#3

Longing for Provence

The summer is over, and it's back to work for all of us. Hundreds of unread e-mails in your in-box! Isn't it great to be back from the beach and no longer to have to stare at the sea, and to have more reasonable fare than chilled rosé and colourful cocktails? No, it isn't great – let's be quite honest about it. Who in all seriousness is looking forward to returning to work after a perfect summer holiday? Precious few of us. So what would be a good way to brighten your first days back on the job? That's right: planning the next holiday!  

Provence in September is unimaginably beautiful! Here, in the sunniest region of France, you still get warm days, now that the tourist tide has ebbed away again. You will easily get seated in restaurants without having to make reservations weeks ahead of time.

We actually went to Provence twice this year, looking for romantic “bastides,” for converted chi-chi “mas,” and for one-off restaurants. We sat down with celebrated star-spangled chefs, re-testing them for any sign of slowing momentum. Some of the new-comers simply stunned us. Out of the roughly 30 destinations recently reviewed we only recommend those hotels and restaurants that have made a lasting favourable impression on us. Visit us on pillowandpepper.com for 18 new and unique destinations in Provence – including the numbers of the best rooms and of the most coveted tables. Our extra service for aspirational members like you!

Topic 5 – the Most Creative Chefs of Provence:

1. Sébastien Sanjou of Le Relais des Moines
2. Edouard Loubet of the Domaine de Capelongue
3. The married chefs Emilie and Johan Thyriot of the restaurant Méo
4. Oscar Garcia of La Table d’Uzès at the Hotel La Maison d’Uzès
5. Jacques Chibois of the La Bastide de Saint-Antoine

Edouard Loubet does a better job capturing the fragrance of nature than anybody else. For his cedar soufflé, he collects cedar blossoms in the surrounding woods and soaks them in spirits for two weeks. This essence is then added to the soufflé base. The resulting dessert is a fantastically fragrant and fluffy revelation. Simply a must-do if you have a sweet tooth.  

To help you get started with your plans for a perfect trip to Provence, we would like you to accept a token present worth €15.00 that you may use to access insider knowledge to a location of your choice on pillowandpepper.com 

  free of charge.