If you have ever wanted to go behind the scenes for an intimate opportunity to cook alongside a world-renowned French chef, join us for a 7-day, 6-night sojourn in the Pays Basque with Chef Firmin Arrambide in his elegant Relais et Château Hôtel Les Pyrénées. Chef Arrambide has earned 1 star from the Guide Michelin and 3 toques 17/20 from the Guide Gault Millau, making him one of the very best and most creative chefs in France today. And yet he has remained devoted to the gastronomic traditions and treasures of the rich Pays Basque region, just like his father and grandmother before him. Monsieur Arrambide’s grandmother was the first chef at this three-generation family hotel/restaurant. He remembers her welcoming in the restaurant pilgrims who were on their way to visit the tomb of St. James the Apostle in Compostela, Spain.

In late spring, the green and well-watered countryside of the Pays Basque is at its most glorious. It is the perfect time to taste spring lamb and to feast on the bountiful harvest of anchovies, sardines, cod, and tuna from the Bay of Biscay. From Bayonne, the capital of the Pays Basque, comes the delicious ham of Bayonne, and nearby are the Irouléguy vineyards, which produce a fruity rosé and a full-flavored red wine. The local sheep’s milk cheese (fromage de brebis) and the profusion of sweet and spicy bell peppers round out the regional specialties.

During our week-long stay at Les Pyrénées we will visit the colorful street market in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port with the chef, and we will have 4 hands-on cooking classes with Monsieur Arrambide. Classes will be limited to 10 participants. Spouses and guests are welcome to join us on the excursions and at the table as we feast on our creations.