Where does our food come from?
Food & Rhythm
A kitchen with a garden. A garden with a village.
We believe food should be grown with care and eaten with joy. Most of what we serve is seasonal, chemical-free, and grown right here in our garden—tended by our farm manager, John, and often by the children too.
Our food ethos is rooted in our early work in the UK, where we ran nature-based clubs and worked closely with Natural Chefs. We saw how children flourished when they were invited into the process. It shifted relationships, built confidence, and made even the fussiest eaters curious. That spirit lives on here.
We source additional produce from the weekly Saturday market—think local goat cheese, organic vegetables, and meat from trusted regional farmers. There’s also a brilliant organic shop nearby, stocked with pantry staples and fresh produce for families who like to cook more at weekends.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about knowing where your food comes from, being part of the process, and finding rhythm through shared meals.
Sample menu coming..
Cooked with care
Our kitchen is led by trained Natural Chefs—people who know how to make a meal both grounding and joyful. Meals here are mostly vegetarian, with Mediterranean influences and clean, whole ingredients. No ultra-processed shortcuts. Just food that’s thoughtful, diverse, and nourishing.
We’ve learned through experience—especially with our own children—that food needs to feel safe, not overwhelming. That’s why we take a gentle, staged approach. Simple starters like crudités, dips, or warm bread are placed on the table first, giving children space to ease into the meal. The rest unfolds slowly, so there’s time to explore, not pressure to perform.
We don’t serve “kid food.” We serve real food that includes children—because they deserve variety, flavour, and the chance to build confidence at the table.
Food and Inclusion
We know that food can be joyful—but also complicated. Some children arrive here with sensory challenges, restricted diets, or past experiences that make mealtimes stressful. We welcome all of it.
We’re familiar with ARFID and other food-related sensitivities, and we take a calm, pressure-free approach to eating. Our team is trained to meet children where they are, without judgement or expectation. No one is forced to try. No one is left out.
We also do our best to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions. Let us know what your family needs—we’ll listen, adapt, and work with you.
At ReCreation, food isn’t a battleground. It’s a shared language. And every child deserves a seat at that table.
Rhythm of the Week
Jump into your week with style
Our weekly rhythm is shaped by food, community, and the art of slowing down. It’s not rigid, but it holds a gentle structure—enough to let families settle into something that feels like a shared flow.
Breakfast is served each morning in the Orangery—a light, nourishing spread designed with children in mind and free from refined sugars. You can take it slow, or grab something before heading into the day’s adventures.
Lunch and dinner are served Monday to Friday. Three evenings each week, we eat together as a village—followed by live music, storytelling, or a cultural gathering. On the other nights, families cook for themselves in their apartments. It’s a balance of togetherness and space.
Small rituals return each week:
Pizza night with the wood-fired oven
Modern family choir around the fire
Herbal teas shared as the day winds down
Food and fermentation workshops for teens and adults
Food is also part of how children learn here. In Nature Club, they forage, harvest, and help prepare real dishes—like making wild garlic pesto to serve with dinner. Parents are welcome to join in too. Whether it’s a chopping board or a shared pot, mealtimes often become the thread that ties us back together.
And when the weekend comes, you won’t be left wondering. We’ll have a printed itinerary waiting—fêtes, markets, wild swims, local hikes, and tips for visiting places like Lyon or Marseille by train. We’ll even help you hire a car if you want one.
Why it matters?
We’ve seen it first-hand: food changes everything.
Back when we ran our social enterprise in the UK, we watched children come alive when they were invited into the process—pulling up potatoes on the farm, tasting wild food straight from the hedgerow with our forager, making all kinds of wonderful whole food treats. It built trust. It calmed anxiety. It made space for joy.
That philosophy hasn’t changed. At ReCreation, food isn’t just a perk of the stay—it’s the heartbeat. It’s how we bring people together, how we support emotional safety, and how we celebrate the everyday.
We believe food can be a form of resistance. A way to reclaim care in a rushed world. A way to remember where we come from—and to offer our children something different.
So whether your child is pulling up carrots with John, watching their sourdough starter come alive, or stirring a pot beside one of our chefs—something is being passed on. Quietly. Beautifully.
That’s why food matters here.
