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 …

While we often think of soup as a cold-weather dish, some recipes bridge the seasons perfectly. Filled with vegetables and legumes, la soupe au pistou is one such dish. In Nice and traditional Cuisine Nissarde pistou soup is a summer dish. A mix of seasonal vegetables, potatoes and beans cook …

In the summer’s heat, no-cook cooking takes precedence over any other type of cooking. Using the best and ripest tomatoes is essential when making this refreshing summer starter, and there’s certainly no shortage of those in the height of summer down south. Make this the day ahead for the flavours …

For me, cooking and gardening are two passions that go hand in hand. This year I planted a lot more fennel than I usually do, and I have been coming up with ways to use up all the extra harvest. My latest creation is a Chickpea and Fennel Salad simple …

One of my favourite things is going to the farmers market on Sunday morning with the menu set for the week and my shopping list in hand. There is a sense of purpose, of complete control. That is until I see the beautiful baby eggplants next to the perfectly ripe …

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 …

Summer is not the time of year to be behind a hot stove or pulling casseroles out of an oven. It is, however, the time to prepare simple recipes perfect for outdoor dining, whether at your table, poolside or the next picnic location. Provence is generally hot in the summer, …

This delicious summer menu comes from Stephanie Villegas, a private chef and owner of Laurel, a cooking school in Provence. A Mexican-American, Stephanie married a Frenchman, and they now live in the historic Alpilles village of Fontvieille. Stephanie created a 3-course menu that is ideally suited for summer entertaining. Her …

While you have most likely tried polenta before, if you have not visited the South of France you may not have sampled panisse or socca. Golden brown, slightly crispy and topped with a fleur de sel, it’s hard to resist freshly made panisse. Below is my easy recipe for panisse …

This appetizer recipe is from Laurel, my cooking school and professional kitchen in Fontvieille, a beautiful village in the Alpilles. The recipe is quick to prepare and brings together fresh summer flavours. Serve with crusty bread and some chilled rosé or cocktail of your choice. This is an easy and …