Christmas Traditions 13 Desserts of Provence @PerfProvence
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottProvencal RecipesTaste

Discover the Tradition of the 13 Desserts of Christmas in Provence

A buffet table laden with 13 desserts! How could the French be so smug as to think that North Americans with our turkey-centric Christmas dinners, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and a variety of sides are excessive? Or so I felt when I first heard about this holiday tradition. However, …

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Breathtaking Provence Tour Culinary Travel
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottExploreGuided Holiday Tours

Why You Should Explore Breathtaking Provence this Fall

Provence in Autumn Almost anyone with an artistic eye – photographers, painters, Instagrammers – love Provence for its beautiful light. Famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gaugin Paul Cézanne and Pablo Picasso all captured the ever-changing luminosity on their canvases. Provence is glorious in any season, however during …

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Mas d'Augustine France Chambre d’Hôte
Barefoot BloggerBed & Breakfasts in ProvenceStay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

A Southern France Chambre d’Hôte: The Season Finale

Now that we’ve followed a year in the life of Brit expats, Jane and Gary, at their southern France chambre d’hôte, let’s see how the season ends at Mas d’Augustine. (The excerpt below is from Jane). The September and October sunshine is glorious, with lovely warm afternoons and slightly chilly …

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Aix-en-Provence Burger Bars Five Guys
AixcentricRestaurant RecommendationsTaste

Aix-en-Provence is Sprouting New Burger Bars!

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: A bit shocking to come back to Aix and find two burger bars about to open in town, one each end of the Cours Mirabeau! ‘J’aimerais qu’ils aillent ailleurs’, said Mayor Marysse Joissans, but they must have had a green light as ‘Five Guys’ opens in …

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Seafood Holiday Menu Christmas Holiday Menu 2017
David Scott AllenProvencal RecipesSeasonal MenusTaste

Seafood Holiday Menu for the Christmas Season

As you have probably gathered, we like to entertain; we love having friends and family around our table. Any occasion is a great reason to try a new recipe or return to that one that never fails. December festivities are an excuse to pull out the china, the fancy wine …

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Lumières des Alpilles JF Galeron
Books on ProvenceCarolyne Kauser-AbbottInspirePhotographers in Provence

Capturing Provencal Beauty in Photos Lumières des Alpilles

Local photographer Jean François Galeron shared that taking photos for his book Lumières des Alpilles was not difficult. Completing a photo journal dedicated to his corner of Provence was a project he had contemplated for over 30 years. The hard part was culling thousands of images into a stunning 212-page collection. …

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Wine France Labels Made in France
Jill BarthTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Wine Notes: What Does it Mean to Be Made in France?

Contributor blog post by Jill Barth: Earlier this month, I lined up a set of wine bottles from France. Each one from a unique and stated region, each one bearing a label like a little luggage tag: here is my home. To the French people, their government and producers indication …

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Monieux Village Vaucluse
Cheryl ShufflebothamExploreVillages Towns and Cities

Monieux Village A Hidden Gem Near the Gorges de la Nesque

One day while driving through the Gorges de la Nesque, we “needed” a place to stop to have an apéritif before heading to Venasque for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants, les Remparts. My husband suggested Monieux since he had passed through the village on his bike in the …

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Chateau Sainte Roseline Wine
AixcentricTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Wine and Wonders at Chateau Sainte-Rosaline

This beautiful vineyard at Les Arcs-sur-Argens is a must-visit, not just for its natural beauty and acclaimed wines, but also for the outstanding Chapelle Sainte-Rosaline in the grounds. It not only contains artistic gems (Giacometti and Chagall), but also the 680-year old body of the saint herself, reposing in the nave …

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Santons of Provence @MirabeauWine
ExploreMaison Mirabeau WinesProvencal History & TraditionsWhat's On Provence & Cote d'Azur

What is the History Behind the Santons of Provence

Contributor blog post by Mirabeau Wine: Sir Francis of Assisi established the tradition of nativity scenes in 1223 with live enactments by people and animals during the midnight mass on Christmas eve in his church of Greccio, Italy. The tradition halted after the French Revolution, when many churches were closed. …

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