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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

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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.

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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 …
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Keith Van Sickle · Local Food Producers · Taste · Wines and Spirits of Provence

Distillery Tasting Room Enjoying the Flavours of Provence in the Alpilles

April 27, 2026
Last year, noted St-Rémy restaurateurs Julien and Émilie Martinat decided to embark on a new adventure. They sold their restaurant and started a distillery dedicated to the flavors of Provence. Their Distillerie des Alpilles (the Alpilles are a local mountain range) launched its first product in June, a thirst-quenching pastis with local flavours like thyme …
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Inspire · Keith Van Sickle · What's On Provence & Cote d'Azur

Picasso, Kahlo, and The Little Prince at the Carrières des Lumières in Les Baux

April 17, 2026
The Carrières des Lumières (Quarry of Light) is one of the most remarkable venues in France. Described as “a magical sound and light show inside a mountain,” it’s a must-see for any visitor to Provence. This immersive show takes place in the Alpilles, at Les Baux-de-Provence, inside an old stone quarry, where art images are …
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