Soirée en Provence

Who's not dreaming of the South of France? From the Southern Alps down through rolling vineyards and lavender fields to the fashionable Côte d’Azur. A paradise of Mediterranean produce, fabulous local cuisines and that all seducing blushing rosé. Allow the brilliant cooking and knowledge of our guest chef Marianne Lumb to whisk your senses away for a Soirée en Provence.

WHEN: Live-streamed at 7:30pm on Thursday 3rd June (can cook anytime after or Friday 4th June)
PRICE: £75 for two people (including delivery)
DIFFICULTY: 3/5
COOK-ALONG LENGTH: 1hr

Marianne's destination notes

“Starting in the East, just beyond Nice and Monaco, and where the Alps meet the Mediterranean Sea, Provence extends West to the river Rhone, and the ‘pont’, if at Avignon’. Between the mountains and the sea, pines, vines, lavender and jasmine enjoy their perfect climate, and give their air to the global pinnacle of “perfume” in Grasse. Ingredients, and culinary arts, have found confluence here from all over the Mediterranean, and the Cote d’Azur has driven excellence, dripping with glamour for generations. For me there’s a very contented joy there, in the light, sounds and the aromas, and especially on the long summer evenings, appetite whet by the waves, having delicious holiday feasts. I hope I can share that joy with this menu, and wish you a wonderful evening, Bon appétit!”

On the menu

At this destination, you will learn how to make the perfect soufflé, by the ‘soufflé queen’ herself, Marianne Lumb. A dinner party ‘chez-vous’ will never be the same again. You will also learn how to cook lamb to perfection, and assemble a Provençal classic – with confit potatoes, green beans and a fabulous Antiboise sauce (cherry tomatoes, basil, olives, lamb jus…). Dessert is a show-stopper: buttery brioche, filled with the tastes and aromas of Provence. All this cooking whilst nibbling on a Tapenade Palmier? Superb!

Tapenade Palmier
Crisp pastry, olive and sea salt

Courgette soufflé
Bouillabaisse sauce

Rump of lamb
Goose fat & garlic confit potatoes, Antiboise sauce, green beans

Tarte Tropézienne
Oak church strawberries, orange cream

About your chef

Marianne Lumb grew up in Leicestershire, in the home of stilton cheese and began learning at the feet of her father, the village butcher. She continued in restaurants reaching Michelin level at Gravetye Manor. Marianne then became a private chef with the Sainsbury, Soros and Bamford families and in 2013 opened her own restaurant 'Restaurant Marianne' in Nottinghill. Marianne is now a classically trained restaurant chef, a private chef and a consultant in the industry. She likes to compete and share her skills, and has appeared on 'The Great British Menu' and 'Saturday Kitchen Live' with her book 'Kitchen Knife Skills'. Marianne has felt connected to Provence since her childhood and more recently became Executive head chef at George Lucas's estate, Château Margüi. Only last summer, she was lucky enough to be at the Marché Provençal in Antibes for the freshest produce from the Mediterranean. She would like to share her joy in Provence - the places, the people, the ingredients and the recipes. Bon appétit!

In the box

Each A Cook’s Tour ingredient is nothing short of special. As with all our cook-alongs, some ingredients are prepared for you and others are then included ready for you to prepare with Ryan during the cook-along.

Tapenade Palmier – made by Rocket
Raffia tie
Courgette
Soufflé base
Egg white
Butter
Bread crumbs
Bouillabaisse sauce
Lemon
Marinated Launceston rump of lamb
Goose fat & garlic confit potatoes
Cherry tomatoes
Basil
Pine nut, Lamb jus, Confit onion, Olives
Haricots vert
Sugar pearl brioche
Orange water
Pastry cream
Oakchurch strawberries

Featured partners

Wine pairings

Tour tips: Provence

Our team is full of curious foodies and travel lovers, and between us we’ve covered much of the globe and eaten everything in sight (the good and the bad). So here are some of our best finds and recommendations, try to keep them hush hush, this is for us dedicated Tourists only…

EAT at – “Franchin” Nice, excellent cooking from Chef Patron Vincent – Provençal cooking in a charming street restaurant in Nice

SEE the – marche provençal in Antibes. A collection of the finest ingredients – shop at the Epicerie “froggy gourmet” every chefs dream, L’Etable the cheese shop and the wine shop “L’empererur” are well worth a visit

STAY in – the heart of the bustling old town “Le Clé de la Porte”, it is situated in the old town of Antibes, against the city walls of the coast of the medieval Antibes.