FOR:THE OSTHOFF RESORTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

101 Osthoff AvenueContact: Dick Griffith

Elkhart Lake, WI 53020 312/440-9900

TAKE A CLOSE-TO-HOME “FOODIE” TRIP TO FRANCE—

AT THE OSTHOFF RESORT IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN

ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN– Maybe this is not the year you’ll travel to France’s LoireValley for visits to wineries, mushroom caves, country estates and famous castles. But it easily could be the year that you’ll visit one of the finest resorts in the Midwest—and discover that there is a strong connection between the two.

That resort is the AAA Four-Diamond rated Osthoff Resort tucked into the beautiful, rolling terrain of the KettleMoraineNational Forest in southeastern Wisconsin. And that connection to food and wine is Jill Prescott, founder of one of the first authentic French-style cooking schools for home chefs in the United States (and leader of culinary trips to France).

Prescott, who for the past two years has been teaching cooking and studying viticulture in California’s NapaValley, now brings her signature participation cooking courses to The Osthoff. A cookbook author and host of the popular PBS cooking series, Jill Prescott’s Ecole de Cuisine, Prescott offers a wide range of culinary classes from one- to four-hour workshops to one-, three- and five-day courses.

These single and multi-day courses span such topics as French cuisine and pastries, artisan breads, soups and sauces, grilling and chocolate desserts. You’ll learn how to make stocks that elevate homemade soups and pick up tips for creating holiday hors d’oeuvres and instruction for preparing a full-scale holiday dinner.

Before opening the Ecole de Cuisine in her native Wisconsin, Prescott trained extensively at top Parisian culinary and wine schools. She holds advanced diplomas and certifications from many of the most famous. Her classes give you first-hand experience of the traditions of those schools. In them she shares her experiences and skills, without intimidation, but with care to preserve the principles she herself learned from those she admires most.

“Jill Prescott’s unique skills are a perfect fit for the resort,” notes Lola Roeh, general manager of The Osthoff. “She teaches artisanal French cooking in a style that is accessible yet faithful to the rich tradition of the craft. We at The Osthoff are dedicated to continuously introducing new services and amenities—such as creating the finest Spa in the Midwest and incorporating this highly regarded culinary school—as we maintain traditions of quality service that date back to the opening of the original resort in 1886.”

Classes run year-round with the five-day course providing an absorbing introduction to “Basic French Cuisine” (scheduled this year for July 9-13 and Sept. 10-14; priced at $1,275 per person).

Three-day courses focus on “Italian Trattoria” (Sept. 21-23), “French Bistro” (Oct. 12-14 and Jan.18-20, 2008) and “Bread Class” (Oct. 19-21, Jan. 11-13, 2008). The three-day courses are $575 per person.

One-day courses lasting five-to-six hours feature: “Chef’s Choice Cooking Class,” “Grilling,” “Seafood,” “French Sauces,” “Pasta & Pasta Sauces,” “Pies & Tarts,” “Cooking Organic,” “Hearty Soups & Stocks” and “Chocolate Desserts.” Prices for one-day courses are $150-$185 per person.

Workshops of one-to-four hours’ duration include: “The Perfect Breakfast”($125per person),“Crepes and Galettes” ($125 per person), “Food & Wine Pairing” ($75 per person), “French Truffles”($125 per person)and—for superchef wannabes—“Kids Cook Lunch” and “Kids Cook Red, White & Blue”(kids programs $40 per person). Should you have only an hour to spare during your visit to the resort, acquaint yourself with Jill Prescott by joining one of her wine tasting sessions.

The Osthoff Resort offers 245 spacious suites and guestrooms. One-, two- and three-bedroom suites range in size up to 2,300 square feet and feature a kitchen or kitchenette, dining and living room, TV, fireplace and private balcony. Guestrooms feature a king-size bed, private balcony, two-person whirlpool bath, wet bar and TV.

Among the resort’s other amenities are Lola’s on the Lake, a stylish restaurant that has earned plaudits from restaurant reviewers, and Aspira, a state-of-the-art destination spa that provides a holistic, organic approach to the spa experience. It offers personalized services that reflect ancient healing wisdom of indigenous peoples from around the world.

The Osthoff Resort is just an hour north of Milwaukee, less than two hours from Madison and about three hours from Chicago. For more information contact The Osthoff Resort, 101 Osthoff Avenue, Elkhart Lake, WI 53020-0151, 800-876-3399—or check the Web site at

# # #

May 2007