Inspired by the Summer Olympics in Paris, Cordia Members took a three-week virtual adventure that started in Paris and took us through the enchanting landscapes, historic landmarks, and rich culture of France – all without leaving Cordia. Our taste buds ventured as well as we sampled French wine and artisan cheeses, enjoyed a multi-course meal from our executive chef and dining team, and welcomed a renown local guest chef.
Every summer the Members at Cordia engage in similar virtual trips – one summer we traveled the Appalachian Trail, another summer it was Italy. We’ve also been to Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as to Spain. Here’s a recap of this summer’s unforgettable journey through France:
Week 1: Paris, Giverny and Saint-Malo
Our trip began in Paris during the last week of the Olympics. From the moment we “arrived,” we could feel the energy of the city, made only even more vibrant by the excitement of the Olympic Spirit. We explored the Louvre, diving into its impressive collection, seeing everything from the Mona Lisa to ancient Greek sculptures.
Our palates enjoyed a lesson in French wine followed by wine tasting with wines from the Languedoc Region, the closest wine region to Paris.
In our weekly art class, we took inspiration from the work of Georges Seurat along with other pointillism artists and played with color as we learned and painted in that style.
We then made our way to the Garden of Giverny, where we pondered Monet’s famed impressionist paintings, touring the medieval architecture of Rouen, and the beautiful city of Saint-Malo – a walled city with pirate history and beautiful sea views.
The week concluded with a film about the famed French singer, Édith Piaf.
Week 2: Brittany and Burgundy
This leg of the trip was an indulgence for the senses! It started off with classes on wines from the region of Brittany, and what makes Burgundy unique – these were accompanied by wine, of course. We the spent the first even of the week dining alfresco at our very own Le Coeur, where the Cordia culinary team served up a multi-course meal full of French treasures, which we devoured.
Our artistic side found us studying Degas, watching a documentary on the famous cabaret of The Moulin Rouge, trying our hands at collaging in a method similar to what Henri Matisse used in his latter years, and reveling in several films: The Red Balloon, The Triplets of Belleville, Breathless, Hugo, and Amelie.
France’s mastery of cheese allowed us to dive into the process off traditional cheesemaking in several regions. Later in the week we put this knowledge to use as we tasted (more) wine, this time paired along impressive French cheeses, led by our special guests (and world travelers), Roland and Clare Andreasson.
Week 3: Provence, the Riviera, and the French Alps
When your week starts with a documentary on the history of Poulain chocolate, you know you’re off to a good start. And it only got better from there. Shortly afterwards, Chef Guillaume Hazel-Massieux from Las Becasse restaurant demonstrated the regional preparation of boeuf bourguignon, which we all got to sample.
We then traveled to Mâcon, a town in the Burgundy region of central-eastern France where we studied the exhibitions of the Musée des Ursulines, a former 17th century convent, full of art, archaeological excavations and local urban history. We also toured The Maison de Bois, a centuries-old house that has a wooden façade with unusual statues of monkeys and masked figures.
We studied traditional French crafts including breadmaking (baguettes and croissants, oh my!), how French lace is made, and the history of French pastel making. We sampled more wine, this time from the Bordeaux region, studied French composers, dove into the couture world of Christian Dior, and toured the Alpes-Martimes with their amazing views of the French Riviera and Cote d’Azure.
On one of our last nights in France, we enjoyed an outdoor movie, Midnight in Paris, and then finished it all of with a Champagne toast as we reminisced about our travels through France.
Final Thoughts
Our three-week virtual trip through France was an incredible experience. France will always hold a special place in our hearts – yet we cannot wait to see where we go next!
