~ Sending recipes with love, from Morocco, Spain and France! ~
The past several weeks have been a whirlwind of adventures that are hard to put into words. So I’ll use my go-to method of storytelling: Food!
Those who’ve known me for a while won’t be surprised to learn that food means more to me than simply nourishment for the body. Cooking is an expression of love, and sharing a meal with people in a land far away warms the soul!
It all began in the heart of Provence, France, where my friend Mary and I welcomed travelers from all across the US at a private country estate just minutes from Saint-Remy. Our never-to-be-forgotten adventures took us to vineyards in vintage 2 CV Citroën cars for wine tasting, a picturesque picnic in the Castelas olive groves, and a visit to the infamous Wednesday open-air market in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. We gathered in the kitchen to prepare classic Provençal dishes, like a sumptuous Soupe au Pistou and Chicken with 40 cloves of Garlic. These flavorful recipes are surprisingly easy to prepare. The key is to work with what is seasonal and find the best-quality ingredients you can.
Next, I took a quick flight to a place that awakens all of your senses Morocco! Our home was a beautifully renovated riad situated in the old medina, where a myriad of colors, aromas, sounds and flavors abound. My friend Mustafah and I led guests through fascinating souks and ancient sites and introduced them to local artisans crafting fabulous rugs and lighting. We joined Dadas, a group of local women preserving traditional Moroccan cooking techniques, and discovered the art of blending spices and making delicious tagines and couscous.
Then we ventured into the Atlas Mountains, stopping at an Aromatic Garden to make traditional Berber Bread in a clay-fired oven. We stayed two more nights at a gorgeous Kasbah overlooking the mountains and Ourika Valley. We took a walk to the home of a lovely Berber family, where we shared a delicious lunch and learned about their customs.
Last, but certainly not least, I traveled to a private villa located just over an hour outside Barcelona, Spain. Here, another group of food and wine lovers were joining me for a week-long escapade through the recently titled “World Gastronomy Region, 2025” -- Catalonia! This was my final tour of the year, and I must admit, I just wanted it all to go smoothly. Well, let’s say that while this fertile area needs rain, Mother Nature decided to deliver just minutes before our private coach full of guests arrived. Buckets of rain, thunder, lightning - she displayed the whole show!
Kudos to everyone for taking it all in stride, and I’m so glad that they did, because my Spanish associate, Marta, my California counterpart, Karen, and I had so many wonderful surprises in store for them. Imagine taking in sweeping views of the mountains and lush gardens with a glass of bubbly cava, walking through a medieval village overlooking the sea, and strolling through the famous Boqueria Market in Barcelona alongside a chef who has worked with Ferran Adrià at El Bulli all culminating in the creation of a giant paella with new friends! It was a remarkable week, and Bob, one of our lovely guests, summed it up well when he said, to the effect, “It’s the people that made it so special.”
I hope you’ll join me on a Culinary Tour in 2026, and in the meantime, here are a few dishes that will transport you to the heart of Provence, magical Morocco, and captivating Catalonia, Spain:
Be well my friends, and cook together!
XO
P.S. Want to take a virtual Culinary Tour with me? Download all four seasons of Plates & Places on Vimeo! Click on the link to “Buy All” for free
https://vimeo.com/r/3Mba/ZlNUTmxubH Or use the Promo Code: “CookTasteExplore”
Have questions? Send me an email!
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