A Quick Stop Along The Bike Route

As summer draws to a close, I remember fondly a day in the South France last June, John and I rented ebikes and took a bike route from the Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard to Beaucaire, a quaint town on the water for lunch. A dedicated bike path with no cars was a former railroad line that had been paved and groomed for bike riding. There was even a former railroad tunnel to ride through with guiding lights.

This was no ordinary bike route. It was a corridor of orchard fruit trees, vineyards, and beautiful grazing horses. A valley of abundance. Have you ever seen an entire huge orchard of pomegranate trees? Fig trees? Apricot trees? It was amazing!

Lucky Grazing Camargue Horses

An Orchard Of Fig Trees

An Orchard Of Pomegranate Trees

On the return trip home along the same bike route, we spotted this amazing potager. It was someone’s labor of love in their backyard. Organized tidy row after row. Tomato plants well on their way. I did, and still have, potager envy. I dream now in admiration, the beautiful produce coming out of this potager this summer, and especially now with the season’s abundance at its height.

It looks like it was put together so simply, but I bet it took years of growing practice and passion to cultivate a potager like this one. That is not all. This person had humor, and spunk to create a scarecrow extraodinaire. So clever!

A Potager To Envy

No One Or No Thing Is Going To Mess With This Scarecrow

Bon Appétit et Bon Semaine…Bonnie

Spiced Roasted Eggplant—Right Out Of The Oven

I wanted to share this eggplant recipe with you because it is easy to make, delicious, and it is a nice alternative to eggplant paired with tomato sauce recipes. Something a little different, especially when eggplant is in season now.

You can use it as a nice side dish for a dinner, or a vegetarian main dish with seasoned yogurt and chopped herbs, or even drizzled with a creamy whipped goat cheese.

Spiced Roasted Eggplant

By Clare de Boer, Published in The New York Times

Ingredients:

3 small Italian eggplants (1-1/2 pounds)

1/2 cup olive oil

3 garlic cloves, finely grated

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (like Diamond Crystal)

3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

1) Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

2) Prepare eggplants by slicing off their tops and fine layer of skin from their bottoms. Slice the eggplant into 1-inch-thick rounds and place on the lined pan.

3) Make your spice oil by combining the olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and red-pepper flakes in a small bowl. Brush the spiced oil onto the faces of all of the eggplant slices, then flip each one over and repeat on the second side.

4) Roast for 20 minutes, then use a spatula to flip over each round. Roast for another 10- 20 minutes, or until soft, browned, and crisp. It will depend on your individual oven. If you are looking for a little extra color, broil the eggplant, watching carefully, for about a minute. Note: I found my eggplant slices browned beautifully without broiling. Enjoy!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

My Provence Blue Desk

One of the first things France teaches you is patience. You must not fight it, but go with it. There is a certain rhythm to life that flows there. Once you start to understand it, your days also flow. With that said, it took three patient years of visits to find the right desk.

That stands to reason, as an given room is always much more interesting when it is decorated over time with pieces and finds that mean something, a memory, hold some weight, and uplift your spirit. I was okay to take my time, and enjoy every minute of the hunt.

Our little stone house in south France, has a somewhat spacious room by European standards upstairs which has taken on multi-functions. A small house from the late 1700’s, always needs more storage, so a custom closet was created with a linen curtain front which fills one side of the room. This room is large enough to do yoga, stretching, and even light weights. There is room for a small stand alone armoire which has become my linen closet. Additionally, In one corner by the window, the thought was it would be perfect for a writing desk area. Not all days are sunny, and not all days are market days. So began the hunt for the perfect desk to fit in that corner.

I looked diligently for a desk at flea markets, antique shops, and village garage sales called “vide greniers.” It had to be a certain size, large enough to write on, place items on, and spend some time there. For three years, I looked for the right desk. Some were not the right size. Some were too formal and not the right style. Some were perfect, but an earlier buyer had claimed it. Some were sweet, but had flaws from a past life, such as a gap in the table top or a corner missing, which ultimately wouldn’t work.

