organic living in the Provence

the summer garden season has begun

2011-07-06T14:58:00.000+02:00

Life and its summery joys

What a joy it is to eat the first tomato from our own garden! OK, they are small cherry tomatoes but nevertheless are we very proud of our result!

And the zucchini are also waiting in line to be harvested where 'waiting in line' may not be the right word as they tend to be ripe around the same time.

My test run with the summer garden behind the house, to see if roquette and lettuce will not bolt so quickly, is going well; roquette has already blossomed so I guess it's too warm and sunny there, as well.

The fields of wheat in front of and behind our house have just been harvested, leaving the fields with big rolls of hay - a pretty sight.

The lavender is now in full bloom, and we get a whiff of the enchanting scent wafting past our door is simply sensational!

And so each season has its charme, with summer being the best one!

Happy summer months to everyone!

from Claudia & Jim

The New Year

2011-01-02T09:59:00.001+01:00

Good morning to the world, and
good morning to another sunny
but cold winter's day in Quinson, Provence!

Life at La Vudèle is absolutely amazing, and every day offers a different experience. We sat down yesterday and looked back at the past year, 2010,which was our first full year up here, at 550m altitude, in lavender country.

The garden is very dormant, after this season's very successful olive harvest (we managed to bottle 15 liters which we sell in our little shop at La Vudèle) but this is also the time to trim some of the trees, like the prune tree the other day. Or the fig tree this coming week.

We started a chambre d'hotes, with one spacious double bedroom which, once the bed finally arrived, was booked every night, and our table d'hotes having been very much in demand. But because we want to offer fresh food we always ask to reserve 24 hours in advance. As for this coming year during the summer months we are going to ask for a minimum stay of 2 nights; a chambre d'hotes, even with only one room, does involve a lot of work because the guests are part of our daily lives and hence can and should expect personal attention.

For two years in a row we volunteered at the same farm in the Drôme as WWOOFers, at Ferme du Pescher. For Jim it wa a great experience to not only learn something new but to also improve on his cheese-making methods. For 2011 we are considering a cheese-making farm with cow's milk, maybe in the Jura? We love Comté.

Due to Claudia breaking her arm in December of 2009 we didn't do any big walks or hikes this year but rather focused on our new neighborhood, enjoyed sailing on the lac Saint Croix on Jim's sail boat, met more people here in the area and all in all spent a lot of time here at La Vudèle.

The vegetable garden was a big success, especially after we started watering more often. We have our own 'source', a bassin which collects rain water so we do use natural resources but at the same time it is completing the cycle locally. And since we don't use any kind of fertilizer, not even so called organic ones, our soil is very clean. We started a compost which is now dormant in the winter but which we have used a little bit on feeding the various vegetable plants. For next year we want to try more variations but definitely loved our own fresh courgette, aubergine and tomatoes! And if all goes well we'll have some Provencal artichokes this coming summer.

We traveled to the Netherlands several times, to visit Jim's elderly mother who is turning 90 this year! Usually we stay with Jim's friends in a small town about 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam but close to his mother's care home; this way we get to enjoy a family atmosphere at Hilly and Dirk's and at the same time are close to the attractions, museums and, yes, shops in A'dam.

We also went to Germany in October, for my father's 70th birthday. Thanks to my uncle's buddies he started his own tomato plantation on the balcony but too much watering (as much as 5 times a day) and the use of Blaukorn chemical fertilizer his tomato harvest was abundant but the taste very watery. O well, maybe more luck this coming year, without the fertilizer and more patience ;-)

1.1.2011 also marked the day Claudia's cosmetics company C'etrange was officially registered in France! This means that in the coming months we will be busy setting things up, finding new suppliers, creating a market here in France, etc.

And Jim wants to do a lot of work inside the house, making it more chic and modern, lots of painting, taking out of old tiles and putting in two new bathrooms, one of the guests and one for us. I think we should wait until 2012 with the new kitchen ;-)

All in all this coming year will be filled with exciting projects but at the same time with tranquility here at La Vudèle.

New Year's Day at La Vudèle

Happy 2011 to everyone,

Claudia, Jim & Willem the cat

WWOOFing ... again in 2010

2010-06-15T12:54:00.000+02:00

The joys of volunteering

at an organic farm in France

Like last year, we decided to spend one week at the farm La Ferme Du Pescher in the Drome (26), to help with the various activities at the farm.

Claudia worked with the vegetable farmer Olivier by attaching the growing tomatoes to string which in turn is attached to a flexible metal string, to allow it to be adjusted to the new growth. Likewise with the cucumbers. Unlike last year whn we had had an abundance of vegetables and fruit to choose, from only courgettes, carrots and lettuce were ripe enough to eat. Just as delicious, though, fresh out of the ground!

Jim again helped with the production of goat's cheeses; he is almost an expert by now and was able to relieve Florence, the main organizer at the farm, by taking over her work for the week. He noticed the difference in the milk compared to last year; a natural product it undergoes fluctuations just like any other, and the cheese tasted a bit different as well. Florence is very proud of her blue cheese, an absolute delicatesse!

Another WWOOFer, Darcy, came to the farm the day after us. A naturally curious young woman from Northern California it was fun to pull weeds together, as this work is meditative and allows the helper to either let his/her mind drift or engage in interesting conversation.
In an evening session Jim also taught her how to "roll the cheeses", an important part of the cheese-making process

The weather was ok but not as we expected: instead of sunshine and lazy time on the sun deck (we were WWOOFer Luxe this year and got to stay at the Gite Panda) the gusts of wind kept us indoors most of the time. This also meant that there was less of the spirit of last year which had been created by all these different people around, visitors, guests staying in the various rental accommodations, helpers, friends of the family, etc. This year it was one farmer less, Dani, who had moved further south and sold his house to Belgians who had not arrived yet, and - possibly due to the weather, not many guests.

Nevertheless it was a nice experience, to see Florence, Olaf, Juliette, Olivier and Nicolas again and to engage in worthwhile activities in this beautiful part of the world.

Happy WWOOFer greetings

from

Claudia & Jim

yoga and ayurveda workshop Thursday April 29 & May 11

2010-04-13T10:07:00.001+02:00

To herald the Spring Jaci, newly certified yoga instructor, takes great pleasure in inviting us to the first of a series of

half-day yoga workshops (in English) ~ all levels welcome ~

in her beautiful yurt in Villeneuve (04)

Thursday April 29th, 09h-15h

€45, lunch and notes included (or € 80 if also attending next workshop on May 11th)

PROGRAMME

09h arrive and begin with 90 minute Yoga Asana ( posture) practice including deep relaxation

30 minute herbal tea break with Ayurvedic snack

Then introduction to Ayurveda, the healing and practical side to understanding your personal consitution and meeting your bodies needs through diet, behaviour, exercise, a science which exists since 6000 BC

(notes and dosha (constitution) defining questionnaire sent to attendees beforehand for deeper understanding during this exchange)

90 minute lunch break

two course organic seasonal lunch served

Followed by insight into Pranayama ( breathing practices) and reclined, led, relaxed meditation which should leave you feeling peaceful, relaxed and insightful

*
15h

closure

*****

The next Workshop will be held on Tuesday 11th May

with similar timing with a deepening understanding of Ayurveda and a theme of SPRING DETOX

Deposit required with booking

Please call or write for further information

Jaci: 06 60 84 95 75

jacqueline.girardin@gmail.com

www.yogaretreatsinprovence.com

house warming at La Vudèle

2009-11-01T17:30:00.003+01:00

Welcome to La Vudèle!

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, November 1, we had a lovely housewarming party at our new house. Lots of friends from Entrecasteaux, Aix-en-Provence, Puimoisson and other parts of the Provence came and celebrated with us.

We served organic vegetarian dishes along with organic wine from Correns, and everyone contributed to the buffet with a dish - the true spirit of 'Organic Living in the Provence'.

A bientot,

Claudia & Jim

Some food for thought

2009-10-06T23:22:00.003+02:00

Life Explained...

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village. A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long." they answered in unison.

"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"

The fishermen explained that their small catches were sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.

