Welcome To My French Kitchen, June 2025

This is my new kitchen after a few tweaks. New dimmable lighting. Linen mood sconces. Overhead light moved above table. New tile backsplash. Additional electrical wall outlets. New sink and faucet. New shelf for additional storage. Added flea market treasures for warmth and ambience.

In My French Kitchen, March 2024

This was my French kitchen a year ago in March 2024. Still very nice and basic, but a bit cold and industrial, and possibly— patiently, waiting for a little tender care and charm.

Spring Asparagus At The Uzès Market

My cooking has also evolved as my kitchen has. I am now more comfortable with an induction cooktop, which is very common, popular, and energy efficient in France today. Armed with a new set of induction cookware, I love strolling through the farmers markets deciding what to cook based on what I see.

Cooking from the markets is simple and very rewarding. New ingredients to try and dishes to create add to my cooking pleasure. A simple herb garden off of my kitchen door further enhances my cooking.

Ripe Charentais Melon, Great For Breakfast, Appetizers, Or Anytime

Oddly enough, I a have a library of cookbooks at home in California, and just one or two in France. I prefer to cook in France by instinct and I suppose experience, off of the top of my head. As I mentioned in my last post, “delicious food is tightly woven into the French culture, each and every day. It is generally on the simple side, made with fresh ingredients at their peak, and beautifully presented like a gift.” I continuously strive for beautiful presentation, but I think you will agree, all the ingredients shine for themselves.

Sharing with you, a few dishes I have made from my recent visit, diving into my kitchen.

Steamed New Potatoes, Blanched Green Beans, Parsley, Red Lettuce Salad with a Sherry Vinaigrette

Sautéing Sea Bream Before Adding A Medley Of Sautéed Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Roasted Organic Chicken Basted With Normandy Butter, Lemon, and Tarragon

Toulouse Pork Sausage Over Vinaigrette Salad with Auvergne Blue Cheese

Starting Pan Seared Salmon With Sautéed Spinach, Tomatoes, and Zucchini

Lunch From The Uzès Market Of Sliced Baguette, Tapenades, Tomatoes, Fresh Goat Cheese And Cherries

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Fresh Shrimp and Oysters at the Villeneuve-lès-Avignon Flea Market

One of the pleasures of traveling is experiencing new flavors and dishes. Delicious food is tightly woven into the French culture, each and every day. It is generally on the simple side, made with fresh ingredients at their peak, and beautifully presented like a gift.

I had many delightful meals in many spots and not always at restaurants or cafes. Think festivals, wine cooperatives, flea markets—everything was delicious. I share with you a few French bites of my last visit to France. Enjoy!

Spring Vegetable Tart and Salads at Ma Cantine, Uzès

Seafood Linguine at Luigi’s in Uzès

Tomato Anchovy Pizza at Chez Etienne in Marseille

Creative Spring Salad at Le Barry in Uzès

Pistachio Tiramisu at Pinocchio Restaurant in Nîmes

Cassoulet at Logis Hôtel Restaurant du Lauragais in Villefranche-de-Lauragais

Music Festival with Mussels, Frites & Beer at La Redorte on the Canal du Midi

Pesto and Parmesan Over Beef Carpaccio in Place aux Herbs, Uzès

Dark Chocolate Dessert on Final Stop of the Vin Côte Cours Wine Walk, La Capelle-et-Masmolène

Paella at Fête de la Musique in Gaujac

Delicious Summer Salad at A Table de L’Epicerie in Ménerbes, Luberon, Provence

Last Coffee and Almond Croissant of Our Stay, Au Suisse d’Alger in Uzès

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Fête de la Musique Celebration in Gaujac

Fête de la Musique is a celebration of music started in France, but now observed worldwide. It usually happens on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. On this day, everyone is encouraged to play music outside, in their neighborhoods, in parks, in public places. In France, you can observe it in large cities, as well as trickling down to small villages. Sometimes it is a live band, sometimes a DJ, and sometimes even karaoke. The message is to celebrate the joy of music with everyone. It is always free.

We stumbled upon the little village of Gaujac’s Fête de la Musique, not far from Uzés, quite by chance. Gaujac in the Occitane region, is a small winemaking village of about 1,000 residents, surrounded by vineyards producing Côte du Rhône wines.

Approaching the the village, there were no signs for the fête, and when I inquired at the wine cooperative on the outskirts of the village, I was told they know there was a fête today, but didn’t know where or when it started. So we headed towards the center of the village. No signs, no publicity, this fête must be a long standing tradition that locals know about. We did manage to find the fête whereabouts.