New Closet In The Room

First find, an old map of France, dated 1721 was found at a flea market. The actual map is vintage, but certainly not 305 years old. It is a colorful map of the past where bodies of water have different names, the French boundaries different from what it is present today, and yet if you look closely many, many towns today are listed such as Uzès. It would be perfect for the eventual desk in that quiet corner.

One day this summer, John and I ventured over to Sommières by a friend’s recommendation. It is a historic medieval town on the Vidourle river between Nîmes and Montpelier, complete with a Roman bridge and vibrant Saturday market. We weren’t disappointed. We strolled along the large market and adjacent flea market buying a few vintage treasures, but no desk.

We had a wonderful lunch at a cafe near the river, and headed back to our car through the medieval streets. In a narrow street, so narrow a car couldn’t get through, we stumbled upon a really neat brocante or antique shop. In the back of this shop was this Provence blue desk. It was the perfect size, rustic style, and charm for our corner. My only hesitation was the color, would it work in my mainly neutral palette room. I thought it was either going to look really, really good, or really, really bad. There was no in between.

The shop owner said it had been in someone’s garden, and that sealed the purchase. This desk had a past life and story. How apropo to have a former garden table as a desk. The desk luckily fit in our car, and made the journey home. We cleaned it up, and brought it upstairs to the quiet corner, and it worked beautifully in the room. The Provence blue actually makes a desirable color pop for the room, and the color of course is so traditional, so Provence.

Second find, was a very simple but beautiful vintage brass lamp was purchased for extra working light.

Third find, was a small hand-thrown ceramic vase with matching blue colors to hold fresh flowers to cheer on those working at the desk.

Fourth find, was a vintage patina basket with a loop, bought at a vide grenier. It could rest on the floor or hang off of the desk. The proceeds from this vendor’s table went to assist a cat charity. That tugged at my heart.

The little wooden chair is a typical Provençal country chair. It is one of four chairs that was part of my very first flea market purchases. Two are in the kitchen, and now one is front and center at the desk.

The spirit and charm of the room was taking shape. The corner was complet, as they say in French.

A Nice Addition To The Room

Bon Appétit et Bon Semaine….Bonnie

Bonjour!

Hello from sunny South France! I have been here over a month now, enough time to experience spring transition to summer. It has been hard to sit down and write which I love, because days are filled with seeking something for the mas, getting into the everyday rhythm of this life, meeting new and old friends, and exploring new adventures.

Life slows down from what I am use to, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Businesses close, errands are halted, as everyone takes a two hour lunch break. A long pause midday, also means that businesses are open longer into the evening and generally dinner starts later in the evening too.

A month ago, spring thunderstorms and heavy rains were happening and now have disappeared into hot, sunny days approaching 90 plus degrees F. Temperatures are about 14 degrees higher now than the average.

Green and white asparagus which were so abundant in the markets earlier, are nowhere to be found. It is true, when the season is over, it is over until next year. Yes, asparagus, artichoke, and cherry season are gone but luckily replaced with the equally incredible season of luscious stone fruits of apricots, nectarines, and peaches. And not to forget squash and haricot verts. No one complains, everyone knows. The seasons are short, yet to be embraced and celebrated until their glorious time comes around next year.

It is very much a rural and agricultural area here. Vineyards are abundant in carefully tended neat rows. You often see people bent over in fields, and wondering what they are tending too. Tractors large and small can impede normally impatient fast-driving cars.

Wednesday Uzés Market at Place aux Herbes

Incredibly, John and I have had our little mas for three years now. The real estate listing said the mas was built in 1850. We have since learned that is a “blanket date” for certain homes, and our mas actually dates back to the late 1700’s, evidence by its ceilings and architectural nuances. That makes sense as we live in the older part of a village, and the mairie (town hall) down the street dates back to the 18th century too.

Our Mas Kitchen Ceiling

Our Village Mairie Amongst Open Fields And Poppies

Our mas was certainly updated and modernized, but it lacked the warmth and charm this little mas deserved. Three years later, we have just about completed our long list of desires. In fact, this trip, I listed 28 things , big and small, we did or found for the mas. Little changes that make a huge difference.

Most of the decorating is finished. Most “wants” have miraculously be found. With that said, I have enjoyed frequenting brocantes, flea markets, and vide greniers (local village sales) for items and pieces that fit in nicely and complement the period of the mas. I always have “edit” on my mind, as here in France especially, “less is more.”

I found on this trip an oil painting on canvas at one of my favorite flea markets. I love the content and colors so much. Much of my mas decoration is earth tone colors, and the blue flowers and copper pot pop the room. Besides, who can resist “Provence Blue.” You can find these wonderful paintings frequently at the flea markets and for very reasonable prices. Need I mention, that art is a very integral part of French life, as they excel in the “art of living.”

Blue Flowers In A Copper Pot, A Flea Market Treasure

This time of year, there are a lot of fêtes, events, and happenings in the villages. Most are very local, and even word of mouth, as they are small, yet well attended. This year friends invited us to their small village, Sauve, where there is an annual Fête des Violons. A three day celebration that attracts violinists of all ages and ability to play together. The kickoff of this celebration is a mass of violinists playing together and parading through the village in a “pied piper” fashion. People are encouraged to follow and dance among the violinists, with surprise vignettes playing from a balcony or in a garden. This annual event was started to honor the traditional village life and folk music of the past, and remind new generations of both.

Fête des Violons at Sauve

John and I have made it a point to do a few short trips, two days and one night within easy driving distance of our home base. In Europe, distances are quite deceiving, taking much longer, and sometimes much slower.

On our first getaway, we went down to Sète, a beautiful port town on the Mediterranean. It is often called “The Venice of the Languedoc.” It borders the Étang de Thau, which is a saltwater lagoon known for raising delicious oysters. The oysters, mussels, and seafood are amazing. We stayed in a beautiful little Belle Epoque hotel, Le Grand Hotel, located right on the Canal Royale. The lobby and three floors open to an incredible glass atrium. It was tastefully decorated with wonderful antiques that all tugged at my heart.

A week later we went into Provence and revisited many of the villages we had traveled to nearly 20 years ago. We specifically stayed at the Le Saint Hubert in St. Saturin-les-Apts, and dined in their stunning terrace restaurant overlooking the Luberon. Le Saint Hubert was established in 1852, and has had many lives. Six years ago a young vibrant husband and wife, followed their dream and have slowly renovated the hotel, its six rooms, posh restaurant and cafe. Their food is amazing and captures the best of Provence flavors.

Melon Cucumber Gazpacho With Goat Cheese And Market Vegetables at Le Saint Hubert

Our last trip was to Lyon, the second largest city in France situated on the Rhône and Saône rivers. Lyon was a surprise. Quite a vibrant city where the late famed Chef Paul Bocuse made his name. We stopped in at the citiy’s food hall named after him for a sampling of many of Lyon’s specialites. We had a great dinner at La Meunière, a traditional Bouchon Lyonnais since 1921, and the next day a great lunch at Saône whose chef treats you to a modern twist on Lyonnais cuisine. We did a lot of walking in Vieux Lyon, a saved neighborhood district that dates back to the Renaissance, and climbed up high to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière overlooking amazing Lyon, and not to forget the Fourvière Roman Theatres.

Overlooking Lyon From The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

I hope you have enjoyed a little snippet of our life in France. We have done and experienced so much in such a short time, I can’t share it all. This is great, because it opens the door for more sharing, tips, and inspiration for future writing about why I am so passionate about “A Taste of French Country Living” through the garden, kitchen, and home.

Thank you for following along. À bientôt…Bonnie

Mise en Place For Cooking Class

It has been a very busy “winter into spring” at Domaine de Manion. I gave two back-to-back cooking classes here at Domaine de Manion with lovely, talented students who enjoyed their seasonal “French Printemps” menu and lunch together.

Our Wine Room Restored

Last fall we had a significant water leak and damage that affected most of our interior barn. It was a slow process to repair the damage, find and install new barn wood flooring upstairs, and bring back all the furnishings that had been stored off site for months. We took it as a refresh of the barn. After much patience and hard work, the wine room is now fully restored and refreshed, ready to be used again.

Salmon Wellington For Easter Brunch

Easter came quickly. The menu was Salmon Wellington, Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze, Salad Vinaigrette, and French Lemon Yogurt Cake (the same delicious recipe taught at my last two cooking classes). Not to forget a lovely French Champagne to toast with my parents coming to California, and having this very special, and rare Easter in our home together!

The Little Garden Club of Newport Beach Visiting

In early April, a year in the planning, The Little Garden Club of Newport Beach, came for a visit and garden tour. This lovely club was founded in the ‘70’s, and is still going strong with many creative and dynamic ladies. We had tasty box lunches from Thyme in the Ranch, and gathered together in the sitting area by our vineyard. It was a lovely spring day, and it was great to see this club again.

Double Peony Poppies Blooming In April

It is wonderful to see the garden and vineyard waking up, and each day unfolding with more and more beauty. Years ago I was given these poppy seeds and sowed them in what I now call the south garden. These magnificent red Double Peony Poppies pop up randomly, but in the same general area, simply dictated by the weather. Every April they come back and put on quite a show. I look forward each year to their return and the drama they add to the garden.

Wishing you a very happy and beautiful springtime!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Bonjour Mes Amies!

There is one spot left in my “hands-on” cooking class this Saturday, March 14, 2026. Please let me know if you would be interested in attending by calling me at (tel) (760) 402-7600. It is a first come, first serve basis. Merci…Bonnie

French Lemon Yogurt Cake

French Printemps Menu

Leek, Potato, and Tarragon Soup

Ireland’s Anytime Scone

French Lentil Salad

French Lemon Yogurt Cake

Domaine de Manion Rosé

“Hands On” Cooking Class in Kitchen

Lunch “À Table” in Dining Room

Garden and Vineyard Tour

Domaine de Manion

1279 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, California 92024

Saturday, March 14, 2026

10:30am to 1:30pm

$195.00 per person

Bring a Check to Event Day

Contact Bonnie If You Are Interested, (tel) (760) 402-7600

Best Vinaigrette Dressing

I am always on the hunt for the best vinaigrette recipe, whether it is in a new cookbook, online, or from a friend. Samin Nosrat sang its praises for The New York Times, and it is originally came from Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, from their West Village restaurant Via Carota. A nice pedigree for a vinaigrette.

This vinaigrette is simply delicious, and can be used over vegetables, grains, salads, steak, fish or roast chicken too. Sherry vinegar is always my preferred vinegar for dressings. If you don’t have two types of mustard in your pantry, use twice as much of whichever mustard you do have. It yields 1-1/2 cups.

Ingredients:

1 large shallot, very finely diced

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon aged sherry vinegar, plus more as needed

1 tablespoon warm water

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1-1/2 teaspoons honey

1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1-1/2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard

2 thyme springs, washed leaves picked and finely chopped (about 1/2 teaspoon)

1 garlic clove, finely grated

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Place the shallot in a fine mesh sieve and quickly rinse with cold water. Allow to drain, then place in a medium bowl. Add the vinegar and warm water, and let the shallot mixture sit for 2 minutes.

Whisk in oil, honey, both mustards, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the salt and vinegar as needed.

Cover and refrigerate remaining dressing for up to 1 week. Enjoy!

You Could Store Your Vinaigrette In A Clean Bonne Maman Jar

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Our Dormant Vineyard Ready To Be Pruned

Hard to believe that this is the 20th anniversary of our backyard vineyard. Planted originally in 2006 as a landscape solution, it has certainly become an endearing lifestyle aspect at Domaine de Manion. Back in 2006, our Mira Costa Vineyard and Production class helped us stake and measure, plant the vines, and put in a few end posts to get us started. Since then, friends and family have faithfully helped us in the harvest and winemaking each year, and we are always very grateful and thankful for their help and support.

We have had some “off” years when the entire grape crop was lost, mainly due to less than optimum weather growing conditions, but “all in all” the vineyard has been very rewarding. The vineyard has proven itself over and over by the abundant annual yields, the beautiful fruit it produces, and ultimately the tasty wine it produces.

Each year at pruning time, we are hopeful for the year ahead, that it will be a good growing season, that the grapes will prosper and be healthy, and our yield abundant. A metaphor for our year as well.

Wintertime 2026 At Domaine de Manion

Bon Appétit, Bon Weekend et Salut…Bonnie