As the weather in the Sonoran Desert finally cools down, the morning temperatures are just low enough to use the fireplace. Once winter arrives, I  look forward to that first fire and spend all morning staring into the flames. Along with those indolent desert winter days come the addictive comfort …

Harvest or vendanges for wineries in the Ventoux usually takes place between the end of August and the last part of September. For those who don’t know this wine region, AOC Ventoux (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) is a vast area in the southern Rhône with over 150 wineries. And it’s a …

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 …

What’s for dinner? It is a question I have asked myself daily for the past 400 days. Yes, I have cooked every meal since mid-March 2020 at home. No restaurants, no take-out, nothing. But, if you know me, I enjoyed it, especially these cumin-roasted pork chops. In the spirit of …

For its fourth season, the Villa Carmignac presents The Imaginary Sea (La Mer imaginaire), an ideal subject for this idiosyncratic gallery:  part of it is housed in an old building with views to the sea below, while the other part is underground, a modern exhibition space beneath a glass-bottomed pool.  …

Not to dwell on the realities of 2020, but we had to get creative about seeing friends, if only virtually. For an international Zoom dinner, one of the guests made a wish for chicken breasts stuffed with herbed goat cheese and vegetable Napoleons on the side. That was a wish …

Gigondas Village We are blessed to have a house in Sablet, France and live as locals several times a year. We love our location at the base of the Dentelles de Montmirail, surrounded by vineyards as far as you can see. There is plenty to do in the area, starting with …

The owners of Riviera Experience, both from southern California, would not trade winter on the French Riviera for any North American “snowbird” experience. Forget wintering in Florida, Arizona, or California! The famous Côte d’Azur has long attracted travellers in the first few months of the year. When the French Riviera …

The following recipe for seared lamb medallions with an Asian inspired tamari-ginger glaze is a happy consequence that I almost butchered. It wasn’t a special occasion, but I had a menu plan to pair with a red wine blend from Domaine de la Citadelle – Gouverneur Saint-Auban Rouge. The result …

What’s the difference between France’s Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône Valleys? The difference is latitude. There. My work is done. Of course, I’m just kidding, but let’s start there. The Rhône River runs in a relatively straight, north-south path by the time it wedges into France from Switzerland near Lyon. …