Admittedly not everyone can manage a weekday dinner party with an hour (maximum) to prepare the meal before your guests arrive…but I like that sort of challenge. However, to be able to pull it off you need to be organized. After many years of entertaining, there are several tips I can …

Hot Air Ballooning in Provence A couple months ago we were invited on a hot air balloon ride with AeroProvence. I think Tom, the owner, felt obligated with my enthusiastic likes and comments on all his Instagram posts of fields and fields of lavender. Experiencing a ride in a hot …

The good news is now many farmer’s markets like the one close to us in Tuscon have wonderful farm-raised birds. Enjoy this recipe for roast pheasant with a tasty orange and marsala sauce.

This pasta dish – saffron spaghetti with buttery scallops – was created out of what I found in Susan and Towny’s fridge when we visited recently. Now in fairness, she had some lovely East Coast scallops on hand, but it was all about the butter.

Provencal Getaway With long weekends on the horizon, why not plan a short break in Provence? Gather some friends or family and head south for some warm weather, blue skies, gourmet food and sightseeing. Touring Ideas in Provence Late June through August, Provence treats her visitors to flowering lavender and …

The funny thing about lemon flavoured desserts is that often non-sweet lovers like the tart-sweet combination. If you are making this Lemon Tart – Tarte aux Citron from scratch (which I recommend) it includes several steps.

Cassoulet is a traditional recipe from the Languedoc-Roussillon (now the administrative region of Occitanie, France). Some cooks shy away from making this cannellini bean and meat (pork, duck) casserole because it takes a bit of time if you decide to make the duck confit yourself.

Mixologist and “wine aficionada” Sophie Bellard concocted this gin cocktail recipe for Mirabeau Wine. She combines pink gin with sparkling rosé from Provence and grapefruit juice. The drink is on the dry side if you prefer it a bit sweeter see the notes below.

According to Marseille-based chef Giselle Philippi, why choose between pepper steak and steak with shallots when you can have both? The chef’s recipe is featured in “Made in Marseille” by Daniel Young a cookbook

This panna cotta recipe is made with local saffron, light and refreshing the perfect dessert to enjoy at the end of any meal. Panna cotta (cooked cream) is a dessert with Italian origins.