In late morning, there was confirmation of a running of the bulls with French cowboys and cowgirls mounted on magnificent Camargue white horses down a sectioned street with protected bars. Spectactors, usually male adolescents, were allowed to run after the bulls, pulling their tails, trying to touch them. I was aghast. Each running of the bulls went very fast, about 25 seconds. It was very exciting and very hot that day. There was an ambulance strategically parked close by, in case of an emergency.

Running of the Bulls in Gaujac

There Were Several Running of the Bulls, Each Lasting About 25 Seconds

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Too

Next to the sectioned street was the main shady plaza of the village. Tables and benches were set up for the lunch crowd. Two very friendly ladies in pink were busy making paella for 250 people starting at 1:00pm. Each pan served 100 people. For 15 euros one could get a plate of delicious paella, your choice of a beer or glass of wine, and dessert of tarte tatin.

When the paella was ready to be served, the lunch tickets had been purchased, everyone got their lunch plates and sat down to enjoy. There were people of all ages, sitting together, eating and enjoying the day. I imagined most of them were from Gaujac. It was nice to see.

Paella Ready Just About Ready to Serve, a Masterpiece

The Fête de la Musique wouldn’t be a fête without music. A lively village brass band dressed in orange and lemon shirts was there to entertain us and put a smile on everyone’s face. Some spectators joined in the singing.

A large stage was set up at the far end of the plaza. A big music group would be playing later that evening. We decided to look for another Fête de la Musique in another location for later that evening. It had been a very entertaining, delicious, and delightful day.

Can’t Go Wrong with Brass and Lemons

When I think back on this memorable day, I think of the phrase “French Country Living.” I also think of key words that describe the essence of this day and “French Country Living:” fun, adventure, surprises, simplicity, seasons, delicious, beauty, visual, senses, drama, tradition, and joy of life.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Admiring the Eden Rose in Séguret

Eden Rose is one of my favorite roses, and this one was a beauty in the medieval village of Sèguret. My husband, John, and I were here for an organized wine walk with winemakers and group of about 100 people, up in the Dentelles de Montmirail, a small mountain chain in Provence, and in particular around Gigondas. The terroir is perfect to make lush red wines from vineyards grown at the base of these mountains. The views are spectacular looking down upon the lush green Rhône Valley floor.

After the 9km invigorating day hike, hikers were rewarded with a lovely outdoor dinner in the little Gigondas village square.

Hiking La Croisée des Terroirs

Well Deserved Sips of Wine

Bon Semaine…Bonnie

Entering Our Village We Ran Into a Shepherd Grazing His Flock

Bonjour to all of you! It has been a while since I have written. It has been a very busy beginning of the year, and sometimes one benefits from a nice long pause, to catch your breath, reflect, and reset if necessary.

I am back in France again and wanted to share some of my first week here. Coming into our village after being away for almost six months, my husband and I were greeted by a surprise thunderstorm of rain and lighting, as well as a shepherd grazing his huge flock of sheep in the protected forest. Welcome back to France, and be ready for the unexpected.

All is well with our little mas (house), and it was very exciting to unlock the door and see all of the incredible changes in person. I have been working with a special someone here in France the last six months, who has a great design eye, and a team of artisan trades people at her fingertips to make a few needed changes with lighting, wrought iron railings, etc. Our little mas is cute, but some little tweaks here and there have made it especially charming and inviting. I will share more in another post.

Running of the Bulls at Fête de L”Etang

The French are full of fun, and always have festivals and events happening. Some we stumble upon, and others we are told about. We were told about the annual celebration, Fête de L’Etang in La Capelle, the next village over, where there is food, music, and even running of the bulls. L’Etang is a beautiful rare protected freshwater lake in this region among the typical garrigue (scrubland). Surrounding this lake you see a lot of vineyards, fruit orchards, and dark brown bulls are even raised here. These French cowboys and cowgirl are running three bulls in the middle of them around a small portion of the lake. You can hardly see the bulls, but if you look closely in the middle of the photo, you see two bull’s curved brown horns. It is a fast pace, and very exciting to watch. The beautiful white horses, it seems to me, have such a big sweet heart, and are a special breed typical of this area, that I have got to find out more about.

