Want to Understand Olive Traditions? Book Curated Travel to Provence

Martine Bertin-Peterson, the founder of Goût et Voyage LLC, runs small-group tours in Provence, Umbria, Normandy, and Morocco. Creating unforgettable travel memories, Martine serves as the escort for all Goût et Voyage culinary travel adventures. These tours bring together her lifelong passions for travel, cooking, and culture. In Provence, Umbria, and Morocco, olives and olive oil form the base of the local cuisine and culinary traditions. Martine recently wrote a newsletter titled “Olives & Olive Oil: Provence vs. Umbria – A taste of place, tradition, and terroir.” With her permission, we have reproduced a portion of the article below.

Olives and the Mediterranean

Olive oil is far more than a pantry staple in southern Europe—it’s a cultural identity, an agricultural art, and, increasingly, a product appreciated with the same nuance as fine wine. From the sun-drenched groves of Provence to the rolling hills of Umbria, each region produces oils that reflect its landscape, climate, and centuries-old traditions.

Olives in Provence

In Provence, olive trees thrive in dry, rocky soils under abundant Mediterranean sunshine. The region produces relatively small quantities of olive oil—France accounts for only a tiny share of global production—but what it lacks in volume, it makes up for in quality and character. In fact, about 95% of olive oil consumed in France is imported, underscoring how precious local production is. 

Photo credit: ©Perfectly Provence

The key olive varieties include Saloneque, which is mild, slightly sweet, and often used as a table olive or for delicate oil; Aglandau, a small green olive that produces bold, peppery oils; and Picholine, a firm, nutty olive often eaten as a table olive but also pressed.

Provençal oils are typically herbaceous (think thyme, artichoke, green almond), light to medium-bodied, and elegant, with a subtle peppery finish. Provençal olive oils are often used for drizzling over fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, or grilled fish, and for finishing soups and vegetable dishes. They are less commonly used for heavy cooking—these oils are meant to be tasted.

A Guide to Olive Producers in the Alpilles

Why Travel with Goût et Voyage?

At Goût et Voyage, Martine believes in the power of intimate exploration. With a maximum of six (6) guests per tour, you’ll enjoy a personalized adventure that feels more like travelling with close friends than being part of a tourist group. Martine is an avid traveller specializing in small-group tours that feature culture and gourmet delights. Goût et Voyage guests are “Explorers at heart who have a curious, open mind and an adventurous palate.”

Photo credit: ©Martine Bertin-Peterson

Martine’s background and experience are as wide-ranging as her interests. She has decades of cooking experience gained through formal and informal cooking courses in the United States, France and Italy. Born in France and fluent in 5 languages, Martine has travelled to more than 50 countries across 5 continents. She has escorted travel groups throughout Europe and Latin America over the past 25+ years and, for the past 5 years, has focused on creating unique gourmet experiences for her clients in Provence. 

It’s Martine’s genuine belief that if you really want to get to know a place, start with what’s on the plate. During a recent trip through Provence, she followed her appetite across markets, bistros, and white-tablecloth restaurants — and each meal felt like a little window into the region’s soul. The food wasn’t just delicious; it was rooted. Honest. The kind of eating that sticks with you — not because it was fancy (though some of it was), but because it felt deeply local. Here are a few of her favourite restaurants in Les Alpilles.

Photo credit ©Martine Bertin-Peterson

Reasons to Book a Trip

A small group tour with Goût et Voyage for an adventure that satisfies your wanderlust and enriches your soul with cultural and culinary insights in Provence and beyond. Founder Martine Bertin-Peterson wants you to discover the Goût et Voyage destinations Provence, Normandy, Umbria and Morocco. Each curated adventure delivers a truly memorable travel experience.

Customized Small Group Experience: At Goût et Voyage, Martine believes in the power of intimate exploration. There is a maximum of six (6) guests per tour. So you will enjoy a personalized adventure that feels like travelling with close friends. Martine is an avid traveller specializing in small-group tours that feature culture and gourmet delights. Goût et Voyage guests are “Explorers at heart who have a curious, open mind and an adventurous palate.”

Reasons to Book with Goût et Voyage

Recipes with Olives

Olive Bread

This classic olive bread pairs perfectly with a Provençal rosé, complements any meal, and makes a delicious accompaniment to cheese and charcuterie boards.

Check out this recipe

Classic Fougasse with Olive Oil

This French flatbread is perfect as a casual appetizer or enjoy it fresh from the oven with a hearty soup.

Check out this recipe

Wild Mushroom Soup with Olive Oil

This wild mushroom soup recipe does not use cream, yet it has a luxurious, rich texture that will keep you warm on cool nights.

Check out this recipe

Tomato Olive Tarts - Appetizer

There are a few steps to this recipe, but don't be put off. There is nothing complicated, and you will love the result. As a bonus, the little tart shells are a bit like savoury shortbread so you can serve those on their own. And, if you make too much olive tapenade, it will keep for a few days in the fridge.

Check out this recipe

Green and Black Olive Tapenades

Two easy recipes for tapenades -- one green and one black

Check out this recipe

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Full day Wine Tour with the sommelier-guide and 3 winery visits

Discover one of the most famous red wine-producing areas of France, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with this wine tour! You will start the day with the discovery of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and its history.

Book this Experience

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).