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Gourmet Food & Provençal Cuisine


Provençal cooking is often called "la cuisine du soleil" cooking of the sun. Why ? The quintessential Provençal ingredients - olives, tomatoes, garlic and herbs need lots of sun to ripen. Their intense, sun- ripened flavours are found in all the famous dishes of this region ratatouille, daube, soupe au pistou and many more.

This is a richly agricultural region, and the fields and orchards of Provence provide fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner tables all over Europe. Melons and apples, artichokes, figs, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and, of course, grapes are all grown locally.

Other typical local products include truffles, goats cheese, honey and of course all the fish of the Mediterranean used for bouillabaisse and bourride, the two great Provençal fish stews. All of this fresh produce is to be found in the local markets in the villages and towns. Near Lourmarin the main ones are Cadenet on Monday, Cucuron & La Tour d'Aigues on Tuesday, Robion on Thursday, Lourmarin on Friday, Apt on Saturday and Isle sur la Sorgue on Sunday

Of course, the younger and most imaginative chefs of the area like Edouard Loubet at Le Moulin, and Reine Sammut at La Feniere are constantly experimenting with new interpretations of the classic recipes. But you can be sure that whatever they are creating, it is based on the incredible quality of the basic Provençal ingredients.



Vineyards &Wineries in the Luberon


The villages of the Luberon, including Lourmarin, are surrounded by vines. Driving through this magnificent countryside one gets the impression there are vines literally ‘everywhere’. Of course, there are plenty of other agricultural products in this completely non-industrialized area, but the lion’s share of the land is, indeed, devoted to wine production.

 

There are, in fact well over forty vineyards in the "Côtes du Luberon" area. One of the better known estates, Château Constantin-Chevalier, owned and operated by a charming Swiss gentleman, is, in fact, our next-door neighbor. His vines start right in front of Les Olivettes, just beyond the olive trees and next to the cherry orchard.

For on overview in English of Luberon Wines see : www.foodtourist.com/FTGuide/content/I1974.htm