France beckons again...........

Bella Huddart

Next week I'll be departing Australian shores once more en route for France.  My favourite time of year. We have a Picnics in Provence trip based in north eastern Provence starting on June 9th.
We have 5 lovely guests joining us and we will be accompanied by our fabulous co-host, the gorgeous Bella Huddart coming from London.

We have a wonderful Michelin starred private chef Jean Pierre Signoud cooking for us.  I've had a look at the menus and can't wait.

I'm doing a pre and post tour to Paris this time so have a few days on either side of the trip in the capital.  There are 7922 restaurants in Paris and and I have just 8 good eating opportunities.  The choice is killing me!

Eat, drink and be merrry

Good food, good wine and good company. 

It's the simple things in life.......

 Patient husbands..........

 Good friends.........

A hunk of cheese and bread...............

A chilled cheeky rosé..........

Lots of laughter..........

A perfect summers day....

France beckons - oh happy day!

In less than 2 weeks I will be winging my way to La Belle France once more for my next Picnics trips.  Once I step off the plane it's hard to wipe the smile of my face, it's one of my happy places!

 In the past I have started trips in Cassis, spending a couple of days in this idyllic part of southern Provence.  Wine, turquoise waters, sunshine and bobbing boats galore, it's a great little spot.

There is a wonderful boutique hotel which directly overlooks the pretty harbour. A glass of perfectly chilled rosé and soft melting cheeses on the balcony while watching the passing parade is pretty hard to beat.

The local drop has the soft blush of a babies bottom.  It's so crisp and delightful you could drink the bottle with a straw!

 As I said, one of my happy places...............

Happy Bastille Day

Happy Bastille Day!

The 14th of July is the equivalent of the US 4th of July, it's France's National day.  It commemorates the peasant storming of the Bastille prison in Paris in 1789 which marked the beginning of the end of the French monarchy's rule.

These days it's celebrated with a huge military procession down the famous Champs Elysées, lots of fireworks, lots of parties and lots and lots of wine!

Essential summer reading: Kathryn Ireland's exquisite new book, Summers in France.

You must check out this gorgeous book, just published.

It's about Kathryn Irelands incredible country house in France, which she has lovingly restored, this is the location for our Picnics in Provence tours to the South West, mentioned in the book.

To give you an idea of how special it is, Barbara Streisand rented it for her family holiday the week after our last Picnics tour. If it's good enough for Babs...!

The book is full of wonderful entertaining tips, gorgeous photos and great recipes but most of all overflowing with Ms Ireland's inimitable style and panache.  It's a treat.

http://www.1stdibs.com/introspective/required_reading/summers_in_france_by_kathryn_m._ireland/

Lunch in Provence..................

Our cooking class in Provence. The chef closes the restaurant so we have the whole place to ourselves. Coffee at 9am. Rosé is poured at 9.30 am as the chef thinks it makes for a very happy class! we have a fabulous time preparing dishes and cooking til 1pm then a 5 hour lunch in the courtyard under the spreading plane trees with matched wines from the private cellar....