Philippe and I knew how to pace ourselves.  We had dined at Mirzaur in 2015 when the restaurant had “only” two Michelin stars.  We’d received the celebratory email in 2019 when the owners shared, with émotion immense, news of their elevation.  Five months later the restaurant was voted the best restaurant in the …

Les petits farcis is a classic Provençal recipe made with seasonal vegetables and a sausage stuffing. The recipe below comes from the kitchen of Virginie Van Der Wees, a certified French teacher who lives near Aix-en-Provence. We have included only the vegetarian version of the stuffing, but you will find …

Tourte de Blette Salée is a wonderfully light yet hearty dish that can be served any time of year and comes from our friends at Les Petits Farcis cooking school in the Old Town of Nice. Imagine yourself learning to cook traditional Nicoise cuisine in a historic part of the …

Savoury muffins are a treat, so why not have a little fun and make them for Halloween? This version uses a slice of a big pumpkin (such as a Muscat) or a whole smaller variety such as Potimarron. Roast with some olive oil on a baking tray until soft, this …

In a “normal” year, we would attend several cooking classes and culinary demonstrations. Instead, we seem to be buying more cookbooks and trying new recipes, but miss a chef’s creative buzz. The great news is many of our favourite culinary experts and cooking schools have moved to online formats allowing …

As I write this article in early October, the harvest season is still underway in Provence, but I can already tell you that the 2020 season will go down as one of the most memorable in history! Harvest Labour In particular, sourcing harvesters has been particularly problematic because of the …

Susan Gish may not have a long history of reading works by Marcel Proust, but she shares his love for the classic French cookie-cake = madeleines. She wrote the following, “All I knew was that I am addicted to them. Not all madeleines, just those from Christophe Madeleines in Aix-en-Provence. …

I don’t think I could survive without our Sunday Heirloom Farmers Market in Tuscon, especially these days when we need lots of good fruits and vegetables to keep us healthy and strong. But I also get great cheeses, fish, poultry, and meats there. It is a wonderful market. Although I have …

A debate is raging over what constitutes a “correct” salade Niçoise. To the purists, the rules are clear: no vinegar, no lettuce, no fresh tuna, and no boiled vegetables, like potatoes or green beans. If you add any of these, you will be labelled as a heretic and sent to …

Some things are just better in France, including dessert. There is no debating the fact that Vanilla Crème Brûlée sounds more appealing than Vanilla Burnt Cream. This baked custard is a classic French dessert.