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.

 Keith Van Sickle

blank

Keith and Val Van Sickle made their first trip to Provence decades ago, and it was love at first sight. After that, they came back every year until 2008, when they began a part-time life there, splitting their time between Provence and California.

Over the years, they’ve travelled all over Provence, seeing sights both well-known and obscure. Their French friends have introduced them to favourite restaurants and wineries and picnic spots and taught them funny local expressions (not all for polite company).

Keith now shares this local knowledge in his new book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. Packed with the Van Sickles’ favourite things to see and do, it’s a must-have for anyone travelling to this glorious corner of France.

Keith previously published two books about the couple's experiences in Provence. One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence, and Are We French Yet?, both are available from Amazon.

You can see all of Keith’s blog posts at Life in Provence.

blank
Keith Van Sickle · Restaurant Recommendations · Taste

Dining at Château des Alpilles in St-Rémy-de-Provence and Feel like Royalty

August 17, 2026
On a warm evening, there’s no better place for a special meal than Château des Alpilles in St-Rémy-de-Provence. It’s a hotel-restaurant that has been delighting visitors since the 19th century. A Spectacular Setting It’s not just that the food is delicious; the setting is spectacular, too. You arrive via a long driveway bordered by century-old …
Continue Reading
blank
Keith Van Sickle · Restaurant Recommendations · Taste

For Delicious Gluten-free Pastry in St-Rémy-de-Provence, Try Chez Nouch

August 10, 2026
There’s a new patisserie in St-Rémy-de-Provence, and it’s a hit. Chez Nouch opened its doors in May and is already creating a buzz. Founded by Lucie Durand, daughter of famed chocolatier Joël Durand, it offers high-quality, entirely gluten-free pastries. Cakes, cookies, entremets, bagel sandwiches, and more are available at her shop near the town’s main …
Continue Reading
blank
Keith Van Sickle · Restaurant Recommendations · Taste

Dining at Maison Favier in St-Rémy’s Prettiest Square

July 10, 2026
Place Favier is the prettiest square in St-Rémy-de-Provence, with beautiful trees that provide welcome shade in the summer. It is lined with a variety of restaurants, and my favourite of these is Maison Favier. Owner Jérôme Orlandini describes his cuisine as “creative, seasonal, local, and fresh, featuring a distinct Mediterranean influence. It spans everything from …
Continue Reading
blank
Keith Van Sickle · Restaurant Recommendations · Taste

Small Town Fine Dining Experience in Maillane in Provence’s Alpilles

June 22, 2026
For fine dining in a comfortable setting, it’s hard to beat Maison Bernard in Maillane. The chef, thirty-something Jérémy Scalia, has already been honoured with a Michelin star for his work at Hotel Tourrel in St-Rémy-de-Provence. Now with his own restaurant, Scalia offers Mediterranean-Provençal cuisine, featuring local, seasonal ingredients and an emphasis on seafood. He …
Continue Reading