Description:

COOKERY SCHOOL IN POITOU CHARENTES, FRANCE

In a north east corner of Deux Sevres in France can be found the cookery school ‘Circle of Misse’.   If you are tired of dishing up the same old meals day after day or you are looking for inspiration and something to add a zing to your cooking skills, then look no further than the Cirque de Misse.  The school also provides painting and writing lessons often combined with cooking lessons to form a creativity weekend.

Based to the south of the Loire Valley this inspiring French cookery school,  Cirque de Misse can be found on the edge of the rural village of Misse.  Just a short drive from the medieval market town of Thouars and less than an hour’s drive from the cities of Chinon, Saumur, Poitiers, Angers and Tours.  Major transport links with flights to Tours, Poitiers, Nantes and La Rochelle, and the TGV to various stations, make the school very accessible.

Set in and around a rustic French farmhouse close by a beautiful valley and flowing river, the course offers the opportunity of de-stressing in a fantastically relaxing environment.  Visits are made to local vineyards and  markets and you can take in as much or as little as you want of the cookery sessions and activities. 

Symbolically a circle can stand for perfection, protection, a drawing to the centre, encircling or encompassing and has even been tied with magic in the past. The courses at the Circle of Misse, which are run by professionals, chefs, artists and writers in residence, do all of these things, nurturing your development from the first moment you arrive, offering you short cuts to perfection,  joining you into a circle of other individuals who share your interests.  And when sampling and watching the production of the recipes by Aaron Tighe even a little magic can be observed.

Aaron is the mastermind behind Circle of Misse, along with his partner Wayne Milstead who offers some of the writing sessions.   Aarons professional career has been extremely varied coming from a family of restaurateurs he was originally encouraged to take up what had been a passion for him – that of cooking.   His direction instead first of all was that of music – as a violinist and conductor.  Later taking up internet work in the ‘dotcom’ field and working for CNN and ITV  throughout the world.  In the late 90’s he returned to the field of food and began writing and  blogging recipes.  His focus is on the seasons, sourcing the freshest and best local ingredients with a particular interest in curing and preserving.

Cookery Courses at the Cirque de Misse are available seven days a week and began at 9 am finishing at 5.30 pm.  First stop is a trip to a local market to assess the local produce and to buy the food needed for the lesson for that day – the food is all fresh.  Cooking themes include : French Country Cooking, Cooking of the Loire, Mediterranean Cooking and  much more.  With recipes including Orange Infused Duck Breast on a Bed of Lentils or Leeks served in a Coulis of Beetroot. 

The price of a course is £90 per person per day or £175 per person for a two day course which includes all food bought and consumed and wine tasters.  Painting weekends cost £260 and a Creativity weekends cost £395 inclusive of all materials.  They are also happy to arrange private courses and courses in your own home.   Accommodation which is not included in the price can be arranged with local Bed and Breakfasts through the Circle de Misse.  They can even arrange a pick up and drop off  at Tour airport or train station.

Recent participants, Mother and daughter Regina and Therese Burch from the USA undertook a one day course from their accommodation in the local historical town of Moncontour.  They said

“This has been an amazing experience and so much fun…..

  What a beautiful way to spend a day in France! Beautiful day,

  wonderful food & friendly hosts….”

Eva-Lotta Roovete from Sweden commented:

 “Thank you Aaron and Wayne for this wonderful weekend. 

  We learned a lot of new stuff and your company was very inspiring.”

And Elissa Gray from the UK said of the creativity course:

“A truly divine couple of days of writing, painting and eating.

 Can’t wait to return.”

And all of this from their teaching kitchen and dining area both of which offer lovely views across fields of wheat and sunflowers down to the river and across to ruins of the abbey.   What more could one ask for….

Story written by Anji Weston who runs a B&B Le Grand Saule in Moncontour, Vienne

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