Category Archives: Chef delights

For Your Next Birthday, Why Not Stay in an Exquisite French Chateau?

It’s one thing to mark many happy returns with a well-chosen glass (OK, perhaps make that bottle) of the finest of fine wine, surrounded by your loved ones… and it’s quite another thing to truly go the extra mile with your celebration.

Have you, for instance, considered celebrating your next birthday in the resplendent surroundings of your very own chateau in France?

What makes the French chateau experience different?

While Cambridge Dictionary simply defines a chateau as “a large house or castle in France“, there’s no doubt that many of us have much richer and more in-depth associations with the term than this definition implies. The faintest mention of chateau rentals in France tends to conjure up images of spectacular verdant grounds on the outside and the most refined and tasteful decor on the inside.

In other words, we tend to picture a stone-built property like Château Bouffémont, which certainly has impeccable credentials as a French chateau in which to toast your birthday in considerable style.

From its five grand reception halls and nine magical suites, right through to its whole equipped guest kitchen and the full-service team consisting of a chef, butler, housemaid, security guard and concierge, every element of Château Bouffémont exudes sophistication for a suitably sophisticated clientele.

Such elements all befit the building’s extraordinary heritage as an erstwhile residence of the Marquise of Preignes and Baron Empain.

Delight in a setting that is all about fun, refinement and elegance

From its earliest days, Château Bouffémont has lent itself beautifully to all manner of prestigious events, such as the ceremonies hosted by its noble former residents. Today, it continues to cement its reputation as a unique and luxurious private venue for almost every kind of special occasion – not only birthdays.

Whether it is your 20th birthday, your 30th, 50th or literally any other key milestone, you could not hope to choose a backdrop that is more guaranteed to impress your friends and family than Château Bouffémont.

Our chateau rentals in Paris entail you and your guests gaining access to the entire 2,000 square metres of the splendid historic property; for a brief time only, you will be lord of the manor and the chateau will be yours.

But it is not only the height of utter opulence that practically defines the Château Bouffémont experience; it is also a definite sense of fun. This is shown by the variety of recreational, leisure and sporting activities that guests of all ages can partake in, encompassing golf, tennis, horse riding, arts and crafts workshops, cooking classes and many more irresistible possibilities.

A party never to forget, just a drive away from the City of Lights

Nor have we even touched on the small matter of our property being situated just 30 kilometres from central Paris. That is the perfect proximity, we’re sure you’ll agree when you wish to incorporate the many attractions of the endlessly delightful French capital into the kind of action-packed birthday you are sure to remember for decades to come.

Indeed, the Everyday Parisian website has more than a few excellent ideas for ways to while away the hours in Paris when making a birthday visit.

When it comes to birthday chateau rentals in Paris, there can simply be no equal to the infinitely rewarding Château Bouffémont – so why not enquire today about how we can help you to make the noble property your base for your upcoming big bash?

EASTER ACTIVITIES

eggs- hunt EASTER

EASTER ENTERTAINMENT

Offer your children a memorable Egg hunt.

The Easter Bunny, the Easter Fairy and our Magician will guide the kids to find the hidden eggs in the Château gardens.

Have an amusing moment in the company of these friendly characters.

 

eggspainting EASTER

ART & CRAFT

Easter eggs decorating : Give your own touch to the Easter eggs and reveal the painter inside you. Then it’s time for an egg battle.

Make your own egg basket : Assisted by an artisan, learn how to make a traditional hand-woven basket. An interactive class which will delight the children and the parents.

 

chocolate class

CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP WITH OUR CHEF 

A 2-hour workshop during which the whole family will learn the best technics to cook the big classics of chocolate from the traditional French mousse to the chocolate cake, including the famous macarons.

A RECIPE FROM OUR CHEF – Pumpkin cream soup, ginger mousse

©Shiran Carmel

 To celebrate Thanksgiving, our Chef had fun turning pumpkin into cream soup.

 

In your shopping basket

For the pumpkin cream soup

500 g (1 lb) of pumpkin

One white onion

1.5 litre (1.2 quarts) of water or chicken stock

300 ml (10 fl. oz) of whipping cream

Salt

For the ginger mousse

200 ml (7 fl. oz) of milk

20 ml (4 teaspoons) of grape seed oil

10 g (0.3 oz) of ginger

Salt.

 

PUMPKIN CREAM SOUP 

Mince the onion.

Sweat it with a little salt, but do not let it brown.

Dice the pumpkin and add it to the onion.

Add water or stock until the liquid reaches twice the height of the vegetables. Reduce the liquid by half, add the cream and bring to a simmer.

Remove from the heat and blend with a stick blender. Season to taste.

 

GINGER MOUSSE 

Grind the ginger. Bring the milk, ground ginger and a little salt to a boil and brew for 30 minutes.

Strain, then slowly add the oil to the milk, whisking constantly until emulsified .

Pour the pumpkin cream into a bowl and place the ginger mousse on top.

 

Chef’s tips 

1.  You can easily substitute nutmeg for the ginger.

2.  This delicious appetizer can be served hot or cold.

3.  Serve the soup in a transparent bowl or shot glass in order to showcase its colour.

A RECIPE FROM OUR CHEF : SUMMER COCKTAIL

cocktail2

 

PINK LYCHEE – LIME – TONKA BEANS

Our Chef unveils his cocktail summer, a refreshing and rather surprising creation.

To enjoy among friends during your stay at Château Bouffémont.

 

In your basket…

The recipe can be scaled as needed.

One to two cartons of strawberries

White sugar to taste

One lime

A few lychees

A handful of tonka beans*

*This fruit comes from the Brazilian teak or cumaru, a tree mainly found in Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.

 

Preparation method

Blend all the strawberries and sugar to yield a somewhat thick coulis. Set aside.

Cut the lychees in small pieces and blend. Set aside.

Zest half a lime.

 

Presentation

Pour a layer of strawberry coulis, making sure you completely cover the bottom and sides of the glass.

Do the same with a layer of lychee coulis.

Add a little lime zest.

Sprinkle tonka bean on top.

Garnish the glass with a slice of lime… your cocktail is now ready to be enjoyed…


Chef’s tips

1. A martini glass is perfect for this cocktail

2. You can substitute honey or agave syrup for the sugar if you want a milder taste

3. You can enhance the colour of the lychee coulis with natural colourants

4. The strawberry coulis will rise to the top over time so serve the cocktail as soon as it’s ready

Feel free to shake things up by trying other ingredient combinations that inspire you.

BARBECUE


Preparing barbecue

 

August is upon us.

As hues of orange and violet fill the evening sky, the warm glow of sunset bathes this majestic setting. And as you inhale the scent of freshly cut grass, there sits Chateau Bouffemont– rising majestically from the luscious grounds.

Wisps and pillars of smoke rise and twirl high into the sky as aromas of sizzling meat and sweet-smelling grilled vegetables consume the air. The gleaming barbecue filled with mouth-watering meats and fish. The wind makes the smoke rise slightly higher and you watch as it then slowly disperses into the balmy evening air. The neatly dressed tables illuminated by soft candlelight. An enchanting aura surrounds the scene.

Laughter and chatter fill the space as you sit down with your friends and loved ones to enjoy a delicious barbecue feast. Sumptuous food prepared specially for you by our esteemed chef – washed down by a selection of the finest wines.

And, as you sip on a glass of chilled rose, you feel a soft light breeze brushing against your skin. The colors of sunset now long given way to a sky adorned with glittering stars. A magical moment that takes you back to childhood memories of delightful summer nights long forgotten but somehow here realized again. Suddenly, you feel nostalgic…