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Download Our Summer Menu Collection

Since summer entertaining should be a breeze, this collection, designed with simplicity in mind, features 20 easy-to-follow recipes and a few menu suggestions. Download this PDF, which includes recipes for starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts.
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 David Scott Allen

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David Scott Allen is the author, photographer, and cook behind Cocoa & Lavender, a weekly food blog based in Tucson, Arizona. Passionate about travel, he especially enjoys eating traditional foods and learning local customs, whether in the United States or around the globe.

David's first trip to France took place when he was 14, and he returned as often as possible thereafter. However, it wasn't until his 50th birthday that he finally made it south to Provence. The beauty, history, charm, warmth, cuisine, and - of course - the rosé wines captured his heart. He shares his Provençal recipes here on Perfectly Provence, and his food and wine pairings monthly on the Provence WineZine.

David is a firm believer that sharing a meal with friends around the table is one of life's greatest pleasures. And if it happens to be in Provence, all the better!

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David Scott Allen · Fish & Seafood · Main Course · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Mid-Week Meal in Minutes Smoky Cinnamon Salmon with Mushroom Lentils

May 2, 2018
This recipe for Smoky Cinnamon Salmon with Mushroom Lentils is a mid-week "go-to" favourite for many reasons, but the first is it can be made in under 30-minutes. The second reason is one of my favourite spices is Spanish smoked paprika, known in Spain as pimentón. Although you can use regular paprika or Espelette pepper (Piment d'Espelette) from the Pays Basque in France,…
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Appetizer · David Scott Allen · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Salt and Pepper Calamari a Spicy Appetizer

April 27, 2018
Sometimes a sampling of little bites makes for a  more interesting evening than a single main course. The Spanish have this perfected with their culinary tradition of tapas and pintxos. We decided quite a while a go to celebrate the New Year (on Paris time) and to do so by tasting our way around the world, in small bites. This year was no different. The seafood themed plates started with skewered shrimp and ended with Salt and Pepper Calamari.…
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Appetizer · David Scott Allen · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Goat Blue Cheese and Pear Timbales a Light Starter Course

April 4, 2018
This recipe combines sharp, creamy blue goat cheese and ripe Anjou pears in a lovely savoury flan or timbales. The Anjou pear is also called the Genovian pear (in Italy), and perhaps that is a good example of the transferability of the language of cooking. A timbale in French cuisine is a sweet or savoury, custard-like recipe that is cooked in a cylindrical pan or bottomless dish (flan ring). In Italian, the same dish is called a Timballo.…
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Appetizer · David Scott Allen · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Spicy Carrot Goat Cheese Pâté a Recipe for those Bits in the Fridge

March 30, 2018
We all agree that food waste is terrible, and in North America where shopping for many tends to involve large format stores with bulk packaging...often we buy too much. Even if you are a conscious shopper and dedicated cook like David sometimes there end up being some leftover bits in the fridge. Now, in Cocoa & Lavender's kitchen nothing gets wasted so he created this recipe for spicy carrot goat cheese pâté.…
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David Scott Allen · Main Course · Poultry · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Mom’s Dijon Chicken a Dinner Classic in Under 30-Minutes

March 27, 2018
Every cook needs to have a few "go-to" recipes tucked in their apron. These recipes are the ones that you can make without checking to see if you have the ingredients, you know are delicious, and never fail to impress your guests. For me, my mother's Dijon Chicken, a simple baked poultry dish that is ready in under 30-minutes, is a go-to combination.…
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David Scott Allen · Main Course · Poultry · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Seared Duck Breast with Clementine-Pomegranate Beurre Blanc

February 20, 2018
Seared duck breast is quick and easy to cook. The meat is seared on high-temperature for about 5 minutes a side, then allowed to rest. However, the trick with duck is to create just the right sauce - fruity, savoury, wine or port. The inspiration for this recipe comes from Christmas flavours (citrus and pomegranate) and colours, and I served it for good friends during the holidays.…
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