Amuse bouche roughly translates into tempt your taste buds. These three appetizers are easy to make and can be prepared in advance of your guests’ arrival. Enjoy Smoked Salmon Rolls with Horseradish and Granny Smith Apple, Crab and Avocado Spoons and Chicken Satays with your favourite cocktail.

Almonds, olives, tomatoes, and citrus fruit are some of the culinary signatures of the Mediterranean climate. In Provence, the citrus groves are found on the Côte d’Azur near Menton. There is no question that a visit Menton one year during the Fête du Citron is on my travel bucket list. However, …

This “rose” vegetable tart takes a little bit of time to put together. The mandolin-cut vegetables are arranged in the “rose” pattern. The recipe for easy pie crust is below, you can skip this step and buy prepared ready-to-bake pie dough in the store.

This easy dish of Provencal baked potatoes is a perfect companion to eat with roasted lamb shanks, rabbit in a mustard sauce, a lemon thyme trout, or a pork tenderloin.

It is a funny thing when you start to think about how recipes change and evolve. My grandmother almost never followed a recipe, yet her Christmas cake never failed her…mine is a different story. Kuchen is the German word for cake, and this recipe for Sunken Pear Cake is David’s slight …

The only problem with stone fruit (apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums) is that they all appear in the markets around the same time of year. What to do with the bounty of produce?  Make dessert of course. Enjoy this easy recipe for Peach Melba – Pêche Melba with a raspberry coulis. This …

This appetizer requires no cooking, which is perfect for a hot summer day. The preparation time is limited and the combination of red radish with green olive makes for a lovely tangy “tartare.” Enjoy the combination on top of fresh bread with a glass of chilled Mirabeau rosé and these other starters.

Popsicles may seem like a treat for kids, but this version with Rosé, Grapefruit and Elderflower will keep the adults in your party happy. The best part about these popsicles (other than the rosé) is how easy they are to make. The recipe was created by Sophie Bellard, one of three sisters with complementary talents, which includes desserts.

There is nothing better than the tantalising aroma of roast chicken, well except for chocolate cake. As for savoury dishes, roast chicken is a winner for a family, it requires very little supervision, there are often leftovers for sandwiches and bones for soup or stock.  The credit for this recipe goes to Denise, my belle mere, she uses local, seasonal and when practical organic products for her creations. Enjoy Denise’s Poulet Provençal au citron de Menton, it’s a simple roast chicken dish with local lemons.

When perky artichokes announce the arrival of warmer weather, it is time to revisit Artichokes à la Barigoule a Provençal delight, rich, flavorful and complex. Fresh artichokes are usually available in local markets from spring through late summer. The garlic, carrots and fresh herbs give the dish its flavour. You can make this dish vegetarian by omitting the bacon.