royal châteaux. It is also the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries.

Your next stop is the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a French Baroque château whose construction was completed in 1661. It was designed to be one of the most elegant masterpieces of the time, something none of the other royal properties could compete with, and this remains true today. All this, only a half-hour’s drive from Paris.

Before you return to Paris this evening, you’ll get to experience the magic of Vaux-le-Vicomte by candlelight. The glowing lights provide the perfect ambiance for dinner on the grounds, the creative and refined cuisine providing the perfect complement to the stunning view of the gardens.

Day 4
Paris

Photo courtesy of Girafe

Du marché à la table…or as we would say, “From market to table.” After a few days dipping your toes into the culinary scene in France, it’s time to try your own hand during a French cooking class in Paris.

The day will start in a French market, where a professional chef will serve as your guide. Shop as the French do, selecting whichever fresh ingredients you would like to eat. Your chef will help you to decide what dishes you’ll create together and which ingredients will work best. This is also a wonderful chance to meet local vendors and truly immerse yourself in Parisian life.

Only a five-minute walk from the market lies the culinary school where you’ll craft your four-course menu today, all under the guidance of your expert chef. You’ll learn how to create a fabulous French starter, main, and dessert. Once you’re finished, sit down with your chef guide to enjoy the fruit of your labors, including a cheese course—obviously!

Take the afternoon to recover from your food coma, and this evening, you must have dinner at Girafe, the rooftop seafood restaurant everyone is talking about. With stunning views of the Eiffel Tower, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better spot in which to clink glasses to toast to your incredible journey thus far.

Day 5
Champagne

Bid au revoir to Paris today as your private driver-guide transfers you just over an hour to Reims, the unofficial capital of France’s famed Champagne region. We have some favorite hotels in this region and can help select the best one for you.

The Notre Dame des Reims is one of Europe’s most important Gothic structures and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s at the foot of this cradle of the coronation of kings that you will meet Chef Eric Geoffroy, who will welcome you into his own kitchen today for a private cooking workshop.

Chef Geoffroy went abroad to England and Canada to work in renowned hotels in restaurants, but he returned to his beloved hometown to share his gastronomy goodness. During today’s workshop, he will teach you the very best of French cuisine as you prepare a three-course lunch made of local products. After you’re finished, sit down with Chef Geoffroy to enjoy what you’ve created along with different cuvées of champagne, only fitting for the setting.

Day 6
Veuve Clicquot

Photo courtesy of Bulles d'Émotion

When in Champagne, a visit to Veuve Clicquot is a must, but today you’ll take it up a notch with a VIP Veuve Clicquot Experience.

Found in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, the house played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of the upper classes throughout Europe. When her husband died in 1805, Barbe Nicole Ponsardin (known as the “Widow Clicquot” or Veuve Clicquot in French) became the first woman to take over a Champagne house, and she totally revolutionized champagne-making techniques.

Your private driver-guide will transfer you to the estate for your experience, which will include a full-day exclusive program with a Brand Ambassador. Discover the history of Madame Clicquot and visit the house’s UNESCO-listed cellars. You’ll enjoy a private reception at Manoir de Verzy, a splendid mansion overlooking the Grand Cru vineyards of Champagne before a five-course lunch served with several vintages of La Grande Dame (another nickname for Madame Clicquot).

Day 7
Champagne

It’s time to spend a day roaming the vineyards of Champagne. Your private driver-guide will show you the best the region has to offer on today’s full-day tour of Champagne, taking you along the scenic roads so you can enjoy picturesque views as you go.

Visit the domains of local boutique champagne producers, stroll through the village where Dom Perignon is buried, and allow your guide to suggest a wonderful stop for lunch en-route. Throughout the day, you’ll be treated to a few different tastings so you can start to get an idea of the wonderful variety of champagnes that come out of this illustrious region.

Cap the day off with a private tour and dinner at Ruinart, the first champagne house dating back to 1729, which came from the ideas of a Benedictine monk way ahead of his time. Enjoy a private tour of the house to learn its fascinating history followed by a five-course dinner.

Day 8
Travel to Burgundy

Your private driver-guide will transfer you to the Burgundy region today, with a stop at La Chablisienne en-route.  

The Chablis Vineyard is one of the oldest in France. It dates back to 1923 when the wine producers of the area decided to come together to create a wine cooperative to market their wines during a time of economic difficulties in France. You’ll be treated to a tour, where you’ll learn much more about the history of this world-famous vineyard, and a chance to taste some of the vintages yourself.

We’ll help you select your hotel in Burgundy from a few of our favorites based on your preferences.

Day 9
Burgundy

Today, you’ll be treated to an exploration of Burgundy with your local wine expert guide to show you all the best spots. You will be welcomed into world-renowned wineries as well as lesser-known family estates. During this day, doors will open, revealing Bourgogne’s many treasures.

See the finest vineyards and villages and taste the best wines. Find yourself welcomed into the home of the winegrower or plunged into a hushed universe of a magnificent château, always with the taste of stunning vintages along the way.

The region is also full of charming and delicious restaurants, so your driver-guide can suggest a phenomenal stop in between your visits to three authentic estates today.   

Day 10
Burgundy

Photo courtesy of David Mark

Yesterday will have taught you plenty about the wines in this region, so today is all about the food as you set out on a market tour and cooking class.

Start the morning with your local culinary guide in front of Hess, the best fromagerie in the center of Beaune, before heading to the Beaune market together to chat with local producers and gather provisions for lunch.

In the Atelier kitchen, don an apron and get behind your cutting board. You’ll use classic French techniques to create your seasonal seven-course lunch, which you will head up to the airy third-floor dining room to enjoy, along with flutes of champagne.

Day 11
Burgundy

It’s your last day, so it’s only right that you continue your exploration of Burgundy’s wineries. Burgundy is chock-full of celebrated wineries, so today’s adventure will delve deeper into the wine culture of this region.

Visit Côte de Nuits and Hautes Côtes de Nuits, where you will enjoy incredible views and tastings of many of the estate’s vintages, specifically pinot noirs. Meet local winegrowers, whose families have worked in the trade for generations. Take in the high vines and brambles, charming villages, and country roads as you soak it all in on your last day in this singular region.

This evening, we recommend dinner at the Château de Codignat restaurant, a 15th-century fortress where you can enjoy regional French cuisine and a cellar boasting over 500 labels.

Day 12
Departure Day

Your private driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight home, your bags laden with goods you’ve picked up along the way that you can’t help but take home to try to hold on to that taste of France just a little while longer.

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If you would like to get away to France (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us, and we will set you on your way.