Perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to travel to Versailles and experience its magnificent gardens. If not, I suggest you take a virtual tour of the Topiary Gardens of Versailles and treat yourself. So, what exactly is a Topiary garden and how can you have one?

Have you ever wondered how the French always seem to make entertaining seem so effortless, delicious, and elegant? As a frequent traveler to Provence, I have observed and acquired a few tips to share back home. My goal is to provide friendly and relaxed hospitality…

In southern Provence, especially this time of year, you might run across these itsy-bitsy figurines, and you might not know what they are. Upon questioning the store/market owner, you are told they are Santons. Well, you still don’t know what they are…

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the joy of the season and a welcome escape from the virus is just what we need! This time of year brings thoughts of baking and preserving foods from the garden, or perhaps, making food gifts…

You can’t think of France without thinking of food, and you can’t think of French food without thinking of French cheese. What can one say about a country that has up to 400 or more different cheeses? Some French cheese experts even claim…

Have you ever read a French cookbook which required you to use a pinch of Fleur de Sel (pronounced flure-de-SELL) or perhaps, the cookbook requested a “finishing salt”? Up until I discovered Fleur de Sel, or “flower of the sea” as it translates, I never thought…

Lavender, the “blue gold” of Provence! Did you know that from the end of June to the end of August, the summer months of Provence are the best time to experience the world of lavender? The fields are in full bloom starting in June and the air is perfumed…

The famous French term “La Bise,” pronounced “la beez” is defined as an exchange of air kisses on each cheek. This greeting may be practiced on each side of the cheek, one or two times, and sometimes as many as four times per cheek, depending on where…

Have you ever seen or heard of the French word “Le Goûter” and wondered, “What is it and what does it mean?” Well, literally translated, Goûter means, “to taste.” It comes from the French verb Goûter and is pronounced “goo tay.”

Have you ever experienced the excitement of wandering through a local village market in Provence? If you have, then you know the sheer pleasure of shopping at the stalls that sell French soaps (Vendeur de Savon)…