One thing that always warms my heart during the holidays in Provence is the culture’s commitment to quality and tradition. We always see pictures of the endless lavender fields and crystal azure skies, but I feel as though Christmas time is when the real Provence shines brightest. Free from the …

I recently threw a birthday luncheon for my good friend, Claire, and served Pink Elephant Martini Cocktails as the welcome drink! This was a huge success. Claire loves the color pink and is very elegant.

Embracing Provencal Lifestyle When you think of France, you might conjure up images of Provence with its stunning scenery and beautiful hilltop villages. A place where the mid-summer Lavender fields stretch almost as far as the eye can see, and local markets where fresh fruit and vegetables are piled high …

Almonds, olives, tomatoes, and citrus fruit are some of the culinary signatures of the Mediterranean climate. In Provence, the citrus groves are found on the Côte d’Azur near Menton. There is no question that a visit Menton one year during the Fête du Citron is on my travel bucket list. However, …

Dutch-born Anne-Marie Simons is a traveller. She studied in Paris, worked in Brussels and then moved to the United States where for a long time she worked only to support her travel-bug. Today, Anne-Marie and her husband Oscar reside in Aix-en-Provence where she continues to hone her writing. The following …

It’s sad to see the end of the summer stone fruit – plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots. However, in their place, a variety of apples and pears indicate the start of new dessert opportunities. This recipe for Stuffed Poached Pears includes an element of surprise.  The dessert is easy to …

A recent trip to Sicily, Italy influenced this seafood pasta recipe. Although Italy is the birthplace of pasta, “typical” foods of the Mediterranean do not have any borders anymore, and it is quite common to find pasta on restaurant menus in Provence

For most people, Tuscon, Arizona does not spring to mind as a foodie capital, but if you are “into” food the city has a surprising culinary vibe. Marc and I moved to the desert city without much of a plan. We took a leap of faith, quitting our jobs and selling …

The spaghetti sauce is a light cream and wine base with citrus (orange and lemon). The dish is easy to make and a refreshing change to tomato sauce. Think about making this when the citrus starts appearing in the Provencal markets near to Christmas or perhaps to celebrate the annual Menton Fête du Citron in February.

Inspired by a beautiful Marina di Chioggia variety that we found at a Sunday morning Farmers Market, I decided to make this Roasted Pumpkin Risotto (recipe follows).