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This collection features 19 recipes, with seasonal ingredients such as artichokes, asparagus, lamb, and strawberries. We hope these recipes inspire you to curate menus for dinner parties, luncheons, cocktail parties, and family meals.

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Home Contributors Gayle Padgett

Gayle Padgett

Gayle Smith Padgett, a UCLA graduate, has two master’s degress, neither in French. After studying in Mexico and South America, she worked as a language specialist in California and Virginia and later as a management analyst and US government liaison in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2011, she and her husband moved to Provence where they continue to crack French culture codes.

Discover more about Gayle's backstory and writing on her website - gaylesmithpadgett.com and read her books Passion for Provence: 22 Keys to La Belle Vie and The Birdwatcher's Wife: A Quest across France for Birds and La Belle Vie.

The Perrier Museum and Source Find Out What’s the Hubbub Over Bubbles?

June 19, 2024

In the tiny town of Vergèze, near the fabulous Roman city of Nîmes, stands the mega powerhouse producer of bottled water bubbles known worldwide as Perrier. The Perrier Museum The story behind this “Champagne of table waters” becoming a globally recognized brand began over 160 years ago. While on a ...

Explore · Gayle Padgett · Locals Travel Tips

A Great Place to See Flocks of Flamingos in Provence

September 14, 2023

Calling all nature and bird lovers! During your trip to Provence, you won’t want to miss the family-friendly Parc Ornithologique de Pont-de-Gau. This birding hot spot in the Camargue is near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where you will see pink flamingos and many other birds. See Flamingos and More This is far from ...

Explore · Gayle Padgett · Villages Towns and Cities

A Visit to Mougins and 5 Things To Do

June 16, 2022

While in Mougins to give a talk on my latest book, The Birdwatcher’s Wife, I was delighted to reacquaint myself with the enchanting area. My previous visit had been three years ago when I made a presentation on my first book, Passion for Provence: 22 Keys to La Belle Vie. ...

Explore · Gayle Padgett · Villages Towns and Cities

Sites and Birds: Interesting Walks in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

March 15, 2022

Mother Nature jumped the gun this year, often bringing brilliant azure skies and near-balmy weather well before spring officially arrived. The tantalizing temps make bundling up unnecessary when my husband and I head outside to elevate our heart rate with a nature walk. And with the expansive Parc Naturel Regional ...

Explore · Gayle Padgett · Villages Towns and Cities

Learning About St Rémy History Lessons

September 4, 2019

My French TV Debut When a producer from the France Canal 3 called me up to ask if I would participate—as the expat writer—in a segment of the travel show Chroniques Méditerranéennes (show details below) with Nathalie Simon, I was ecstatic. A French TV show planning to feature St. Rémy ...

Contributors · Explore · Gayle Padgett · Villages Towns and Cities

French Riviera Many Reasons to Visit Menton

April 3, 2019

In February, Author Gayle Padgett and her husband Ralph drove to the Côte d’Azur to visit friends who live near Menton. There are many reasons to visit this coastal city. The citrus festival (Fête du Citron) is a big draw for visitors in mid-winter. The rest of the year, as ...

Explore · Gayle Padgett

Day in the Olive Groves: Virgin Olive-Harvester No More!

November 9, 2018

This article was written by Gayle Padgett Smith the author of Passion for Provence: 22 Keys to La Belle Vie. She shares that she is no longer a virgin to the olivade (olive harvest) St. Remy de Provence. Here, is our book review on Passion for Provence a Memoir by Gayle ...

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Luberon B&B Absoluut Valvert

Exclusive and charming, this 5 room B&B is surrounded by nature yet is only a stone's throw from historical Bonnieux.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Bed and Breakfast

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Le Clos du Buis Hotel in Bonnieux

Le Clos du Buis welcomes guests to a family-run 10 room hotel in the heart of Bonnieux in the Luberon Valley. Tasteful Provencal décor combined with modern comforts.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Boutique Hotels

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Seaside Villefranche 1-Bedroom Apartment

Sur le Toit is a charming, remodelled 1-bedroom vacation rental in Old Town Villefranche-sur-Mer with gorgeous views.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
One Bedroom

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Bonnieux - 3 Bedroom Village Apartment

Bonheur en Bonnieux a 1300-square foot, 3-bedroom/2 bathroom, the newly-renovated apartment is located in the village center.

