I think the healthiest thing that any of us can do is to look at each day as a holiday. Every day we have is a gift, and we should treat it as such. This recipe was posted in The New York Times around the holidays as a way to …

Gretchen and Paul Duffin are the creative founders behind Ideas We Share, a digital marketing and communications company based in Provence. Based in the Var, they work with clients developing professional profiles for websites, social media, and print. Digital Solution for Markets When the first Covid-19 lockdown occurred in France, …

A debate is raging over what constitutes a “correct” salade Niçoise. To the purists, the rules are clear: no vinegar, no lettuce, no fresh tuna, and no boiled vegetables, like potatoes or green beans. If you add any of these, you will be labelled as a heretic and sent to …

Lively Lourmarin In August, the tiny villages of Provence swell with visitors from around the world and Lourmarin is no exception. At Café Gaby – if you are lucky enough to find a table on market day – you might hear German, Dutch, Chinese, Russian, and various forms of English, …

What about a savoury snack or nibble with a glass of rosé? This savoury quick loaf a Ham and Olive Cake is a great snack or pre-dinner bite. It’s often enjoyed by kids here in France when they get home from school for their goûter. In French, this is called Cake aux Olives et Jambon – yes they use the English word “cake.”

Olives from Provence In the Alpilles, near the Vallée des Baux, there is nothing that signals that autumn has arrived more than the olive harvest. The exact timing of the récolte depends on Mother Nature’s impact on the fruit’s maturity. Like every crop, farmers hope to get the timing right …

Market Day in Aix Thursday is usually an exercise rest day for me. I often use this opportunity to go to the big food market in the old town of Aix-en-Provence to buy local, seasonal produce. Provence is famous for its markets. In Aix-en-Provence, residents and visitors enjoy daily markets …

This appetizer, a Provence Gourmet recipe for tomato, olive and goat cheese tarts, is delicious. We prepared the tarts for a starter course during one of Gilles Conchy’s cooking classes. If you are looking for hands-on, fun classes in Provence, then look no further. Gilles puts you to work preparing …

I am sharing one of my favourite recipes: stuffed with goat cheese, oven-dried tomatoes, and tapenade. The possibilities are limitless. Pour yourself a glass of rose and let’s get cooking.

Provence in Autumn Bizarrely we sense and feel the changing seasons more in Provence than we do in Devon. Back in Exeter, the proximity to the sea seems to soften the edges of summer as it shifts into autumn and likewise, autumn into winter. That’s not the case here. Today …