"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, and take siestas with our wives. In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. We have a full life."

The tourist interrupted: "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?"

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one
and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man,
you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant.

You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles , or even New York City ! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?"

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting, "
answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral of this story is:

........ Know where you're going in life. You may already be there!!

for a natural house: cleaning

2009-09-27T08:02:00.007+02:00

Keep out the toxins - naturally

The time has cometh... andwe get to move into our own house! This is an old farmhouse in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04) and has been home to various tenants over the last 100 or so years. Originally a sheep barn this is where the kitchen is nowadays. Yesterday we discovered next door in the 'grange' the horse barn, still with the feeding trough and hay rack in place! So this is an old structure, entirely built in stone, but over the years many things have been added, most likely not with the types of materials we would have chosen.

So it is up to us to make improvements and do what we can to make our lives in this wonderful home as pleasant for us as possible.

That is why we use all-natural cleaning products, with ingredients straight out of the kitchen cupboard. To give your home a pleasant scent at the same time simply add lavender or teatree essential oil.

windows: Previously we had tried using vinegar and water only but that always left the windows a bit dull and streaky. I then read about the reason: it is the waxy residue from commercial (aka blue colored) window cleaners! So the first cleaning cycle should include liquid soap, to get rid of that waxy residue: 2 parts water, 1/4 part vinegar, up to 1/2 part liquid soap.
For the second and following cleaning cycles, simply omit the liquid soap or use this recipe: 1 part vinegar, 1 part lemon juice and 1/2 part water. Simply use a spray bottle for this and afterwards use newspaper to wipe windows and mirrors dry. Voilá, it works!

bath tub: We inherited an acrylic bathtub in 'English rose' color with a bit of soapy residue and limescale, courtesy of the previous owner. What works really well is baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) : mix baking soda and water until you get a frosting-like substance, then scour the bathtub with it.

fixtures: Put rubbing alcohol on a cloth and leave to evaporate, do not rinse!

tiles: Use 1 part vinegar to 4 parts warm water and wipe onto tiles. For the grout use vinegar straight up and scrub with an old tooth brush or put in a spray bottle and wipe tiles after 2 minutes.

toilet: Pour vinegar into the toilet bowl. Leave for 30 minutes then take a toilet brush, dip into the toilet to wet and some baking soda onto the brush. Scour the inside of the toilet with the brush repeating the sprinkle procedure until the baking soda is gone…..voila, clean toilet!

Mind you: doing all these chores under the Provencal sun makes it a lot of fun!

Jim & Claudia

life on a farm - WWOFing in the Drome Provencal

2009-08-23T19:34:00.015+02:00

How to spend a week in the hot Provence summer

or
WWOOFing on a goats farm

The second week of August - a very hot time of year in the Var - we set off to the Drome Provencal, somewhere one hour's drive from the nearest exit of the autoroute (Loriol), in search for cooler temperatures and an interesting experience of helping out at a farm. Through WWOOF (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) we had come across a small biological farm which produces its own vegetables and goats cheese! La Ferme du Pescher is nestled in the middle of a long valley, a 5 km drive on a forest road.

We were welcomed by Florence, who along with her husband Olivier (Olaf), are the founders of this assocation, which includes Florence as the cheese maker, Olaf the goat farmer, Olivier and Dany, the vegetable farmers and Nicolas, the future chicken farmer.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jim.stalknecht/FermeDuPescher?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqGzuSN76fBdA&feat=directlink

So we spent a week helping the different agriculteurs with their daily chores: gathering tomatoes, courgettes, green peppers, cantaloupes (yummy!), carrots and whatever was in season, to be sold at markets or at a small co-op store near Montelimar.

Jim helped out at the fromagerie and after 3 days was given the full responsibility, to make the cheeses in the morning and turn in the evening, so that they would be ready the following day.

Claudia worked every morning with one of the two vegetable farmers in gathering food for the various outlets, like farmer's market or shop.

