Ahh… memories of our New England summers, when we lived in Maine and could amble to the end of the street to buy lobster from shops on the piers over the tidal creeks of coastal Maine… or bicycle to nearby seafood shacks for lobster rolls. Now, our ocean is the …

When it comes to Mediterranean cuisine, the “borders” are blurry. Long before the EU made inter-European travel more flexible, culinary influences moved organically between countries. The following recipe for White Bean and Tuna Salad is a perfect example, as it could just as easily appear on a menu in Marseille …

When the weather is warm (hot), I love to serve a big plate of fresh greens lightly dressed with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar or lemon juice, topped with slices of grilled chicken cutlets and fresh farmers market tomatoes. I marinate the chicken in the same salad dressing ingredients, …

Where’s the beef, you ask? It’s cleverly wrapped like a little holiday gift for your table! I often think of Beef Wellington as a holiday dish, but it’s perfect for any special occasion. Including my birthday, which is in August! A French chef might put you through your paces to …

Salty food and oily fish is a wine pairing challenge. However, nothing that Cocoa & Lavender wasn’t willing to try. Taking inspiration from southern France, this delicious warm platter of feta and sardines paired beautifully with two Acquiesce wines. Producing only Rhône-style white and rosé wines, Acquiesce Winery is a …

As the weather in the Sonoran Desert finally cools down, the morning temperatures are just low enough to use the fireplace. Once winter arrives, I  look forward to that first fire and spend all morning staring into the flames. Along with those indolent desert winter days come the addictive comfort …

You might shy away from bread making, but this simple Cocoa and Lavender recipe for a French Brioche Loaf will make you reconsider. Our friend Barbara took a no-knead brioche bun recipe and turned it into a loaf. This easy loaf has become one of our favourite bread for sandwiches …

While this recipe is not typically Provencal, aubergine (eggplant) and tomatoes are plentiful in the region, and we highly recommend trying this vegetarian dish. While we will always love a variety of meats, poultry, and seafood, we add more vegetarian options for our health! Melanzane a’Scarpone is one of our favourite …

Why does Mark get this 15 minutes of fame? Because even though it’s my birthday dinner, today’s recipe — his “Chicken Marccata” recipe — takes but 15 minutes to make and less time to eat, if you like it as much as I do. Yes, Mark can cook and could …

As you know, I am a big fan of traditional foods. One of my favourites is the Tarte Tatin, an upside-down apple tart. While there are many upside-down tarts and cakes in French cuisine (tartes renversées, gateaux renversés), the Tatin is made with apples. The Tarte Tatin was created (by …