The tapenade can be served as an hors d oeuvre, in a small bowl, surrounded with tiny toasted bread slices or crackers

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1 Tapenade Recipe Tapenade is a Provençal dish consisting of puréed or finely chopped olives, capers, anchovies and olive oil. Its name comes from the Provençal word for capers, tapenas Tapenade Recipe The tapenade can be served as an hors d oeuvre, in a small bowl, surrounded with tiny toasted bread slices or crackers Ingredients 1/2 pound pitted mixed olives 2 anchovy fillets, rinsed 1 small clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons capers 2 to 3 fresh basil leaves 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Directions Thoroughly rinse the olives in cool water. Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process to combine, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until the mixture becomes a coarse paste, approximately 1 to 2 minutes total. Transfer to a bowl and serve.

2 Nicoise Salad Recipe Salad Niçoise pronounced nee-suaz is a French composed salad, with tuna, green beans, and potatoes. Salad Niçoise hails from Nice, on the Mediterranean Sea, though like so many foods we enjoy here of French origin. Nicoise Salad Recipe Vinaigrette 1 1/2 cup lemon juice 2 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 1 medium shallot, minced 4 1 Tbsp minced fresh thyme leaves 5 2 Tbsp minced fresh basil leaves 6 2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano leaves 7 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 8 Salt and freshly ground black pepper Salad 1 2 grilled or otherwise cooked tuna steaks* (8 oz each) or 2-3 cans of tuna 2 6 hard boiled eggs, peeled and either halved or quartered

3 3 10 small new red potatoes (each about 2 inches in diameter, about 1 1/4 pounds total), each potato scrubbed and quartered 4 Salt and freshly ground black pepper 5 2 medium heads Boston lettuce or butter lettuce, leaves washed, dried, and torn into bite-sized pieces 6 3 small ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into eighths 7 1 small red onion, sliced very thin 8 8 ounces green beans, stem ends trimmed and each bean halved crosswise 9 1/4 cup niçoise olives 10 2 Tbsp capers, rinsed and/or several anchovies (optional) METHOD *Marinate tuna steaks in a little olive oil for an hour. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat, or place on a hot grill. Cook the steaks 2 to 3 minutes on each side until cooked through. 1 Whisk lemon juice, oil, shallot, thyme, basil, oregano, and mustard in medium bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside. 2 Bring potatoes and 4 quarts cold water to boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and cook until potatoes are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon (do not discard boiling water). Toss warm potatoes with 1/4 cup vinaigrette; set aside. 3 While potatoes are cooking, toss lettuce with 1/4 cup vinaigrette in large bowl until coated. Arrange bed of lettuce on a serving platter (I used two serving platters, shown in

4 the photos). Cut tuna into 1/2-inch thick slices, coat with vinaigrette. Mound tuna in center of lettuce. Toss tomatoes, red onion, 3 tablespoons vinaigrette, and salt and pepper to taste in bowl; arrange tomato-onion mixture on the lettuce bed. Arrange reserved potatoes in a mound at edge of lettuce bed. 4 Return water to boil; add 1 tablespoon salt and green beans. Cook until tender but crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain beans, transfer to reserved ice water, and let stand until just cool, about 30 seconds; dry beans well. Toss beans, 3 tablespoons vinaigrette, and salt and pepper to taste; arrange in a mound at edge of lettuce bed. 5 Arrange hard boiled eggs, olives, and anchovies (if using) in mounds on the lettuce bed. Drizzle eggs with remaining 2 tablespoons dressing, sprinkle entire salad with capers (if using), and serve immediately. Renting A Villa In Provence The Top Things to Know About Renting a Villa in Provence Only Provence will assist you if finding the perfect luxury villa for rent in Provence and help you prepare for your vacation in Provence You ve decided that it s finally time to live (or re-live) that lifelong dream of visiting Provence, and you know that renting yourself a private villa is the way to go. To prepare for your journey, we ve outlined the top 10 things you need to know about renting a villa in Provence.

5 When to Go To Provence Visions of lavender fields and rolling hills of sunflowers might have you immediately thinking that summer is the best time to go. Yes, Provence is magical in the summer months and time does seem to stop as you sip wine on the terrace with the hum of cicadas in the background. But other seasons offer a peace and charm not found in these more touristed weeks. September and October are ideal months to rent your villa in Provence. The days are still filled with hot sunshine and allow for lazy meals enjoyed outside around the pool, yet there is that slight nip in the air, tempting you to get cozy around the fireplace at night. The villages and markets are less busy with tourists, bringing out a slower paced and authentic Provencal life. It s within these fall months that the precious grapes are harvested life just seems to take on a special buzz during this vendange period. Renting a Car In Provence: A

