Gayle Padgett

Gayle Smith Padgett, a UCLA graduate, has two master’s degress, neither in French. After studying in Mexico and South America, she worked as a language specialist in California and Virginia and later as a management analyst and US government liaison in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2011, she and her husband moved to Provence where they continue to crack French culture codes.

Discover more about Gayle's backstory and writing on her website - gaylesmithpadgett.com and read her books Passion for Provence: 22 Keys to La Belle Vie and The Birdwatcher's Wife: A Quest across France for Birds and La Belle Vie.

“Bird Calls” an Excerpt from A Northern Light in Provence by Elizabeth Birkelund

September 8, 2025

Elizabeth Birkelund’s A Northern Light in Provence is a novel about a woman who leaves her house on stilts on the western coast of Greenland to translate the work of a renowned elderly Provençal poet. In this scene, the poet escorts his new young translator friend into his vineyard, land owned by his thirteenth-century forebears, …

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire · What's On Provence & Cote d'Azur

2025 Provence Fall Festivals and Events

September 5, 2025

Fall Events and Festivals in Provence As the temperatures drop in Provence during the autumn, restaurant menus move towards heartier dishes. Enjoy slow-roasted meat (lamb, wild boar, bull (taureaux), rabbit, fowl) with herbes de Provence and seasonal root vegetables. These recipes pair well with well-balanced red wine blends from the Rhône Valley. Fall Recipes Inspired …

Keith Van Sickle · Taste · Wines and Spirits of Provence

Taste the Passion for Pastis in St-Rémy from Distillerie des Alpilles

September 3, 2025

For years, Julien and Émilie Martinat ran the popular Chapeau de Paille restaurant in St-Rémy. It drew broad acclaim for its delicious Provençal dishes, such as le grand aïoli, and was named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the 10 unmissable restaurants in Provence. But after decades in the restaurant business, the couple …

French Decor & Gardens · Guest Post · Inspire

L’art de vivre méditerranéen : inspirations pour un intérieur à la provençale

September 1, 2025

This guest article by the team at Herman & Arnal was previously published in English. You can read it here. Il y a dans l’air du Sud quelque chose de différent. Une douceur qu’on sent dès qu’on ouvre les volets le matin, que la lumière filtre doucement à travers les branches d’un olivier. Ici, le …

Keith Van Sickle · Restaurant Recommendations · Taste

Aux Envies in St-Rémy a Restaurant with an All-star Team

August 29, 2025

There’s a new restaurant in town, and it’s a winner. Aux Envies opened in the spring and has hit the ground running. It is situated on a small square in the center of St-Rémy-de-Provence, and its outdoor terrace, shaded by trees, is an inviting place to dine on a warm summer evening. An Experienced Team …

David Scott Allen · Main Course · Pork · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Almost a Classic! My Recipe for Pork Tenderloin in a Mustard Cream Sauce

August 26, 2025

Do you have go-to recipes that you can practically make in your sleep? I have been tweaking this recipe for pork tenderloin in a mustard cream sauce for decades. When I say tweaking, the beauty of this recipe is that there are six (6) ingredients, and it’s easy to make and almost failproof. Recently, I …

Artists Inspired by Provence · Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Cezanne à Château Noir, a book by William Drea Adams and Thierry Maugenest

August 21, 2025

The authors of Cezanne à Château Noir are passionate admirers of Paul Cezanne’s art. The book centers around Château Noir, a private estate located on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence, near Le Tholonet. This stunning location offers views of Mont Saint-Victoire and continues to inspire artists even today. After visiting Château Noir three years ago, William …

Eygalières Hotel: Domaine La Pierre Blanche

The moment you drive through the front gate, you enter the embrace of this exclusive 15-room boutique hotel located minutes from Eygalières.

Alpilles
Boutique Hotels

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Le Clos du Buis Hotel in Bonnieux

Le Clos du Buis welcomes guests to a family-run 10 room hotel in the heart of Bonnieux in the Luberon Valley. Tasteful Provencal décor combined with modern comforts.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Boutique Hotels

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3 Rental Apartments Near Aix-en-Provence

La Bastide des Amandiers has 3 self-contained apartments. The layout provides plenty of privacy and different spaces. A perfect place to spend time in the Luberon.

Luberon
Vaucluse
One Bedroom

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Luberon B&B Absoluut Valvert

Exclusive and charming, this 5 room B&B is surrounded by nature yet is only a stone's throw from historical Bonnieux.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Bed and Breakfast

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Malaucène: Charming B&B and Guest Cottage

Bed and Breakfast with 5 bedrooms and a private cottage is located just a few minutes from Vaison La Romaine.

Vaucluse
Bed and Breakfast

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Provence Marketplace

Ceramic Baskets Made in France

Maison Pichon is an artisanal French ceramics manufacturer since 1802. Available in three (3) colours, these elegant oval-shaped, ceramic baskets are perfect for fruit, vegetables, or anything else. Handcrafted in Uzès by Maison Pichon these ceramic baskets with a braided design and tiny flowers are sold individually.

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Quilted Tote Bags in Provencal Fabrics

These large tote bags come in a range of Provencal fabrics. Whether you choose lavender, wild flowers or one of the other two patterns these sturdy bags are light yet strong enough to carry all the necessary accessories and even a laptop. The bags are made with printed and quilted fabric and have solid handles.

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Bright and Beautiful Table Linens from Provence

Discover the Beaulieu linen collection features Provence's iconic sunflower in yellows and blues. This collection includes , napkins and table runners. Made with 100% cotton these products from Remember Provence are durable and easy to clean.

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Stylish Cooler Bag from Provence

Le Rob'Fresh is a lightweight cooler bag for bottles, lunch or even a picnic. The cooler bag weighs 300g (10 oz) and can hold 2.8 kg (6 lbs). Available in a collection of designs. The fabric is OEKO-TEX® certified, and the bags have an environmentally-friendly kraft gel pack. Le Rob'Fresh medium version is L 37 cm (14.5 in) x H 25cm (10 in) x W 10 cm (4 in). The bags are machine-washable (in cold). Price is 35€ + shipping.

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French Linen Table Runner

A linen table runner that is the perfect combination of rustic and refined. The embroidered stitching enhances the neutral-coloured linen. Add this French Address runner to your collection.

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Provencal Market Basket

My French Country Home sourced this classic French market basket. This basket is great for shopping, picnics or days at the beach. Made from palm fibre with leather straps, you can even use it as a handbag!

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Antique French Basket

My French Country Home sourced this classic French wicker basket. It is ideal for harvesting flowers, vegetables or fruit around the garden! The wicker basket is attached to two wooden feet, giving it extra weight and height. It is a lovely piece.

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Beautiful Ceramic Breadbaskets

Handcrafted in Uzès by Maison Pichon these ceramic breadbaskets are sold individually. Maison Pichon is an artisanal French ceramics manufacturer since 1802. Available in four (4) colours, these beautiful hand-made ceramic baskets are perfect for bread or simply decorating your table.

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Cotton Tote Bag with Lavender Design

This lightweight tote bag has a beautiful watercolour design of a flowering lavender field printed on the front. Each L'AUGUSTE Provence tote bag is unique and entirely handmade in Provence.

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Download Our Summer Menu Collection

Gayle Padgett

“Bird Calls” an Excerpt from A Northern Light in Provence by Elizabeth Birkelund

2025 Provence Fall Festivals and Events

Taste the Passion for Pastis in St-Rémy from Distillerie des Alpilles

L’art de vivre méditerranéen : inspirations pour un intérieur à la provençale

Aux Envies in St-Rémy a Restaurant with an All-star Team

Almost a Classic! My Recipe for Pork Tenderloin in a Mustard Cream Sauce

Cezanne à Château Noir, a book by William Drea Adams and Thierry Maugenest

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