You know that spring is almost here in the Shenandoah Valley when the Blue Ridge Point to Point race is just around the corner. No pun intended says Winey!  This is a great race that will be held at Woodley Farm, in the beautiful Virginia countryside, just a few miles up the road from L’Auberge Provencale, bed and breakfast. Winey and Cheesey will be there with a tail gate picnic to watch the beautiful horses and the beautiful people here in Clarke County, Va.  If you want to attend the race we still have a few rooms available and we will throw in the picnic for two!  The races are on March 12, 2011, so bring some cash for the side bet (only kidding!)  Winey and Cheesey think our bed and breakfast is the perfect place to unwind after the races.  Enjoy a sumptuous meal in our romantic dining room and a fine bottle of wine to mellow out even the most active DC foodies after all that fresh country air!

We will also be celebrating Virginia Wine Week and are offering “Love by the Glass”, for all those wine lover’s out there. L’Auberge Provencale’s romantic restaurant will be featuring our long time favorite Virginia vineyards and some new ones we discovered at the Governor’s Wine Awards last evening for the week of March 18-27th! Wine lovers now have another good reason to come out and enjoy L’Auberge Provencale.  The Shenandoah Valley and other areas of Virginia are producing some really good wines these days.  Your going to love them! Winey and Cheesey are loving them and you will too.  While you are visiting you can enjoy the culture, local history and of course, local food and local wine.

Spring also has us looking at all those goodies to come out of the garden and forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Fresh fiddleheads, morels, French breakfast radishes, mache…yumm, yumm.  You don’t want to miss this, so we hope to see you soon at the L’Auberge Provencale, country inn and restaurant.  Don’t forget we are only just a short drive from Washington, D.C.  And we know you are ready after this winter to get out of the city and enjoy country comfort!

Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu

February 11th – 14th

Friday &  Saturday: 6:00pm-10:00pm

Sunday : 5:00pm-10:00pm

Monday: 5:00pm-10:00pm

Reservations Required: 540.837.1375

Choose from our:

Popular Three Course Menu, Signature Five Course Prix Fixe Menu & Lover’s Tasting Menu

Each couple will receive a special Valentine with Gourmet Chocolates from our in-house Chocolatier!

First Course:

Kingfish, Compressed Shiitake, Citrus, Lemongrass Nage

Second Course:

King Crab, Coconut, Cucumber, Cashew, Mint

Third Course:

Carnaroli Rice Risotto, White Alba Truffle, Preserved Lemon, Fine Herbs

Fourth Course:

Lobster Crepe, Foie, Pea Shoot Salad, Carrot-Ginger Emulsion

Fifth Course:

Snake River Farms Waygu Rib Eye, Cêpe, Parsnip, Spinach, Smoked Béarnaise

Dessert:

Chocodisiac Flight

Cocoa Swan, Chocolate Port Truffle, Flourless White Chocolate Torte, Candied Cocoa Nib Tuile, Gianduja Butterscotch Anglaise, Chocolate Mint

~

$115 per person

Wine Pairing Additional $65 per person

Tasting Menu Includes Amuse Bouche & Valentine with Gourmet Sweets

Service Non Compris

Cheesey is getting concerned, being a cupid after all, that some of you men might be lagging behind in your plans for Valentine’s Day. Winey thinks it is because of the excitement over football.  Green Bay!! Yeah!

But getting back to the topic at hand L’Auberge Provencale has created a great package for you and your Valentine.  Sunday and Monday, February 13, and 14th, we are offering a super package, of Virginia is for Lovers.  We are setting the mood for romance on arrival with a bottle of Champagne on ice and Sweetheart cupcakes in your rooms on arrival.  Relax by the fire and set an intimate mood.  Over a candlelit three course dinner, each couple will be given a Valentine and a box of handmade specialty chocolates made by our in house chocolatier. Retreat back to your room for a special turn down service with candles and silk rose petals.  Then linger in bed for one of our breakfast baskets and gourmet coffee delivered to your room or partake in our multi-course breakfast in our sunny peach room at your own table.

Make your reservations today for one of our premier rooms $475.00 or one of our Elegant Suites $505.00 inclusive.

This offer can not be combined with any other offers or discounts and is only valid of February 13 and 14, 2011.  The three course dinner is Included for two, (and if you want to upgrade to our 5 course or tasting menu it is available).  Taxes, beverages, alcohol and gratuities not included.

What a beautiful way to celebrate in the Shenandoah Valley, a romantic getaway at L’Auberge Provencale!

Meet the Chefs…

A Day in the Kitchen at L’Auberge Provençale

With big changes on the horizon Alain & Celeste Borel have been busy over the last year, scouring the country for the best of the best!  This month we would like to introduce the talented masterminds behind each savory flavor and decadent aroma that immerses from the kitchen.

