Many Americans dream of being able to visit (or re-visit) the country of France. For those who simply can’t jet-set over to Provence at this moment, I’d like to clue you in on something. Sometimes, France sends its people to US by way of immigration. And when we’re really lucky, those people bring their culture and food knowledge with them. And SOMETIMES, almost like Dorothy arriving randomly in Oz, those people wind up in places like…Virginia!? Consequently, I visited L’Auberge Provençale Bed and Breakfast for a taste of France right here in the U.S.
YES! The B&B not only carries a French name and aesthetic, it’s run by actual French ex-patriots! The design is the stuff dreams are made of, the hospitality is exceptional, and the food…dear Lord, the FOOD is unparalleled. Check out more details below!
I didn’t realize how badly I needed an escape and a break until I felt my shoulders soften and my seemingly chronic migraine disappear after soaking in the ambiance of the hotel. The grounds are set in a rural part of Virginia within the Shenandoah Valley that feels largely unchanged from decades or even centuries ago.
The Ambiance L’Auberge Provençale.
In the summer, an array of beautiful and varied flowers grow in a way that looks wild but still neat, in the garden outside some of the inn’s rooms. It’s peaceful to walk through them and to even catch a glimpse of the insects (like bees) that call the flowers home.
Each of the fourteen rooms has a bright, cheery color theme (think bright yellow and decadent coral) and the fabrics in the room are made in the Provençale style. Touches like electric fireplaces and lighting fixtures on the ceiling make the rooms look elegant. Finally, French country antiques adorn both the property and each of the rooms.
Elements like painted white wood and weathered brass furnishings give each room a rural yet clean feeling. Additionally, every room has a different French name such as Monet, Lafayette, and Matisse.
The Experience.
The hospitality at the inn is warm, friendly, and comfortable. There isn’t a ton of staff, but everyone that you encounter is as helpful as they can be and very eager to make conversation when they’re not too busy. For example, were made aware that guests are allowed to take free soft drinks all day long from the community fridge outside of the inn, and that guests were also treated to a sweet-treat social hour every afternoon!
Finally, guests can choose from a variety of luxurious add-ons to their hotel stay. For example, we chose the cheese and charcuterie plate. Many places skimp on cheese and meats when you order a board. But, that wasn’t the case here…we couldn’t even finish everything! In addition, travelers can choose from champagne and caviar, champagne with flutes, in-room massage, cake, a picnic dinner basket, wine, and more.
The Cuisine L’Auberge Provençale.
I remember watching Outlander (I think season three?) a few months back. Claire and Jamie just happen to wash up on the shores of America after being tousled around at sea leaving Jamaica.
I snickered and rolled my eyes, saying, “Pfft. What are the odds of that? LAME!”
As it turns out, this kind of thing does sometimes happen.
The culinary mastermind behind the dishes at the inn is from Avignon in France. How and why he wound up in the Shenandoah Valley is something I’ll never understand, but I’m glad he did.
The ingredients of every dish are remarkably fresh and seasonal. All ingredients are locally sourced from area orchards, the inn’s garden, or farms. The quality is evident.
In the morning, you get to choose what time you would like breakfast, and you get the option of sitting in the main house or having it delivered. We got ours delivered and were wowed by extra touches like cantaloupe smoothies and gigantic croissants. The night before, an attendant gives you a checklist and you choose your main meal for breakfast that way. This is all included in the price of your stay. For an additional fee, you can get mimosas too!
For dinner, guests have the option of doing a tasting menu or ordering a la carte from the main menu. We did the latter, and not a single item disappointed. Considering we ordered four courses, I’m very thankful that L’Auberge Provençale serves dinner in the French/European way. That is to say, they give a lot of time between courses.
Dinner.
To start, we had burrata and bacon that was flambeed table-side on a clothesline. Bacon is usually either very rubbery or burned to a crisp — this was perfectly in the middle. The grease drips down onto the accoutrements below giving them an oily, savory coating of goodness.
Next came the most delicious bowl of potato and corn chowder that has ever been brought into existence. If you like a cream-based soup, then you’ll love this. I didn’t let the server take my bowl until every single kernel was gone.
After the soup, we were already full and weren’t sure that we could soldier on with the rest of our food, but we had to do it. Meanwhile, Nina took a little rest.
For our dinner course, I decided on the moules frites and a shared side of ratatouille. While the mussels were delicious and I don’t have a single complaint, the ratatouille was DIVINE. It hit my tongue and all of my taste buds stood at attention! I would drive the seven hours from New York City just to eat this again, it was that good. Rich, flavorful, and made with vegetables and parmesan that were as fresh as possible, it really wowed me.
So, for a decidedly Provençale vacation right in the rolling countryside of Virginia, head to L’Auberge Provençale Bed and Breakfast. You won’t be disappointed!
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