This “faux” cassoulet recipe appeared in the February 2016 issue of Bon Appetit magazine. I have prepared it several times to rave reviews from family and friends. Like a traditional cassoulet, it is a meal-in-a-dish and requires only a side salad, a robust red wine and perhaps a fruit dessert to complete the meal. It is perfect for cold winter evenings.

Previously published on Ginger and Nutmeg: The Château is certainly iconic in Vauvenargues a small village of barely 1000 people. Pablo Picasso loved the place for the isolation that it provided for his work. After his death, Jacqueline proposed that the castle become a museum, the village never approved the …

This starter course with thinly sliced beets is a brightly-hued plate to start a meal. The deep-purple beets and bright pink salmon are festive and bursting with flavour.

I have to hand it to the Musée Regards de Provence seems to keep finding interesting local artists to introduce to us all. This time, André Maire (1898-1984) was an inveterate traveller. He was very curious about people, civilizations and religions, and painted his impressions as he went. Continue reading …

The typical ingredients in this dessert are cream, meringue and strawberries. For this version –  Coconut Eton Mess with Raspberries and Chocolate, we substituted raspberries instead of strawberries (the local ones are not typically available in Provence until June).

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: Back in the Summer we spent some time exploring the pretty village of Simiane-La-Rotonde, a few miles away from us in the neighbouring Department of Alpes de Haute Provence. Whilst we were there we noticed the names of five (5) English Airmen had been added …

One Friday a few months back, we had a date for a rendezvous with cousins Jean-Marc and Christine for dinner. It was my responsibility to choose a restaurant somewhere between Montpellier and Sablet. After making some calls, I landed on Le Bistrot du Paradou. I was informed they had one …

Patience, vision and exquisite taste converted a run-down 250-acre agricultural property, outside of Maussane des Alpilles, into a luxury resort — Domaine de Manville. Edith and Patrick Saut purchased the land and associated ragtag collection of farm buildings in 2007. Seven years later and with a multi-million Euro budget, this …

Aromas are a funny thing. Almost like those dreams you are sure you will remember in the morning and then don’t, a scent can transport you to another place and time. In his blog post, “Recipes and Remembrance” David talks about a restaurant — Le Bec-Fin — that was once …

As I mentioned in my earlier post this week: I remember the first time I sipped a Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, a vin doux naturel (VDN, naturally sweet wine) from France’s Southern Rhône Valley. It was with Patrick Soard and his daughter Justine, of Domaine de Fenouillet, on their property – neighbours with …