Spring 2026 Lake Placid Culinary Getaway

May 16, 17 & 18, 2026 | The Allure of Provence

The Carriage House Cooking School has once again partnered with The Mirror Lake Inn to present a weekend getaway celebrating the flavors and wines of Provence — a region where sun, sea, and soil come together to create one of the most beloved cuisines in the world.

Guests will enjoy the luxury and comfort of the Mirror Lake Inn, the pinnacle of Adirondack hospitality, while immersing themselves in the warmth and charm of Southern French cooking. Over the course of the weekend, participants will take part in multiple demonstration-style cooking classes, each designed to highlight the simplicity, freshness, and elegance of Provençal cuisine. Attendees will return home confident to recreate these dishes and share the experience with family and friends.

Chef Curtiss, former Dean of Culinary Arts at the prestigious New England Culinary Institute, has long considered the Mirror Lake Inn the ideal setting for immersive culinary weekends. A veteran of the Inn’s Food & Wine Festivals and special events, he now serves as Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director at The View Restaurant.

This weekend celebrates the sun-drenched spirit of Provence — its market-fresh ingredients, its rustic elegance, and its expressive wines. Along the way, guests will also savor the connection between the terroir of Southern France and that of the Adirondacks, where local ingredients meet Provençal inspiration.

Join us for a weekend of delicious discovery, fine wine, and unforgettable hospitality.

See the schedule and class menu below.

The Allure of Provence

The appeal of Provence lies in its sunlight, its rhythm, and its table — where food and wine are inseparable from the landscape itself. In this sun-drenched region of Southern France, life revolves around the pleasures of the season: ripe tomatoes from the garden, olives pressed into golden oil, herbs gathered from the hillsides, and rosé wine poured as freely as conversation. Each meal is a celebration of simplicity, generosity, and connection.

Unlike the bustling cafés of Paris, Provence invites you to slow down — to linger beneath the shade of plane trees and let the afternoon stretch into evening. Meals are not hurried affairs; they are experiences to be savored. From a rustic daube Provençale simmered in local red wine to the delicate flavors of bouillabaisse along the coast, each dish tells a story of land, sea, and tradition.

The wines of Provence are as captivating as its cuisine — elegant rosés, crisp whites, and earthy reds that reflect the stony soils and coastal breezes. A glass of wine here is never just a drink; it is a reflection of place, crafted with the same care and passion as the food it accompanies. Together, they form the true essence of Provençal living: rustic yet refined, relaxed yet full of vitality.

Provençal cooking has always been about balance — the marriage of the humble and the noble, the garden and the vineyard, the countryside and the coast. It honors tradition without pretense, reminding us that great meals are not about perfection, but about presence — the laughter of friends, the scent of lavender carried on the wind, the pleasure of simple ingredients prepared with heart.

As I reflect on my time in Southern France, I am reminded that the true luxury of Provence is not found in grandeur, but in its authenticity. It is a place where life’s finest moments unfold naturally — over a shared meal, a bottle of wine, and the warmth of good company.

Join us for a weekend inspired by the flavors and spirit of Provence — wonderful food, great wine, and the timeless hospitality of Mirror Lake Inn.

Friday, May 16, 2026

Welcome Reception

5:30 to 6:30 PM

Gather for a meet and greet with Chef Curtiss of the Carriage House and the Mirror Lake Inn Culinary team and Chef Dan Hurlbut. Provencal inspired hors d’oeuvres are provided and there will be a cash bar available with several varieties of provencal rose .

Saturday May 17, 2026

Cooking Demonstration | Provencal Cuisine @ Home

1:00 to 4:00 PM

In addition to the food itself, meals in Provence capture the heart of Southern France — fragrant with herbs, kissed by olive oil, and steeped in the warmth of the Mediterranean sun. Rooted in simplicity and tradition, Provençal cooking invites you to slow down and savor life’s most genuine pleasures.

“During my time in France, I discovered that the joy of Provençal cuisine lies in its purity — honest ingredients, balanced flavors, and the easy rhythm of meals shared with family and friends.”
– Chef Curtiss

Join Chef Curtiss this Saturday for a demonstration-style class celebrating the spirit and flavors of the Provençal kitchen. Learn to craft classic dishes inspired by the markets of Southern France — vibrant with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and local wines — and discover how to bring the warmth and confidence of Provençal home cooking into your own kitchen.

Expect an experience rich in flavor, tradition, and inspiration, as Chef Curtiss shares techniques and stories that connect rustic countryside simplicity with the elegance of everyday dining.

Demonstrated Recipes

Tapenade & Crostini
castelvetrano & kalamata olives, fresh parsley, capers, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice

Provencal Salad
olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, chicory, olive oil, sea salt, cracked pepper

Bouillabaisse Marseillaise
market fish & shellfish, fish stock, fennel, leek, garlic, tomato, saffron, orange, olive oil, tomato powder, rouille, croustade

Pastis Creme & Berries
pastis, cream, sugar, vanilla, strawberries, shortbread

While the foods used in this class will be primarily sourced and inspired from the Adirondacks and its surrounding farmland, Chef Curtiss will be discussing how to source products local to you that will yield you the same results.

Registration for the class includes:

printed recipe packet
bottled water

Sunday May 18, 2026

Cooking Demonstration | A Picnic In Provence

10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

As with all of his Sunday classes, Chef Curtiss will pull from the Adirondacks and its surrounding farms, rivers and forests to showcase recipes for a delicious picnic inspired brunch of sharable platters and plates.

“A picnic in Provence captures the art of living well — unhurried meals, vibrant flavors, and the pleasure of gathering outdoors amid vineyards and lavender fields.”

Chef Curtiss Hemm

Demonstrated Recipes

Ratatouille
eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, tomato, bell pepper, basil, oregano, garlic, leek, olive oil, bread

Salad Nicoise
tuna, haricot vert, endive, fingerling potato, kalamata olive, onion, hard cooked egg, tomato

Pissaladière
flatbread, caramelized onion, white anchovy, kalamata olive, olive oil, oregano,

While the foods used in this class will be primarily sourced and inspired from the Adirondacks and its surrounding farmland, Chef Curtiss will be discussing how to source products local to you that will yield you the same results.

Registration for the class includes:

printed recipe packet
bottled water

For more information about booking please call one of the Mirror Lake Inn’s reservation specialists at (518)523-2544 or info@mirrorlakeinn.com.