Provencal Fabrics on Sale! Hot summer days and warm evenings beg for hassle-free entertaining – picnics, garden parties. Table settings to match the season makes outdoor dining easy. Today bright, cotton Provencal prints mirror images of the region; the cigale (cicada), lavender, sunflowers, and olives. Until July 31st, Remember Provence …

In France and Italy, June is the month for making a fortified wine with green walnuts – Liqueur de Noix (French) or Nocino (Italian). Intended as a digestive, this drink is strong at roughly 30% alcohol. The sweeter, and less alcoholic, version is called vin de noix. The vin de noix is served either as an aperitif (like a sherry) or as an after-dinner drink.

Zucchini flowers are beautiful, delicate, and can be a bit tricky to cook. However, they are also delicious, so don’t shy away from trying this recipe below for zucchini flowers stuffed with fresh goat cheese and artichokes.

I  am deeply moved by Jean-Andre Charial’s philosophical book “Lunch in Provence.” More correctly, it strengthened my conviction that the foundation of great food lies not only in the provenance of ingredients and simplicity of preparation but in emotion and passion while enjoying it. Charial spoke of lovely, outdoor makeshift lunches where just-picked …

There’s a new obsession running around in my head: “visit as many of France’s ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages‘ as I possibly can.”  So far, I’ve seen only 10 out of some 156 “authentic” Les Plus Beaux Villages. I have a lot of travelling to do. Les Plus Beaux Villages There …

Rosé Tasting on Fridays Rosé wine and the Mediterranean lifestyle are deeply intertwined. France and Provence, in particular, is the leading global producer of rosé. However, with promotions like ‘Rosé all Day’ it’s possible to think of this wine as a fad. It’s not! Rosé was the preferred grape-based drink …

What’s On? During the summer in Provence and the Côte d’Azur, daytime temperatures range from warm to hot. So, you don’t need an excuse to laze by the pool. At this time of year, the lavender is in bloom and the sunflowers put on a spectacular floral show. From music …

Côtes du Rhône Vineyard Refresh Five years ago, I wrote an article for Global Living Magazine about the new owners of Domaine Rouge-Bleu. The backstory about how a Franco-Australian couple followed their dream of owning a wine label is below. Leveraging their experiences in winemaking and sales, Caroline Jones and …

Rhubarb (rhubarbe) may not be something that jumps to mind as typically Provencal. However, it is actually fairly common to find this vegetable during the springtime at local markets and some grocery stores. Make this tart and tingly, double-crust rhubarb pie over perfumed soap.

Oeufs Mimosa (Mimosa Eggs) years ago in Marseille when my cousin placed a large, resplendent platter of Oeufs Mimosa on the dining table. The traditional recipe is unbelievably simple: