Le Gite

Gite: n. A simple, usually inexpensive rural vacation retreat especially in France

We stayed in this lovely 3 bedroom gite on our last trip to France. The owners converted an old farmhouse and made 3 rentals out of it. It was beautifully located on an organic farm on the outskirts of Pelissane (Provence, France).

Jean Louis was able to ride his bike every morning to the local boulangerie for his daily pain au chocolat. It was close enough to also ride bikes to his parents home.

Notice the old fountain on the patio. Can't wait to go back!

French Tarragon

French tarragon deserves a place in every cook's garden. I was thrilled to find a beautiful healthy starter plant at the Farmers Market in La Jolla. The sweet girl selling it said they are really hard to start and the secret to growing them was to add coffee grounds to the soil.

My research shows that it likes full sun and dry soil. It's perfect for a container garden due to it's need for a drier root system.

It pairs well with fish, egg and chicken dishes. I love it in soups!

Pass the Pastis

Frenchie and his Father having a "pastaga" in Provence. Pastis is what the french have as an imperitif. For an intersting article click here.

Island Hood

We purchased a Zephyr island hood and it looks amazing. The model is ROMA. Straight lines and a lot of shine. It has 4 lights that light up the entire house. We hung it 28 inches from the ceiling so I can see my people sitting at the bar on the other side of the island - it will not block my view while cooking. LOVE IT!!!



From www.zephyronline.com: A sharp, angular island design as distinctively bold as the city it’s named for, Roma’s sleek presence is new to the Europa Collection. We worked closely with our design team to deliver exciting contemporary style and new features at a surprisingly affordable cost. The innovative quick-lock hanging system ensures one of the easiest island hood installations on the market. And the optional recirculating kit makes ductless installations a snap. Ideal for the design-savvy renovator, the high-rise developer who strives for quality, or the builder who needs mass but won’t settle for mediocrity, Roma Island offers the best of many worlds.

Pendant Lights

These are my favorite. I LOVE these pendant lights and have used them as my inspiration for paint color and backsplash choices. They are made of mother of pearl and they will hang over the bar. When lit, they show natural colors of beige, whites, greys and browns (no pink). I will take the backspash to the lighting store this weekend and compare the two on Saturday just be be sure before ordering. They are not cheap but to me, they are like nice pieces of jewelry - don't you think?.

Backsplash

I am in the middle of an exciting kitchen remodel. While in France, my contractor (Uncle Orien) gutted the kitchen, removing a wall that used to separate the front living room from the kitchen. He's doing an amazing job. Before and after pictures to come!

Below is what we picked for the back splash. It glass and is made by Sonoma Tilemakers. It adds a bit of sparkle and color as my countertops are plain. I think it'll add some pizazz to the place. Imagine it against espresso cabinets and stainless steel. Yummy!!!

Blooming in Provence

Today the Mistral blows and it is cold in Provence. A week ago, it was hot and the cactus were blooming in my Belle Mere's garden. One cactus had 10 blooms on it.

I'm back my friends. I missed you all and hope you are happy and healthy. I will begin to post pictures of my recent trip to Provence. It was a magical trip with Jean Louis and I hope I can convey that through my photos.