The following text, in English and French, is a short introduction to discovering Provence’s almond trees and a few recipes. In the Provencal countryside, it is common to see almond trees growing in the wild. Several regional producers cultivate almonds for local consumption and use in local confectioneries like the …

Valentine’s Day, La Saint Valentin in French, is a day to celebrate – and perhaps impress – loved ones. Legend has it that the French initially used the heart shape to symbolize love. Restaurants all over the globe are busy on La Saint Valentin and hardly conducive to sweet conversation. …

While there is no reason to wait until February 14th to show your affection, not acknowledging Valentine’s Day might not be a good love strategy. In France, la fête de Saint Valentin has historical and religious roots. In the middle ages, the belief was that birds started mating in the …

Recently, in Provence, there have been some substantial acquisitions in the rosé wine industry. The most famous acquisitions are LVMH’s purchase of Château d’Esclans, Château Minuty, Château de Galoupet, Domaine des Grands Esclans, and Domaine du Jas d’Esclans (!) as well as Pernod Ricard’s purchase of Château Sainte Marguerite. Still, …

The Drôme Provençale, despite the name and the Mediterranean landscapes, is technically part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and not Provence. As a result of its natural setting, the Drôme Provençale has several food specialties that intersect the culinary boundary between the South and North. Below we highlight the six (6) …

This recipe for Cremoso de Mote is my soft wheat berry risotto variation. It is a dish that we ate twice while visiting Easter Island in 2019. Soft wheat berries (trigo mote) are cooked risotto-style, then sautéed vegetables are added. I didn’t get an exact recipe from the chef, but …

The black truffle season has begun, thrilling chefs the world over. Black truffles are one of the culinary delicacies of France, and their pungent, earthy taste enlivens many a plate. One classic dish is scrambled eggs with truffles, a simple recipe that lets the flavour of the truffles shine through. …

For several years, Chef Burnell called the Var department home. While in the area, she made it her mission to scout out the most delicious and nutritious ingredients grown in the Var gardens of Provence. Perfect for winter entertaining, Chef Burnell’s dinner menu highlights ingredients from the region (almonds, oysters, …

We travelled through Morocco with friends staying in unique and beautiful riads along the way. However, it was the first trip we’ve taken in almost 30 years that didn’t include working kitchens. Cooking with local ingredients is one of my joys when travelling, and on this trip, I learned I …

This easy winter salad is a fun way to bring new flavours to your plate in the cold months. Mixed lettuces, broccoli, and pears should all be easy to find in the grocery store now, making an excellent salad combination. The sweet fruit works with the tangy (lemon, balsamic) dressing …