The way it works is that we got free lodging in a big caravan, away from the other guests who pay to stay in yurtes, tipis or chalets; we also got free food which meant that we would go off with our little basket and search the fields for ingredients for delicious meals, fresh from the garden! What a delight, to be able to make ratatouille the way it was intended to be. A green salad with tomatoes, garlic and onions, straight from Mother Earth. To eat goats cheese fresh from the fromagerie.

It was a wonderful experience, to be able to help on such a small farm, to be included in the daily life and find out about people's motivation to live such a life style: away from the stress of most people's everyday lifes, to live by the moon calendar as much as possible and treat the world kindly, to learn from the experiences of others and to meet people who are willing to share them with you.

Back in the Provence we look back onto this week with a smile on our face!

Claudia & Jim

recipe for ratatouille Drome Provencale style

2009-07-29T07:35:00.005+02:00

Ratatouille de Drome Provencale

Ratatouille is as provençal as lavender and its blue sky above.

It simply combines all the delicious vegetables which are ripe in the summer, allowing for the full flavor to develop by letting it simmer for almost two hours. Best served in the pot, along with some fresh country bread: in the Provence bread is eaten along the main course and to soak up the sauce on the plate.

serving 4 - 6

heavy pot like Le Creusset, with fitting lid to trap the vapor during cooking

500g potatoes

5 medium-sized carrots

1 red or yellow large onion

1 large courgettes

200g string beans

3 medium-sized or 5 small tomatoes, ripe and juicy

4 cloves of garlic

5 sprigs of thyme or 1 full teaspoon dried

1 cube of biological vegetable broth, dissolved in 500ml of water

fresh bread (about 2 slices per person) or lightly toasted in a pan

Cut up all vegetables in bite-sized pieces and layer them according to the list of ingredients above, with the hardest vegetable on the bottom. Add hot broth at the end and let cook covered on gas mark 2 for 1 hour, then reduce to gas mark 1 for another 45 minutes. Stir only occasionally and very gently.

Serve with fresh bread and enjoy!

vegetarian hiking in the French Alps

2009-07-27T22:54:00.004+02:00

hiking as a vegetarian in the French Alps
Tour de Vieux Chaillol
Parc des Ecrins

On Sunday, July 19 2009, we set off to hike around the beautiful mountain range called Parc des Ecrins. The Tour de Vieux Chaillol is a 5-day round trip which allows for stay-overs at different gites d'etape and refuges. (As for all vegetarians the true challenge in France lies in not getting an omelette at every meal.)

The first place we stayed at, one night before we started our journey, Auberge Les Primeveres in 05260 Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicoals, made for all their guests this delicious local variation of lasagna: oreilles d'âne. This is a true vegetarian dish, and on the side they served local cured ham, for those needing meat. But I never felt ostrasized or singled out as the non-meat eater!

Our first night of the Tour, in Le Casset, we stayed at the Gite d'Etape where we ate delicious sorrel soup (oseille in French), made from fresh leaves from the area! What an epicurean delight! The salad came after the main course (omelette for me...) which was simply lettuce from the garden! Lettuce aids digestion so it is actually recommended to eat it after the meal.

At the Refuge de Vallonpierre care is taken in reducing one's carbon footprint, eating what is in season and grows around us and taking everything we packed out back into the valley.

The following night we managed to score a proper bed in a double bedroom at the Auberge des Ecrins a funky modern hotel/restaurant in a small village. Superb local food: fromage chevre from the neighboring village, home-made tourtons (little ravioli), a side dish of carrots soufflé, with freshly grated carrots - ahh!

At our last night, at Gite Les Paris, I actually received a specially made vegetarian dish, all to myself: a leeks gratin! Very delicious and very rewarding after 5 days of steady and strong hiking in this beautiful part of the Alps!

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim

bio "vin de table' in Carces!

2009-06-03T21:16:00.008+02:00

delicious bio wine from Correns at "L'Oie qui boit" in Carces/Var -
and that's their house wine!

About 2 weeks ago we finally managed to eat at the newly opened, very funky restaurant in Carces (yes, it is the only cool one in Carces), and what a surprise! Their table wine 'vin de pays' is from Correns, and hence, as Correns is the first bio village in France, it is a bio wine!

