Indian Retreat | Chambre D'hote Limoux Carcassonne Rennes Les Chateau Cathar forts

We are extremely pleased to be working with renowned Indian chef, award-winning food writer and TV personality Monisha Bharadwaj to offer authentic Indian cooking retreats at Les Marguerites in South West France. Monisha and your host, Antoinette have created a unique retreat where you will learn to cook delicious Indian dishes, layer flavours, create curry pastes and blend spices that are at the heart of Indian cooking.

Monisha says,

‘I am delighted to offer my courses to the south of France for the very first time and Les Marguerites will provide the perfect venue for people to come and learn, cook together and discover the history behind how the British fell in love with curry.’

All the retreats are suitable for beginners and more experienced cooks who want to build on their cookery skills. Let us know what you are looking for and we will be only too happy to help.

If you would like to find out a little more about Monisha please visit her web site at www.cookingwithmonisha.com or see below.

In 2023 we are delighted to be welcoming Monisha for two residential cooking retreats at Les Marguerites – the perfect setting for creating and enjoying fine Indian cuisine – and to unwind! Les Marguerites is an award winning chambre d’hote nestling on the outskirts of the mediaeval village of Alet Les Bains on the banks of the river Aude. It is a place of outstanding beauty set in wonderful gardens with old trees that provide excellent shade in the summer and with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. All meals will be served in the garden, weather permitting.

These retreats are limited from six to eight people and are for 3/4 nights. There is the option to add extra nights to take in the tourist highlights in the surrounding Pyrenees with its famous Cathar castles and mediaeval villages.

Dates

2025
Monday 19th May arrive – Thursday 22nd May depart (3 nights)

Travel and Insurance
Many airlines fly into Toulouse (1.5 hours away)
Ryan Air fly to Carcassonne from the UK (30 mins away)
There are other local airports such as Perpignan and Bezier (1.5 hours away) serviced by Ryan Air.

Car hire / taxis are available at all these airports and you can get to Limoux by train from Toulouse (change at Carcassonne). Please ensure you make your bookings before you arrive.

If you arrive by train at Limoux we will pick you off and drop you off at no cost. We would be happy to arrange other pick-up’s / drop-off’s – please enquire with Antoinette for details.

Please ensure that you arrange your own travel insurance to avoid any unforeseeable problems.

Programme overview

Monday

Arrival on Monday and settling in with coffee/Indian teas/blanquette and nibbles in the garden.
7.30pm - Monday evening – Surprise Indian banquet cooked by Monisha supported by Antoinette

On each of the cooking days you will learn to cook 8 dishes. You will be eating these dishes in the evenings and they will all be served with an excellent selection of local wines and fizz.

Tuesday

9am - Continental breakfast in the garden
10am to 1pm – Cooking classes start with Monisha
1 to 2pm – Lunch in the garden
2 to 4pm second class with Monisha
4 to 4.30pm – Finish and light refreshments in the garden
5.30 to 7.30pm – A time to freshen up, relax and reflect. For those that are interested there will be a short tour around the village.
8pm – Evening meal in the garden

Wednesday

9am - Continental breakfast in the garden
10am to 1pm – Cooking class with Monisha
1 to 2pm – Lunch in the garden
2 to 4pm Cooking class with Monisha
4 to 4.30pm – Finish and light refreshments in the garden
5 to 7.30pm – A time to freshen up, relax and reflect
Possible excursion for those that might be interested.
8pm – Evening meal in the garden

Thursday

9am - Continental breakfast in the garden
12am is the usual departure time (bags can be left with us if you are taking a late flight).

For those staying extra nights chill out and relax

About Monisha

Monisha is a celebrity chef, recognised throughout the world for her easy, practical approach to Indian cooking. Having trained at the prestigious Institute of Hotel Management in Mumbai, she has been teaching at her London school since 2004 (www.cookingwithmonisha.com), attracting all levels of competence. She has won numerous international awards and in 2020, she was awarded the Gourmand World Cookbook Award - Best in the World (Indian). She is regularly on TV and radio in the UK and is also an award winning author with many prestigious awards to her name.

Monisha has also created and taught her popular courses at the Ashburton Cookery School in Devon, The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath, Seasoned Cookery School, south Derbyshire and at Divertimenti in Knightsbridge.

She is regularly invited to judge food events and has been a judge at the Guild of Fine Food’s ‘Great Taste Awards’ for the past few years.

In 2017, she worked with Kew Gardens giving talks on healing Indian ingredients, and with the British Council on 'How The British Fell in Love With Curry - a historical perspective from 1200-2017'.

Prices

You can either come with a friend and share a luxury room with twin beds or you can opt for your own luxury room with a large double bed. All bedrooms are en-suite.

The April and September cooking retreats are a 3 night stay arriving on a Monday and leaving on a Thursday with 2 days of cooking.

Shared room occupancy: £850 (luxury twin bedded room)
Single room occupancy: £1050 (luxury double room)

Reduced prices are available if you are accompanied by a partner who will not be cooking. Please enquire with Antoinette for further details.
These prices include all food, drink and any activities and equipment arranged as part of the retreat at Les Marguerites.

These prices do not include flights or transfer from the airport (although this can be arranged).

Dietary requirements

We can cater for most dietary requirements. When you make your reservation, we will send you a booking form where you will be able to list any food requirements.

Payment Terms

There is a 50% deposit which secures your booking. If you cancel at anytime then you will either lose your deposit or you will be able to exchange it for a future visit to Les Marguerites. This exchange is only valid up to 3 months prior to your arrival. Payment in full will be required 2 months before your arrival. If at this point you decide to cancel your trip then you will lose the full amount. However, you may, at our discretion, be able to rebook to another time with no additional costs as long as we are able fill your spot on the cancelled retreat.