You might find it surprising to see chocolate chip cookies in the country famous for flaky croissants and perfect baguettes. Of course, these cookies are not traditionally French, but who doesn’t love biscuits aux pépites de chocolate? In large tourist centres such as Paris, where there are millions of visitors …

In France, the school calendar follows a rhythm of intense periods of study followed by well-deserved breaks. As a result, the vacances scolaire (school holidays) occur on roughly the same dates year-to-year, which allows families to plan their holidays well in advance. There are three school zones (A, B and …

Cooler weather in Provence, a touch of humidity, and maybe even some rain brings with it the promise of wild mushrooms foraged from nearby forests. However, you need to know where to look and do not expect the locals to show you where to find edible fungi. The good news …

In the northern hemisphere, fall weather is around the corner, but not in Sydney, Australia, where Jean-Marie Liere has since 1997. Born in Poitiers, France, Jean-Marie’s family moved several times, including a two-year stint in Mexico City. He runs small cooking classes in Sydney, focusing on French cuisine and plans …

One of my favourite desserts is seasonal fruit tarts (tartes aux fruits). These tarts also make nice afternoon treats. So, I make them all year with local, in-season produce. In California, you find puff pastry sheets at most grocery stores (Ralphs, Gelson’s) and at French supermarkets like Carrefour or Intermarché. …

Travelling is one of the healthiest things to do once in life because it refreshes the mind and health of every individual. If you are travelling for the first time and want to make it a memorable trip, then French Riviera is one of the best places to visit. The …

My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, a charming town that sits at the foot of the Alpilles mountains. We love to bike in and around the Alpilles on routes that range from easy to moderately difficult. If you stay off the busy main roads, biking …

Crème Anglaise is a light custard sauce that is used both for sweet and savoury alike, depending on its flavour and your level of desired creativity. Pour it over fruit, a cake or under meringue as in a “Floating Island” or use it to sauce fish, meat and poultry. It …

Discover the Pays de Fayence The Pays de Fayence is only a 30-minute drive from Saint-Raphaël. The area is a quiet contrast to the busy Mediterranean coast. With its perched villages and unspoilt natural setting, this region of Provence remains anchored to the past. There are nine (9) hilltop villages …

I love our little corner of Provence, all year round, but there is something incredibly special about the time of year, when the area turns purple, with the Lavender fields exploding with colour, filling the air with scent as the flowers gently brush against each other in the breeze. The …