Gathered together under the green, leaf umbrella of a colossal Provençal plane tree participants were enjoying the “fruits” of their efforts; the food they had all created in Nito Carpita’s professional kitchen at Mas de Cornud. Ginger and Nutmeg were still dressed in their white chefs aprons as the table conversation scrolled through a host of topics.
In the group, were two girlfriends from far-flung cities who had decided to meet in Provence. They had booked accommodation via Untours.
Well, that certainly peaked Nutmeg’s curiosity, as she had never heard of Untours and they are in thirteen countries! She got in touch with General Manager, Brian Taussig-Lux at the company to ask a few questions.
(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
European Travel Tips, Self-Guided Travel in Europe, Travel in Switzerland, Untours Travel

Nutmeg has been fortunate enough to visit France several times. One year Ginger and Nutmeg joined some friends on a cycling trip through Provence.  That was the beginning of their “love-affair” with the region. However, on all the previous trips the fields of lavender had already been harvested, it was too late in the season. This time Nutmeg was determined to see the flowering fields.
The lavender plant is actually part of the mint family, and there are some 39 varieties.  The plants love the dry, sandy, rocky soil that is typical of the Vaucluse region of Provence.  Lavender flowers come in many colours, they can be blue (almost indigo), purple, violet, even pink or white varieties exist. It is a relatively easy plant to grow, as it requires minimal care.

(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Lavender Essential Oil, Lavender fields of Provence, Provence Travel, Travel in France

“Did you know that nutmeg is used in cookies in Croatia”?
That was near the end of a two-hour discussion with the man who turned the wine world on its head. Miljenko “Mike” Grgich turns ninety on this day April 1, 2013. He describes his life as happy, blessed and filled with opportunity. It was that attitude that carried him through his early days in a remote Croatian village, through a period of communist threats, to West Germany and then eventually to California.

(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
California Travel Guides, California Wines, Grgich Hills Estate, Mike Grgich

In May 2003, the label Jardin Remarquable (Remarkable Garden) was created, to celebrate and document the magnificent gardens of France. A Jardin Remarquable, is one that meets the established criteria; integration in the site, interesting blend of vegetation, quality of the location, engaging use of plants and where applicable provides historical interest.

(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Flowers in France, Provence Travel, Travel in France, Val Joanis Winery

Have you dreamed about being an actor?
Meeting a president?
Marrying a pilot?
Living in Italy?
Maybe you still have those daydreams…

(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
College of the Desert, How to self-publish a book, Life of Lisa Figus, Things to do in Palm Desert, Travel Book Reviews, Writing tips

Nutmeg has a friend who is interested in really big construction projects. He had previously visited the site of the Malpasset Dam outside Fréjus and recommended a visit to the site as an interesting road-trip.
The Malpasset Dam was an enormous initiative completed in 1954. It collapsed less than five years later, on December 2, 1959. The dam on the Reyan River was arched in design, or more technically a double curvature with a variable radius.  The dam height was 60 meters, 6.78 meters at the foundation and the length of the crest was 223 meters.   The history of the dam is a bit unclear as some reports have work starting in 1941, possibly early planning that was very likely disrupted by World War II. In 1946, there were geological and hydrological studies undertaken. There is now some question about the quality of the engineering studies, due to lack of proper funding. Construction work on the dam started in April…

Recipes & Travel:
Cote d'Azur, Frejus, Malpasset Dam, Provence, Travel

Often Nutmeg’s most intriguing encounters start at the market and end in a DATE!

…a date plantation in Indio, California.
(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
California Date Production, California Travel Guides, Food Nutritional Facts

Nutmeg loves her coffee.
It is a sad morning for Nutmeg AND a difficult day for Ginger if there is no morning coffee.

(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Easy Cookie Recipes, Easy healthy snack recipes, Italy Travel, Travel in Italy

El Paseo in Palm Desert, California gets high marks from well-heeled fashionistas for its array of retail stores. Like “sister” streets around the world iconic, exclusive, name-brand boutiques grace the roadway where gleaming automobiles some more expensive than the average house, are parked close by. It is so customary to see fancy cars that a roaring motor is hardly extraordinary – until there are 300 of them!

(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
California Travel Guides, car cruise nights el paseo california, Things to do in Palm Desert, Travel Palm Springs

Tangerine walls, a bold statement in a landscape dotted by countless malls and chain restaurants. If you have spent any time in Mediterranean Europe, you could be forgiven for thinking you left Southern California at the parking lot the moment you enter Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Cafe. It is a relatively new Mecca of fresh food, robust espresso and persuasive treats.

 
(more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Cafe, French Food in Palm Desert, palm desert coffee shops, Palm Desert Restaurants