Winter Writing Retreat in Provence

Two women I adore and admire have teamed up to host a late-winter writing retreat in the South of France. Whether you’re already published, still aspiring or just curious, this five-night getaway in the beautiful Provencal countryside will be a journey of self-discovery and give you tools to help your writing spring to life, whether you’re interested in food writing, personal narrative, fiction or just about anything else. All levels are welcome!

The March 2 to 7 workshop will be led by Elizabeth Bard, the American author of the bestselling memoir and cookbook Lunch in Paris (Little Brown, 2010), along with two other books: Picnic in Provence (Little Brown, 2015) and her latest, Dinner Chez Moi: 50 French Secrets for Joyful Eating and Entertaining (Little Brown, 2017). Her articles on food, art, travel and digital culture have appeared in The New York Times, The London Times, Wired, Harper's Bazaar and The Huffington Post, among others. Elizabeth lives in Arles with her French husband Gwendal and their adorable 10-year-old son. 

“For me, writing is both a passion and a craft,” Elizabeth says. “Since I published my first book in 2010, I’m amazed at the number of readers who write to me saying they have their own stories to share. This week is about confronting the blank page – in writing and in life!” 

Your host for the week will be Kelly Goehler, an American (originally from Nashville) who landed in Provence after years spent working in the marketing world, in New York and Asia. Kelly owns and runs La Belugue Wellness and Wandering Retreats and La Belugue Cooking School, from her gorgeous, art-filled 18th-century farmhouse in the Southern Luberon. Her warm style of southern hospitality and her French culinary training make La Belugue the perfect, Provencal escape in any season. Kelly and her husband Philippe have made their home in the tiny village of  Beaumont-de-Pertuis since 2017. You can read what I wrote about La Belugue here. 

“I feel so lucky to be living this life and it makes me so happy to share it with others,” Kelly says. "This is a chance to learn about this wild, unspoiled part of the country...its culture, traditions, food, wine and more. And at the same time, to write your heart out guided by an accomplished author who knows the region intimately.”

The five-night retreat includes accommodation at La Belugue or a similar B&B in the same village, all meals (except two lunches and one dinner), daily writing workshops and one private coaching session with Elizabeth. Plus, plans include wine tasting, truffle hunting, a cooking class, a visit to Cezanne’s studio in Aix, a boat ride and bouillabaisse meal in Cassis and a hilltop picnic at a 12th-century chapel. You’ll enjoy aperitifs by the fireplace, sunsets over the vineyards, superb home-cooked meals with local wines and much more. 

Airfare and transfers from the train station or airport are not included. Pricing is 3000€ per person for a private room, 5400€ for a double room or 2700€ per person for a shared room. 

Day trippers (those living or staying in the area) are welcome for 1500€ per person; details of what’s included in that package appear here. 

I know from personal experience that creative getaways of this type can be completely life changing. In 1997, I signed up for a two-week photography workshop in Provence...my first visit to the region. I think it was on Day #3, after the jet lag had started to ease, that I realized two weeks wasn't going to be anywhere near enough. I returned about a year later, and that's when reality hit: my marriage to New York was pretty much over and my love affair with Provence was in full bloom. I went back to New York, quit my job, sublet my apartment, found a cute little stone house in St. Remy and have been blissfully happy here since. Who knows what may happen if you grab this chance to experience the magic of Provence while pursuing your passion for writing with a small group like-minded people? 

“Provence is such an inspiring place to write,” Elizabeth says. “The cuisine, the history, the landscape – there’s so much to get the creative spirit moving. I'm so excited to share that with you." 

All the retreat details are on the La Belugue website here. 

If you have specific questions for Kelly or Elizabeth, feel free to reach out:  kelly@la-belugue.com or elizabethbard@hotmail.com.

