Le Tour de France, the legendary cycling race, marks the beginning of summer in France. For three weeks, the pre-eminent world cyclists crisscross France, engaging in speed and climbing challenges that mere mortals can barely fathom. The 2020 Tour de France starts in Nice: two full days and the start …

Provence is an intriguing place for food lovers and what we like to showcase during our culinary adventures. Traditional Provencal cuisine comes from basic roots. Recipes are typically uncomplicated making use of seasonal produce, wild herbs (herbes de Provence), fish scraps and slow-cooked meats. Here is my recipe for slow-cooked …

Sometimes in life, you just need to hit the “easy” button and lean towards relaxed entertaining. There is nothing complicated about an evening of wine, cheese and charcuterie. And, this seemed like the perfect moment. It was the eve of a minor surgical procedure that was to keep me off …

Village Life Sablet From the day we began our search for a house in the South of France, our top priority was for the house to be located within walking distance of village business’ including a boulangerie (bakery). As readers know, we ended up buying a house in the middle of Sablet, a …

Luberon Villages A sleepy village that is stunning and peaceful and ranks high on the charm factor, Oppède-le-Vieux makes me return again and again. It tears my heartstrings to say goodbye to it at the end of our yearly trips, knowing I won’t lay eyes on it for a year. …

Finding a way forward while staying in place Dear Friends, During this pandemic, I find myself in my art studio sanctuary. I am using this time to reflect on my wanderlust and travels while revisiting my photo collection of times past. For now, I am enjoying Provence (virtually), reflecting on …

Pastilla is a typical Moroccan dish, which we learned to make on our last culinary adventure to Marrakesh. Layers of pastry similar to phyllo wrap around a savoury filling of shredded chicken, spicy seafood or a vegetarian mixture. The traditional pastilla (bastilla or b’stilla) found in Marrakech is a sweet …

Sweet Marseille Treats Navettes de Marseille are sweet biscuits from the region found at markets and some pastry shops. These dull, cream coloured cookies are almost hard enough to break your teeth.  The navettes are the culinary representation of the modest boat believed to have transported St Lazarus and the …

There is something je ne sais quoi about a classic French Apple Tart, actually that is not true. I know exactly what it is about this French dessert that is so attractive. The fruit is always perfectly cut, and artfully arranged. However, the key to a French fruit tart, in my view, is the effect of the glaze – the dessert sparkles.

Enamoured with Provence, Caroline Longstaffe is one of our regular contributors. Her blog, Shutters and Sunflowers, is about passion, living the journey and not waiting to get to the destination. A traveller at heart, Caroline says she was most probably born under a wandering star. Born in England, she lives …