Provence from Fayence: Provence Guide

Bono and Cruz on the French Riviera

Hot gossip suggests that Bono (lead singer of popular rock band U2) is hanging out with Penelope Cruz on the French Riviera.

OK, so you're a globally renowned and instantly recognisable celeb. Hmmm, let's see, where can we discreetly nuture a new affair, away from cameras and people. So not the Riviera.

Aioli

I am prompted by the Jerusalem Post - an authority on Provencale Cuisine - to cover aioli, the disctinctive garlicky mayonaise sauce. It's a well-researched and engaging piece about a man who purchases too much wild-caught sushi-quality ahi tuna and can't find anything that goes really well with it. Enter Aioli... And "if Monsieur has some aioli, Madame must also eat some; this will prevent a scene on Friday evening!"

Here's the Wikipedia entry for Aioli. And that reminds me of the annual Grand Aioli in Mons, set in the Place St, Sebastian under the big chestnut tree, For 15 euros, you can sit in sweltering August heat, battling your way through 2-3 cooked vegetables and a piece of fish washed down with entry-level local plonk. Well, there's a hunk of bread and a Pastis to start with. It's good for the community. C'est bon pour la morale.

Provence scent inspires partially blind

Touching story from Napa (!) about a visually impaired girl who went to L'Occitane founder's special Provence Perfume school.

"In a four-day course, they were taught the secrets of perfume-making, a process that is less about seeing than smelling, feeling and imagining.... In Provence, the teenagers were taught how to extract oils from flowers, and they heard from a master perfumer -- or "nose," as they are known in the business. Kate Green, vice president of marketing for fine fragrance for Givaudan, a Swiss fragrance company, said there are about 350 such noses in the world. Most have been handpicked for their olfactory abilities and train for years at exclusive schools, she said."

Emma chose geranium, lavender and tea tree oil, with a bit of honeysuckle and vanilla. Does it for me...

Mandelieu forest fires

Provence is beset by horrific fires near Mandelieu. We drove past a few days later and there were blackened trees either side of the A8 motorway (which was shut temporarily). Shocking.

Jack Nicholson on the Riviera

The French Riviera attracts and exposes even the greatest. You've probably seen Jack's Provence Gallery by now and here is the best selection online. I'd be happy at 70 surrounded by a bevvy of beautiful blondes.

What's shocking is the diet and exercise regime: baguettes, fags, diet coke and a modest stretch. Way to go, Jack.

Olives en Provence

What can I say? Shiny green olives growing on the vine (?) against the azure blue skies of Provence.

Lavender

Our lavender is in full bloom. Lavender is the great Provence plant (well along with olives and figs and wine). We grow it aorund the swimming pool imagining it will keep the wasps and bees off the humans. Plus the butterflies love it.

So I took my teeny digital camera (not the big impressive Nikon) and waved it around in the general directions of the butterflies and got this...

And there are more on Flickr.

Cotes de Provence Rose for summer drinking

Apparently Rose wine sales have overtaken sales of white in France. Initially, this would appear shocking until you remember that French people don't drink much white. The Wine Enthusiast picks out three Cotes de Provence for special attention:

• Château Les Valentines 2006
• Domaine Sorin 2006 Terra Amata
• Domaine Saint-André de Figuière 2006 Vieilles Vignes

Seillans restaurant reviews

Seiilans has finally been visited restaurant-wise and we have added two reviews under "Seillans Restaurants."