Greetings dear reader and friends. I’m happy to report that we’re enjoying an exceptionally lovely December in the south of France. Although the temps have dipped, we’ve been treated to a lot of late-afternoon sunshine, and this is the first year (in my soon-to-be 6 years here) that we’ve been able to take walks along […]
Read more
Greeting dear readers… or as they say in France… salut ! We are in the thick of the August holidays and honestly, if you’re not on the beach by 9am you just might find yourself hitting up the community pool… it’s busy, busy days over here… Not that anyone’s complaining, mind you. The weather is gorgeous […]
Read more
We’ve hit a bit of wet and rainy weather here in the south and while making this recipe, I realized one very important fact about fall comfort food… the smell of apples and pears simmering in a mixture of butter and sugar can go a long way to lift anyone’s spirits. In fact, I looked […]
Read more
Ahh figs… there are few festivals we enjoy as much as the annual fig fête at Solliès-Pont – a small village in the Var department, about 15 minutes from our home in Toulon. And if you can’t tell from the photos, this festival is a food-lover’s dream. The streets are lined with gorgeous, plump figs in every […]
Read more
Greetings from a very hot south of France. We’re in the middle of what the French call a canicule – heatwave. I’ve still got a few weeks until my official “holiday” time, but summer is definitely in full-swing everywhere along the Côte d’Azur. And securing a spot on the beach anytime after 9am is almost […]
Read more
It’s finally happened. After months of very un-south-of-France–like weather, we’re at the start of a very hot summer. And you’ll find no complaints here. After hearing more than my fair share of weather–grumblings from French colleagues and family (what, the French complain?), it’s nice to see those scowls replaced by big smiles … and complete wardrobe […]
Read more
As we get further into the heart of a Provençal spring, the more vibrant the markets become and the more interesting the cooking opportunities. Apart from the seafood and fish merchants, the real draw of the season is the abundance of fresh vegetables – tomatoes, white, green & violet asparagus, and more varieties of artichokes than […]
Read more
Well, we’ve officially settled into winter and are enjoying all the wonderful comfort foods that come with the season. Think cheese, and lots of it. Although not much happens in Provence during these few chilly months, we’re making the most of our most trusted remedy to beat the winter blues… a well-stocked kitchen. Between the […]
Read more
It will soon be three years that I have lived in France, and as the years pass I become more and more invested in learning as much as I can about French traditions…especially at this time of the year. I love seeing the different Christmas decorations, fairs & markets, and, most importantly, digging into the […]
Read more
It is with great pleasure that I present a guest post from cookbook author and food writer Wini Moranville. After spending six weeks each summer in France for almost 20 years, Wini has decided to share 250 simple, French recipes that she has perfected over the years. In writing the Bonne Femme cookbook, her […]
Read more
A few days ago was Thanksgiving, and as much as I love living in France, it’s difficult not being in the US during the holidays. There’s a real longing to be where things feel familiar and to spend time with friends & family. Every year I find myself “rediscovering” something that I love about American […]
Read more
During the week, I sometimes get the opportunity to drive to the “countryside” to do a lesson for a client who prefers to work at home. As much as I enjoy teaching, I also enjoy the quiet time in the car… driving through the villages & taking in the changing landscape. Driving the same village […]
Read more
Well, it’s been hot, hot, hot in the South of France as we ride out what the French call a canicule – heatwave. And as I’ve just had my first day back to work after the traditional August vacation period, it’s hard not to want to escape to the beaches with the rest of the […]
Read more
If you glance at the kiosks around this time of year in France, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a food magazine that isn’t offering dessert recipes for “fruits rouge“. All berries are put on display this time of year, but only one plump beauty really holds center stage: the strawberry. And really, not just any […]
Read more