Photos: (1). You've arrived! La Belugue is surrounded by vineyards and yes, you'll drink the wines! (2) Elizabeth Bard. (3) Kelly Goehler. (4) Elizabeth's first book was the best-selling memoir and cookbook "Lunch in Paris." Two books have followed. (5) Once part of the village’s original farm, the 18th-century house that's now La Belugue was used as a shelter for sheep and for hay storage. While the exterior is simple and rustic, the interior is vibrant and colorful, with high ceilings, lots of light, art, sculpture and original architectural elements. Here Kelly has combined her passions for hospitality, local food, wine, fitness, nature, horses and more. (6) The tile was made by a local artist. (7) The area surrounding Beaumont-de-Pertuis is heavily agricultural, with beautiful farms and orchards producing high-quality fruit, veg, wheat, meat, cheese, flowers, olive oil and wine grapes...much of it organic. (8) In the 14th century, Beaumont-de-Pertuis was a prosperous market town with roughly 1,000 residents; it has not many more today. It's just 30 minutes from Aix, an hour from the Gorges du Verdon. (9) Cooking class at La Belugue. (10) Rolling hills and lush green valleys are dotted with historic villages and sites. The snow-topped peaks of the Alps are very often visible in the distance. (11) A goatherd and her flock pass by. (12) Guests love to gather at the fireplace for the apero before dinner. (13) Cheese, Bread, Wine: Kelly loves to support and promote local organic producers. "Everything in this picture was made within 20 miles of us," she says. (14) A guestroom at La Belugue. (15-17) Day trips and activities during the retreat will include a truffle hunt, a boat ride to see the gorgeous cliffs and coves of the Calanques and a bouillabaisse in Cassis (last photo courtesy of TootaCassis.fr).

Postcard from the Edge: A Guest Post

The approach to the Calanque de Sormiou, where chef Andy Floyd and his family had a great afternoon at the restaurant Le Chateau. His guest post about it appears below. Click any of the photos to enlarge.

On the Edge: Sormiou is one of the lesser known calanques, considered something of a locals' secret.

After a somewhat tense 4 kilometer drive down a narrow, winding road...you'll arrive wanting wine quickly. Note, the parking lot is filled mostly with small cars.

The cove and beach that beckon you before and after lunch. Andy says the kids didn't want to leave.

Chef Andy and his wife Lucy both had fish soup followed by grilled dorade. The kids ate shrimp and pasta. The meal was excellent...and expensive.

The entrance to a private little cabanon, off the beach.

On the way home, Marseille (and civilization) loom in the distance.

The Floyd Family's Excellent Provence Adventure included this photo opp in the hills facing Les Baux de Provence. Clockwise: Lucy, Paris, Andy, Sophia and Soleil.

A note from Julie: Every now and then I ask foodie friends in France...or just back from France...to write about one restaurant in Provence they love. When my chef pal Andy Floyd mentioned he had just been to the Le Château de Sormiou, I was all over it--I've wanted to go there for years.  As the GM of KitchenTable Cooking School and the Academic Director of the Professional Culinary Arts Program at Colorado Culinary Academy (Denver), Andy has been teaching budding chefs for more than 20 years.  For 10 of them, he directed professional programs at Culinary School of the Rockies (Boulder) and took groups of students for month-long trips to cook and to stage in some Provence’s finest restaurants. As a result, he remains intimately connected to the food world in the South of France. After a few years away, Andy recently returned for vacation with his wife Lucy and their three kids. And here's his report about their day at the Le Château...not just a restaurant but a true adventure...

No trip to Provence would be complete without a visit to the Calanques between Marseille and Cassis. The white limestone cliffs and inlets that begin in the heart of Marseille and follow the coast to the picturesque port town of Cassis are the summer playground of the Marseillais.

Over the years, I'd visited Cassis many times with my culinary students.  A bouillabaisse in the port followed by a boat trip to the awesome Calanque d'En-Vau is de rigueur for anyone visiting the area. But I'd often heard of another very special Calanque, a well-guarded secret of the locals called the Calanque de Sormiou and I was determined to explore this little gem on my recent family trip. But--understatement here--it's not easy to get to. If you want to avoid the hour-long hike in, your only choice is to rent one of the tiny seaside bungalows or to make reservations at the Le Château Sormiou, the little restaurant with a “to die for” view of the Sormiou Calanque and a fresh-out-of-the-water seafood menu. It's open from the first weekend in April to the last weekend in September and has been serving customers since 1948.

If you plan to go by car, make sure you reserve way ahead, as you're vying for access to this amazing spot with quite few others. When you call Le Château for reservations they'll ask for your car’s license plate number; this is mandatory or “le gardien” won't let you through the gate that takes you up and over the limestone mountain into the tight, steep descent into the Calanque.  If you don’t know your rental car’s license plate number when you make the reservation, just explain that you'll provide it closer to your arrival date. (Need I point out that good command of the French language, as well as being able to decipher the subtleties of the Marseillais patois, are a pre-requisite to making your reservation?). Once you've booked your table, you've overcome the major obstacle to getting to this little gem. Well, one of them at least.

I've been to Marseille many times and though I can easily find my way to the main landmarks, I could never have navigated my way to the entrance of this Calanque without a GPS. I felt like I was in a scene from the The French Connection as I exited from a major highway onto an elevated single lane that led me into a construction area and then into an eight-lane boulevard. Then finally, after many disorienting directional changes, I began to see signs for the Calanque de Sormiou. Much relief! We began to leave the bustle of the city into a forested area and then finally the GPS said we had reached our destination...even though we were still 4 km from the entrance. 

Once we arrived at the gate, the gardien looked from our car to his clipboard and back. No match, he proclaimed. We weren't on the list! 

Actually, we had planned to come with a friend in her car and when that plan fell through, I called to make the change....but I guess the gardien didn’t get the updated license number.  We managed to convince him that we were legit restaurant customers with a reservation and eventually he relented and lifted the gate. 

Now we started to question what kind of drive we were about to have, if such a careful selection process was required...and then a few clicks in we began to understand. But we really got the picture once we arrived at the top of Calanque and began to make our way down a one-lane road with pot holes and certain-death drop offs.  We prayed that no vehicles would be coming in the other direction and I surveyed the options ahead for any slight widening of the road. We made it down to the parking area (4€ charge) in a state of high stress and in desperate need of a glass or two of rosé.  We gathered our beach bags and gear and headed to the restaurant. 

We sat outside on the covered terrace with a gorgeous view of the sea and the Calanque.  Within minutes the empty terrace filled with clients.  It's very important to note this is a strictly cash restaurant and there are no ATMs or electricity or running water for that matter. Be prepared! We ordered up a bottle of rosé which came in a cute little plastic bag filled with ice. Lucy and I both settled in on soupe de poisson and a grilled whole dorade with vegetables and potatoes. The kids chose shrimp and pasta but there were a few meat dishes offered as well.  If you call ahead, you can order bouillabaisse, the local specialty, priced at 45€ per person, minimum two people. The food was excellent and unquestionably fresh though clearly priced with the captive audience in mind. Our lunch for five, with one bottle of wine, came to around 250€.  We changed in their restroom and after giving them a big wad of cash, headed to the beach.  Pleasantly, it was a real beach with sand (not rocky, like many coastal beaches here), and the water was perfect.  This day was without a doubt the highlight of our trip and the kids really didn't want to leave.   

The drive back up the Calanque was little less stressful though a lot busier and we did have to negotiate cars coming down at the same time. As we crested the top of the entrance to the Calanque we were presented with a stunning view of downtown Marseille and reluctantly we drove toward it, tucking away the experience of the special gem we had just uncovered. And yes, we would absolutely do it again!

Le Château Sormiou

lechateausormiou.fr

Tel: +33 (0) 4 91 25 08 69

GPS: 226 Chemin de Sormiou, 13009 Marseille

Open seven days, first weekend in April to last weekend in Sept.

Lunch served 12 to 3; dinner 7:30 to 9:30.

Reservations required, no email, no credit cards.

All photos by Andy Floyd. To reach him: chandy80027@gmail.com.

Updated August 2018: Parking has gone up to €5 and rather than being open for lunch and dinner every day, the restaurant is now closed for Sunday dinner. All menu options are now on the restaurant's website. 

Artists' Snapshots of Provence

Snapshots of Provence is an annual program in which invited artists create digital art promoting the Bouches-du-Rhône department of Provence. The pieces are then compiled, published online and, later, displayed in a museum exhibit. This year, the work will also be shown in collaboration with the Regards de Provence Foundation, from November 28th to December 15th, at the Palais des Arts (at 1 Place Auguste et François Carli, phone 04 91 42 51 50) in Marseille. Meanwhile, you can see the video presentation here or just click the photo.

For the 2012/2013 Snapshots program, Bouches-du-Rhône Tourisme invited 12 regional artists and young talents to express ''their very personal and contemporary vision of Marseille at the dawn of 2013.'' Marseille is the European Capital of Culture for 2013. 

The result of this year's project is 90 original photos, videos and illustrations depicting the vibrant, wildly disparate city, including the nearby towns of La Ciotat, Martigues, Cassis and the gorgeous cliffs and coves known as the Calanques.

The artists were also invited to express their impressions of the cultural venues that will front the Marseille-Provence European Capital of Culture 2013 celebrations, such as the J1, MuCEM, Friche Belle de Mai and Eden Theatre in La Ciotat.

 

''Snapshots of Provence takes a sensorial approach to the destination, intended to evoke the inimitable lifestyle, light quality and character of Provence through the eyes of artists,'' the organizers tell me.

Personally, I found the video a wee bit confusing...it loads and reloads and things tend to dart away unless you click them just so. Still, the photos and videos are stunning and the design is creative and compelling. Whether you actually get the hang of the navigation or not (try the up/down/left/right arrows on your keyboard if that helps), you can easily wile away a fair amount of time just playing around on the site, enjoying the dreamy music and taking it all in. It definitely made me want to get to know Marseille better. The final video was compiled by Uzik, the Paris-based company that creates digital campaigns for top brands such as Mumm, Dior, Perrier-Jouët , France TV, Diptyque, The Louvre Museum and Nina Ricci.

Snapshots of Provence is part of a larger project called The My Provence Festival. 

For more info on tourism in the Bouches-du-Rhône, click here.

For the complete Marseille-Provence European Capital of Culture 2013 program in English, click here.

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Peter Mayle's New Book Is Out

To coincide with the publication of his lighthearted thriller The Marseille Caper, Peter Mayle just did a fun little interview with the New York Times. In it, he's asked about the proliferation of mediocre travel memoirs, Japanese tour buses in his driveway in the Luberon and whether or not he ''ruined the South of France.'' (I'm here to attest he did not. In fact, I just returned from a day out in the Luberon and was struck, as always, at how gorgeous and unspoiled it is.) The new 224-page book--a follow up to The Vintage Caper--features an iffy real-estate scheme, shady characters, all sorts of local landmarks (including Cassis and the Camargue), a healthy dose of distrust when it comes to Parisians...and meal after meal of delicious Marseillaise cooking. Publishers Weekly calls it ''a breezy excursion to southern France’s least appreciated city.''  The Irish Independent calls it ''a thoroughly enjoyable romp that happily doubles as a tourist guide to the best bars, restaurants and bouillabaisse in Provence.'' And while the Denver Post allows that this ''is not a novel of great depth or gravitas...'' the reviewer also says: ''But like an excellent meal at a beloved restaurant, you'll savor every morsel, and you'll be sorry to see it end.'' The book is on Amazon in hardcover, Kindle and audio editions; a paperback version comes out in July 2013. And if you missed my recent Q&A with Peter, you can read that here.

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A Passion for Photography...and Provence

Photographer Michael Bastia was born in Cassis, which he describes as a small fishermen's village by the Mediterranean. He had a troubled childhood but found comfort in his surroundings. "Growing up in Provence helped me appreciate the beauty of nature early on," he says. His first job was taking pictures of ski tourists in the French Alps and every day when his work was done, he’d turn his lens on mountains and nature. "I was falling in love with photography," he remembers. "But I didn't know it would be my career path." 

Next Michael ventured into cooking but after years in professional kitchens, realized he wasn't happy. "I was always taking pictures on the side," he says, "and it gave me so much pleasure." So he decided to take the plunge and "take my love story with photography to a new level." Shortly thereafter, he decided to travel and work abroad and he ended up in Canada where he earned a living shooting weddings, portraits, industrial jobs, real estate and sports. He also volunteered for associations that helped children in social difficulties, "so they could help spread the word of their situation and also of their success, through a picture." 

These days Michael, 34, is most moved by cultural, humanitarian, street, landscape and fine-art photography. Inspiration comes, he says, from "many great photographers around the world" including Reza Deghati, Kazuyoshi Nomachi and Yann Arthus-Bertrand, to name a few. 

After returning to live in Cassis,  Michael set out to create a large database of still images and HD videos that capture his native South of France from every angle (such as the photo taken in Marseille, above). "This project has brought me back to my roots and especially to my beautiful Provence," he reports. "My goal is to make this wonderful region accessible from all around the world, through the web. As the collection grows, my hope is that it will be used for business and personal reasons…that it will serve as a patrimonial and memorial digital bank of Provence.

"Capturing an image and being able to tell a story through the picture you've created is amazing to me," he continues. "Photography is an evolution of one's self and I am always evolving. Hopefully my passion and images will inspire or bring pleasure into someone's life, as they have done for me."

The project is in its early stages but you can see some of the images here. All of Michael's photos are for sale, in a variety of print sizes. His website is under construction but he can be reached by email: michaelbastia.info@gmail.com.

Where to Propose in Provence?

I received this charming email the other day.  Anyone have any ideas to share?