We proudly introduce our Culinary Team…

Christian Phernetton
Executive Chef

Hometown:

Boise, ID

Relocated to L’Auberge Provençale from:

Chicago, IL

Family:

Christian relocated to Virginia with girlfriend Tracey,

their dog, Coco and two friendly felines; Little Man and Jezebel

Previous Employment:

Old Town Brasserie , Chicago IL & Greenville Inn, Greenville ME

Favorite dish on the L’Auberge Provençale menu:

Stay tuned…

Every day there’s something new and exciting being added to the menu!

Christian and his culinary team are working hard to add their own touch to our already exquisite menu!

Kenneth Shultz
Sous Chef

Hometown:

Boston, MA

Relocated to L’Auberge Provençale from:

U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John

Family:

Married to Melissa Marie for years

Previous Employment:

Caneel Bay, St. John, 33 Restaurant & Lounge & No.9 Park, Boston, MA

Favorite dish on the L’Auberge Provençale menu:

They’re all packed with amazing flavor, hard to narrow it down!

Duane Copeland

Pastry Chef

Hometown:

Washington, DC

Relocated to L’Auberge Provençale from:

Virginia Beach, VA

Family:

Married to wife ,for  years.  Two young children, one girl, one boy!

Previous Employment:

Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel & Todd Jurich Bistro

Favorite dish on the L’Auberge Provençale menu:

Duane wouldn’t pick a favorite, and we don’t blame him.

How could you choose between Croissant Bread Pudding or a Valencia Orange Chocolate Mousse Torte?!!

Winter Blues Buster…

January 19^th – 24^th

Wednesday – Monday

$160.00

Luxury Suite or Premier Room

With a complimentary tray of Chocolate Covered Strawberries

And Our Signature Multi-Course Breakfast

Dinner Reservation Required*

800. 638. 1702

Break the Winter Blues…

Be greeted at arrival with gourmet pastries, fresh fruit,

While sipping on hot cider by the fire in our warm and cozy sitting room.

Retreat to your Luxury Suite or Premier Room,

Enjoy a tray of complimentary chocolate covered strawberries.

Enjoy a soak in your private bath,

Before dinner in our Four Diamond Dining Room!

After a restful night’s sleep, wake up to our Signature Gourmet Breakfast, Served in our Sunny Peach Dining Room.

Need suggestions for afternoon activities?

Ask any of our friendly staff members to point you in the direction of their favorite local vineyard!

*Dinner Reservations Required, not included.

Cannot be used with any other offers or discounts.

Taxes, beverages, alcohol, and gratuities not included.

Meals, taxes and other add-ons not included.

This discount is for accommodations only.

With summer in full swing it’s time to put those luscious gardens and orchards to use!

L’Auberge Provençale EARNS FODOR’S CHOICE 2010 DISTINCTION

FROM FODOR’S TRAVEL

White Post, Virginia – June 24, 2010 – L’Auberge Provençale has been recognized by Fodor’s Travel, the foremost name in travel publishing, as a 2010 Fodor’s Choice selection. This distinction represents a remarkable achievement and recognizes L’Auberge Provençale as a leader in its field for service, quality, and value in the 2010 year.

Since 1988, Fodor’s Travel has been awarding the Fodor’s Choice distinction to only the very best hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world. Every year, Fodor’s writers’ experience, examine and evaluate thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in their travels across the globe. While every business included in a Fodor’s guide is deemed worth a traveler’s time, only fifteen percent of those selections are awarded the very highest, Fodor’s Choice designation by Fodor’s editors.

“From hidden-away restaurants to can’t-miss museums, Fodor’s Choice selections recognize the top sights, properties, and experiences our editors and updaters have found in their travels,” says Fodor’s publisher Tim Jarrell. “These places are the best of the best, providing a remarkable experience in their price range or category.”

As a 2010 Fodor’s Choice recipient L’Auberge Provençale receives special recognition in the current Fodor’s guidebook to this region and on Fodors.com.

Assistant Innkeeper, Erin King stated “As always, we are thrilled to be among the selected few to receive the Fodor’s Choice award for 2010. Our adage at L’Auberge Provençale is that we’re a place where ‘expectations are quietly met.’ Our guest are cultivated, well traveled and count on a restful stay with exceptional service and quality. Receiving the Fodor’s Choice award is a wonderful way to be acknowledged for the effort and pride we take in our work.”

About L’Auberge Provençale:

L’Auberge Provençale in White Post, Virginia, just an hour from Washington D.C., is set amid lush gardens on the rolling pastures of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the heart of Virginia Hunt Country. L’Auberge Provençale presents the feeling of an exquisite, quintessential French Country Inn, instantly transporting you to the South of France. With 14 Guest rooms, each adorned with its own private baths, including six with wood burning fireplaces. Each premier guest room and elegant suite is tastefully and individually decorated with European and Victorian antiques that were hand selected by Innkeeper, Celeste Borel, during her many travels overseas.

