Download Our Spring Menu Collection

This seasonal collection features 19 recipes, including starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Featuring seasonal ingredients such as artichokes, asparagus, lamb, and strawberries. Download this PDF, which includes for recipes for entertaining at this time of the year.

 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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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Guided Holiday Tours

Want to Understand Olive Traditions? Book Curated Travel to Provence

May 15, 2026
Martine Bertin-Peterson, the founder of Goût et Voyage LLC, runs small-group tours in Provence, Umbria, Normandy, and Morocco. Creating unforgettable travel memories, Martine serves as the escort for all Goût et Voyage culinary travel adventures. These tours bring together her lifelong passions for travel, cooking, and culture. In Provence, Umbria, and Morocco, olives and olive …
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Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

An Exclusive Literary Event: Susan McDonald Unveils ‘The Lost Children’ in Nice, France

May 13, 2026
Join author Susan McDonald at the charming Read The Room Bookstore and Coffeeshop on Rue Papon in Nice on Saturday, May 30. Susan McDonald is an author whose personal journey from curious tourist to acclaimed novelist is as compelling as her writing. This event marks the launch of her debut novel, The Lost Children, the …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Villages Towns and Cities

The Reasons Why Visitors Choose Avignon, France, and Some Stay Longer

May 11, 2026
Maureen Steinberg grew up amid the sun-soaked energy of Southern California, spending years in the lively sprawl of Los Angeles. In 2020, she set out for something entirely new, trading LA’s endless buzz for Avignon’s gentle rhythms, a picturesque gem in France. That leap from the West Coast’s largest city to Avignon’s charm must have …
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Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Author Jérémy Lastavel Reveals How Photos are Powerful Historical Echos

May 8, 2026
When Jérémy Lastavel invited us to explore his latest coffee table book, L’Écho des Siècles St-Paul de Vence, we were curious, not knowing what wonders awaited within. The book surprised us with its vivid portrayal of Provencal history, woven together through bilingual storytelling and mesmerizing digital imagery. Each photograph transported us, page by page, as …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Hotels Provence & Cote d'Azur · Stay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

A New Chapter in Provence: The Reopening of Mas de Guilles in Lourmarin

May 4, 2026
Tucked into the rolling hills of the Luberon Valley, the newly restored Mas de Guilles invites discerning travellers to indulge in a luxurious retreat. Surrounded by the breathtaking Provençal countryside, this boutique hotel reopened its doors in Lourmarin this spring, unveiling a seamless blend of historic allure and contemporary four-star sophistication. “A hidden gem, where …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Guided Holiday Tours

What is the TripUSAFrance Tour Difference? Founder Julia Shares Her Story

May 1, 2026
Julia Girard-Gervois leads TripUSAFrance, a boutique travel agency she founded in 2015 alongside her parents in France. Their vision is simple: invite guests to discover southern France as locals do, with warmth and genuine connection. From April through September, they run tours in Normandy and Southern France. The TripUSAFrance tour group sizes are small to …
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