Savoury tarts are something that French cooks do just as well as those tempting sweet creations. This Tomato Tart made with homemade confit tomatoes is a breath of summer any time of the year. Of course, we all dream of those summer days when you can pick tomatoes in your …

I  am deeply moved by Jean-Andre Charial’s philosophical book “Lunch in Provence.” More correctly, it strengthened my conviction that the foundation of great food lies not only in the provenance of ingredients and simplicity of preparation but in emotion and passion while enjoying it. Charial spoke of lovely, outdoor makeshift lunches where just-picked …

Carrot Flan was inspired by a recipe in Cuisine et Vins of France. Easy to make and perfect for a light lunch with a green salad

Nutmeg is writing this post on a rainy Sunday afternoon while Ginger is napping off the effects of a long Sunday lunch. It is a long tradition in France that stores are closed Sunday afternoon, allowing everyone the opportunity to have a leisurely lunch en famille. Today, many large grocery …

Contributor blog post by Michel: Almost without fail, we are out and about during the middle of the day so every morning I look for a new restaurant to try or a favorite dining spot to return to. So one morning last February, I was thumbing through the Michelin Guide …

September is a spectacular month in Provence. Often it’s sunny and warm—without the scorching summer heat—with blue skies and nights that are cool and refreshing. The days are shorter and the leaves on the vines start to change. It’s also when most of my friends arrive back after avoiding the …

Contributor blog post by Michel: Avignon offers a great many dining choices for all tastes and budgets, in different settings from private gardens, below churches in 17th century dining rooms, in hidden courtyards to name a few. But like many towns in the South of France, there are not many …

One Sunday several weeks back, friend Alain who with his wife Mimi owns the epicerie in Sablet, asked me if we were free Monday afternoon. I replied yes, and he said they would pick us up in front of the boulangerie at 11:45 on Monday, a day when the epicerie …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Here’s a recommendation for lunch which will take you right off the beaten track and far away from tourist groups. Don’t read on if you are looking for fine dining and sophistication. Chez-le-Garde won’t offer you that. But for me, it was a truly Provencal …

Cassis is located just east of Marseille and is very famous for the adjacent large towering white cliffs.  The cliffs are equally stunning as those found along the English Chanel in Normandy. There are beautiful inlets called les Calanques that are accessible mostly by boat, or in some cases by …