Showing posts with label Castles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Castles. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

BURGUNDY: Autun in August - A Roman Festival

Cruise Southern Burgundy With Finesse
Autun in August - A Roman Festival

The approach to Autun is striking. Its cathedral steeple, golden in the setting sun is quite the contrast to the surrounding green of the Morvan hills; it really wouldn’t look out of place in a Disney film or a Tolkien novel.

The Gallic Rome

The Cathedral of Saint Lazarus of Autun

Named after the Emperor Augustus Caesar, he declared Autun “the sister and rival of Rome itself”; quite the accolade from a man who ruled Rome for 4 decades. In Roman times the town would have been home to some 100,000 people and considered a Roman capital to the Gallic people, today that number is just shy of 14,000.  Roman influence is evident throughout the town, from its amphitheatre to the Romanesque carvings found on the medieval cathedral, and it is a heritage that is proudly celebrated by the locals.

A Roman Festival

Journées Romaines Festival

Each year hundreds of “Romans” take to the town streets for the Journées Romaines Festival, literally translated as “The Roman Days”, every August it brings to life the unusual history of Autun. Re-enactments of battles from the Gallo-Roman Period, and reconstructions of what life would have been like in those turbulent times. The event invites you to partake of a Roman Market, get involved in archaeological workshops, spectate Gladiator fights and watch authentic Roman theatre, all in the spectacular sunshine of the south of France!

Come See For Yourself

What better way to experience the pastoral scenery and tumultuous history of Southern Burgundy than from the peaceful climes of the luxury hotel barge FINESSE, winding its way gently along the undiscovered canals and medieval villages at the heart of France.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse

Finesse

Finesse is a double-decker hotel barge that was built to exacting standards with luxury in mind, enhanced by her modern public areas and very spacious cabin suite accommodation.

The well-designed public areas include a saloon with contemporary furnishings and panoramic windows where the emphasis is on making the most of the natural light. There is also a demonstration galley where guests can watch their chef preparing delicious gourmet meals. Outside, guests can relax on the large sun deck with its alfresco dining area, comfortable seating and spa pool.

The four air conditioned cabin suites, which can be in twin or double-bedded configuration, are very spacious (approximately 265sq ft including en suite bathroom).

Finesse is the perfect vessel on which to cruise the meandering waterways of Southern Burgundy past vineyards and charming canalside villages, and to discover fascinating places along the way such as Autun, Beaune and Dijon.

Cruise Highlights:
  • Visit Clos de Vougeot, home of the Chevaliers du Tastevin
  • Tour and private wine tasting at Château de Chamirey in Mercurey
  • Visit to Beaune, including Hôtel-Dieu Hospice
  • Visit to the ancient roman city of Autun
  • Lunch in the beautiful setting of the Puligny & Chassagne Montrachet vineyards
  • Excellent opportunities for walking and biking. “Biking Plus” option available
About Hotel Barge Finesse





Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 



Saturday, June 08, 2019

Enjoy summer with FINESSE

Summer is here! How about a little FINESSE in Burgundy?

A scrumptious starter on Finesse, Légumes du Jardin.

This looks really good. It is not only tasty but excellently presented.



About The French Hotel Barge Finesse

Finesse

Current Availability for 2019
  • July 14-20 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Aug 4-10 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Oct 20-26 : 2 cabins open for cabin cruise
  • Oct 27-Nov 2 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise






Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 



Sunday, May 05, 2019

Chef's Update For 2019 Barging Season on Finesse

A Note From The Chef Of Barge Finesse

Mike Crowson, the chef aboard French Hotel Barge Finesse, is looking forward to getting back into the kitchen and meeting lots of new guests.

Chef Mike says:
Having the winter off for the first time, doing lots of travelling has inspired lots of new dishes including John Dory with coconut and mango sauce, black garlic with strawberry and yoghurt dessert, foie gras trifle as a starter, fermented white asparagus with duck egg yolk and pumpkin seed.

Also working on duck dish with breast, confit, fennel, artichoke, dill and orange.

