The French style of entertaining called the apéro dînatoire is a favourite way of throwing parties in France. Since I am in France for an average of 3 to 5 months every year, we have grown roots in Provence, specifically in the area of Aix-en-Provence! I love apéro dînatoire gatherings …

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 …

Join us for a road trip along the French Riviera to these must-see destinations. Welcome to the French Riviera, home to glamorous stars, sparkling water, parasols and beach loungers, and fabulous yachts. Evocative images of the Côte d’Azur exist in movies and reality. The French Riviera runs from Cassis (although …

This article was originally published (in French) in Fine Bouches Magazine, a magazine for lovers of high-quality foods and wines. Seaside Cassis Wines Cassis is the most beautiful AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) in France: the vineyards cling to the slopes of a magical amphitheatre that plunges towards the shimmering Mediterranean. …

Have you ever tried grilled octopus? It’s a Mediterranean delicacy, and NOW is the time to be adventurous in the kitchen. This Summer salad recipe with grilled octopus is fresh, delicious, and colourful. The salade composée is a visual treat, as well as a yummy starter for your guests. My …

Essential Lavender The lavender industry in Provence is a significant economic driver impacting agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and retail. There are 2,000 producers and roughly 25,000 people employed in the industry. The main growing areas are the four (4) departments the Drôme, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Vaucluse, with some small production in the …

By definition, pork rillettes are made using a preservation method similar to duck confit. The pork is seasoned, then slow-cooked submerged in fat and cooked at a grandmotherly pace for several hours. Afterward, the pork is shredded and packed into sterile containers, covered in a thin veneer of fat and …

Fascinated with France since her childhood, Raina Stinson visited the country for the first time in 2014. That trip was a career turning point for this long-time nurse from Portland, Oregon. Shortly after that journey, she decided to take early retirement and combine her two passions, portrait photography and the …

The road through France to discover Arles. by Mahima Kaur Arriving in Arles A transport strike, a few cancelled trains and an urgent Uber ride from Avignon to Arles was not the kind of Provencal welcome I had imagined. The long journey and a growling stomach are quickly forgotten when …

Enamoured with Provence, Caroline Longstaffe is one of our regular contributors. Her blog, Shutters and Sunflowers, is about passion, living the journey and not waiting to get to the destination. A traveller at heart, Caroline says she was most probably born under a wandering star. Born in England, she lives …