Bastides, Interiors & Garden Design

Luxe Provence Interiors & Côté Sud Show

April 30, 2015
Côté Sud Aix-En-Provence France

Practically every anglophone I know in Provence has taken on some form of home renovation since purchasing their own property. The ultimate dream for many non-natives, myself included, is to purchase that glorious old stone ruin and lovingly restore it to a stunning and cover-worthy South of France bastide that you come across in Côté Sud or Elle Déco. Speaking of interior design inspiration, the Côté Sud show just left Saint-Tropez and will be heading to Aix-en-Provence on June 5-8 at Parc Jourdan.  The annual interiors and design show makes it way to Provence each year in June, and this year’s theme focuses on handmade, natural materials “La Geste et la Matiere”.

provence interiors

 

Provence bastide design renovation dreams aside, I do have a related job to do! Picking out a new tile for our bathroom renovation project and I think I have narrowed it down to these four options. What’s your favorite? Good news, I can pop down to Carocim for two (#3, #4) of the options, or order from what could possibly be a distantly related Finnish cousin at the famous, Claesson Koivisto Rune design firm. Their hexagon patterned tiles #2 are absolutely stunning! The bad news I cannot find #1 anywhere? Any help?

Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more Provence Lifestyle inspiration, from interiors, to dreamy Provence terraces, gorgeous bastides and more.

Gastronomy & Wine

MAABN Networking Evening Famille Perrin April 23

April 21, 2015
famille perrin miraval

For the anglophones in Provence, the MAABN, Mediterranean Anglo American Business Network, offers monthly networking events in English for an international business crowd in both, Aix and Marseille.

Their upcoming May Networking Evening is this week, Thursday 23rd. It is being hosted at the Perrin family’s wine boutique at the top of the Cours Mirabeau. Sounds like a good idea!

The Perrins are the leading organic wine-growers in the southern Rhône Valley, where they are present in the region’s best terroirs. Their values have given them a worldwide reputation for excellence: total respect for the soil, a commitment to manual methods and a deep-held belief that organic wine-making is the only way to express the true essence of the terroir.

perrin-famille-cours-mirabeau

Since 2012, the family has partnered with the beautiful Miraval Estate near Correns in the Var, more famously known today as the summer residence of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, where they oversee the vineyard, wine-making process and distribution.

The combined talents of the Perrin family members will ensure the perpetuation of their unique expertise. Nature and tradition are key to the Perrin family’s approach, one that has continued seamlessly over five generations.The family has owned the famous Château de Beaucastel since 1909, the wines of which are among the top five in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. The Perrins also specialize in Gigondas and Vinsobres wines and have expanded towards the northern Rhône Valley through a partnership with Nicolas Jaboulet.  As one of the French leading wine-producing families, they have long tradition of producing high-caliber wines.

The Perrin family’s boutique has large range of wines starting at just over €5, to the most expensive Châteauneuf-du-Papes. Wine-tasting is available at the boutique.

The evening is included as a part of MAABN membership, but non-members are welcome for a fee of €15.

Where
Boutique Famille Perrin
1 Place Forbin
13100 AIX EN PROVENCE

When & Time
Thursday, April 23rd from 6.30 – 9.00 pm

More info on the MAABN web site

Gastronomy & Wine, Taste of Provence

Artichokes, Tastes of Provence

April 21, 2015

What to do with those gorgeous artichokes, so photogenic but never sure if it’s worth the effort? Here’s a simple, delicious sounding recipe I found on Cooking Light that I’d like to try out tonight, especially inspired by the combination of artichokes + garlic… and a little wine. Why perfect!

What you’ll need:

2 whole garlic heads
4 medium artichokes
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup organic vegetable broth
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
Chopped fresh parsley

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C.

Remove white papery skin from garlic heads (do not peel or separate the cloves). Wrap each head separately in foil. Bake for 45 minutes; cool 10 minutes. Separate cloves; squeeze to extract garlic pulp. Discard skins.

Cut off stems of artichokes, and remove bottom leaves. Trim about 1/2 inch from tops of artichokes. Place artichokes, stem ends down, in a large Dutch oven filled two-thirds with water; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes or until a leaf near the center of each artichoke pulls out easily. Remove artichokes from pan.

Combine half of garlic pulp and wine in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes. Add broth; cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 8 minutes). Remove from heat; stir in butter and salt. Pour mixture into a blender; add remaining half of garlic pulp. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Sprinkle dip with parsley, if desired. Serve dip with warm artichokes.  Read More…

garlic-provence-markets

Voila…Apero is served!

 

Uncategorized

Reflexology Perfume Workshop April 25

April 17, 2015

We are pleased to share a bit about this local event that couldn’t be better timed for spring! How about immersing yourself in the world of perfume and reflexology with this upcoming workshop set at a gorgeous, classical Provencal mas? Count us in!

Sabine Gardener, owner of Pontet Bagatelle is hosting a new workshop at her beautiful property in Lambesc, just 30 minutes from Aix-en-Provence. The workshop will be lead by Reflexologist Arnaud de Gaillande of Actions & Synergies and Rebecca Amer of Irridessence, our Luxe Provence perfume Consultant.