Luberon
Three Bedrooms

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Les Vallons Holiday Home - Sleeps 12

If you are looking for a perfect holiday rental property, with a heated pool, Les Vallons sleeps 12 people in a fully restored hamlet.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Six Bedrooms

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Provence Marketplace

Beautiful Ceramic Breadbaskets

Handcrafted in Uzès by Maison Pichon these ceramic breadbaskets are sold individually. Maison Pichon is an artisanal French ceramics manufacturer since 1802. Available in four (4) colours, these beautiful hand-made ceramic baskets are perfect for bread or simply decorating your table.

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Ceramic Baskets by Maison Pichon

Maison Pichon is known for its distinctive corbeilles tressées, intricately braided ceramic baskets made nowhere else. These delicate creations are meant to serve as fruit bowls but can also be dressed with dried flowers to make a centrepiece. Made by hand, each basket can take up to a month to complete.

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Travel Journal for Your Visit to Marseille

From bouillabaisse to petanque, Marseille is a city that combines a Mediterranean lifestyle with great food. This travel journal from My French Country Home for Marseille features watercolour prints on the cover and throughout its 128 pages. It is 14.5 x 20.5 cm and made of recycled paper (25%). The journal is eco-friendly and beautiful, combining sustainability with artistry.

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Hand-painted Kitchen Canisters

Add a touch of French lavender to your kitchen with these hand-painted glass jars. These air-tight canisters are designed with a Provencal lavender motif and are perfect for dry goods or even as a flower vase. The jar capacity is 0.4 gallons (1.5 litres) and made with transparent, sturdy glass and a wooden lid.

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Stylish Basket Bag for Summer Fashion

Introducing the stylish and compact Andale Basket Bag, measuring 18 x 15 x 8 cm (7 x 6 x 3 inches). This bag features a leather closure and an adjustable shoulder strap for added convenience. Sourced by My French Country Home, the bag is available in three vibrant colours: green, mandarin, and yellow. Additionally, it includes an interior pocket for better organization.

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French Porcelain Dessert Plates

Founded in 1948, La Maison Degrenne is focused on "art de la table," these delicate porcelain dessert plates are a perfect example. Sold as a set of 4 plates by My French Country Home Box, they represent the seasons; cherries for spring, sweet peach for summer, a ripe fig for autumn, and a vibrant lemon for winter.

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Provencal Market Basket

My French Country Home sourced this classic French market basket. This basket is great for shopping, picnics or days at the beach. Made from palm fibre with leather straps, you can even use it as a handbag!

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Quilted Tote Bags in Provencal Fabrics

These large tote bags come in a range of Provencal fabrics. Whether you choose lavender, wild flowers or one of the other two patterns these sturdy bags are light yet strong enough to carry all the necessary accessories and even a laptop. The bags are made with printed and quilted fabric and have solid handles.

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Sunny Provence in a Natural Scented Soap

All Rose et Marius soaps are palm oil free and made with 97% natural ingredients. They are formulated with poppy and olive oil from Provence. Scented with an exclusive concentration of orange blossom absolute from Tunisia and Turkish rose essence, this soap smells divine.

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Provence food, lifestyle and Mediterranean living magazine.

About Perfectly Provence

Perfectly Provence...is an essential online resource, a digital magazine for locals and visitors alike, with content collected from the region’s top regional writers. Focused exclusively on Provence, Perfectly Provence includes targeted regional content for both tourists and for those who have chosen the area for their permanent home. About Perfectly Provence

Our Provence Marketplace

Shop our collection of handcrafted and limited production French products. We feature beautiful items for home décor, accessories, beauty products, and gifts. These companies focus on traditional designs and promoting artisanal culture. In addition, our partners are environmentally conscious and work only with top-quality materials. If you are interested in collaborating please get in touch via our contact form. Visit the Marketplace

Explore Our Contributors

Our Perfectly Provence contributors share a passion for the region. Their varied backgrounds include writing, culinary arts, wine expertise, photography, video production, tour operations, and more. These voices help us create a unique collection of Provencal content presented in a digital magazine. Explore Our Contributors