A Provencal Picnic: How to Make a Tartine Jardinière (Provencal Vegetable Sandwich)
Filed Under Food History, Recipes France
Provence is a foodie's delight. The Mediterranean diet is packed with fresh produce, olive oil, and of course seafood, and many of these tasty treats are found at the local open-air markets as well as the shops of artisan food producers. Pair this delicious food with the beautiful natural setting, and it's no wonder that Provence is one of our favorite culinary vacation destinations, and an ideal place for a… Read
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Cider Making in Europe
Filed Under Food History, Wines & Spirits France, Spain
It's apple season in many parts of the world, and that means cider! No, we don't mean American apple cider, which is simply unfiltered apple juice. We mean that wonderful alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice. In the U.S. cider (or "hard cider") is ever gaining in popularity, but in Europe it was been a staple for centuries, particularly in Great Britain, northern France, the Spanish Basque country, and… Read
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Sparkling Wines and Appetizers on our Culinary Tours
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Travel Tips, Wines & Spirits France, Italy, Spain
It's often said that when in doubt about wine pairing, try a sparkling wine. They are more versatile than one might think, not at all just for toasting a special event. But while they might adapt themselves to a lot of courses, it's true that they are exceptional aperitifs. And what goes better with an aperitif than some hors d'oeuvres? The Venetians have this down to a science. There you… Read
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Chilled Pea Soup with Goat Cheese from a Normandy Culinary Tour
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes France
The market in Dieppe is the largest in all of Normandy, and guests of our cooking vacations in Normandy can get all the ingredients for this recipe there. But these ingredients are also readily available just about anywhere in the U.S. too, especially when the season is right. Keep your kitchen cool this Summer and enjoy a family dinner together with this fabulous recipe from Chef Colin, who leads the… Read
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Ratatouille Recipe from our Provence Cooking Vacation
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes France
'Tis the season for ratatouille! This dish, packed as it is with summer vegetables, is perfect for this time of year. It also has its roots in Provence, which makes sense, considering the region is a land of sunshine. Definitely note in the recipe how the vegetables are cooked separately. This helps ensure they're all cooked just right with just the amount of caramelization, making this dish extra delicious. For… Read
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French Recipe for Crème Brulée and Wine Pairing
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes France
We're featuring a recipe and wine pairing from the Chateau de Berne in the heat of Provence, who for many years offered cooking classes to our culinary travelers. It also fits in perfectly with our top travel memories theme of the week, since one of my top travel memories was of my first trip to Provence back in 2005, when I was lucky enough to visit the property. I can… Read
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