Only €4.50 for 1/2 liter of the rosé which was very nice, indeed.

"L'oie qui boit"
33 av Georges Clémenceau (main street)
83570 Carces

tel: 04.94.04.39.42

Their food, although only partially bio, is also very good, the owner is also the chef and used to cook at a fancy restaurant close to the coast.

We will definitely be back for that rosé. Or maybe we will try the white next time...

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim

Qi Gong in Manosque, July 2009

2009-05-06T15:43:00.008+02:00

!!! This workshop has been cancelled !!!

Jacqueline, one of our yoga and Provence friends, and a vegetarian, is offering a Qi Gong workshop in Villeneuve, Provence, from 19. - 24. July.

Qi Gong Summer Workshop
July 19 - 25, 2009
www.yogaretreatsinprovence.com

Enseigné par Pamela Edwards , professeur blingue francais/anglais,
formée a Londres et Paris, en activité depuis des nombreuses années, le Qi Gong sera practiqué a Villeneuve, dans le Luberon.

Le soin Ayurveda / reflexologie seront assurées par Armelle Jacquin, formée par David Frawley.
Restauration BIO possible.

tarifs:
Enseignement Qi Gong
La semaine: 280 €, le cours de 2h: 24 €

Le soin Ayurveda (1h30): 50 €

Reflexologie (35 min): 30 €

contacts:
Qi Gong: Pamela 01 42 55 72 65 / 06 70 04 59 71 / pam.edwards@free.fr
soins: Armelle 04 92 75 40 34 / jacquin.armelle@voila.fr

*************************

A Qi Gong work shop is being organized by

Pam Edwards

English / French speaking teacher, in the old Luberon village of Villeneuve.
Daily classes, or separate sessions, organic food and beautiful surroundings will revive your "Qi", the vital energy.
Holiday visitors are welcome!

*************************

Please contact Pam or Armelle, or Jacqueline at "Yoga Retreats" directly for more information.

!!! This workshop has been cancelled !!!

Namaste and
sunny greetings from the Provence,
Claudia & Jim

spring gardening in the Provence

2009-04-29T07:17:00.011+02:00

It is the end of April, and everybody is waiting for summer to arrive. Nature decided to skip spring altogether, it seems: rain, rain, rain! This has caused all kinds of green plants to grow in Jim's garden so that we needed to get busy and clear the area of some unwanted ones. Yes, there is no such thing as 'mauvaise herbe', the famous weeds. But nevertheless we decided to rid the garden of some which didn't need to be there.

In searching for gardening gloves I came across the usual ones, full calf leather, with all kinds of qualities any gardener could want: long-lasting, washable, stretchable. But what about finding some that don't use leather?

Inspired by my internet search for something natural, I even came across hemp gloves. But where to find them?

In my quick search in Aix-en-Provence I discovered a very pretty pair of slim gloves, ideal for weeding, at Bricorama! Made from an elastic material, they are ideal for the small plants and didn't involve the slaughtering of any animals!

So if you are going to do some gardening this spring, please consider the animals!

As you can see there is no need for chemicals when gentle human hands can have the same effect!

All the best from the
(sometimes) sunny Provence,

Claudia & Jim

yoga weekend June 2009 Hautes-Alpes

2009-04-01T07:04:00.001+02:00

A special weekend filled with fresh alpine air, dynamic yoga sessions to suit every level, pilates and wonderful local food. This is what Elise Maes, our fantastic yoga instructor in Aix, is offering to anyone interested in a relaxing time away.

There is a choice between 2 or 3 days but the 3 day-deal is the best one, as it allows for 2 complete days of relaxation before driving home again the afternoon of the third day.

For more information please check this
http://aixyoga.com/images/stage-yoga-pilates-nature-juin09.pdf

If you want to sign up, please contact Elise at elise@aixyoga.com before May 15, although an earlier date is recommended as to ensure enough rooms at the lodge.

And if you want to practice yoga in Aix with Elise or Maryvonne click here http://www.aixyoga.com/

Sunny greetings from the sunny Provence
Claudia & Jim

* * * Jim's meat-free birthday 2009 * * *

2009-03-16T10:55:00.004+01:00

The weather was perfect on this Saturday afternoon in the middle of March!

