Contributor blog post by Victoria Koning @MirabeauWine Bottle closures are a hotly debated topic among wine professionals, from the staunch supporters of natural corks in France to the screwcap evangelists of the “new world”. However, the newest kid-on-the-block is making waves … “DIAM agglomerated corks guarantee both 100% removal of TCA …

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 …

This “faux” cassoulet recipe appeared in the February 2016 issue of Bon Appetit magazine. I have prepared it several times to rave reviews from family and friends. Like a traditional cassoulet, it is a meal-in-a-dish and requires only a side salad, a robust red wine and perhaps a fruit dessert to complete the meal. It is perfect for cold winter evenings.

This starter course with thinly sliced beets is a brightly-hued plate to start a meal. The deep-purple beets and bright pink salmon are festive and bursting with flavour.

The typical ingredients in this dessert are cream, meringue and strawberries. For this version –  Coconut Eton Mess with Raspberries and Chocolate, we substituted raspberries instead of strawberries (the local ones are not typically available in Provence until June).

One Friday a few months back, we had a date for a rendezvous with cousins Jean-Marc and Christine for dinner. It was my responsibility to choose a restaurant somewhere between Montpellier and Sablet. After making some calls, I landed on Le Bistrot du Paradou. I was informed they had one …

Aromas are a funny thing. Almost like those dreams you are sure you will remember in the morning and then don’t, a scent can transport you to another place and time. In his blog post, “Recipes and Remembrance” David talks about a restaurant — Le Bec-Fin — that was once …

As I mentioned in my earlier post this week: I remember the first time I sipped a Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, a vin doux naturel (VDN, naturally sweet wine) from France’s Southern Rhône Valley. It was with Patrick Soard and his daughter Justine, of Domaine de Fenouillet, on their property – neighbours with …

We have been “dining-out” on David’s delicious seafood-based Christmas menu, and a bit reluctant to turn the page to the realities of a cold winter in parts of North America. However, the truth is that Provence is enjoying a mild-ish winter, while skiers are revelling in the snowy Alps this …

Who Wants Dessert?  Ready for Christmas in July? Or in any month of the year, for that matter? Then head over to L’Aile ou la Cuisse, one of my favorite restaurants in St.-Rémy-de-Provence. You are in for a treat. L’Aile ou la Cuisse, which means “the wing or the leg” …