Monday, April 25, 2016

#6 Lourmarin

We have the pleasure to give you a "Rendez-Vous" in a wonderful village situated in Vaucluse's county. Lourmarin is a real source of inspiration for lots of artists like Albert Camus and Henri Bosco. and highlights its culture and heritage.

You will discover typical landscapes of provence, with lavander fields and olive groves.

Why not have a look in The castle of the village built by the Angoult 's family, which houses art collection and antique furnitures.

You could savor french dishes with a good Wine from Luberon (AOC Wine)

If you research a typical gift to bring back, we advise you Handmade soap based on sweet almonds cultivated in Lourmarin.

This pretty village will offer you a breathtaking view of Luberon's valley and a memorable souvenir of Provence !

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Wine Routes

When speaking of Provence, you think sun, sky blue, mistral, singing cicadas, Marcel Pagnol and especially wine! And this is to the Phocéens we should say "thank you" for because they brought vines in Provence 2600 years ago! Sacred fellows!

Indeed, the Alpilles in the Bouches-du-Rhône to the Esterel mountains in the Var vineyards fields never end, the Provencal vineyard is about 200 kilometers from east to west. Different routes allow you to discover these beautiful landscapes and enjoy these remarkable wines with great aromatic diversity. We will quote you include hills designations of Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux Varois en Provence, Provence coast and the coast land of denominations of Provence Sainte-Victoire and Fréjus coast of Provence.

Giving way to curiosity and come through these highways!

 

We've talked about previously in an article, Frejus, the largest city in the region Var, city of art and history, where you can breathe the fresh air came from the sea, offers great vineyards of the coasts of Provence Fréjus.

If you want to discover the flavors of the coast classified wines of Provence, we suggest you take the road to the Var, where you can admire the scenery breathtaking including all the area west and north, formed of alternating hills bars and limestone carved by erosion and, further east crystalline Maures and Esterel facing the Mediterranean sea. Savour the delicious wines of Bandol and Cassis.

Direct you then to the southwest of the Massif des Maures, near Bormes-les-Mimosas, La Crau Hyères and La Londe les Maures where you will discover enchanting seascapes and coastal classified wines of Provence La Londe.

 

Then go north to visit the city of Brignoles, and the Massif de la Sainte Baume where nestles the Saint Maximin abbey and sample wines from the hills of the Var in Provence.

If your thirst is still not satisfied, strongly recommend you to go to Aix-en-Provence to discover this beautiful city fountains that once charmed the King René and Cézanne and that will charm you as much. Go towards the Sainte Victoire where the coastal vineyards of Provence Sainte-Victoire and enjoy appellation wines of the hills of Aix-en-Provence.

 

Cooking classes in Provence!

You like French cuisine? why not learn to make French dishes in the great city of Aix en Provence.You can take lessons with " l'atelier des chefs". They propose different courses with different themes  like french patsry. A unique experience where you meet people and you enjoy after you cook your dishes!

Bon appétit!

For more informations go to the website : https://www.atelierdeschefs.fr/

#2 Terre Brune

In land of Provence in the commune of Ollioules. The area of Terre Brune spreads out from the foothills of the massif of the "gros cerveau". 

The vines are exposed full south, surrounded by olive, cypress and oak. 

This vineyard is situated between sea and deep earth. 

Come and discover with Provence Wine Tour this vineyard !

Saturday, April 23, 2016

#5 Gorges du Verdon

Source : http://lesgorgesduverdon.fr

This unique site located between the Var and the Alpes de Haute-Provence departments considered as one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe. Verdon has all the typical Provence components : vineyards, lavender fields, wild nature… It is protected since 1990 and classified as a « Grand Site de France », just like Sainte-Victoire Mountain.

Would you like to discover this wonderful area ?

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Ratatouille

RECIPE for 6 people. 

What you need : 

• 500g of zucchinis

• 500g of tomatoes

• 1 red pepper

• 1 green pepper

• 1 yellow pepper

• 2 little eggplants

• 4 cloves of garlic 

• 2 onions

• 10cl of olive oil

• salt, peper

FIRST STEP :

Clean the zucchinis and the eggplants.Cut the zucchinis in slices and the eggplants in cubes.

SECOND STEP :

Peel and mince the garlic and onions. Cut the peeled tomatoes in cubes. Clean the peppers, cut the peduncles, eliminate the dividers and cut the peppers in thin strap. 

THIRD STEP : 

Heat oil in a pot, put the zucchinis and the eggplants until they are gilded. Then take it off with a skimmer.

FOURTH STEP : 

Put the peppers, garlic, and onion in their place. After 5min add the tomatoes. Toss and add the zucchinis and eggplants, salt and pepper.

FIFTH STEP : 

Let it cook one hour at low heat without cover. Thanks to than the water of the vegetables will evaporate. Serve as you prefer, cold or hot. 

Which wine with this provencal dish ?

The diversity of this dish permit it to accommodate with the three types of wine : red, white or rosé. However the wine has to be young and leaked. It has to come from provence too. For example a red wine from Costière de Nîmes will be perfect or, if you prefer a white wine you can choose a wine from Bandol. 

Follow us on Snapchat to discover Provence in live!

Did you notice we have a Snapchat account ? We regularly post content from the places where we stand!

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Easter Brassadeaux

Picture : Pinterest

Even if Easter is finished, we really wanted to give you this recipe because it is a typical pastry from Provence.

Actually, the word Brassadeau (which has the word « arm » in french in its name) comes from Middle Ages : engaged people had to put this orange blossom pastry around their wrists to show they were together.

Today it is just a traditional Easter pastry but it is delicious, you need to taste it ! As always in our recipes, you will find a great Provençal wine to match it.

Ingredients

-       600 g of bread flour

-       3 soup spoons of orange-flower water

-       4 eggs

-       50 mL of warm milk

-       80 mL of warm water

-       140 g of sugar

-       50 g of soft butter (in cubes)

-       2 teaspoons of dried yeast

Recipe

1 Put every ingredients, except butter, in the bread maker. Start with liquid ingredients

2 Start the program « only dough »

3 When the dough roll is made, add butter

4 Put wax paper on two pastry plates

5 At the end of the program, degas the dough and make 8 to 10 balls

6 Make a hole in the ball center and enlarge it in order to create the ring shape

7 Preheat your oven at 200 °C (400 °F)

8 Boil some water in a saucepan and put the rings in it for about one minute

9 Mop the rings up and put them on the plate

10 Put some pearl sugar on the rings

11 Put the rings in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes

A wine to be served with

We recommend to choose a straight white wine, it will be perfect with this pastry. Indeed if you choose a sweet wine there will be too much sugar in this recipe. We selected the Château du Galoupet Côtes de Provence which is wonderful !

If you try this recipe, feel free to leave us a comment below and to give us your feelings about it ! We are eager to read you !