A couple of years ago, we spent a transformative week in the historic hill town of Cagnes sur Mer, widely considered the ‘Montmartre’ of the South and long favoured by impressionistic painters for its alluring beauty. Within five (5) days we went from our hurried, busy lives to a more …

We often visit Grignan in the Drome Provencale, an area that falls between the Rhone River and the Alps north of the Vaucluse. Since we were last there in the summer of 2019, Grignan was added to the Plus Beaux Villages de France. And, there is little wonder why. Rising …

Recently, I felt inspired to bake some delicious Lemon and Lavender Honey Madeleines. I hadn’t made madeleines since I left my last restaurant job several years ago. My madeleine moulds were still wrapped in the same plastic from the day when my pastry chef handed them back to me. The …

There are nuances in French with words that mean different things depending on pronunciation or capitalization. Midi is one of those words indicating a geographical location, the southern part of France; the 45th parallel is the dividing line for some people. However, in lowercase, midi also means mid-day and the …

When Life Gives You Lemons. We Make Gin! The Citron de Menton has been cultivated since the 15th century, reaching its peak in the 18th century, when millions of lemons were shipped to the United States and Russia. Plagued by scurvy, many sailors were saved by eating lemons. In the …

Last July, we went to Provence for the first time in a while. Although I wrote about our favourite things in Provence shortly before our trip, seasonal “floral” attractions such as red poppies, lavender, and sunflowers are high on our list. Since July is sunflower season, we set off one …

With warmer weather on the way, it’s time to start getting creative with our cocktails. Thai basil syrup is the perfect addition to this drink that everyone will love. Prepare the syrup at least three hours before serving for the best flavour! The refreshing combination of rosé grape juice and …

Regardless of whether cooking is your passion or not, entertaining should be enjoyable. Perhaps it is the climate in Provence that lends itself to outdoor dining, but generally, the traditional cuisine involves a few seasonal ingredients and simple techniques. Below we share five (5) easy entertaining ideas inspired by the …

Book Review by Mary-Jane Deeb of M.L. (Mary Lou) Longworth, Death at the Chateau Bremont. Penguin Books, New York, 2011. The Author Mary Lou Longworth, better known as M.L. Longworth, is a Canadian writer best known for her Provençal mysteries set in Aix-en-Provence, where she moved with her family in …

One of the many things that drew us to buying a home in Sablet was its location in the Cotes-du-Rhone wine appellation and proximity to renowned villages such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. While we like all the wines from this region, some of our favourites are the wines produced …