Dear Julie,

I found your blog while researching food and restaurants in Provence. I'm in need of some serious recommendations.  I will be proposing to my girlfriend during our trip to France this summer.  We'll be spending our time all over Provence (Marseilles, Cannes, St. Tropez, The Luberon, etc.) and also on Corsica.  I'd love to propose to her in either Provence or Corsica, but I want it to be unique and one-of-a-kind.  I want to find that perfect place that just "sets the stage" for the most romantic proposal.   I want her engagement to be so memorable that no other will ever compare. Do you have any recommendations on where to propose in either Provence or Corsica?  The perfect restaurant, or natural setting, or experience?  I have a solid budget, but I'm am more concerned about the uniqueness of the setting. 

Some current ideas are the cactus garden in Eze, a hot air balloon ride in the Luberon or in Bonifacio, Corsica.  I'm leaning towards a place on the coast because she loves the ocean, but it's much more about the uniqueness of the experience/location.  I'm really trying to find a place that I could not find on my own with just internet research.  I hate the term "off-the-beaten-track" but I guess that's the best description...although I'm open to a more "touristy" location if there is a special experience I can arrange there.  Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide!

**Note from Julie: If you've never left a comment on my blog, this is a great time to do it! Let's help this adorably romantic man find the perfect place to propose. Leaving a comment is super easy. Click comments below.  Write your comment in the box.  Choose an identity. If you don't know which option to choose, tick "Name/URL." Then type in your name. Full name, first name, fake name: whatever. If you want your name linked to a website, type in the website or URL when prompted. Click "Publish your Comment." Et voila! 

Provence Tours, Tailor-Made

Cecile Beillieu is the owner of Tours in Provence, a small company offering full and half-day tours for individuals and small groups. 

Cecile was born in Aix-en-Provence near the foot of the famous Mont St. Victoire. After earning a tourism degree from the University in Aix, she took off for London and soon opened a shop selling products made in Provence. "We focused on the most authentic craft centers," she told me, "such as Ravel from Aubagne, V. Pichon from Uzes, glassware from La Verrerie de Biot, Richard Esteban from Aigues-Vives, Souleiado linens and Laguiole cutlery."

One winter, Cecile went seeking the sun in Barcelona and felt “so well welcome” that she stayed five years, working in the hotel and travel industry around Catalunya.

But then she realized that where she really wanted to be was at home in her beloved Provence.

“I decided to make tours and welcome travelers in own my country,” she says. “It was an idea that I'd always had: to share my love for landscapes bathed in that unique light...for Cassis and the Calanques…for the vineyards and olive groves… for the wildlife of the Camargue…for Les Baux and Les Alpilles…for the Gorges du Verdon and the lavender fields of the Valensole plateau. For La Provence!”

Cecile, who is fluent in English and Spanish, offers set tours, special themes and a la carte adventures. Her tours operate year round. So check her site, see what she suggests, share the link with your friends and consider signing up for a tour yourself.  

Meanwhile here’s a testimonial from Lynn Villyard, a writer and Francophile from Athens, Georgia: “I spent the month of June in Provence, basing in a small village and going far and wide from there. I went about alone most of the time, but didn’t want to take on Marseille without some help. Lucky for me, someone in the village knew Cecile and told me she had just started her guide service, so I called right away. Cecile is friendly and easy-going, and was much more interested in what I had to say than telling me how we should do things.  Once she understood my interests, I had a tailor-made tour. Oh, and for those of us still struggling with our French, she speaks fluent English! Because we could discuss things, I gained so much more from the experience. I can’t say enough positive things about Cecile.”

For more info:

Cecile Beillieu

contact@tours-in-provence.com

tours-in-provence.com

Make Your Village A Star!

RendezVous Films  is producing a romantic comedy feature film called Kiss the Frog  in which an American businesswoman falls in love with a French farmer. Most of the story takes place in a tiny and remote village in the South of France and production will begin in April. Now they just need to find the village.

Writer/director Kevin Dole describes Kiss the Frog as “my love letter to France.” He and his family have been here many times and their experiences inspired the story.  Kevin believes there are hundreds—maybe thousands--of villages which would work but since he can only choose one, it has to be perfect. So he’s spreading the word and asking for help.

The ideal village will be small and historic with a remote, isolated feel.  It needs to have a small square for a farmers’ market and a village festival. Its houses should be mostly stone and be maison mitoyennes, sharing common walls.  It can be anywhere in the south: from the Italian border down through Languedoc-Roussillon to the foothills of the Pyrénées.