Rebecca has spent years studying and smelling perfume. She has taken courses at the Osmotheque in Paris and Galimard in Grasse, and offers personalized perfume tours in Aix-en-Provence for very small groups. Passionate about fragrance and especially interested in niche brands, Rebecca will help you to develop your nose and connect your perfume with your emotions. To her, perfume is all about emotions and it is as essential to life as love.

The Reflexology & Perfume Workshop: Saturday April 25

We will spend four hours together from 2.30 pm until 6.30 pm with a short break for tea and scones at 4. In groups we will have consultations that are completely personal to you; establishing your olfactory footprint or heritage. Then we will learn a little perfume history, explore the different fragrance families and we will test a lot of different scents. Each person will leave with a sample or two of something beautiful and precious. You must come to the workshop “naked” by which we mean, please do not wear perfume that day nor use any scented body products. Prepare to fall down a rabbit hole leading to great pleasure!

The reflexology part of the workshop will be led by Arnaud de Gaillande of Actions & Synergies. Arnaud has spent more than 15 years in dynamic roles guiding and supervising men and women in the field of biology. His taste for human contact, his sensitivity, his interest in the world of wellness, natural and complementary medicine led him to discover Reflexology and to embark on an exciting and rewarding adventure. With 7200 nerve endings, our feet are a miniaturized representation of the human body. Each reflex zone is an organ, gland or a specific part of our body. By finger pressure applied on these reflex zones, reflexology can locate tensions and to restore balance in the corresponding parts of the body.  Arnaud will present you with Reflexology illustrated plates and offer you relaxation mini sessions.

Arnaud will take time to listen to you, answer your questions and give you customized treatment protocols in relation to your possible problem.

Workshop Booking Details:

Date: Saturday, April 25th from 2:30 – 6:30pm

Place: Pontet Bagatelle, Lambesc

Workshop cost: A mere 28 euros per person including tea! A fabulous deal.

To book please send a private message via facebook call Rebecca on 06 72 68 00 51 or by email ozone.ka@gmail.com.

For more information, follow the links below:
www.facebook.com/irridessence
www.adgreflexo-acsy.fr
www.facebook.com/pages/AdG-Réflexo-AcSy/1542691282610248?fref=nf

Provence Travel

Degaby Island Escape

April 16, 2015

As the spring earth warms, I am dreaming of escaping to the rugged, beautiful private Island of Degaby. It feels so far away, so enchanted and mystical with its rich diverse history, yet it’s just minutes away from civilization from the Vieux Port in Marseille.

Louis XIV had built a small Fort (completed 1703), referred to as “Fort de Tourville” in honor of Admiral Anne Hilarion of Chouhan of Tourville (1642-1701). Military quickly abandoned it and the island became a private property. It was purchased in 2001 by a promoter for private events. Such an amazing venue idea for a luxe event. Known as “l’île-fortin Degaby” locally, you can only access the island by reservation for special event bookings, or as guest of the chic C2 Hotel in Marseille.

The C2 is a trendy, haute de gamme hotel, bar and spa in Marseille that opened in the spring of 2014. It is located on the Cours Pierre Puget, in the heart of Marseille, bearing the initials of its architect founders, Claire Fatosme and Christian Lefevre.  This “hotel particulier” dates from the end of the 19th century and is full of architectural character and a rich history itself, having been home to the same Marseille family for almost a century. I always love that classic gorgeous mix of 19th century architecture and modern amenities, this boutique hotel has  just 20 rooms. But what really caught my eye was that as a guest you can access the private beach by hotel ferry accompanied with a 5-star picnic for the day. What a perfect escape!

The divine C2 bar is on the ground level, hosts regular DJs and features stunning lights by Ingo Maurer in steel, paper and gold leaf that provide a warm light. A great place to start your evening, whether as a guest or visitor.

weekendescape-c2-hotel-marseille

The C2’s private beach is located on Degaby Island in Marseille’s harbour, 200 meters from the tiny Port of Malmousque. In summer, the hotel’s guests are invited to make the short trip aboard the hotel’s specially-chartered boat from the Vieux Port.

Who’s ready to jump aboard?

French Beauty & Fragrance

Top 10 Luxe Scents for Spring

April 9, 2015
luxe-perfume-guide

Spring in Provence is magical. Naturally that magic needs to be reflected in the fragrance you wear. The heavier richer scents of winter can be rotated to the back and the lighter, floral, altogether less demanding scents come to the fore. Here are Luxe Provence Perfume Consultant, Rebecca’s top ten spring picks:

