For someone who had never spent much time in Marseille, now I’m loving it! I jumped at the chance to join a cooking class in Marseille with Gilles Conchy of Provence Gourmet. Marseille is a city of wide, busy streets and tight alleys. High-end fashions and ethnic robes. Elegant eateries …

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 …

Provencal Cuisine ‘Cuisine of the Sun, A Ray of Sunshine on Your Plate,’ the first cookbook by Chef François de Mélogue, wraps you in a culinary bear hug. The book is seductive, filled with beautiful photography that will make you hungry. Even if you just ate. You need to have …

Now the summer has arrived, it’s the perfect time for a trip down to one of Marseille’s southerly beaches, Pointe Rouge. It’s sandy and sheltered, and the lifeguards are already in place. It was developed in the 60s, and the marina now hosts 1,800 boats. Continue reading here for details …

Curious Provence is the name of Ashley Tinker’s blog. It’s a great name as it combines her interests, she is naturally curious about her surroundings, and she lives in Provence. Ashley studied fine art, is a talented photographer, loves to cook and she still (more below) loves the markets in …

“The Allure of Provence and its Wines” was previously published in Culinaire Magazine (June 2016). This updated article includes additional reading, travel tips, and details on wine colour production and terminology. Mention Provence to a friend and they likely have a mental image that involves cobalt skies, cicadas and lavender …

Marseille is the oldest town in France, so when you walk along by the Vieux Port, you are following in the footsteps of Greek fishermen, shopkeepers, sailors and traders who established their colony in 600 BC.  They, and the Romans who arrived later have left traces that emerge so often …

Deciding to make dinner for a large group takes courage. Deciding to create a menu based around a tradition Provencal fish soup, and making the whole thing from scratch is just a little bit crazy, but the results are delicious. Chefs in France take their trade seriously, so it is not surprising that a Marseille -based group decided that this iconic dish required some specific ingredients and serving methodology, hence the Bouillabaisse Charter. A real Marseille bouillabaisse

A recent weekend in Marseille turned my perception of the city inside out. Now I can’t wait to return. I’ll admit, a weekend in Marseille was not at the top of my travel list. Even though it’s less than two hours away from Uzés. It’s surely because I’ve watched too …

A Guest Post by Chef and Cookbook Author François de Mélogue. “Cuisine of the Sun cookbook is a savory collection of over 60 classic and reimagined Provençal recipes peppered with anecdotes that will cast a ray of sunshine onto your plate.” This is what happens when a chef comes to …