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Delicious & Easy Christmas Treats   Olivia Gibbons, co-owner and chef of the popular Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess, shares a delectable mince pie recipe for the holiday season.   Mince Pies   Did you know that the origin of the humble mince pie lies in the Middle East? It eventually made its way west […]

Gruyère de Comté and Poppy Seed Lollipops   A great choice for show-stopping canapés or a wonderful homemade gift for your loved ones, these Gruyère de Comté and poppy seed lollipops are sure to be a festive favorite.     Equipment   2 large baking trays 10 lollipop sticks Greaseproof paper Cellophane wrap and string

A History of Western Provence Wines   Want to know more about Western Provence wines? This handy little guide will reveal everything you need to know…    The city of Massalia, (modern day Marseille), was founded by the Phoenicians in 6th century BC. Traders from the east plied the Mediterranean and brought vines and wine

Meet Chef Sylvain Moretto  French Hotel Barge Enchante   Classically-trained French chef, Sylvain Moretto, has been the master chef aboard Enchanté for ten seasons, with an additional three seasons aboard Renaissance. Read about life as a barge chef on the tranquil Canal du Midi…     What is your favourite dish to make on board? 

French Foodie Barge Cruises   If you are a lover of fine food and particularly how and where locally-grown ingredients are sourced, our culinary cruises will really tickle your taste-buds. Enjoy tasting world-class cuisine and sampling fine wines in picturesque surroundings aboard a luxury hotel barge.   Our fabulous collection of French Foodie Cruises feature

French Chocolate Mousse   Relax, put your feet up and indulge in a sumptuous French Chocolate Mousse, courtesy of our barge chefs… Ingredients   For the French Chocolate Mousse… 6 eggs, yolks separated 170g dark or plain chocolate 2 tbsp Grand Marnier For the Orange Coulis… Juice of 2 oranges Juice of 1/2 lemon 4

The Waterways of France The Nivernais Canal   The Nivernais Canal in Burgundy is often described as France’s most beautiful canal. The Canal passes through western Burgundy, crossing the Yonne Valley and from time to time merging with the Yonne River itself.   Canal du Nivernais   The Geography   The Nivernais Canal, which stretches

Canal de Garonne Southwest France   Canal des Deux Mers (Garonne & Midi)     Discover the Canal de Garonne aboard 8-passenger, luxury French hotel barge Rosa, as she cruises Bordeaux and Gascony in Southwest France.   The Canal de Garonne stretches over 120 miles and contains no less than 53 locks. It begins at

Autumn Wine Harvest Barge Cruises in France   For many visitors to France, a major draw is the country’s centuries-old legacy of winemaking, particularly during the wine harvest months. Our wine appreciation cruises travelling through such renowned regions as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne and Alsace, have long been popular with oenophiles keen on an inside look

How to Read and Understand a French Wine Label   The French Hotel Barge Athos who cruises along the canal du midi in southern France shares some insight on how to read and understand a French wine label…       Some tips on knowing what’s in the bottle…   When you’re browsing the wine