Friends from Aix-en-Provence and around the Var came to celebrate Jim's birthday on this beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. Various nationalities were present (Dutch, German, French, English, Scottish), enjoying the delicious vegetarian dishes. Amongst the guests were 9 children who happily played in the garden and were kept content with home-popped popcorn.

The dishes we made were (recipes below):
- spinach-artichoke dip
- Moussaka (potato and feta cheese gratin)
- carrot & date bread
- Hungarian mushroom soup
- banana nut bread

links to recipes we used for this meal
Spinach artichoke dip
Banana nut bread
potato feta cheese gratin
couscous salad
Hungarian mushroom soup

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim

meat-free day March 14th 2009

2009-02-24T20:06:00.001+01:00

Official opening of the outdoor season

Saturday, March 14, 2009
83670 Entrecasteaux (Var)

@ Jim's place

It's the time of year again: we are gearing up for the outdoor season in the Provence! To celebrate in style we are arranging a party for everyone who wants to join us. It is also Jim's birthday on the 13th, the day before, so he will be wearing his party hat. Come and bring your friends, we will be there all afternoon!

As it is also meat-free day (Journee Sans Viande) we will have lots of delicious meals and snack, all accompanied by the local rosé, le cave de L'Amiral. And if you would like to contribute to the cause feel free to drop a contribution into 'the hat'; we will forward it to the meat-free organization.

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim

Amsterdam, Ankara Restaurant, downtown

2009-02-20T19:56:00.002+01:00

On February 15 we went to this gem of a restaurant, Ankara Restaurant, near the Centraal train station in Amsterdam. After a quick glance at the menu we decided to try it as there were many vegetarian options, especially as starters.

We had a mezze platter with
- very delicious hummus (humuz), mashed chick peas with sesame oil, herbs and olive oil
- Cacik, a yogurt dip with cucumber, dill and garlic - very refreshing
- eggplant with tomato and yogurt (Patlican tava)

Then a mixed salad as main course for me, which was nicely arranged, no dressing and very fresh! Jim had xxxxxxxx
Accompanied by a very delicious white Bordeaux ( a true find for us, as we are only familiar with red Bordeaux) - this was the house wine!

Very easy to find, on the main road leading from the Centraal station, opposite the Crowne Plaza hotel.

Restaurant Ankara
Nieuwezijds voorburgwal 16, Amsterdam
tel: +31 (0) 20 - 6236110
www.ankararestaurant.com

As for vegetarians we feel that Turkish cuisine, and especially at this restaurant, is a true delight!

La Boca Loca, Aix-en-Provence

2009-02-20T18:11:00.002+01:00

Vegetarian burritos in Aix-en-Provence!

Opened January 2009 this little take-out place near La Rotonde has fantastic burritos, with vegetarian ones on the menu! Everything is made fresh and in front of you so it's easy to ask for changes.

The owners are groovy (one of them is from Boston) The idea of opening up this place was inspired by of my favorite eateries in Boston, Anna's Taqueria!

On Rue de la Couronne, at the corner of Rue des Bernardines, La Boca Loca offers delicious Mexican food and is a true change from the blah sandwiches we have to deal with as vegetarians.

Quiero un burrito, por favor!

Claudia in Aix

Restaurants in Aix-en-Provence with vegetarian menus

2009-02-20T16:44:00.000+01:00

Restaurants in Aix-en-Provence
with vegetarian menus:

* Le Dalat, 14, rue de la Couronne, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, tel: 04.42.27.92.53

* La Boca Loca, Rue de la Couronne, 13100 Aix-en-Provence (opposite Le Dalat)