I have a deep love of making desserts and pastry so as the season progresses I will post about modern dessert making and mixing savoury flavours into desserts.
He has also passed along his Spring 2019 dinner menu which looks very tasty and interesting.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse

Finesse

Current Availability for 2019
  • May 19-25 : 1 cabin open for cabin cruise
  • July 14-20 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Aug 4-10 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Oct 20-26 : 2 cabins open for cabin cruise
  • Oct 27-Nov 2 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise






Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 










Sunday, January 13, 2019

RECIPE : Chocolate Soufflé


Fine Food Aboard French Hotel Barge Finesse



We received an email with a recipe from Mike Crowson, the chef aboard "Finesse", that we'd like to share with you.

On the Finesse I do a cooking demonstration every week, which is how to make a twice baked cheese soufflé, but we don't demonstrate a dessert soufflé. As promised to a number of guests, here we will work through the chocolate soufflé served throughout 2018.


Here we have served the soufflé with a passion fruit sorbet to cut the richness of the chocolate.

This soufflé is very easy to make if you have a basic knowledge of desserts, it is also very stable. The base is a creme patisserie which is basically a very thick custard.

For our North American guests, note that I use cornflour. in this recipe. It is very important you do not confuse this with cornstarch which is used a lot in the USA but is not the same ingredient and does not react the same. Cornstarch, as its name suggests, is made from corn, but cornflour is made from wheat therefore they don't react exactly the same. In a savoury recipe this probably won't make too much difference but working with pastry you have to be very precise.


Chocolate soufflé

INGREDIENTS
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 40g plain flour
  • 35g cornflour
  • 50g cocoa powder
  • 500ml whole milk
  • 6 egg whites
  • 120g caster sugar

METHOD
  • With room-temperature butter, butter and sugar 6 ramekins. Place them in freezer until needed.
  • Preheat oven to 185°C / 365°F / Gas mark 4.
  • Place egg yolks and 150g sugar into a pan and make into a paste.
  • Then add flour and cornflour, mix to combine.
  • Add a small amount of warmed milk place over a medium heat and add the milk slowly while mixing.
  • When all the milk has been added, cook over medium heat stirring all the time.
  • When the mixture is hot, add the cocoa powder and continue cooking the custard mix, watching it doesn't stick on the bottom of the pan, until you have a smooth thick creme patisserie.
  • Transfer to a bowl and cover with cling film until needed.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites with 120g sugar until it is a stiff shiny meringue.
  • Fold meringue into the creme patisserie until no whites are visible in the chocolate mix.
  • Spoon mix into frozen ramekins, level off the tops, place into the oven, cook for around 12 minutes.

Sounds delicious, Mark. Thank you very much.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse


Finesse


Book now! Contact Paradise Connections.
CLICK HERE




Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 



Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Barge Finesse : Visit the Chateau de Germolles


Château de Germolles - Southern Burgundy



As one of the finest surviving examples of a Burgundian ducal residence, a visit to Château de Germolles is a popular excursion on French Hotel Barge Finesse's itinerary in Southern Burgundy. It’s a serene setting in which to learn more about the influential dukes who shaped Burgundy in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods.


Philip the Bold

The Valois Dukes of Burgundy – Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good and Charles the Bold – were thought to have ruled over the “Golden Age” of medieval Burgundy, when the groundwork was laid for both a cultural and an economic Renaissance in the region. Philip made the impressive Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon his central seat, adding a vast ceremonial hall and kitchens where 30 chefs could prepare a banquet all at once.

In 1380 the Château de Germolles, described as “austere” at first, was offered by Philip to his wife, Margaret III of Flanders. The house would soon be turned into a refined and luxurious country retreat by the Duchess, boasting murals painted by the best artists from the Burgundian School.

Although the palace at Dijon retains very little of its architecture from this period, the house at Germolles is a wonderfully preserved example of the splendour of the ducal court on the eve of the Renaissance.


Visiting the Château



Heraldic frescos decorate the private apartments of Margaret’s country residence; the chapels and the Hall of Honour are also impressive late medieval statements, while the thirteenth-century storeroom gives you a glimpse into the effort it would have taken downstairs to maintain such a grand house. Tours are often conducted by the present-day owners of the property, who are able to share a great deal of the château’s history. History lovers aboard the hotel barge Finesse are always impressed and enlightened by this fascinating visit.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse


Finesse


Book now! Contact Paradise Connections.
CLICK HERE




Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com