Discovering Bonnieux Our family first visited Bonnieux during a week in Provence in early June 2003. We stayed in a nearby village and spent a few hours in Bonnieux one afternoon. The Luberon truly captivated all three of us. The following year we returned for a longer stay—six-and-a-half months—renting a …

Salty food and oily fish is a wine pairing challenge. However, nothing that Cocoa & Lavender wasn’t willing to try. Taking inspiration from southern France, this delicious warm platter of feta and sardines paired beautifully with two Acquiesce wines. Producing only Rhône-style white and rosé wines, Acquiesce Winery is a …

Mountains, Old Abbeys, Pretty Villages and a Roman Bridge The Luberon in the Vaucluse boasts many charming villages, four of which are classified as Plus Beaux Villages. Moreover, there are wooded hills with plenty of good walking, great markets, excellent restaurants and a producer of quality wines—all in this relatively unspoiled …

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 …

You might shy away from bread making, but this simple Cocoa and Lavender recipe for a French Brioche Loaf will make you reconsider. Our friend Barbara took a no-knead brioche bun recipe and turned it into a loaf. This easy loaf has become one of our favourite bread for sandwiches …

While this recipe is not typically Provencal, aubergine (eggplant) and tomatoes are plentiful in the region, and we highly recommend trying this vegetarian dish. While we will always love a variety of meats, poultry, and seafood, we add more vegetarian options for our health! Melanzane a’Scarpone is one of our favourite …

Valentines Gift Guide There is no reason to wait for February 14th to show your affection. However, not acknowledging Valentine’s Day might not be a solid love strategy. So, to help with your shopping, we have pulled together this Valentines Gift Guide with suggestions that won’t break the bank and …

“Creating beautiful and personalized memories of Provence.” ~ Raina Stinson Private Photo Workshop One of the many joys of returning to Provence last year was meeting Raina Stinson and participating in a photo workshop. We arrived at Raina’s home studio on a crisp fall morning to discuss our goals for …

Have you ever dreamed of painting in the place where Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and many others found inspiration? If so, join Jill Steenhuis, an American who has spent four decades studying the same landscapes as these masters, for a painting week in Provence. Provence …

Why does Mark get this 15 minutes of fame? Because even though it’s my birthday dinner, today’s recipe — his “Chicken Marccata” recipe — takes but 15 minutes to make and less time to eat, if you like it as much as I do. Yes, Mark can cook and could …