Happy Holidays! Seasons greetings to all our readers and the terrific contributors. May the holidays allow you the time to sample some wine from Provence, share a Provencal-inspired meal with friends and family, but mostly enjoy a chance to relax.  

This holiday menu is not exclusive to the Christmas season; however, the heavier flavours lend themselves to cooler evenings and Rhone Valley red wine blends. This meal combines some real Provencal classics including garlic aioli, local lamb with herbes de Provence, tomatoes, a hint of Pastis and a not too sweet dessert. …

The Christmas Kalends of Provence, by Thomas Allibone Janvier, was first published in 1902 and republished many times since. The edition I am using is a facsimile published by Bibliobazaar, 2007, Charleston, South Carolina. Reviewed by Mary-Jane Deeb A few years ago my publisher, Paraclete Press, gave me a small …

Admittedly, it was his mouthwatering food photos and tempting wine pairings on Provence WineZine that first attracted me to David Scott Allen the face (and chef) behind Cocoa & Lavender, a weekly food blog based in Tucson, Arizona. However, “food porn” alone is not enough to build a lasting friendship (although some …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: As the holiday season approaches, I hope everyone is getting ready for some happy times with friends and family, or maybe just a nice, quiet break from the normal routine. Whatever type of season you are planning, I hope it is filled with joy. As …

Contributor blog post by Michel: You know I love santons, the hand-made clay figurines that depict the colorful people, traditional trades, activities and costumes of Provence. In Provence, they are set out at Christmas in a Provençal crèche (nativity scene). …Continue reading here for Michel’s description of these tiny clay figures …

The cafes are full inside and out today in Provence as everyone enjoys the mild weather. The baker is furiously making fougasse/pompe à l’huile for tomorrow, the local epicerie can’t seem to keep fresh medjool dates (that melt in your mouth!) and clementines on the shelves. There are towers of …

This year I plan to stay in France for the Christmas holiday. Friends say there’s nothing in the world quite like it. One year I was in Uzes until late December so I got a hint of how special the atmosphere is around here. There are festive decorations on street …

Bilingual guide Emily Durand and the owner of Your Private Provence is running a holiday tour in Provence from December 16-22, 2016. This “Christmas market and truffle tour” is a small group tour for a maximum of eight (8) guests. You can view the full itinerary here. Why would you want to sign up …

Lovely connections develop in Provence and ours is one. My friend, author Patricia Sands is a lady with a fabulous re-invention story (please read her full back story here). Following her popular “Love in Provence” trilogy (Lake Union Publishing), she is currently working on her fifth novel. This story is …