We asked Susan Tipton of  Acquiesce Winery to curate our Winter Menu for 2022. She selected three French recipes (starter, main course, and dessert) and paired them with a selection of Acquiesce wines. This winter menu highlights the flavours of France along with California wine pairings. If you live in …

Life here is never boring, and sometimes, even the simplest of things takes a twist, which leaves us wondering how we manage to get through a day without some disaster, or another. However, the sweet reward of a fig and almond cake makes everything better. On Saturday, we headed out …

Once again, I am playing with a recipe from The NY Times. They had a roast chicken recipe that I liked… well, sort of. Honestly, it sounded like a mess on a plate, and I really like to present things with great eye appeal and great flavour. Well, that and …

Get into the festive spirit (pun intended!) with this delicious cocktail featuring Mirabeau Dry Gin! A holiday cocktail is a perfect way to enjoy some time spent with your loved ones. Enjoy this sweet and lightly spiced beverage as a way to celebrate one of the most festive times of …

History of the Bûche de Noël The log is generally eaten on December 24, during the Christmas meal. The cake was born around 1870. Several pastry chefs are fighting over paternity. But it seems they had the idea at the same time for a cake roll that looks like a …

Sharing a drink with friends or family is one of the best parts of the holidays. Plus, the cool winter air gives way to more robust flavours that pair perfectly with a roasting fire, Christmas carols, and gently falling snow. Enjoy this fabulous, lightly sweet cocktail on your own or …

Discover the Galette Provençale If you don’t have a galette variation in your country, you can very well make it yourself. While you cook, the children in the family can have fun making wreaths. It really is a very festive time. Moreover, this cake really encourages conviviality, between friends and/or …

Mulled wine is a fantastic warm drink to enjoy on a cool winter’s eve. Plan to visit a Provencal Christmas market for a rush of holiday spirit. The mulled wine vendor is usually easy to spot, as there are patrons standing around enjoying a hot mug.  If you’re looking for …

The holidays call for rich dishes full of flavour and lots of love. This quick and easy Christmas soup is packed full of sweet earthy flavours that you can pair with duck confit or shredded pork rillette (or even no meat at all, for the vegetarians!). Chestnuts are highlighted in …

One of the Christmas traditions in Provence is called Cacho-Fio or Light the Fire. In Provence, Christmas evening begins with this ancient pagan custom. Cacho-fio is a ritual for lighting the Yule log (calendau, in Provencal) on the evening of December 24th. Together the youngest and the oldest of the …