Here's a little more..... Question: Olives or Wine?! Which do you prefer?! I like both?! — in Provence, France.

Just came back from a lovely visit and work related wine tasting with my business partner in Vaison La Romaine. My friends own and run wonderful bed and breakfast, Les Verveines de Vaison :gite /chambre d'hotes. These are some of the places that we will visit on upcoming wine tours to the Provence area! If you like wine, and adventure?! Stay tuned.... we are putting something amazing together!

Japanese w/ a French twist. Healthy and delicious. The decor, fun food formulas on menu,  and the sweets will keep you busy through the whole meal. Croq'en Bouche: Place Monfort 84110 Vaison-la-Romaine 

04 90 41 77 60

Do you like castles?!

Back at my favorite! Le Festival Cafe

Meet Neige! The town knows him and he knows it. He has been showing me around. Sometimes he leaves and comes back to the house later. I want to put a camera on him. I think he is cool. I have known this dog for 10 years! He is originally a California boy! He too is a world traveler, but always returns to: 

Les Verveines de Vaison :gite /chambre d'hotes! 

The cheese is from Lou Camesteou (a.k.a the "cheese lady" for me)

10, rue Raspail- 84110 Vaison-la Romaine 04 90 36 31 30

Display by me and shopping in my friends fresh garden. Fun to hang with him and his cool family. They will treat you like family. Country living....ahhhhh relaxing for the workaholic....a.k.a. me! 

Today went to a lovely place for lunch, in Nyons.Which is about 20 minutes by car and 40/45 minutes by bike from Vaison la Romaine in Provence-Cote du Rhone area!

Restaurant

L'Adresse

Nyons 06 37 83 81 83

Wonderful lite minerals w/ apricots and pear finish! Organic is the future!!! No headaches next day :)

Nyons is famous for their black olives! Olive trees and lavender everywhere! Intoxicating smells of Provence!

Simplicity is the best. Pumpernickel, Fois Gras, with caramelized onions and balsamic drop and Fleur sea salt

Chicken stuffed with olives and beef. Bell pepper compote and frites. Simplicity the best.

She had me with the fork indented chocolate powder sugar design.

Ohhhhh lal laaaaa stuffed.

This car keeps following me...... :) 

The day b4. Same place.

Appetizer: Escargot (The French call Entree) 

Main course(2nd course): Escargot, swordfish, potatoes, egg, and veggies! Chef's special. 

(The French call this a Plat)

Lunch: This was just at my friends Bed and Breakfast. He made this off the clock! But he is a wonderful chef. Must join us down here in:

Les Verveines de Vaison :gite /chambre d'hotes

Bed and Breakfast · Vacation Home Rental

2day

I am an American Sommelier in Europe. Fell in love with France and Belgium years ago from being a flight attendant. That did not work out. However flying all over the world has it's points. For me it happen to be wine. I really got the concept and it became almost like a science to me. It is science to me. I always worked part time in the restaurant biz and it not only became my saving grace, it was and is a stepping stone. I have worked and help run a successful restaurant in San Francisco (1300 on Fillmore) for the last 4 years. Three which as a Sommelier ,Lead Server,  and Bar Management. My sales are high. However, my side gig was a total accident.

So, I met a lovely lady at a funeral. Yes a funeral. Her husband had passed and she asked me to come by and assess her small wine cellar. She did not have a small cellar....she had over 800 bottles! It took my awhile, but caught on to an idea. Then by a stoke of luck started assessing people's cellars and helping them find out what their cellars were worth. Organizing, and close

attention to details I started to realize some people just did not know what they had in their cellars. I began to tell them what these vintage bottles were worth by research. My research paid off when I sold(for a client) 1 single bottle of wine to a buyer in Hong Kong for $40,000. I was recommended for a start up company, and here I am. Estate sales, nosing around, knowing product, and luck....I will continue to fine that rear bottle of wine in your uncle or grandmothers cellar, whatever.

I am also learning a lot. Export and import. Wine tours to come in the South of France. I am going to be busy, busy, busy...... But I love wine and beer so much going the distance is just part of the adventure!!!

 Today walked to a local restaurant from my friends Bed and Breakfast (Les Verveines de Vaison).
I had a cider beer, filet boeuf w/ frites, and a wonderful lavender creme brulee  at Le Festival Cafe.

Tomorrow I show you the story from the beginning......until then.