Gluten has been getting a bad rap for a while now. It’s really not fair, as all gluten is not created equally. And some people who think they might have an aversion to gluten are often having issues with the highly processed variety, are perhaps having too much of it, …

If your holiday plans include a visit to Nice, France, I’m sure you’ll want to try some of the local specialties. Niçoise food is simple, Mediterranean fare based on fresh ingredients and lots of fish. One old Niçois saying says: “Fish are born in water, but they die in oil.” …

The Olive Culture of Les Alpilles One of the ladies on our street gave Robin this as a gift when he came to the rescue and changed her gas bottle. She even put the olive branch on. It was so delicious I could have drunk the stuff, I practically did… …

Most French people like sauce and herb flavouring, but not much spice. Many expats move to lovely small towns in Provence and after a couple months being spoiled with ratatouille, slow cooked lamb, bouillabaisse and all other French Mediterranean delicacies, they start asking where is all the where is all the foreign …

Candy might not be the reason you decide to visit Aix-en-Provence, but don’t leave town without sampling the famous Calisson d’Aix. These sweets, made with ground, local almonds (sweet and bitter) and a fruit paste blend of melon confit (preserved in sugar) and orange peel, were officially recognized as part …

The number of local farmers producing saffron in Provence is increasing – it used to be widely grown in the south of France, but phylloxera wiped it out early in the last century – so it is good to see that it is being produced once more. Harvesting is an …

A Long Olive Story It has been almost 100-years since Jean Martin founded his company in the village of Maussane. In 1920, this town on the southern flank of the Alpilles range had a population of just over 1200 people. When M. Martin senior launched his business of preserving and …

Need a break from wine tasting? How about Provençal honey tasting? Although, I don’t think anyone tires of wine tasting, especially when in Provence and having access to Côtes du Rhône wine in abundance. But the honey in Provence is divine, with hints of lavender, thyme, rosemary, chestnut, and acacia. …

Jean Leclerq and his partner Sabine are a dedicated couple who own a special place hidden in the hills behind our little village of Cotignac.  They have started our first “Safranière,” a small Saffron farm growing the most valuable spice on earth.  We were lucky enough to join them one …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: I make no bones about it – I love chocolate & last night sat with a glass of wine & my latest purchase from the wonderful ‘Chocolatier’ La Cour aux Saveurs in l’Isle sur la Sorgue. Back in February I was staying there (in …