Mussels in Marseille

Still within our first week here, we met Colorado friends in Marseille for a day. We had never been to Marseille, and rented an AirBnB down by the Vieux Port. Marseille is interesting, a gritty melting pot of many cultures and history. Our friends were on a week long Mediterranean cruise that docked in Marseille for the day. I love mussels (moules) from my Brussels, Belgium days. I was in heaven having Mussel Meunière and frites for lunch.

It has been a whirlwind week full of surprises and adventure! Sheep, horses, and mussels!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

A Sunny Lunch at Le Plongeoir, Nice

We flew into Nice, France, and stayed a few days. Recent articles on Nice had mentioned that Nice was experiencing a renaissance since covid. It has been about 15 years since we were here last, and the time was right for another visit. We stayed in Vieux Nice, home for 20,000 people, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We ate well, strolled the famed Promenade des Anglais along the water, and took in the Monday brocante (flea) market.

A few days later we drove and stayed at the picturesque port and small town of Cassis, along the Côte d’Azur. Enough time for an evening dinner along the port, and to take in the Wednesday market there. A quick stop at Domaine du Paternel for wine tasting. This area is known for gorgeous white wines.

Above Cassis is the start of the Route des Crètes, one of the most scenic routes along the highest cliffs in France which allows to you view the coastline and out to the Mediterranean sea. Breathtaking!

Picturesque Cassis Port

Market Day at Place Richelme in Aix-en-Provence

On to Aix-en-Provence for a day and night. A vibrant university town with magnificent architecture and a grand wide boulevard called Cours Mirabeau. We had one of our most memorable and delicious lunches at Les Vielles Canailles at this tiny little restaurant, know for the talented chef and extensive wine list.

Hiking at the Gardon du Gorges, A UNESCO Biosphere

After almost a week in France, we rolled into our village around Uzès. So happy to be here again, to further explore our area, work on our little mas, and search for decorating treasures from brocantes and flea markets.

It is not all work, we have taken time out for market days, long lunches, and one day we hiked part of the Gardon du Gorges. It is an incredible gorge carved over time by the Gardon River. Steep cliffs, rushing river water, and natural landscape have earned this protected pristine gorge a UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere site.

My New Wall Sconce, Upper Left, for the Living Room

Sharing with you the vintage sconce I found for our salon, living room, stone wall. Small, delicate, a perfect size. It is French, and pre-World War II. It cleaned up beautifully, and adds a touch of elegance to our rustic room.

Our Neighbor’s Beautiful Stone House

It is beautiful here in the autumn. My neighbor’s vine-covered stone house is a site to relish in the fall.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend from France…Bonnie

Enjoying An Almond Croissant in Paris

Non, it is Encinitas. Last Saturday my husband, John, and I had a great day together. Later that evening I reflected on the day, and how it reminded me of what might be one of our typical days in South France. This reinforced my thinking that “Joie de Vivre” and a “Taste of French Country Living” is a wonderful attitude and a philosophy to adapt and can be lived, wherever you call home.

Follow me through our fun fabulous day together, and I will parallel it to a fabulous day in South France.

France Market Day Shopping For Fresh Produce In the Nearby Village. Translates in Encinitas, to going to the Cardiff Farmers Market on Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm at Mira Costa College San Elijo Campus. I like this market a lot because it a nice size market consisting of three long rows of vendors. The first row is fresh produce, fruit, honey, and artisanal meats from friendly local farms. The second and third rows are specialty food items such as baked goods, hummus, pizza, greek food, coffee, crafts, clothing, art, jewelry, flowers, music, and more. Please note: the market is not held during the September Greek Festival weekend which is September 7-8, 2024 this year.

I was looking for heirloom tomatoes, as mine in my garden have not done that well this year. I was very pleased with the produce I bought consisting of beautiful tomatoes, fresh sweet corn, juicy peaches, and surprise fresh zucchini blossoms (which I don’t see very often here in Encinitas). Oh yes, I purchased for Sunday morning to share, a large incredible almond chocolate croissant filled with vanilla creme from a very talented bakery stall. He said it was one of his bestsellers.

Nice Leisurely Lunch At A Favorite Outdoor Cafe. Translates in Encinitas, to going to Blue Ribbon Pizza in the Lumberyard for a great salad and wood-fired pizza. Downtown Encinitas has many great cafes and restaurants offering outdoor seating, something positive from Covid. The hard part is making a decision on just one. In France, the whole country stops from noon to 2pm to enjoy their lunch. No fooling.

