Download Our Winter Menu Collection

Featuring 25 recipes from the South of France for winter weather, along with menu suggestions, all designed to make your cooking experience enjoyable. Download this PDF, which includes recipes for starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts.

 Mary Jane Deeb

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Mary Jane is multilingual and decidedly multicultural. Born in Alexandria, Egypt to Slovenian-Levantine parents, Mary Jane grew up speaking French at home. Her studies and travels took her from an Irish school run by nuns to Washington, D.C., where she has lived since 1983 with her family.

This mother and now a grandmother is one accomplished lady with a doctorate in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University. She is currently the Chief of the African and Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress.

Her career has included positions as the Editor of The Middle East Journal, Director of the Omani Program at The American University in Washington D.C. and Director of the Algeria Working Group at The Corporate Council on Africa.

Mary Jane taught at both Georgetown University and The George Washington University. She worked tirelessly for the United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), America-Mideast and Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), and the US Agency for International Development in Lebanon during the civil war.

In her spare time, Mary Jane has published four mysteries: Cocktails and Murder on the Potomac which is set in Washington DC, and three others that are set in Grasse, Cannes and Nice: Murder on the Riviera, A Christmas Mystery in Provence and Death of a Harlequin. You can find Mary Jane's books here.

The beauty of Provence continues to inspire Mary Jane’s writing.

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Caroline Longstaffe · Explore · Villages Towns and Cities

Exploring the Haute-Alpes de Provence: A Rich History and Stunning Landscapes

February 27, 2026
Did you know that not far from the beaches, shopping, and glitz of the French Riviera is another world? The Southern Alps are a relatively short drive from the Côte d’Azur city of Nice. These mountains offer plenty of options for outdoor enthusiasts, including skiing, hiking, cycling, and incredible sightseeing. However, even Caroline Longstaff, a …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · French Decor & Gardens · Inspire

Discover the Stunning Art Deco Architecture of Aix-en-Provence

February 23, 2026
What is the typical architecture of Aix-en-Provence? It’s a mix of architectural styles, including Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Haussmann style, and contemporary. The city has a rich history reflected in its architectural elements, ranging from Roman baths and Gothic churches to the organized grid pattern of the 17th-century Quartier Mazarin. Yet it might be surprising to …
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François de Mélogue · Lamb · Main Course · Provencal Recipes

Moussaka d’Aubergines: A Layered History, Cooked the Provençal Way

February 18, 2026
In the long history of Mediterranean cooking, few dishes carry as much history or as many revisions as moussaka d’aubergines. Though it is most closely associated with Greece today, its roots reach further east, into the Arab world. The name comes from the Arabic musaqqā‘a, meaning “moistened,” and originally referred to a dish of eggplant …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Main Course · Provencal Recipes · Taste · Veal

Veal Tenders with Black Truffle and Wine Reduction Sauce – Tendrons de veau du rabassier – tuber brumale

February 16, 2026
Since the 18th century, the black truffle—known as the diamant noir or “black diamond”—has held a place of honour in French gastronomy. King François I famously insisted it appear at every meal, favouring the prized Périgord truffles from Provence. Today, France remains the world’s leading producer, with the Vaucluse region at the heart of its …
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