The Art of the Table with Laura Calder
April 20 — April 26, 2026
Discover the transformative power of l’art de la table à la Française with Laura Calder. Laura has devoted her career to the art of the table and we’re wildly excited to have her join us for a week to share what has become her way of life. Laura is best known for her James Beard Award-winning series, French Food at Home, and she is also the author of six books, including The Inviting Life: An Inspirational Guide to Homemaking, Hosting, and Opening the Door to Happiness. “Far more than a guide to homemaking and being a fine host—although it is definitely all that too—The Inviting Life is about how to live each day with a desire and determination to turn the ordinary into something lovely.”
Join us for a week centred around the table, exploring its value as a place of nourishment, ritual and connection. Learn how to transform time spent at the table into sensory experiences, to see food as an artistic medium, and to embrace dining as a lens through which we can reimagine how we live. We will be deeply immersed in the tables and terroir of our corner of Provence, and the sense of history, belonging and community that a deep engagement with this ubiquitous piece of furniture can give us.
You will spend mornings with Laura discussing her workshops each centred around the table, from masting the art of hosting to talking about the elements of creating an impactful dining space. Afternoons will be for ventures into local villages, for studio visits with local artists, for languorous afternoons at La Gonette. Food creatives and collaborators, Jeni Glasgow and Harriet Davidson, a unity of flair and finesse with an eye for detail and a hunger to satiate, along with local chef and sommelier Arie Teerink, all of whom are well-versed in the flavours of Provence, along with La Gonette founder Alice Nelson, will be part of ensuring that your week with us is an unforgettable one.
To learn more about the retreat, please download the Program Brochure here.
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Please read the Program Brochure and complete the Application Form. Applications close on February 08, 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a brief interview for us to learn more about each other and for you to ask any further questions you might have about the program.
Following the interview, successful applicants will have one week to pay to secure their place in the program.
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Wander into the country for a week with us here to explore the art of the table in a most nourishing environment. But that’s only the beginning.
It’s an all inclusive week. What, exactly, is included?
Six nights accommodation in the historical home, La Gonette
Six breakfasts, lunches, apéros and dinners prepared by in-house cooks
Wine, cocktails, after dinner whiskey (all alcohol)Daily course with Laura Calder
Events with special guests, including a visit, talk and table setting from local artists Aurore Pélisson and Manon Monge
Excursions to the studio of ceramicist Valerie Casado, as well as local villages, markets and restaurants
Transfers to and from Marseille (airport or train station)
Time to relax, to read, to be
For more details, please download the Program Brochure here.
Please note that we encourage that you have travel insurance as the places are non-refundable given our limited spaces.
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Who is this program for?
The program is open to anyone who has a love of sharing the table, of throwing dinner parties, of living each day with a desire and determination to turn the ordinary into something lovely. It is particularly beneficial for anyone wanting to increase their confidence in hosting or in sharing their table, but equally, it’s for anyone wanting to step out of their daily lives to connect with like-minded people in a most special part of the world around tables full of good conversation and good food.
Where is La Gonette located?
The estate sits at the base of the medieval village of Simiane-la-Rotonde in the Haute-Alpes of Provence in the south of France. A traditional farming region, it is surrounded by lavender fields and olive groves.
How do I get there?
The nearest major train stations to La Gonette are Avignon and Marseille (approximately 90 minutes drive). High-speed trains from Paris run regularly to these stations, and the journey takes around three hours. You can also fly into Marseille, which has an international airport. We will arrange group transfers from Marseille airport and train station, which is included in the program cost.
What facilities will I have access to?
Guests have access to the house and grounds of La Gonette, including gardens, terraces, pool and hammam. All utilities, including wifi, are provided.
Do I need to speak French?
While it is useful if you can speak any French, it is not necessary. Our program is run in English and fluency in English is needed to participate.How do meals work over the week?
Our in-house team of creatives and cooks will take care of all culinary needs. Breakfast, lunch, apéro and dinner are provided each day at La Gonette, as well as a lunch excursion in the area. All food is included in the program cost. Dietaries can certainly be catered for.
