Mindful
Nourishment
PAUSE TO PURIFY, FEAST TO FLORISH
At Maison ilā, mindful nourishment is woven into the very fabric of your retreat.
Each day begins with a gentle morning ritual - perhaps a dawn yoga flow or forest meditation - followed by an intermittent-fasting window (commonly 16/8, which we’ll happily explain on arrival). If your body calls for deeper rest, we offer bespoke digestive-rest days or a concentrated five- to seven-day purification, all designed to soothe your central nervous system and invite profound cellular renewal.
When it’s time to feast, you’ll savour vibrant, organic dishes crafted by our in-house naturopath to support your unique needs - think vegetarian, gluten-free delights that balance blood sugar and leave you feeling energised, never deprived. Evening meals are candlelit occasions, where slow-cooked broths, healing herbal infusions and playful plant-powered treats become part of your journey back to balance. Throughout, our team is on hand to fine-tune your menu and guide you through each step, ensuring that every bite and every pause contributes to deeper rest, heightened vitality and enduring wellbeing.
This is one of the most luscious regions of France, famed for its vineyards and delicious fresh local produce. Our chef is a wonderful, instinctive cook who lives gluten free and organic, using only locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. We believe that if we eat in harmony with the seasons we stay strong and healthy, so our menus are ever changing and inventive - green and white asparagus and nettle soup in spring time, tomatoes, courgettes and rocket when they come into abundance, little heavenly summer strawberries and, come winter, mushrooms and gluten free beetroot burgers.
“The French and their food.
They put each meal on a pedestal.”
GIADA DE LAURENTIS
If you love plants, herbs, foraging and wild harvesting then you will appreciate our nourishing, wholesome food, everything here has so much flavour and fragrance. Cheese from the markets, eggs from the village, herbs from the garden, no sugar, no gluten, a glass of wine if you feel like it. A lot of people say they feel the difference in their bodies after just a few days here.
“A lot of people say they feel the difference in their bodies after just a few days here.”
Herbal teas, tinctures and fresh tisanes to rest the adrenals and the nervous system, as well as calm digestion, are available from 7am and also kept in your room. We encourage you to sip water with your meals. Our homemade signature Elderflower cordial with lemon balm a bolstering tonic, in cooler months we like to serve homemade Indian Chai.
EXAMPLE MENUS
Nutrition on Retreat
BREAKFAST
SERVED FROM
10-11AM
Fresh vegetable juices, gluten
free breads, quinoa porridge with goji berries, carob nibs and flaxseeds, live yoghurt, smashed avocado, scrambled tofu with truffle oil, courgette hummus, fresh fruits, local cheeses, eggs from the chateau up the road, divine honey from the mountains.
LUNCH
SERVED FROM
2-3PM
Gluten free pizzas with local mushrooms and goats cheese, Moroccan platters of roasted vegetables, baked aubergines, Denise’s purifying Ayurvedic dahl, gluten free quiche with leeks and local goats’ cheese, baked stuffed tomatoes with rice, mushrooms, onions, petit pois and cheese. Carrot cake (gluten and sugar free).
SUPPER
SERVED FROM
6-7PM
Salads and soups: leek and
potato garden soup garnished with fried sage leaves or roasted tomato and sweet potato soup, and vibrant, alive seasonal salads with roasted seeds.