Download Our Summer Menu Collection

Featuring 25 recipes from the South of France for summer 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.

 Michel and Shirley

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Michel and Shirley, live in wine country, in Windsor, California. They have a full family with two beautiful daughters and five amazing grandchildren. Michel's day job is as CEO of Chancellor Health Care, a company which provides housing and services to older adults.

Previously a co-owner of a popular French bistro called Bistro des Copains located in Western Sonoma County California. The Bistro was closed in early 2015, after nine years!

In 2008, after searching for years and visiting many houses they bought a 17th century stone village house in the medieval village of Sablet which is in the Vaucluse region of Provence France.

Please read about the Sablet House (available for rent) and follow their blog Our House in Provence.

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Artists Inspired by Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Ashley Tinker’s Stunning Painting Exhibition Brings Sunflowers to Life in the Alpilles

June 16, 2026
Are you passionate about wine and art? Ashley Tinker, known as @curiousprovence on Instagram, presents her latest exhibition at Domaine de la Vallongue. Her canvases are displayed on the walls of the boutique at this picturesque vineyard in the Alpilles until August 31. Visit Domaine de la Vallongue to sample wines, purchase olive oil from …
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Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

The Lost Children Author Susan McDonald Shares Her Writing Incites and Inspiration

June 15, 2026
The Lost Children is Susan McDonald’s debut book in a series set during wartime France, inspired by true stories, locations, and events from World War II. We enjoyed speaking with Susan about her novel, research, and writing process, and we invite you to read her responses below. Read our Book Review Here About Susan McDonald …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Hotels Provence & Cote d'Azur · Stay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

Need a Luxury Escape to Provence? Hotel Capelongue Delivers

June 10, 2026
Our vacation in Provence began with an overnight flight from North America to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, followed by the TGV to Avignon. As we wound through the Luberon Valley, our driver pointed out the famous perched villages. We caught a fleeting glimpse of Lacoste and its château, once home to the Marquis …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Road Trips South of France

Top 23 Questions People Ask About Lavender in Provence

June 8, 2026
The Romans first introduced the lavender plant to the South of France in approximately the 2nd century B.C.E. Although lavender grows throughout the Mediterranean region, it is one of Provence’s most iconic symbols. To better understand the role lavender plays in this region, we answer the top questions people ask about lavender in Provence. Lavender …
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