He could have made a career in the greatest restaurants in the world.
He preferred to take the tangent.
More than a “chef”, he sees himself as a “cook-traveler” carried by the breath of adventure.
With an atypical CV of journalist, multilingual academic and chef stamped Ferrandi, Paul Caussé accompanies hand-sewn bush tours and gourmet peregrinations in France, Italy, Japan as well as in some countries of the former USSR .
This fall, he takes us to Georgia, which he knows intimately.
A journey placed under the sign of meeting and sharing.
As an appetizer: Tbilisi, the capital, where you participate in a typically Georgian slice of life.
To discover
Partner stay in Georgia |
9 days |
Georgia differently
At dinner time, in an apartment in the city center, the host, Zura, gives his guests the experience of the supra - a gargantuan banquet comprising a dozen dishes, the tasting of which is punctuated by a string of toasts carried by the tamada, the master of ceremonies, and interspersed with musical interludes provided by the famous Georgian singer Lasha Glonti.
We then escape to Kakheti, a superb province backing onto the Caucasus range, and a Mecca for wine tourism in Georgia.
Wine has been produced there since Antiquity using ancestral methods.
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Vineyards at the foot of the Caucasus mountains
The Alaverdi Monastery (11th century), the most important monument in Kakheti, whose majestic silhouette stands out against the mountainous horizon. ruslankphoto.com
After a cultural break at the Alaverdi Monastery (11th century), the most important monument in Kakheti, whose majestic silhouette stands out against the mountainous horizon, we are greeted at the Rtoni estate by Giorgi Skhirtladze. This winegrower, whose production continues to win distinctions, works with strict respect for traditions. In the marani (cellar) are aligned the kveris, these terracotta jars that the winegrowers bury underground up to the neck for several months so that the must ripens there before being bottled. After tasting the drink with its beautiful orange color, the sensory adventure continues at the Ruispiri estate, whose table d'hôtes, in the middle of the vines, is a delight for the eye and the taste buds.
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Le Figaro
The lodge of the former Minister of Culture
The tailor-made itinerary designed and guided by Paul Caussé includes stops in restaurants and in inhabitant's.
Press service
Prior to the feast, a khinkali making workshop, these delicious twisted Georgian ravioli, garnished with pork, which we eat while holding them by the stem.
Quite an art!
The Georgian wine route then leads to Mtskheta-Mtianeti, a neighboring province of Kakheti.
After a stop at the Djvari monastery, the Mecca of the Orthodox faith in Georgia, we reach the very remote valley of Ateni.
In this natural paradise given over to bears, wolves and lynxes, the former Minister of Culture, Nika Vacheishvili, has opened a small charming lodge to revitalize the area. Proud to have also relaunched a wine activity, this pioneer of agritourism organizes memorable traditional meals during which pkhali (vegetable pancakes with nuts and herbs) succeed the imposing khatchapouri (cheese pie). These are just the starters ... To get through these invigorating feasts, you should have a glass (or more ...) of chacha, the local grappa, distilled on site.
Tselana Travel
(Tel.: 01 55 35 00 30).
From € 3,450 per person (based on 2 people) for 6 days / 5 nights departing from Paris.
Tailor-made itinerary designed and guided by Paul Caussé, with driver.
Accommodation in hotels and charming agritourism, meals in restaurants and at the inhabitant's.
Cooking lessons possible.