“Every day my cooking has to be great.”
That’s Emmanuel Billaud, the owner and chef at Le Clos Saint Roch in Maussane-les-Alpilles, a charming town near St-Rémy. He once won the award for “best-value” restaurant in Paris and has now opened a delightful place in Provence.
If you want a great meal at a great price, be sure to check it out! You can read all about it at Perfectly Provence.
I was diagnosed two years ago with celiac disease, which is a severe gluten intolerance. No more croissants, baguettes and pain au chocolat — bummer! But life goes on and there are still plenty of wonderful things to eat.
Having become experts on eating gluten-free in both France and the US, my wife Val and I were interviewed recently by The Celiac Project. We talked about shopping for food, eating in restaurants, and tips on things to look for and things to avoid. If you know someone with a gluten problem, they might find the interview helpful. It’s 30 minutes long and you can listen to it here.
I’ve also written an article about eating gluten-free in France, which you can find here.
Bon appétit !
Food is at the center of French life and is any food more important than cheese? Non!
Here are some funny stories about how I learned cheese etiquette, as well as the impact cheese can have on French elections.
Read all about it at The Good Life France.
One of my favorite restaurants in St.-Rémy-de-Provence is L’Aile ou la Cuisse. The food is great and the setting is beautiful, right in the middle of the old town. Best of all is the gigantic display case where you pick your dessert. It’s like Christmas every day!
You can read all about this fun restaurant at Perfectly Provence.
France is famous for its breads, like crusty baguettes, flaky croissants, and rich pain au chocolat. The best! But what if you live a gluten-free life? Can you still visit la belle France?
Bien sûr! France has plenty of gluten-free (GF) options, whether you are dining out or cooking in. Here are some pointers to get you started.
Read about how to live GF in France at Frenchly. Bon appétit !
There are a lot of great restaurants in Provence, with Michelin stars galore, like Le Petit Nice in Marseille and Baumanière in Les Baux. But for my money, the best fine dining in Provence is at L’Atelier de Jean-Luc Rabanel in Arles. Val and I go there every year to celebrate her birthday and it’s always great.
Find out all about L’Atelier at The Provence Post.
Delicious wines, a gorgeous winery and a privileged location in one of the most beautiful spots in France: Château Romanin has it all.
It is also a place where wine, religion and mysticism have intersected for centuries.
Read about the history and mystery of Château Romanin at Perfectly Provence.
Bouillabaisse is one of those magical dishes that seems to capture the spirit of Provence. So when our friend Pascal, a retired chef, invited us over for homemade bouillabaisse, we came running.
Besides serving us a magnificent meal, Pascal shared some of his secrets. Like where the name comes from. And what kind of spices to use. And what to NEVER do when preparing bouillabaisse.
You can read my story about our dinner on page 106 of The Good Life France Magazine’s Autumn Issue.
Americans love peanut butter, just as Australians love Vegemite, and Brits love Marmite. We all have our national favorites.
For the French it’s Nutella, that sweet chocolate-hazelnut spread that kids grow up eating at breakfast. So it was shocking when French philosopher Régis Debray attacked Nutella , causing a national uproar. He might as well have gone after motherhood and the 35-hour workweek while he was at it.
Author and professor Mara Goyet responded with an essay explaining the ways in which Nutella is, in fact, at the very heart of French civilization. It’s very insightful and…hilarious!
You can read the full article at Frenchly.
Just ten minutes from one of France’s most famous sites, the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard, sits the tiny village of Estézargues. There’s not much there – no charming cafés or famous monuments. But on the edge of town you can find some astonishingly good wine— wine that you might consider the best value wine in France!
You can read the full article at France Travel Tips.