You might find it surprising to see chocolate chip cookies in the country famous for flaky croissants and perfect baguettes. Of course, these cookies are not traditionally French, but who doesn’t love biscuits aux pépites de chocolate? In large tourist centres such as Paris, where there are millions of visitors …

“Growers, producers and distillers of fine quality botanical products” ~ Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm Win a DIY Botanical Body Care Kit The Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm is giving away two (2) DIY Botanical Body Care Kits to one lucky winner in Canada. Each kit includes farm-grown and distilled …

I am often asked about my “favourite” wine. This is an impossible question and one that I can’t answer. The fact is, I taste so many delicious wines that choosing a favourite seems silly, particularly when things change from vintage to vintage. But I have a category recommendation that I …

A Precocious Talent “As a young boy in Brittany,” says Joël Durand, “I had three dreams—to be a chef, a pastry-maker, or a race car driver.” A smile crosses his face. “My parents made it clear that driving race cars was not in the cards, so I started cooking when …

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 …

It’s incredible how the energy in someone’s words radiates positivity. Reading Tessa Baker’s newsletter about her 2022 painting holidays in Provence, Antigua and the Cinque Terre, I felt like life is finally returning to “normal.”  We connected via Zoom to talk about her new creative projects, including an online course …

Jewel of the Alpilles Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (often written as St Rémy) is perhaps the ideal-sized town in the Alpilles. Plenty of tempting boutiques, chic hotels, a charming pedestrian-friendly centre and many restaurants exist. The largest city in the Alpilles, St Rémy, has roughly 9,800 people. Popular all year, St Rémy can …

Recently, I met Ana Sofia, event manager at Château Grand Boise. The Château Grand Boise has existed since 1610. There is also a symbolic cuvée named “1610” created to commemorate the historic origins of the property. Ana Sofia and her husband took over the management of the estate in 2013 …

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 …

Museums dedicated to the works of Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall, a dynamic old town centre, shopping, and music are some of the many reasons to visit Nice. The largest city on the French Riviera with the shimmering Baie des Anges and famous beaches, the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department …