Author: Emily Durand

A Week in Provence Tour includes visiting historic architectural sites such as this castle

Tour Avignon with a Stress-free Plan

Written by Emily Durand on 14 September 2016. Posted in Food & Wine in Provence, Off The Beaten Path, VIP Itineraries. Leave a Comment

Tour Avignon the best way – gourmet food, away from the noise, in the secret spots and with time to soak it all in…

There is something about standing at the comptoir with a double expresso in a french looking coffee cup and starting the day with the locals. It was early morning and the indoor gourmet market in Avignon was just starting. It’s quite amusing to watch the French start their day at the market stand. If you ever go early to a market don’t forget to observe – a cultural experience guaranteed.

After sipping and enjoying my expresso with un peu de crème I meandered the market with my camera to capture the colors and textures. It was barely 10am and the merchants still seemed busy setting up, preparing food and finishing up their own café.

How to Tour Provence if You Are a Foodie

Written by Emily Durand on 6 August 2016. Posted in Food & Wine in Provence, Off The Beaten Path. Leave a Comment

I can’t say that I was a culinary fanatic when I first moved to France, but I can say today that France has turned me into a foodie.

Produce, healthy pride, the way to savor, the way to mix and match, the art of eating and drinking – everything flows together making food much more than just a time to eat. It cultural, artistic, pleasurable, and indulgent. The word « indulgent » in France takes a new meaning (at least it has for me). It means you partake in a harmony of senses that please more than just your palate.

smelling fresh truffles in a jar on Provence truffle and wine tour

Truffles in Provence

Written by Emily Durand on 22 March 2016. Posted in Food & Wine in Provence, Off The Beaten Path, VIP Itineraries. Leave a Comment

An Aphrodisiac in Provence

Truffles in Provence?

What attracts you most to Provence? The Mediterranean climate? Provencal cuisine and a rosé from the terroir? Stumbling upon Roman ruins and looking up at Medieval castles? What if I told you that Provence is also one of the treasured places in the world for an aphrodisiac?

Saint Remy de Provence bicycle outside of restaurant

How Has Provence Changed?

Written by Emily Durand on 20 March 2016. Posted in Lifestyles. 2 Comments

Twenty Years Later

A look at Saint-Remy de Provence

Obviously things change in twenty years – anywhere; our house, the garden, the community, not to mention ourselves. Sometimes, we like the change, other times we wish it would go away…or come back depending on how you look at it. It’s probably a good thing I changed a bit since coming to Provence 20 years ago – my Seattle grunge attire when I first arrived didn’t set so well in the chic French attire (those dreadful looks of French woman when I entered a boutique kind of got to me).

Christmas In Provence

Written by Emily Durand on 4 December 2015. Posted in Lifestyles, Provence History. 1 Comment

All I want for Christmas – In Provence

Next year marks my 20 years in France so now I guess I can say I have had as many American Christmases as French. In 2005 we managed to escape to Oregon as a family for an American Christmas, but those days are behind us now that the kids are in junior high, airfare is outrageous and the Pink Lady apples are being sold during the winter months (my husband’s job).

Wine in Provence

Written by Emily Durand on 26 September 2015. Posted in Food & Wine in Provence, Provence History. Leave a Comment

Did the Popes Drink Wine?

Do we owe it to the popes in Avignon for having such great wine in the Provence today? Some may debate and they certainly weren’t the first to establish the Provencal vineyards, but there is no denying that the popes concentrated much of their time and energy into elaborating the quality and quantity of wine in Provence.