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Expat Living and Real Estate · Living in Provence · Virginie Van Der Wees

School in France Holidays and More

November 8, 2021

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 C) within the country, and

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Villages Towns and Cities

Villages of the Alpilles: Eygalières

October 26, 2021

Pretty Eygalières Located on the northeastern edge of the Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles, the hamlet of Eygalières has an official population of about 1,900 residents. However, when second homeowners and short-stay visitors descend upon the village in the summertime, the population swells well beyond the formal count. The setting for Eygalières is idyllic. The

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David Scott Allen · Main Course · Pork · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Wine Pairing with Cumin-Roasted Pork Chops

October 22, 2021

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 transparency, Markipedia cooked a few

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Taste · Wines and Spirits of Provence

Exploring the Vineyards of the Alpilles in Provence

October 21, 2021

The Stunning Alpilles The landscape of the Alpilles is not exactly the land of milk and honey but rather a harsh alpine climate that supports the growth of grapes and olives. Known as the Alpilles (small Alps), this 30km band of jagged limestone cliffs and scrub brush is a protected regional park infused with wild

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Dessert · Pies & Tarts · Provencal Recipes · Tasha Powell · Taste

Chocolate and Pear Tarts a Fall Dessert

October 15, 2021

This chocolate and pear tart is a perfect dessert for autumn. Chocolate and pears are a magnificent marriage of flavour and texture. For this dessert, I also created a leaf design with raspberry coulis and caramel on a white plate (using squeeze bottles) and blended the colours with a synthetic brush.  I meticulously placed chocolate

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Guide to the Villages of the Alpilles

September 17, 2021

Beautiful Alpilles Established in 2007, the Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles covers the mountain range and its flanks. As a protected natural area, there are restrictions on construction and park usage. However, the artifacts from human settlements discovered in these hills date back to the Neolithic era, and the range is the result of millions

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Dessert · Pies & Tarts · Provencal Recipes · Tasha Powell · Taste

How to Make French Fruit Tarts Seasonal Recipe Variations

September 16, 2021

One of my favourite desserts is seasonal fruit tarts (tartes aux fruits). These tarts also make nice afternoon treats. So, I make them all year with local, in-season produce. In California, you find puff pastry sheets at most grocery stores (Ralphs, Gelson’s) and at French supermarkets like Carrefour or Intermarché. Typically, I make the French-style

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