Provencal Bistro Classic We stumbled across the Bistrot du Paradou quite by hazard, on one of our drives around the Alpilles villages. It turns out that we were quite naive with regards to this restaurant’s gastronomic reputation and its loyal fan base. We now understand just how lucky we were …

They prepared several delicious dishes for the evening, but these Eggplant Cakes in a Tomato Pesto Sauce were my favourite. You can serve this recipe as an appetizer, the first course for a dinner party or even at lunchtime with a green salad. Think of this as a savoury cake. Once the eggplant is cooked, simply combine with the rest of the ingredients and bake. The dish can be served with the pesto sauce (below), a tomato sauce or combine the two for a rich flavour experience.

No other soup, save for bouillabaisse which really can’t be called a soup, clearly defines Provence more aptly than Soupe au Pistou. It’s the edible history of the ‘arrière-pays’, or hinterlands of Provence, where farmers have long tended their fields of vegetables and fruits. There are several versions of Soupe …

This starter salad of grilled calamari and radicchio is easy to prepare once your guests have arrived. The marinade of olive oil, garlic and herbes de Provence is light and does not overpower the ingredients. Best of all, this dish is really (almost) too pretty to eat. But, don’t resist it’s best consumed warm.

This recipe is a delicious combination of savoury (sourdough), creamy (ricotta), sweet (peach and honey), and tangy (chicory, radicchio, vinegar). Enjoy a DIY open-faced sandwich in the sun with a crisp rosé from Provence.

This simple salad recipe combines slightly tart tomatoes with sweet, fresh figs (from your own tree if you are lucky enough). The figs counter-balance the acidity in the late-season tomatoes, and the cheese although optional adds some extra, creamy roundness to the flavours.

This salad plate is a cross between carpaccio and salad. Prepare the tapenade and pesto in advance. Shop for the fresh melon, lettuce leaves and tomatoes at the market in the morning and then plate the ingredients in time for lunch.

There is nothing like summer for easy, unfussy entertaining. These three dips – olive tapenade, a goat cheese version and a caviar of aubergine – are Mirabeau Wine adaptations of Provencal classics. Provence is often called a cold country with a hot sun because as soon as the sun’s down you …

Sun kissed ripened tomatoes in a tarte aux tatin with a sharp Parmesan, sweet Mascarpone cheese and fresh basil spread, baked to perfection on light and flaky puff pastry.

Financiers aux Courgettes – little zucchini cakes – fit the pot luck bill perfectly. Typically in French cuisine, a financier is a small, airy cake, often with an almond flour base, that is eaten for dessert. I prefer savoury financiers which lend themselves to a myriad of combinations – sausage and cheese, spinach and cheese, olive, walnuts and cheese