This summer when we were in Provence visiting family and pre-planning for our group tour, I noticed a developing trend for appetizers. The traditional black olive tapenade is of course always present. However, there is a movement to use alternative ingredients to create hummus-like dips, I call these spreads ades. …

I  am deeply moved by Jean-Andre Charial’s philosophical book “Lunch in Provence.” More correctly, it strengthened my conviction that the foundation of great food lies not only in the provenance of ingredients and simplicity of preparation but in emotion and passion while enjoying it. Charial spoke of lovely, outdoor makeshift lunches where just-picked …

Try this recipe for Provencal Duck Stew before the weather gets too warm. This dish is a great main course for long summer lunches or dinner parties because it is best prepared ahead of time and reheated. Make this recipe in advance and it will allow you to enjoy the …

This recipe is definitely for chocolate lovers! An adaptation of Jean-Andre Charial’s chocolate mousse (mousseux au chocolate, craquant au grue de cacao, crème glacée au caramel) for home cooks. This is a slightly simplified version of Charial’s chocolate mousse that does not lose any of its deliciousness in the translation. Almost …

Marseille Fish Soup – Soupe de Poissons You will want to make a big batch and freeze what you don’t eat. Making fish soup at home can be a very messy, labor-intensive process.

Ramp Pasta Made like Pate Nicoise: In Nice, they often make green gnocchi (Pate Nicoise) that simmers in the broth for the last 30 minutes. This year I tried something new, I made a classic Pate Nicoise (see recipe at the bottom), using wild ramps in place of the more traditional Swiss chard, and the results were stunning.

As summer segues into fall, I cannot help but hope summer will linger on just a bit longer. It’s not the Pacific Northwest’s impending rainy season or even the imminent cold weather that I fear, it’s just that no other season expresses Provence more succinctly. Fall in Provence Summer is …

This slow-cooked pork stew will fill your home with delicious aromas. If you are lucky enough to forage for your own cepes, you with think you landed in autumnal heaven.

This recipe turns seasonal apples into the best doughnuts ever. No one (or at least no one I know) can resist a homemade apple beignet served with caramel ice cream. It’s slightly fussy to deep-fry the battered apples while your guests are there, but trust me they won’t mind at all.

No other soup, save for bouillabaisse (which really can’t be called a soup), clearly defines Provence more aptly than Soupe au Pistou. It’s the edible history of the ‘arrière-pays’ or hinterlands of Provence, where farmers have long tended their fields of vegetables and fruits. There are several versions of Soupe …