When fall weather has settled in, it’s an excuse to make this Chestnut-Pumpkin Risotto recipe that combines the rich, earthy flavours of the season. In Provence, from one week to the next the market shrinks in size as the seasonal vendors begin to pack-up their wares. Scarves replace multi-hued espadrilles, …

In a “normal” year, we would attend several cooking classes and culinary demonstrations. Instead, we seem to be buying more cookbooks and trying new recipes, but miss a chef’s creative buzz. The great news is many of our favourite culinary experts and cooking schools have moved to online formats allowing …

Olives from Provence In the Alpilles, near the Vallée des Baux, there is nothing that signals that autumn has arrived more than the olive harvest. The exact timing of the récolte depends on Mother Nature’s impact on the fruit’s maturity. Like every crop, farmers hope to get the timing right …

Fall Shades In Provence, autumn’s arrival can be subtle. Not long after the grape harvest, the vines start changing colour. Vineyards turn shades of golden-yellow and deep-red signalling that the rootstock is ready for a rest. The Plane trees (Platanes) that provided welcome summer shade drop their large brown leaves …

The French style of entertaining called the apéro dînatoire is a favourite way of throwing parties in France. Since I am in France for an average of 3 to 5 months every year, we have grown roots in Provence, specifically in the area of Aix-en-Provence! I love apéro dînatoire gatherings …

During a Provence Gourmet cooking class, we made a plum clafoutis a classic French dessert from the region. The traditional recipe for clafoutis, a flan-type dessert is made with cherries.

Provence in Autumn Bizarrely we sense and feel the changing seasons more in Provence than we do in Devon. Back in Exeter, the proximity to the sea seems to soften the edges of summer as it shifts into autumn and likewise, autumn into winter. That’s not the case here. Today …

Festivals and Fall Events in Provence Fall in Provence directs you towards a heartier menu. Enjoy meat (lamb, wild boar, taureaux, rabbit, fowl) roasted with herbes de Provence, root vegetables and delicious red wine blends. At this time of year, the hiking is fabulous, biking is possible, and golfers might …

Have you ever tried grilled octopus? It’s a Mediterranean delicacy, and NOW is the time to be adventurous in the kitchen. This Summer salad recipe with grilled octopus is fresh, delicious, and colourful. The salade composée is a visual treat, as well as a yummy starter for your guests. My …

There is something je ne sais quoi about a classic French Apple Tart, actually that is not true. I know exactly what it is about this French dessert that is so attractive. The fruit is always perfectly cut, and artfully arranged. However, the key to a French fruit tart, in my view, is the effect of the glaze – the dessert sparkles.