We tend to think of winter as an off-time for local produce and farmers’ markets. But in fact there are plentiful cold-weather crops and, increasingly, opportunities to buy them directly from the growers. The options vary region by region. In New England, where I live,…
One of the joys of traveling is meeting strangers with whom a chance conversation sparks a sense of kinship that feels like destiny. During my recent journey through the South of France, an unremarkable leg of the trip involved a shuttle from the train to the…
I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to join another New York Times Journeys trip to the South of France as their featured expert.I arrived into Marseille, France, a couple days before the tour’s departure. It’s a port city that fascinates me with its layers…
The departure is only days away, and I’m very excited. I’ll be returning to Provence as a featured expert again on the New York Times Journeys Walk in Provence tour. First stop, before the group tour begins, is Marseille. This large port city often gets a bum rap…
I’m the type of person who mourns the end of summer like a good relationship that ended abruptly—and not by mutual choice. And yet, once I inhale the crisp air for a few days, I’m able to find love again although the terms of it…
I recently had the opportunity to interview Martine Bertin-Peterson, founder of the culinary travel adventure company Goût et Voyage. Martine escorts tours to Provence, Tuscany and Umbria, and she conducts cooking classes. I met Martine when she invited me to speak at Alliance Française in Doylestown,…
Hankering to visit coastal Maine during the peak of September? Looking for ways to jump-start your creativity? Curious about the craft of food writing? Voraciously devour Pete Wells’ restaurant reviews, Kitchen Sisters’ podcasts, or David Lebovitz’s food blog? Eager for any excuse to eat lobster? If…
Like learning to ride a bicycle, shopping at flea and antiques markets is a skill that improves with practice. If you want to speed up your flea-market savvy, here are recommendations distilled from my own experiences and occasional mistakes. But rest assured that…
When I visit Paris, I routinely hop the bus or Métro to the 12th arrondissement at some point during my stay to explore Marché d’Aligre. Bicyclists weave a crooked path past pedestrians pushing baby carriages or pulling market carts. During my most recent trip, I stayed in…
The chef scrunched up his nose like a wrinkled overripe apricot. A student in his cooking school in the south of France was aware that strawberries grow in Provence, and he had asked if the menu would include them. The chef became so upset at…
Interested in exploring a market in Paris that combines high-quality goods with a relaxed ambiance and an elegant neighborhood? If so, one can’t do much better than Marché Président Wilson. It springs to life each Saturday and Wednesday morning in the posh 16th arrondissement. Market…
(Guest blogpost and photos by Marla Felcher) I recently traveled with my husband to Mendoza, Argentina, the largest wine producing area in Latin America, for the Malbec. Period. But within an hour of checking into the Park Hyatt Mendoza and eating our first meal—avocado toast…
Dreams are made of “April in Paris,” and this April my dream came true. The trip was a combination of work and pleasure, although with travel writing the line between them is blurry. Throughout Paris, trees are proclaiming spring with a halo of buds. Gardens…
Clotilde Dusoulier is one of the pioneers of food blogging. Although born and raised in Paris, she writes her blog Chocolate and Zucchini and books in English. One quality that consistently comes across in her writing is how much she cares. Cares about flavorful food, about…
Dear Mr. Mayle, I am sorry that it is upon the news of your death that I am sitting down to write this note. Thank you, Mr. Mayle, for introducing me to Provence. Before reading your books, I had a fuzzy idea at best of…
The capital of Alsace (now the Grand Est region in France) and the seat of the European Parliament, Strasbourg is a cosmopolitan city with diverse attractions, including one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. As entrancing as Strasbourg is, there are good reasons to…
This holiday season I visited Christmas markets in the Alsace region of France. Besides a few extra pounds of weight, I brought back a deeper understanding of Alsatian markets, food, and culture. I look forward to sharing my impressions in two parts. This one is…
“Simple food is the best food,” says David Tanis. Making the dough for an onion and bacon tart, he stirs dry yeast into water with chopsticks. Why not use a wooden spoon? It’ll be less sticky without the broad surface–a simple but useful tip. As…
(Guest post and photos by Debra Dout) Holidays are the perfect time for a trip to Paris and Thanksgiving is the best. The food, friends, and freedom to improvise the menu are an unbeatable combination—and with no religious overtones. We love to cook, we love to…
There’s a familiar rhythm to the ramp-up to all holidays in Paris. For example, well before Valentine’s Day more lavish than usual displays of chocolates and macarons start appearing in store windows. As Bastille Day approaches in July, a profusion of tricolor flags emerge from…