After Lunch, Stroll The Village For An Errand or Casual Shopping. Translates in Encinitas, to strolling the historic Coast Highway where there are many wonderful independent shops. I stopped into the crowded flagship Vuori store to browse their latest fitness clothing.

Afternoon Planned Event To Take In, Such As A Garden Tour, Hike, Museum, Winery Visit. Translates in Encinitas, to going to the Saturday, August 10, 2024 Open House for the new Pacific View Arts Center which was a decade in the making. The city purchased the long vacant, former elementary property totally overhauling it and transforming it into a stunning site to learn art, sculpture, multimedia, music, and a venue for performing arts. It occupies a full block of Third Street between E and F, and even has incorporated the historic Encinitas 1883 schoolhouse in its southwest corner. This is a great addition for the Encinitas community. During the Open House, artists, musicians, media teachers, and staff were on hand for questions and demonstrating. Classes started August 13, 2024.

Baked Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

Once Home, Eager To Prep A New Recipe For Dinner With Market Ingredients. Translates in Encinitas, to coming home and excited to make “Zucchini Blossoms with Goat Cheese, Fresh Mint, and Anise Seeds” from the cookbook Dinner Chez Moi by Elizabeth Bard. The zucchini flowers you see in France are much larger in the markets than the ones I got today, that did not deter me. I have always wanted to make these zucchini blossoms, and I had this recipe in mind. The recipe was very simple and so tasty. The presentation is gorgeous and the blossoms so delicious. A perfect light appetizer for the summer. I will share this recipe in a future post.

After Dinner Relaxing On The Outdoor Terrace At Dusk. Translates in Encinitas, to after dinner relaxing on the deck watching the last of the beautiful sunset. In France, when I am in the countryside, night time is dark. France is so rural in our area, there is no light pollution, and in fact our little village borders a huge protected forest. So when dusk turns to night all the stars and planets are so vivid, and the constellations so clear. Stars to further dream upon.

I hope you enjoyed this recap of our recent fabulous fun day in Encinitas, paralleling it to a fabulous fun day in South France. May it give you ideas, inspiration, and tips to create your own heartfelt “Joie de Vivre” wherever you call home.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

The Little Lion At Domaine de Manion

This little stone lion and pedestal has been in our family for at least 50 years. My parents were in their forties, I was in high school, and my brothers were in middle school. For about six years then, we lived in a little village outside of Brussels, Belgium, in a little Flemish house my parents rented. My family would frequently travel around Europe on weekends and vacations.

During one vacation, visiting and driving around Italy, my parents bought this stone lion statuary and pedestal. Exactly in Italy, they can’t remember. I was not with them on this particular trip. They drove it back to Belgium. Placed it in a perfect spot to greet everyone in front of their little white Flemish house.

When it came time to move back to the United States, of course, the lion and pedestal came with them. My parents eventually retired and built their dream home on Table Rock Lake, about 20 miles outside of Branson, Missouri. This little lion then graced the front of their home, and greeted family and friends for over three decades.

Every time I visit my parents, my dad always asks me if there is anything I want from their house. He will gladly ship it to me. Last summer visiting them, helping my mom water her garden, the thought of asking for the little lion and pedestal came to me. The answer was “yes, of course.” With luck, my cousins from Denver were visiting my parents at the same time. They drove the lion and pedestal to Denver, and then to Golden, Colorado, where we have long time friends who often drive to San Diego. With the help of family and friends, the lion and pedestal made it to Domaine de Manion a year later.

I had the perfect spot in mind. A special location that is close to the bocce ball court, the garden, and the vineyard. It can be seen from afar and close up. It is away from the garden irrigation. Very visible, yet protected.

A little about this lion and pedestal. He is quite small. Most lion statuaries I have seen are large. He has a bit of a smile, so is friendly. There is an actual shell you can see embedded in his front, which makes me believe he was made with materials that were close to the sea. He is very heavy, and also his pedestal.

This little lion is very symbolic to me, representing so much to me, across many facets of my life. I also see him as a guardian over the garden. He certainly has a history, and I only know the last 50 years or so. He is very special to me, and I am thrilled to have him here, and see him often.

I share all this history with you as garden ornaments are very important in our gardens. Garden ornaments pause your eye in the garden, and sometimes create a welcome surprise. Garden ornaments can allow you to create a distinctive style and ambience to complement your garden. Garden ornaments can be sentimental, and stir happy emotions, as this lion does for me.

Please share if you have a favorite garden ornament in your garden.

Related Past Posts:

Jewels Of The Garden

Welcome To My Garden

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie