This year there has been a severe drought in southern Europe, as several heat waves have hit the countries. In Provence, the whole summer felt like one long heat wave (canicule), with temperatures above 30 degrees mid-September in many locations. As a result, virtually all departments in France experienced some …

2019 marked the tenth anniversary of Maison Mirabeau and the acquisition of Domaine Mirabeau. As Mirabeau started its conversion to organic in 2019, we have a strong desire to be more ambitious. Inspired by the work of Mimi Casteel, botanist and ecologist of Hope Well Wine vineyard in Oregon, Stephen …

The first time that I tasted Château Léoube rosé was in California, not in Provence. It wasn’t that long ago that rosé wine was hard to find in the USA. Initially, it was often confused with white zinfandel, wine of a similar colour but not similar in any other way. …

Let me start by saying this is not eggplant parmesan. Yes, it has eggplant and includes Parmigiano-Reggiano, but it is not the dish you might expect. This side dish is delicious in every season. Serve hot in the fall and winter and at room temperature in other months. The eggplant …

Writer, entrepreneur and small group tour director Annette Charlton says, “I was a Francophile long before I visited France.” She agreed to curate our 2022 dinner party menu inspired by the change of seasons in Provence. Autumn is harvest time, so with the abundance of delicious seasonal produce available in …

Poulet au Vinaigre, or chicken in vinegar, is a classic French preparation that you will find braising in homes as readily in restaurants. At the onset, it sounds kind of overpowering and maybe even unappetizing. Chicken in vinegar? Rarely do we think of vinegar as an ingredient other than maybe …

The Great Sugar Rush In the 17th century, Britain, France and other colonial powers established vast sugar plantations in the Americas. Sugar went from an expensive luxury to a commodity available to all in a couple of centuries. The dessert menu blossomed as chefs and cooks accidentally or deliberately created …

Socca, made with chickpea flour, is the ubiquitous street food found all over southeastern France, most notably in Nice and, more specifically, around the Cours Saleya market. When cooked perfectly, it is best straight from the pan and served very hot, replete with addictively crispy edges and lightly seasoned with …

Razor clams, found on sheltered ocean shores, most often during low tide, have long been a popular and easily foraged delicacy. You can usually see them with the naked eye, but if you toss some salt on the water above their burrows, you can watch the little white clams wiggle …

This velvety anchoiade-inspired dip is a gentler take on the salty Provencal sauce. I like to serve it with plenty of crunchy radishes, some quickly blanched asparagus and waxy potatoes for an easy aperitif platter to share. Chill your radishes in some iced water before serving for extra crunch. Take …