Category Archives: Provence

19 Spring Menu Ideas from Provence Easy Recipes for Entertaining

Posted on by

Warmer days and market stalls brimming with just-picked ingredients mark this lovely season in the South of France. As the daylight hours get longer and the temperatures rise, shifting from hearty winter meals to lighter seasonal options suits the local produce.

Spring Menu Ideas

It’s the time of the year for asparagus, strawberries, peas, fresh herbs, lamb and more. This Spring Menu Collection includes recipes from Perfectly Provence contributors and culinary friends. They have created seasonal menus inspired by spring in the South of France. This year, we combined 19 of their delicious recipes into a unique “Spring Recipe Collection,” available for download here.

Continue reading →

Summer Holidays in Provence and the Olympic Flame Travels from Marseille

Posted on by

Summer is two months away with its promise of lavender fields, chilled rosé, and swimming in the Mediterranean. However, there is plenty of activity in Provence before the summer break, with the Olympic flame scheduled to arrive in Marseille’s Vieux Port on May 8th aboard the magnificent, 3-masted ship Belem. Here are some details about the Olympic Flame relay route leading up to the opening ceremonies in Paris on July 26th. If you are in Marseille for this exciting historical event, Lynne shares some ideas for enjoying a few days in France’s second-largest city.

Continue reading →

Art, Flowers, and Villages Reasons to Visit Provence in the Springtime

Posted on by

Rain or no rain, the flowers are always beautiful in Provence at this time of year. The poppies, iris, and wisteria are beginning their annual floral display. The flowers are one of many reasons to visit Provence at this time of the year. Please contact us if you want to learn about our partner’s tours.

Alpilles Vineyards in Provence

The Alpilles and Luberon Valley are popular destinations for charming villages, markets, vineyards, and historical sites. We put together this guide for the Alpilles villages to help with your travel planning. The perched villages in the Luberon and popular market towns such as Lourmarin (Fridays) and Apt (Saturdays) should be on your list. Still, we invite you to discover Rustrel, a quiet, centrally located village that is a great place to base for a week in the region.

Please read the full newsletter here.

Enjoy the Signs of Spring in Provence

Posted on by

Springtime is elusive in Provence, although slightly more predictable on the Côte d’Azur. It is not the season for lounging poolside in your new bathing suit.

Temperatures are variable at this time of year. We hiked on the coast in March, enjoying summer temperatures, only to throw on winter layers a few days later when facing a mistral wind. However, March is a great month to visit and play golf. If you are near Aix-en-Provence, plan to visit Paul Cézanne’s Atelier before the summer crowds.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Marcel Pagnol’s passing, with several events celebrating some of his famous books and films.

Perfectly Provence Spring Menu 2024 Collage

Private chef and cooking school owner Stephanie Villegas created this delicious 2024 spring menu. This 3-course meal includes seasonal produce – peas, artichokes and berries – and mouthwatering roast chicken. Enjoy the taste of Provence this spring.

A Quick Escape to the South of France

Posted on by

Take a few minutes and dream of Provence with its Mediterranean coastline, enchanting villages, and delicious cuisine. What interests you most about the South of France? Are you looking for recommendations for specific cities, hidden gems, or tips on regional wines? Here are articles about city highlights, wine tasting in Bandol and Cassis, places to stay, and trip planning.

While February is not lavender season, you can dream about visiting in June on this tour. However, this month is excellent for visiting museums, art galleries, and historic cities like Aix-en-Provence, Arles, and Avignon. If you go to Nîmes to see the Roman sites, try a Crocus de Nîmes, an inspired sandwich. On the French Riviera, it’s party time until March 3 with the 151st Nice Carnaval (“King of Pop Culture”) and 90th Fête du Citron (Olympic theme) in Menton.

With Love from Provence Mid-Winter Amour Recipes and More

Posted on by

If you are like Nutmeg, by this point in the winter, you are looking forward to warmer, longer days. February in Provence reveals early signs of spring’s arrival. Mimosas bloom along the coast, with towns along the 130 km “Route du Mimosa” hosting festivals, parades, concerts, and workshops celebrating the yellow flowers. Meanwhile, almond trees display their delicate white and pink blossoms in other parts of the region. Please watch for Virginie’s article on Provence’s Almond Trees, along with some tempting recipes.

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, Martine of Goût et Voyage has curated a delicious multi-course meal for a romantic evening à deux or a dinner party with good friends. If you like her menu, why not book a spot on her Taste of Provence gourmet and cultural tours in June?

While we don’t need a reason to drink rosé, Valentine’s Day is a good excuse. Wine guru Göran wrote an interesting article about the viability of the rosé business in Provence.

