Author Elizabeth Bard’s Perfectly Provence Local’s Tips

The Chief Tasting Officer (CTO) at Scaramouche Artisan Glacier is Author Elizabeth Bard’s husband Gwendal. This Franco-American couple is jointly forging a sweet career path in the village of Cérèste. Fueled by the seasonal flavours of their new home in Provence, Elizabeth and Gwendal determined that their careers should be more local.

They opened an ice cream parlour.

We asked Elizabeth about the realities of running a seasonal, food-based, business in a small village. This is what she shared:

July and August are our busiest months, but we’ve worked hard to create a warm and friendly place for the locals so that we can keep things going year round. In August 2014, Trip Advisor came out with their list of the Top Ten ice cream parlours in France and Scaramouche was tied for #5! That has helped with local word of mouth and publicity. We have a small tearoom inside, so we serve Italian style hot chocolate and organic teas in the fall. We also have a great run up to the Christmas season, when we make our special Buches de Noel cakes. We sold so many last year that we had to sell our own personal Christmas dessert just to fill an order!

You can read about Elizabeth’s books Lunch in Paris and Picnic in Provence in this blog post.

Elizabeth agreed to share her Perfectly Provence with readers:

DISCOVER

I am not much for formal sightseeing, but the ochre trails in Roussillon or Rustrel are gorgeous.

Go to one of the outdoor morning markets Apt, Forcalquier, Reillanne (that’s my Sunday market) or Coustellet, and buy some provisions for a picnic!

Go to one of the small hilltop villages like Lurs, which has a lovely view of the surrounding countryside and lavender fields.

Look out for signs for local village “brocante” or “vide greniers” – small flea markets. They’re great for picking up odd treasures!

TASTE

The heirloom tomatoes (June-Oct)

The fresh figs (July-Sept)

The melons (July-August)

And, of course, the Honey & Thyme ice cream or lemon verbena sorbet from Scaramouche!

Tempted?

Drop by Scaramouche for a scoop or two or pick-up Elizabeth’s books and dream about owning your own ice cream shop in Provence.

Image Credits: All Photos (except ochre cliffs) were provided by and published with the permission of Elizabeth Bard and the Hachette Book Group

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).