Aioli is the name of a garlic mayonnaise.  Aioli is also a traditional Provencal dish that was typically served on Fridays.  The classic dish le grand “Aïoli” Provençal is served with salted cod and potatoes. A meal suitable for the days of penance. Practised cooks would methodically re-hydrate the cod and transform it back into an edible protein. The preparation of the traditional ingredients requires time to soak and desalinate the cod. This process involves removing the excess salt, cutting the cod in pieces, and soaking in fresh water for up to 15 hours (changing the water 2-3 times). Once the salt is removed the fish is poached gently in a pot with milk and water. The cod should not boil as it becomes rubbery. Interested yet?

You should be!
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Recipes & Travel:
Aioli Recipes, French Food, Provencal Food, Seafood Recipes

Does that sound romantic? 

Actually… Ginger was away in Canada, and Nutmeg was certain that he had zero interest in visiting the Provence perfume distillery le Musée des Arômes or candle maker at the Ciergerie de l’abbaye des Prémontrés.
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Recipes & Travel:
Flowers in France, Food info in France, Provence Travel

Key West is mile zero on Florida’s Highway 1 (U.S. Route 1).
In 1928, it was also point zero for Ernest Hemingway and his pregnant (7-months) wife Pauline. Their Model-A Ford was not ready when they disembarked in Key West from Cuba, a 90-mile ferry crossing. They were going nowhere fast. The car dealer found accommodation for the couple in an attempt to make amends (try that today…).
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Recipes & Travel:
Florida, GPSmyCity, Key West, Must do Tips, Travel Tips

Recently launched, Pitcher and Powell is a travel concept that combines the creative talents and cooking passions of two accomplished ladies. Even their last names work well together!
Barbara Pitcher is a Canadian by birth, with an international spirit, she is a painter who lives in Provence with her family. Like many artists who have lived in the region (think: Cezanne, Picasso and Van Gogh) the Provencal light decidedly inspires her artwork. This is what Barbara shared regarding her approach to the canvas,
“There is the cliché of “the light is beautiful in Provence” well it truly is!  The colours of the landscapes beg to be painted.  I have been painting since the early 90’s.  In Provence, when I arrived eight years ago I changed my style altogether, I have embraced abstract that I love because I never know where it will take me.”
Please read the rest of Barbara’s story here. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Barbara Pitcher, Cooking classes, Culinary Holidays, Parry Sound, Pitcher & Powell, Provence, Ridge at Manitou, Tasha Powell

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is held annually over two weekends (seven days) at the end of April and beginning of May. This event rivals Mardi Gras for its commercial impact on the city, an estimated $300million (2012).
Read more about the Five (5) essentials for New Orleans Jazz Fest here. 
 
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Recipes & Travel:
Creole cooking, Jazz Fest, New Orleans, New Orleans food, Oysters, Seafood

Wine lover?
This contest is for you (details below).
 
The Wine Scholar Guild (WSG), formerly the French Wine Society, is in the process of evolving the 10-year old organization and pursuing a lofty goal. The WSG wants to be the recognized global leader in wine study programs for France, Italy and Spain.

Guild members range from certified wine experts to enthusiastic drinkers. What the group has in common, aside from the obvious appreciate for wine, is a desire to expand their industry knowledge and specific regional comprehension. Whether the goal is to develop wine lists for the restaurant trade or understand which bottle to order with your dinner, WSG certification will help. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Guides, Tours, Vins de Provence, Wine Education, Wine Scholar Guild, Wine Tours, Wines of Provence

Nutmeg is reasonably certain she is not the first person to walk through the Glanum archaeological site, near St Remy de Provence, and consider that mankind is relatively insignificant in the passage of time.
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
Rocks to rocks
A previous G&N blog post “Glanum Glorious Views” covers much of the history of this site. The following post is a short overview only as an excuse to show off a few new photos. The main street in Glanum is below.

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Recipes & Travel:
Alpilles Mountains Provence, Glaunum, Provence, Provence Travel, Travel in France

Linda Garson spent her youth in Manchester, in the United Kingdom, a place best known for soccer matches and beer-filled celebrations, not necessarily for wine expertise. A visual communications graduate, Linda relocated to Canada (Calgary) in 2003 on a contract with Trade UK – the British Government’s export division. The contract was for 13-months, and Linda is still in Calgary.

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Recipes & Travel:
Calgary, France, Linda Garson, Provence, Rhône Valley, Vine and Dine, Wine Courses, Wines

The friendly guy behind the counter at Community Coffee in the French Quarter asked
“Are y’all you going to the Fest this mornin?”
G&N were visiting New Orleans or NOLA, as some like to call it, for the second time.
They had forgotten about the je ne c’est quoi smell that defines Bourbon Street or Calle De Borbon. It is difficult to determine which is worse; the humid evening whiffs, a combination of stale booze and its fresh side effects, or those same odors reawakened in the morning during street cleaning.
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Recipes & Travel:
Coffee, Crescent City, Jazz Fest, New Orleans

 
 
Gentlemen do not press DELETE – this post is for you!
The men’s grooming products market is forecast to exceed $33.2 Billion (USD) by 2015.  That figure includes shaving products and colognes; however, a few of you must use hair products too.
 
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Recipes & Travel:
Travel Entertainment