  1. Osmanthe Yunan by Hermes. A masterpiece and a fragrance much admired by perfume experts. It is feather light! A haiku. Osmanthe petals and tea. This one also works in summer as the leather is just hinted at, it doesn’t overpower.
  2. Diorissimo by Dior. The perfect and classic Lily of the Valley.
  3. Vetiver by Guerlain. Greeeeeen and interesting. This doesn’t suit everyone but if it works for you it really works.
  4. En Passant by Frederic Malle. Lilac! Watery and beautiful. So feminine. This is spring in a bottle. Created by Daniela Andrea.
  5. Infusion d’Iris by Prada. To be fair I wear this year round as it holds magical powers in my opinion. Makes me feel cool and calm; my steel in the spine perfume. If you need to feel fresh and in control give it a try. The best office friendly fragrance.springsscents2-luxe-provence
  6. Violet Blonde by Tom Ford because what is spring without violets?! This one gets pulses racing. The Ford aesthetic is showy and glamorous and his fragrances do genuinely reflect that. Very Luxe.
  7. Rose Irisée by Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger, the soft rose in an iris cloak. I love it.
  8. Mandarine Ambree by Hermes, a citrus but a “warm” one, it’s not quite hot enough for the icy citrus’s yet!
  9. Y by Yves Saint Laurent, a green and sophisticated chypre.
  10. Bas de Soie by Serge Lutens. Silk stockings indeed! An elegant iris with hyacinth. So pretty. I would love to add this to my collection.

For more personal perfume advice and consulting, get in touch with Luxe Provence Perfume Consultant and Founder of Irridessence, Rebecca Amer.

Luxe Event Video Just In…

April 3, 2015
provence corporate events and team building

In case you couldn’t join us for our luxe launch event…this video highlight reel just in!

A special thanks to videographer Marine Sahakian of Evasion Production. Such a pleasure to work with and a very talented lady.

Have a great weekend!

Taste of Provence

Gorgeous Recipes from Drizzle and Dip

March 31, 2015

I recently discovered the wonderful food photography and recipe web site Drizzle and Dip from Sam Linsell, worldwide traveler, food stylist, author and cook.  The gorgeous photography instantly inspired me to embrace cooking and get out into the blossoming Provence markets and come up with something new for dinner, or apero, like this Pizza Bianco with caramelized onion, blue cheese, figs and balsamic. The markets throughout Provence are springing to life and from time-to-time feel the need for some fresh inspiration to keep me going in the kitchen or when entertaining, so I’ve curated a handful of mediterranean-inspired and delicious dishes that caught my eye from Drizzle and Dip that I had to share.

salmon salad beet root

Raw Salmon salad with fennel, radish and beetroot

pear honey

Pear Tartine with blue cheese and honey

tomato basil

Tomato Basil Crostini with whipped goat cheese 

 

All photos and recipes by Samantha Linsell and Drizzle and Dip.  Check out their web site for more great recipes.

 

Provence Travel

Amazing Lunch & Day Spa Retreat

March 27, 2015
couvent des minimes provence spa

It’s not my first time here, but I appreciate each visit just the same. The Couvent des Minimes in Mane, just an hour north of Aix-en-Provence, and next door to the charming market town of Forcalquier, is located at the start of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence’s lavender region. The region is beautiful to explore, but this time we spared no extra time for sightseeing and kept straight to our goal…relaxation. The spa, pool, sauna and its new-and-improved hammam, offered us the perfect spa day retreat that the Luxe Provence crew desperately needed.

spa-inside-couvent-des-minimes

We opted for massages which were blissful, followed by one of our first gorgeous sunny lunches of spring outdoors featuring some divine tastes of Provence. I highly recommend the cabillaud with candied lemons and cumin, on the menu of the moment. It was outstanding.

provence-lunch-couvent-desi

The spa had just completed a major facelift and was re-opened two weeks ago, so we quickly snapped a few shots to share of the fresh, new look. What do you think?spa-day

This just continues to be one of my favorite local Provence escapes…

Taste of Provence

Provence Spring Markets

March 20, 2015

The rays of sun and crisp smells of the sea air breathed new seasonal life into the markets in Cassis this week. At last, spring is just around the corner, and we are starting to catch glimpses of the beautiful fresh colors entering into the dazzling Provence markets. To us, there’s nothing more luxurious than hand-selecting the most beautiful, fresh ingredients and incorporating the tastes of each season of Provence into your own cuisine.

provence-spring-markets

Just a few inspirational images to get you into the spring market mood and inspired to incorporate new seasonal Provence flavors into your home table, whether fresh from the Mediterranean sea like those gorgeous urchins, or direct from the terre.

Here’s a few Wikihow tips on how to prepare sea urchins, or oursin, as we call them in France, which admittedly can look a bit intimidating to tackle, but are considered a delicacy for foodies around the world, so might just be worth the effort while they are in season:

  1. Cut a round opening in the top of the sea urchin using small, pointed scissors
  2. Scoop out the “tongues” of the sea urchin with a small spoon. A grapefruit spoon works well. Rinse the pieces quickly under cold water, and place them in a bowl with the onion, sherry, lemon juice, cilantro and 1 T. olive oil. Allow to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat a grill, and brush the bread with the rest of the olive oil. When the grill is heated to medium, toast the bread on both sides.
  4. Add the sea urchin to the top of the slices and serve.

Happy spring cooking everyone!

Market images credit: Adi Bukman Photography