Summer Provence Lavender Fields-near-Sault
Caroline LongstaffeExploreLocals Travel Tips

Summer in Provence is When to See Lavender Fields

Throughout the Luberon region, the landscape is peppered with fields of small, round-shaped lavender bushes, which for almost nine months of the year lie dormant like sleeping hedgehogs. In the spring, they begin to sprout, and from about the middle of June, their fragrant flowers bloom, fanning their purple fronds …

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The Essence of Provence: the Story of L’Occitane Book Review
Books on ProvenceInspireMary Jane Deeb

The Essence of Provence: the Story of L’Occitane a Book Review

The Essence of Provence: the Story of L’Occitane, by Pierre Magnan, translated from the original French L’Occitane: une histoire vraie, Denoël, Paris, France, 2001, by Richard Seaver, Arcade Publishing, New York, 2nd edition, 2012. Book Review by Mary-Jane Deeb About the Author Pierre Magnan (1922-2012) was a prolific French writer …

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Top 10 Markets Provence
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottFrench Cooking ClassesLocal Food ProducersMarkets in Provence and Cote d'AzurProvencal RecipesTaste

What to Eat in Provence? Paradise for Food Lovers

Provence is a buffet for food lovers. There are markets every day of the week. Chefs find inspiration in seasonal fruit and vegetables, Mediterranean seafood, and free-range lamb. A suitable climate and good soil mean an array of locally produced almonds, cheese, wine, olives and olive oil. In the spring …

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Saignon Luberon Provence
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottExploreVillages Towns and Cities

Top 9 Luberon Villages to Visit in Provence

The Luberon region in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France is known for its picturesque villages and stunning natural beauty. These nine (9) villages are considered must-sees in the Luberon Valley. Book a Luberon Village Tour Ansouis You’ll find the village of Ansouis tucked inside the Parc naturel regional …

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St Tropez by Ferry Arriving in Port
ExploreTasha PowellVillages Towns and Cities

Arrive in St Tropez by Bateaux Verts Ferry for a Scenic Ride

Whether you arrive by car, yacht, helicopter or ferry, Saint Tropez is worth a visit! Park and Ride For a quick getaway to Saint Tropez, here’s an idea to avoid the frequent traffic jam between Saint Maxime and St Tropez. This is no exaggeration; the last 15-kilometre stretch into St …

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Bar-Tabac des Alpilles
Keith Van SickleRestaurant RecommendationsTaste

Bar-Tabac des Alpilles for Great Dining in St Remy

This restaurant, a bar-tabac (café, bar, restaurant and more), is the beating heart of St-Rémy-de-Provence. St-Rémy-de-Provence is famous for its Roman ruins, a Wednesday morning market, and former residents like Vincent van Gogh and Nostradamus. A stop in St-Rémy should be on every tourist’s itinerary in Provence. My wife and …

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Chickpea Flour Panisses Frites
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottProvencal RecipesSide DishStreet FoodTaste

Chickpea Flour Panisses Frites are Better than Fries

Panisse, like polenta, is easy to make. The difference is chickpea flour instead of cornmeal. However, the culinary debate about whether panisse is a culinary creation of Marseille or Nice continues without resolution. Is the authentic version of panisse found at a snack bar on the beach in l’Estaque, where …

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Ratatouille Nice Ratatouia Nissarda
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottProvencal RecipesSide DishTaste

Make a Ratatouille Version from Nice – La Ratatouia Nissarda

Dishes such as ratatouille, pan bagnat, panisse, soup au pistou, and salade Niçoise appear on menus throughout the South of France. Many cooks have time-tested variations on these recipes, which may be delicious, but don’t quite follow the Cuisine Nissarde traditions. Although ratatouille is known around the globe, the authentic …

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Côtes du Rhône Villages Food and Wine Pairing
Provence WineZineTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

A Surprising Côtes du Rhône Villages Food and Wine Pairing

Very rarely do you come across a Côtes du Rhône Villages so incredible that it might as well be a Gigondas wine. However, in this case, the red wine that we used in this wine pairing from Paul Jaboulet Aîné (2020) is a nice upgrade. It is big and bold, …

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Mistral Wind Book Review
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottExplore

Provence and the Mistral Wind a Powerful Force

The relief palatable, the calm almost surreal, something is missing – the wind has stopped! Mistral Wind In France, the mistral is a strong wind that typically blows from the north or northwest. Mistral, the name for this wind, means “masterly,” and it certainly lives up to that reputation. The …

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