Le Dalat Chinese restaurant
open for lunch and dinner, also take-away
The main reason for us to visit Le Dalat was because they have their own dedicated vegetarian menue! As a starter I chose the salade de jardin, with soy bean sprouts (canned), freshly grated carrot, etc in a light vinegar-based sauce. Quite big for a starter and very refreshing. As a main course you can choose from vegetables with pineapple or vermicelli with vegetables, plus a bowl of rice. As a dessert I had vanilla ice cream which was a nice finish. Jasmin tea was fresh and with proper tea leaves.
Words of warning: some of the translations into English on the menu are inaccurate: there is NO goose in the salad, a false translation of 'carrot'. Also, the second rice option, riz Cantonaise, is WITH MEAT! So only the riz nature is vegetarian.
Advice: some of the items on the menu were not available; no white wine by the glass, for example. But the rosé was very nice and at €2 a pop a good deal. Also no green tea but jasmine tea.
We had a nice lunch, and if you are not too picky about cleanliness (French and Chinese seem to have similar ideas about that) this is an ok choice. Jim loved the fact they have cloth napkins, not paper!

La Boca Loca Mexican take-out

Vegetarian burritos in Aix-en-Provence!

This little take-out place near La Rotonde has fantastic burritos, tacos, quesadillas, etc., with vegetarian ones on the menu! Everything is made fresh and in front of you so it's easy to ask for changes.

On Rue de la Couronne, at the corner of Rue des Bernardines, La Boca Loca offers delicious Mexican food. Quiero un burrito, por favor!

Happy eating at these restaurants. If you are going to try it we would appreciate a comment on this blog.

Claudia & Jim, happy in the Provence

PETA commercial

2009-02-18T21:30:00.001+01:00

Isn't this a fantastic commercial???

'Veggie Love': PETA's Banned Super Bowl Ad

The Honest Restaurant Guide (THRG) - our guiding principles

2009-02-12T10:50:00.002+01:00

What we are aiming to do and accomplish with The Honest Restaurant Guide (THRG)

In our personal search for organic and vegetarian food in the Provence we will source restaurants, shops, etc. which offer such things. Here are our guidelines for restaurants:

1) Vegetarian and meat/fish (for couples like us where one eats meat)
2) Bio/organic sourced locally. (stores - ferme produce – producers)

Ways to act:

1) look for restaurant beforehand, ie. make list

2) at restaurant: check for vegetarian options

3) take photo, of restaurant and of the meals

4) ask for origin of produce

5) look at presentation, preparation, cleanliness of dishes etc and establishment

6) blog: format

7) write letter to restaurant mentioning blog

8, give restaurant to comment via email or letter

9, add feedback to blog

In our research for restaurants (without weighing any judgment) we came up with the following list:

St Julien le Montaignier

La machoto (sur reservation), cater for vegetarians

Ampus

La Fontaine d’ampus

0494709808

Ampus

La Roche Aiguille

0494709724

Les Arcs

Le Bacchus Gourmand

RN7

0494474847

Aups

Le Provencal

0494700608

Barjols

Le pont d’or

La Cigale

Le Resto

Des trios Fontaines

Carces

La Guinguette du Lac

La Cabro d’or

Le Pressoir

L’oie qui boit - please refer to our June 3 entry: bio 'vin de pays'

Cotignac

La table de la Fontaine

La Terrasse

Le Clos des Vignes

Les tyrois Marches

Du Cours

Flayosc

Chez Jean Paul

La vieille bastide

La Fleur de Thym

La salle a manger (Dutch owner)

Le Cigalon

L’oustaou

Fox Amphoux

Auberge du vieux Fox

Chez Jean

We will keep you posted on our visits to these and other establishments.

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim

welcome to "organic living in the Provence"

2009-01-21T10:52:00.010+01:00

This space was created with the idea to set up a place for all things and ideas organic in the beautiful Provence (food, restaurants, life style, etc). It all started on a Sunday afternoon in January, with the idea to test the restaurants in the area around Entrecasteaux (Var/83) for their organic and - most importantly - vegetarian dishes. So watch this space as we continue on our epicurean tour of the area, recommending restaurants, stores, etc.

The intention of this blog is non-commercial, non-profitable and 100% enjoyment. Completely biased by our own tastes, of course.

Our first recommendation is going to be a restaurant in Cotignac which we visited during a power outage in Entrecasteaux (8km away). We remember it being rather creative with its vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices so we will be back there soon to give you all an update and the low-down on the dishes.

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim

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