Relocating to the South of France is often a lifestyle choice, for those seeking a milder climate and slower pace of life. However, it is not every couple who willingly choose to spend their semi-retirement years managing a boutique, 5-bedroom B&B in a new country. In December 2010, Jane and …

Since arriving back in the UK after Christmas it seems that it hasn’t stopped raining and most days we appear to have moved directly from dawn to dusk with what appears to be no actual sunlight in between. It just hasn’t got light and to be honest it’s felt as …

Mary Kay Seales calls the U.S. Pacific Northwest home. During much of the year, she works as both a freelance copywriter and as a writing professor, for international students, at the University of Washington, in Seattle. However, she has also lived and worked in a long list of diverse destinations …

As I mentioned in my last couple of blogs we’ve really enjoyed exploring the area on foot this Winter and in turn, it has meant we’ve had a very happy dog! We have managed to discover some new walks, but have also enjoyed treading well-worn paths, like this one that …

Mimosa and Sea Urchins Despite it being February, the coast of France, which borders the Mediterranean, becomes bright yellow during this time of year. Synonymous with the Mediterranean, I’ll never forget when I was in Italy during International Women’s Day. It’s the custom there to hand out Mimosa to every …

Combining Passions into Work Born in Provence, Sophie Bergeron is bilingual (English and French) and fully conversant in the realm of local wines. Her technical studies at Université de Vin in Suze la Rousse and the WSET certification transitioned into work at several Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards, including Domaine de la Janasse. In 2016, …

This “faux” cassoulet recipe appeared in the February 2016 issue of Bon Appetit magazine. I have prepared it several times to rave reviews from family and friends. Like a traditional cassoulet, it is a meal-in-a-dish and requires only a side salad, a robust red wine and perhaps a fruit dessert to complete the meal. It is perfect for cold winter evenings.

It would be difficult to call Emily Durand an expat at this stage. After living in the South of France for more than two decades, Emily is wholly immersed in the region with her family. Once the kids reached school age, she decided it was her time to launch a …

Arts de la Table, Bastide We are blessed here in Provence to have the best ingredients when it comes to producing scents (and eating!). Grasse is the perfume capital of the world; not surprising considering the endless fields of lavender, roses, fruit blossom and wild scented herbs that create the …

Paula Kane spends nine months a year dreaming of her life in Provence and the balance of the year soaking up all the beauty that the region offers. The saying might be that opposites attract, but a Canadian girl who like to cycle, loves food, wine and Provence sounded just a …