Every meal at L’Auberge Provençale is considered a special occasion. Set among three different dining rooms, each with its own unique and delightful décor; L’Auberge Provençale offers the ideal setting for a quiet and romantic 5-course dinner or cheerful gourmet breakfast. The rich aroma of cooking and baking that drifts from the kitchen, through the Main Manor House is a delightful attraction. Menus are planned around locally available game, which is bought from neighboring farms as often as possible.  Innkeeper and Executive Chef, Alain Borel grows many of the vegetables and herbs himself, with seeds purchased in France. Over fifty fruit trees also under his care, and are a further extension of his pantry, used daily for creating homemade breads for breakfast, pastries for dessert, jams, chutneys and many other culinary delights. The multi-course breakfast at L’Auberge is particularly memorable and may include elegant, Baked Local Apples stuffed with Grape Chutney topped with a warm Vanilla Crème Anglaise, Organic Poached Hen Eggs or Eiderdowns with house made Chicken Sausage; there are local Shiitake Mushrooms, sprinkled over thinly sliced breast of Duck or New York Strip, and it wouldn’t be breakfast without the Applewood Smoked Bacon. Dinner guests indulge in either a savory three-course meal, a five-course meal, or a six-course prix-fixe with wine pairings. Selections may include Smoked Salmon and Beluga Caviar Crêpes or Foie Gras with Truffles, and an elaborate dessert, such as the classic Chocolate Mousse Trio, a tasting of Coffee Reduction, Coffee Tuille and Cocoa Nibs. Dinner is accompanied well by a carefully chosen vintage from the Inn’s extensive and award winning wine cellar.

L’Auberge Provençale takes to heart that it is located in the Lover’s State, by offering custom-built packages of Lovers’ Indulgences, which may include chocolate covered strawberries, a sprinkling of silk rose petals in your room while you’re at dinner, champagne with custom keepsake flutes or a custom message in a bottle. The French cuisine and well-tended grounds offer a romantic retreat from hectic city life. With L’Auberge Provençale being a short drive from Washington D.C., the American Heroes, Last Minute Getaway and Facebook Fans discounts have proven to be touchingly popular.

About Fodor’s Travel:

Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of travel information.  Covering over 300 destinations worldwide, Fodor’s guidebooks and Web site, Fodors.com, have provided the most up-to-date, accurate information for travelers for more than seventy years.  Written by a team of over 700 writers located around the globe, Fodor’s provides travelers with engagingly written, intelligently and accurately reported, and absolutely indispensable travel guidance.

We would like to thank everyone who made it out for our Sizzling Suckling Pig Roast on the 4^th of July!

Everyone had a blast, especially Winey & Cheesy, who were extremely excited to see Alain in his festive American Flag T-shirt and Celeste singing along with the Brogue Rouges and their Hammer Dulcimer!

The Petanque Court on the front lawn became a battlefield.  The First Prize winner took home a $75 Gift Certificate and The Second Prize winner got a L’Auberge Provencale Goodie Basket filled with homemade James, Granola, Vinegar and Olive Oil!

It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all (except maybe the Pig)!  Winey & Cheesy had their camera’s ready to document the day’s festivities… we hope you enjoy them!

July 4th

Suckling Pig Roast
12:00pm — 4:00pm

Roasted Local Suckling Pig
Roasted at the event by Chef, Scott Meyers

Southern Summer Sides:
Braised Garden Collard Greens
Barb’s Homemade Potato Salad
Corn on the Cob
Cole Slaw
Cornbread
Peach Cobbler & Vanilla Ice Cream

Boutique Beers and Wines

Pétanque Tournament

Live Music Featuring Brogue Rogues Irish Band

Local Chef Competes on Chocolate Wars.

Wine Maker’s Dinner

Friday May 21st, 2010

6:00pm

$88 per person

Meet the Winemaker, Caleb Foster,

of Buty Winery in the Walla Walla Valley, Washington State

Enjoy pairings with seasonal cuisine,

from Chef de Cuisine, Scott Meyers.

Featuring the freshest ingredients from local farms

Wine Maker’s Dinner Menu

Caleb Foster

Winemaker of 19 vintages in Washington, New Zealand and South Africa, Caleb designs Buty wines with Nina as personal statements. International winemaking has taught him to stay true to Washington wine’s character of origin.

The Philosphy

Buty’s philosophy of winemaking reflects the old religious worldview of human growth from the body to mind to soul to spirit, called”the great nest of being.”  The all inclusive nest of being grows over time as we reach for the spiritual levels of life.  So, too, Buty Wines evolve including and expanding their quality at each stage of their development.  The wine’s development is a cumulative and artistic process.  Every stage of growth is equally important for a fine wine, starting with a great site developed into a vineyard, from fruit into wine, from cellared bottles to our enjoyment at a shared meal.  A great wine calls for complete attention as they expand the qualites present at every stage.