Did you know that the word cereal comes from Ceres, that beautiful Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture? Humans have been cultivating grains since time immemorial; even Neanderthals collected them to bake into some reasonably complex dishes (mentioned in the blog post Breaking Bread in Palestine on my website). Grains, …

For me, cooking and gardening are two passions that go hand in hand. This year I planted a lot more fennel than I usually do, and I have been coming up with ways to use up all the extra harvest. My latest creation is a Chickpea and Fennel Salad simple …

This appetizer recipe is from Laurel, my cooking school and professional kitchen in Fontvieille, a beautiful village in the Alpilles. The recipe is quick to prepare and brings together fresh summer flavours. Serve with crusty bread and some chilled rosé or cocktail of your choice. This is an easy and …

This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is incredibly easy to make at home. I was craving vegetables when I photographed this version, so I made it with a higher ratio of vegetables to chickpeas. Despite the recipe given below, it is best to follow your own passions and add whatever you like. …

The inspiration for my recipe for Chickpea and Spinach Gratin is Richard Olney’s delicious classic cookbook Simple French Food. It is a traditional Provencal vegetarian preparation that is easy to make and will impress your friends. In keeping with the book’s title, this recipe is an easy preparation that does …

This recipe comes from Chef Ben at Maison Mirabeau. He created the dish featuring pan-roasted hake in a warming stew of chickpea and chorizo. Hake is a white fish from the cod and haddock family, either of which would be fine substitutes. Here is how Chef Ben describes the fish, …

Hummus is a classic dish that originated in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions of the world as early as the 13th century. Typically made from chickpeas, it’s a flavourful paste that can be enjoyed on its own, with crackers, veggies, or used as a spread for fresh bread or …

Also known as Fourmade, is at its very core a hearty soup made by impoverished people to provide an inexpensive and healthy filling meal. This soup surprisingly rich and luxurious tasting. Once you make the basic recipe try embellishing with leeks, chickpeas, grated Parmesan, cooked rice or even croutons fried in olive oil.

Autumn in Provence Fall is a beautiful season in the South of France, but regardless of where you live, the season’s arrival signals shorter days. The lingering summer light becomes more radiant, casting an ethereal golden hue across our dinner table. You can enjoy the residual effects of Provencal summer …

This summer when we were in Provence visiting family and pre-planning for our group tour, I noticed a developing trend for appetizers. The traditional black olive tapenade is of course always present. However, there is a movement to use alternative ingredients to create hummus-like dips, I call these spreads ades. …