But Kevin and the producers are looking for more than just a pretty face.  They’ll ultimately choose the village based not just on what’s best for the film but on how the production might benefit the community as well.

“I want to find a village with a compelling story so that the project, the making of the film, takes on even more meaning,”  he says.  “I know there were villages devastated by terrible windstorms a couple years ago; others which have suffered from declines in the wine industry.  I know some have lost so many of their young people to the city that they’re almost ghost towns.  I want to find one which is both ideal for the film AND which, by being chosen, might be revitalized--which is exactly what happens in our story.  A location scout rarely has the time to learn the story of the places they photograph.  Only the residents can tell us this.”

Kevin tells me that the production pledges to:

* Hire as many local services as possible.

* Hire as many local workers as possible.

* Credit and promote the village as the film's location, if desired.

* Care for the village and leave it in the same or better condition.

Logistical requirements are: roads accessible by trucks and buses, accommodations nearby for a cast and crew of up to 100 people and residents who’ll welcome the disruption and excitement of production for 8-10 weeks.

“The village of my dreams should have character and charm which inspires the devotion of its residents but may not be apparent to casual visitors,” Kevin adds.  “The level of restoration is unimportant.  We’re not making a superficial ‘postcard’ of France, but rather offering a glimpse of its heart, disguised within a comédie romantique.”

If you live in or know of the perfect village, please click here and fill out the research form in French, if possible.  (The page includes directions for sending photos and you can click the link “Retour” for a descriptive page, also in French.)  Or you can email Kevin directly: village@kissthefrogmovie.com.  Or, simply leave a comment by clicking COMMENT below. RendezVous Films is seeking village nominations until January 1, 2011. If you’d like to learn more about the movie, you can watch a video here and visit the main website here. 

Provence All Over the Web...

I've seen lots of great Provence and France articles online during the last month or so. And because I live to please you, dear reader, I've collected some of the best.  Here you go...enjoy!


In the New York Times, Eric Asimov rated 20 rosé wines from Provence. Read all about it here.

The Times also featured a great piece about the Luburon.


Have any of you tasted Andrea Calek's wines? I haven't but would love to.


Is Cassis the new St. Tropez? See what the Telegraph says here.

Peter Mayle tells what he loves about Provence, in the Telegraph, here.


Jancis Robinson writes about wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon, which is technically of course not Provence but close enough for me.


Not for the casual biker: cycling the Gorge du Verdon.


Here's a feel-good article about people Collecting plastic debris from the sea.


Reuters reported that two French lawmakers have presented a bill to ban bullfighting.


The Wall Street Journal featured a short, sweet remembrance of the author's first attempts to speak to the Frenchman who later became her husband. Read it here.


Here's a nicely done diary of a birders' trip to Provence...

And one about visiting Cezanne's studio in Aix.

Finally! A tour operator that understands that not every traveler wants to be on the bus by 8 a.m.! Go here.


Starbucks is adapting to local tastes in France.


The Guardian ran a helpful guide to Summer in French cities including Arles, Avignon, Marseille and Nice.


In a book review/essay, the Financial Times calls the Gard "the secret South of France." Read it here.

OK, this one isn't about Provence but it's cool anyway: Glamorous camping (glamping!) in the Loire Valley.


Also from the Guardian, the ten best flea markets in France.


Exploring the perched villages of the Riviera.


Interested in real estate? The New York Times has a lovely house for sale between Arles and Avignon (1.2 million euro) and discusses the property market in the Bouches du Rhone today.


The Olive Oil Times (who knew?) ran a nice feature about Marseille and the history of olive oil.


If you're a rock climber or would like to be, here are some of the best spots in the region.


Market day in Aix...


Provencale Pizza from the Huffington Post...


What do you think happened when Carol Drinkwater tried to turn her French olive grove organic? Read all about it here.


Don't live in Provence? Pretend you do...by throwing this Provencale-style dinner party, complete with the right drinks, music, etc.


Here's an update on the Provencale winery that hired all those famous architects.


How about some tips for making your trip to France more affordable? Go here.


Want to see Jerry Hall in a swimsuit? Sure you do.


Finally, Brad and Angela are reportedly looking to buy a vineyard now that the lease on their Provencal chateau is almost up. Meanwhile I swear I saw them at Aldi the other day, buying cheap tequila and off-brand cat food...


Photo by Tony Cenicola/The New York Times