A traditional Provencal clafoutis with a thoughtful twist… pitted cherries.

The ingredients are few for this dish – pain de mie (I really think the bread must be pain de mie – and never sour dough; anyone in France want to weigh in?), ham, cheese, béchamel sauce, and mustard. There are (if you look online) hundreds of recipes, each with a slight variation: the cheese in the béchamel or the cheese on top; mustard on both pieces of bread, or just one side; toast the bread, grill the sandwich, bake it, broil it, or a hybrid. Basically, they all work!

This Cocoa & Lavender is perfect for vegetarians, but we are pretty sure even your carnivore friends will be begging for seconds. David combines bright colours, fresh vegetable (in season) and a zesty curry flavour into an all-star dish.

In David’s Cocoa and Lavender post for Pâté au Thon he turns ordinary canned tuna into a masterpiece. The full recipe is below for what might just become your go-to “impress the guests” appetizer.

In his easy recipe, David has combined iconic tastes of Provence – tomatoes, fennel and Pastis – into a bowl (original Cocoa & Lavender post here). In summer months, local market stands showcase tomatoes of every description from trendy multi-coloured heirloom varieties to a Provencal version of the juicy beefsteak to tiny …

recipe from Provence combines onions that have been cooked for so long they are almost melting, anchovies and olives add design flair and a slightly salty edge to this pizza-like dish. Pissaladière is often served as a snack with an apéro (think chilled rosé) or as a light meal with a green salad.