It’s a bit of a shlep from Paris but well worth it! We grabbed a late Sunday morning TGV from the Gare Montparnasse to Bordeaux and then a local train to Bergerac where we were met by our Paris friends, Eric and Diane Anthonissen, for a quick ride to the 18th century Chateau Ladausse in Monflanquin, their new home.
It’s a bit of a shlep from Paris but well worth it! We grabbed a late Sunday morning TGV from the Gare Montparnasse to Bordeaux and then a local train to Bergerac where we were met by our Paris friends, Eric and Diane Anthonissen, for a quick ride to the 18th century Chateau Ladausse in Monflanquin, their new home.
Their dream of a B & B with cooking classes is not to be confused with one of those “charming,” little, mom and pop operations you may have frequented in the past-their dream is huge. Situated on 12 acres of woods and prairies, it boasts fruit trees that produce 12 kilos of fruit, a potager that Eric planted that produces tomatoes, zucchini, radishes and lettuce that find their way into Diane’s meals and a swimming pool, anchored by pigonniers that function as changing rooms, that will be soon be the scene of festive barbecues. In the center of a vast park-you don’t need to leave the property to get in a solid constitutional, stands a 450 year old if tree and outside the kitchen window and the herb garden looms a giant 350 year old oak tree.
Eric and Diane are working at warp speed to apply the final touches to make the Chateau Ladausse a prime destination and entry point to Le Périgord so they have served private dinners for as many as 20 guest and are taking reservations for lodging and cooking classes where Diane will show off her Ferrandi-trained talents and Eric will perform sommelier duties.
We were led to the St. Charles suite, one of the two that are currently available. Large, with a bathroom equal to many Paris apartments, large windows and appropriate linens and accoutrements it was the perfect place to rest after a long day and a fabulous dinner.
When Diane and Eric were in Paris we often collaborated on marvelous private events served at her Haussmannian apartment where she was handicapped by a tiny kitchen but here the shackles were off. We hung out in the chateau-sized kitchen and sipped a sparkling chardonnay, Monluc Brut 2010 and nibbled on amuses-bouches:
Cromesquis de parmesan (panko-crusted fried parmesan balls)
Verrine saumon fumé (maison), avocat, tomates
Canapés with rillettes d’oie, and caviar d’aubergine fumé
while Diane prepared a meal to be served in the grand dining room that recalls Errol Flynn as Robin Hood.
Our entrée was Gazpacho de pastèque et basilic, tartare de tomate accompanied by pain de campagne from Franck, an unpretentious local boulanger
The main course was a perfect partner for the chateau: Ballotine de pintade farci aux duxelles de champignons
Artichauts poivrade à l’ail et citron
Sauce beurre blanc
Digestif: locally made (the neighbor who helped Eric till the soil for the potager and has lived next door for 65 years (“artisanal”) eau de vie de prune
Before leaving the next morning we had time for a breakfast of café crème, vienoiseries from Franck, apricots form the orchard and Diane’s homemade confitures.
The chateau is a lovely retreat for a family, group of friends or businesses looking for a relaxing environment for seminars.
If you and a small group of up to 6 would like to join me for a stay at the Chateau and tour of the region please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a custom tailored taste ofparadise.
Chateau Ladausse • Lieu-dit Ladausse • 47150 Monflanquin
06 82 71 70 (English) 06 74 10 88 33 (French)
And be sure to tell Diane and Eric that you are a friend of Terrance