For gifts that won’t break the bank, here are some books about Provence that are (almost) as good as a trip to France.

Please keep reading here for more mid-winter amour from Provence.

Where to Stay in Provence Côte d’Azur in 2024

Posted on by

This newsletter is the 10th edition of the Where to Stay in Provence Côte d’Azur newsletter, and Perfectly Provence turns 10 this year. Please watch for special promotions throughout the next 12 months. Depending on where you live, you might already be tired of snow shovelling. One way to eliminate the winter blues is to book a holiday to the South of France, where the sun shines 300+ days yearly. Our travel partners are filling the final spots on their 2024 tours. Here are some of our curated collections for dreamy places to stay in Provence and the Côte d’Azur.  

One challenge with visiting Provence is choosing from the incredible range of options. Sue Aran shares her thoughts on the best of the Camargue, from towns to wildlife. Art lovers should check out these 12 places for contemporary art. Author Keith Van Sickle is happy to answer questions about visiting St-Rémy-de-Provence in the Alpilles.

A Golden, Silver and Bronze Year in France

Posted on by

Perfectly Provence: Newsletter January 5, 2024

Happy New Year to all! 2024 is an Olympic year for France. While many events occur in and around Paris, there is plenty to get excited about in Provence. There will be sailing and football (soccer). However, before that all starts, the Olympic flame arrives in Marseille’s Vieux Port on Bélem, a beautiful three-masted ship from 1896. From there, the flame travels around the country after a few regional appearances. Here are the details.

January 6th is the Epiphany. So, in Provence, it’s time to enjoy Galette des Rois, a delicious puff pastry (pâte feuilletée) filled with frangipane and a fève, which can be a bean or a tiny ceramic figurine. Don’t break a touch on the fève. It could be your chance to rule the roost for the day. As with the rest of the holiday period in France, there is a ritual around eating this pastry.

Our 2024 winter menu is a culinary creation from Chef Burnell Shively. Start with some nibbles, then move on to swaddled oysters. Check it out below, and in case you missed it, here is her article on the ancient grains grown in the Var. 

January 21st is La Mess de Truffes in Richerenches, with an auction and gourmet meal to follow. Please look for Keith Van Sickles’ article on this event next week.

Depending on where you are in Provence, the weather in January is an assorted mix. In the countryside, you might wake up to heavy fog, crunchy grass, or even the odd dusting of fleeting snow. However, if it snows, it’s magical and fleeting. Watch the website for the article on winter travel essentials for visitors by French immersion teacher Virginie.

Thank you for reading this Perfectly Provence newsletter. We love to hear readers’ comments. If you like our content, please share it with a friend.

We hope to see you in Provence this year,

Discover the Alpilles Vineyards in Provence

Posted on by

AOP Les Baux de Provence

Launched in 1995, Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) Les Baux de Provence was a bold step for a group of winemakers. They joined forces to carve out a unique identity in the ocean of, at that time, mediocre Provencal wine. Previously (since 1972) these wineries fell under the umbrella of the AOP Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence. The les Baux vintners felt that their production was blurred in the vast volume produced by that large AOP. Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) Les Baux was re-established in 1995 reverting to the original appellation formed in 1956. Today ten vineyards are members of the AOP and follow the same guidelines for making wine.

Discovering vineyards of the Alpilles Provence

The Stunning Alpilles

The landscape of the Alpilles is not exactly the land of milk and honey. Rather this is a harsh alpine climate that supports the growth of grapes, almonds, herbs de Provence, and olives. Known as the Alpilles (small Alps), this 30km band of jagged limestone cliffs and scrub brush is a protected regional park infused with wild aromas of herbes de Provence. At its highest point, the ridgeline of the mountains is only 498m (1,634 ft). Yet the gnarled limestone fingers reaching towards Provence’s blue heavens are simply arresting. The Park and its unscathed terroir are why the vineyard owners felt that their wines would be better served under the AOP Les Baux de Provence banner. Continue reading here for information about these vineyards in the Alpilles.

Alpilles Vineyards in Provence

A Visit to the Tarascon Castle and the Legend of a Monster in Provence

Posted on by

No one expects to find the Heart of Darkness or Niger Focus (later Nerluc) in Provence. It might have been an appropriate name for the hamlet on the shores of a murky, swampy river. The muddy, opaque waters fueled rumours cultivating the nightmares of residents who asked was the beast:

A huge serpent?
A dragon?
A fierce half-lion?
A vicious turtle?

Tarascon Monster #Tarascon #Tarasque #ProvenceLegends @GingerandNutmeg

Continue reading →