Qunice, or coing in French, is a lemon-yellow coloured fruit that looks like a lumpy pear. Although it is a genetic relative to apples and pears, the only way to eat quince is to cook it.  One popular preparation is membrillo (pate de coing), a dense, sweet, sliceable paste often …

Last year we travelled to Southern Spain. It’s hard to imagine how quickly the days have passed since that trip. This year we headed to Morocco. As always, for me, learning about food is part of our preparations for the trip. Markipedia is doing his bit to ensure we don’t …

Until recently, I had never poached anything solely in butter. When Provence WineZine friends Susan and Towny gave me some vanilla salt, I wanted to use it as a finishing salt for halibut poached in butter. I googled “butter poached halibut” and was alarmed to find that fully submerging four …

La daube provençale – A provençal specialty with beef (or other meats) that you may try during your French immersion program with me in Provence Hello everyone. Today I’m talking to you about one of the most typical dishes of Provence. Here, everyone knows this specialty. That doesn’t mean everyone …

Some people shy away from cooking fish, particularly whole fish, but my recipe below for Grilled or Roasted Daurade Royale is failproof. Dorade Royale is sometimes referred to as Sea Bream. If you can’t find Dorade or Sea Bream, Red Snapper or Branzino are good alternatives. Simply ask your local …

Among Nice’s many attractions are its Mediterranean location and the fresh seafood. Octopus (la pouple) is one ingredient that often features in Niçoise dishes. La pouple à la Niçoise was a favourite of the local fisherman mentioned by Tobias Smollett in 1762. However, the recipe has likely evolved since that …

As you have probably gathered, I love French food and enjoy the simple formula associated with most recipes – fresh, seasonal and delicious. This recipe for Roasted Peppers stuffed with Goat Cheese is no exception. It is a simple dish with all the classic flavours of Provence hidden in the …

Certain foods are harbingers of the season. Asparagus, fresh peas, and morel mushrooms are culinary ingredients often associated with springtime. Sure, you can find all three during other periods of the year. But honestly, is there anything better than fresh asparagus in the spring? This recipe for seared and roasted …

Today’s recipe is inspired by a meal I had years ago in Italy’s wine country – Montalcino. However, it could just as easily appear on a menu in Provence, where grapes are grown locally, and meatballs (boulettes de viande) are popular. The Italian dish, Polpettine con le Uve, not only …

We catch up with Ben James, owner of Café Brun in Antibes and hear why he loves this classic seafood rigatoni dish served at the restaurant. Owners Ben and Bea, former Hospitality Managers at rosé brand Maison Mirabeau, met and fell in love while spending a fun…and rosé-filled summer in …