Vacation at the Table Adrianne Dow Young

There is no better way to understand a place than to eat it. Have Fois Gras in Gascogne, and you’ll immediately understand why that Gascognian “r” rolls like a lusty growl. A tersely plated Prix Fixe lunch in Paris pairs perfectly with just about every conversation you fumbled through earlier in the day. These four hotels have put their own accent on their food offerings while simultaneously celebrating their region and history.

Le Couvent des Minimes – Savory Serenity

When Le Couvent des Minimes was remodeled in 2013, the transformation dramatically opened the space up to the airy light of Provence. The walls were painted pastel, and distinctly regional fabrics were brought in to imbue the rooms with color and natural comfort. While much of the 1613 building was refined and updated, the stately staircases and 100-year-old terraced garden remain as earmarks of the building’s 400-year history of a peaceful retreat.

Stroll the herb-scented gardens, and the evening air will foretell a luscious meal of lamb and lavender at Le Cloitre restaurant. There, chef Jérôme Roy maintains the foundation of regional fare while layering the dishes with sauces and seasonings inspired by his travels to Soul, Macao, and Singapore. The Micheline-starred restaurant is celebrated for his signature style of honoring the traditional with the inspired.

Overlooking the pool, Le Pesquier bistro offers the airy Mediterranean menu featuring plates of grilled fish over potatoes dressed in bouillabaisse jus. Reserve a wine and charcuterie pairing at Le Caveau, whose cellar of fine vintages showcases wines from the whole of the Rhône valley.

Amenities

• 46 Guest Rooms
• 8 Suites
• Pool
• L’Occitane Spa

Contact Le Couvent des Minimes Hôtel & Spa L’Occitane Chemin des Jeux de Maï 04300 MANE-EN-PROVENCE | 04 92 47 77 77 | couventdesminimes-hotelspa.com

Jo & Joe – Find Community at the Table

The heart of any Jo & Joe location is the Happy Place – where its guests swap travel stories and cook for each other in the collaborative kitchen. Part hostel, part hotel, Jo & Joe offers solo travelers, tribes of friends, and groups the chance to break bread with a community of people and at mate’s rates.

Located between a marine lake and the sea, in the surfing town of Hossegor, Jo & Joe’s community space is right on the beach where cocktails and rosé are served with approachable charm.“Townsters” and “Tripsters” alike sit at communal tables and exchange travel stories and insider information on shops and restaurants in town.

Jo & Joe’s restaurant menu speaks an international language, offers a 6 Euro breakfast buffet, ubiquitously French appetizers, and plenty of vegetarian options – all at mate’s rates. Join the community at one of the shared tables or belly up to the bar where friendly, casual bartenders make craft cocktails and pour French wine.

In March of 2019, Jo & Joe will be hosting its Paris open house – its third location in France, with other hotels in Bordeaux, Budapest, Edinburgh, Lille, Rio, and Berlin.

Amenities

• 141 Beds
• Full menus from 10 euros
• 400 meters from the sea
• 10000 sq m of garden

Contact 458 Avenue de Gaujacq 40150 Soorts-Hossegor hossegor@joandjoe.com +33(0)5 58 35 68 55

Les Sources De Caudalie – Immerse yourself in Bordeaux

Every plate served in any one of the three Les Sources de Caudalie’s restaurants is a direct translation of the life and history of Bordeaux.

Chef Nicolas Masse brings the best of what the land around him produces and showcases the fine meats and abundance of vegetables to be had in the region. La Grand’Vigne has earned two Michelin stars for its unfailing ability to serve seasonal plates with reverence and simplicity.

At La Table du Lavoir (a former washhouse where winegrowers’ wives came to share local news and an occasional beer), the bistro menu speaks to the unctuous, everyday delights that grace the winery table.

The bar counter Rouge serves a menu that vibrates with earthy energy and offers a selection of regional specialties and local wine.

For those who wish to bring Bordeaux’s intangible delight home, Nicolas Masse’s team welcomes guests every Saturday morning for a cooking school. Students are guided through some of the chef’s techniques and insight on making every night taste like a night in Bordeaux.

Amenities

• 40 rooms and 21 suites,
• 9 bedrooms rooms
• Rooms feature air conditioning, mini-bar, safe, hairdryer, LCD television, and DVD player.

Contact Les Sources de Caudalie Chemin de Smith Haut Lafitte – 33 650 Bordeaux-Martillac Tél. 05 57 83 83 83 – fax. 05 57 83 83 84 www.sources-caudalie.com - reservations@sources-caudalie.com

Hotel Lutetia – A Legacy that Feeds the Creative Soul

The iconic facade of Hotel Lutetia has been a beacon for Pablo Picasso, Josephine Baker, James Joyce (who wrote a part of Ulysses at the hotel), and many others who sought refuge within the hotel’s elegant walls. Today, it stands out as the only modern grand hotel on the Left Bank, and its history of serving legends continues.

Hotel Lutetia now features throughout its first floor a creative mix of restaurants, bars, and lounges. The most notable being the reimagined Lutetia Brasserie. The Brasserie will cover 2 levels and a terrace that hosts up to 180 people, just as it did in 1910. Under the creative guidance of three Michelin-starred chef Gerald Passedat, the menu is inspired by another reimagined space by chef Passedat is the Bar Joséphine.

The new jazz venue will feature live music, and contemporary cuisine will be themed around travel and sharing.

Toast the great Russian poets in the Patio Bar, where vodka cocktails and caviar await to inspire the beginning of a novel. Meet under a glass roof at Saint Germain, where the Parisian light softens the mood. Breakfast at the light-bathed L’Orangerie, which offers a quiet morning retreat to start a creative day in the Left Bank.

Amenities

• 184 Modern Rooms featuring 40 suites, 7 signature suites.
• Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre
• 17m swimming pool bathed in natural daylight.

Contact 45, boulevard Raspail, Paris, FR Shape+33149544600 contact@hotellutetia.com