6 Necessity There is simply no way around it renting a car is a necessity for your stay in Provence. Even if your villa is located inside a village, exploring the region s villages, wineries and historic sites will require a car. If you are nicely placed somewhere in the Luberon, most everything you will want to do will be within a 30-minute drive. All of the major rental car companies can be found at the airport and TGV stations and you can reserve easily from your home county using any of the major travel sites such as Travelocity or Expedia. Don t risk being lost: Travel with or rent a GPS: No matter how beautiful the countryside, nobody wants to spend precious vacation time lost in the car. While clients are given detailed directions to their villas, getting there after a long day of travel can be challenging when you are tired. Only Provence provides its clients with the GPS coordinates, guaranteeing a smooth arrival to the villa should you travel with or rent a GPS. Getting To Provence

7 If you are staying in inland Provence, flying into Marseilles is the most convenient airport. Most of the villas offered through Only Provence are approximately a 45-minute drive from here. The Nice airport is 2.5 hours away from inland Provence so we only suggest flying into Nice if you have secured a vacation property in the Cote D Azur / Riviera. For those traveling to France for the first time, Paris should not be missed. Many Only Provence clients fly into Paris for a few days, then take the fast TGV train (2.5 hours) to either Avignon or Aix-en-Provence in time for the Saturday check-in. Money Matters Travelers checks are now a thing of the past and ATMs are the way to go. Found in almost all villages and at grocery stores, ATMs are the easiest method for access to cash in euros. Limits at each machine hover around the euro mark per day. While your bank might charge a small fee to use ATMs abroad,

8 it will be less than what you pay to exchange at the airport or at a bank. Only Provence suggests getting a small amount of Euro cash from the ATM when you arrive to the airport in France as the toll booths heading into the Luberon require cash most foreign credit cards are denied at the booth. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted across Provence, the only exception being the toll booths and the odd gas station. Grocery Shopping & The Market In Provence While you will enjoy the local markets for regional specialties, Provence has fantastic, large grocery stores Casino, Carrefour, Auchan, SuperU and Intermarche are the major names. Many of these stores also have foreign sections stocked with items from home. While the stores resemble those from home, Provence has yet to make the jump to 24/7 operating hours. Smaller grocery stores will still close for lunch, and on Sundays or Mondays. As most travelers will be checking into their villas on Saturday afternoon, we suggest asking the person who greets you at the villa to suggest a store open for Sunday shopping.

9 Beware No place is perfect and tourists anywhere in the world could be a target. While Provence is a very safe place to travel overall, cameras and purses are stolen from rental cars in the summer months in the main tourist villages. Make sure your rental car is locked at all times and free of personal items. Tipping Almost all restaurants include tax and a 15% service charge (service compris) in their prices. If you found the service exceptional, feel free to leave a little extra change for the waiter (between 2 and 10 Euros). It is customary and expected to tip your in-house chef and maid. We suggest 15% for the chef and between Euros per week for the maid, depending on the size of your group, length of stay and the level of service you received. Bugs and Bees It comes with the territory. Provence is known for its spectacular countryside and with this comes bugs and some bees. No matter how luxurious your villa, there is no way to rid Provence of its natural side. Bees and wasps will come to the pool for water and flies come and go freely as most houses do not have screens on the windows.

10 Treat Yourself to a Chef at least once while In Provence

11 Only Provencence has been renting villas in the region for over 10 years and feedback has been consistent from day one. The evening with the chef was the highlight of our stay, they say. Chef Ronald, who has been working with Only Provence since its inception, now spends several weeks a year in the US cooking for clients he initially cooked for in Provence. The evening with the chef goes in the making memories category not to be missed.

12 Experience Provence With The Locals While vacationing in Provence there is so much to do while renting your villa in Provence. Only Provence will guide you on the best places to visit in Provence. Sip Pastis With The Locals After spending a relaxing morning meandering through the village s markets, stop and sit at a Bar in the main square, normally Mairie (town hall), and sip the regional drink Pastis. This drink is made from a blend of concentrated alcohol, an aniseed essence that comes from the distillation of the star anise plant, licorice powder, water, sugar and an infusion of numerous Provençal plants such as thyme, rosemary, savory, sage and verbena. In doing so, you get the to sense the real spirit of Provence s village life, hear the village chatter and watch a game of boules (also called petanques).

13 Visiting Markets In Provence Only Provence is the leading villa rental company in Provence and we will assist you in finding what to do while renting a villa in Provence: The daily morning markets in Provence represent what it s all about local farmers selling their freshest seasonal fruits and vegetables, alongside wooden tables heaped with regional cheeses, salamis, olives and cured meats. Pick up all you need for a lazy lunch on the terrace perhaps a garlic roasted chicken, the makings for a tomato tart sprinkled with herbes de provence, a bowl of deep red cherries to finish the meal. But it s not just the sumptuous food that can be found in Provence s markets. Pottery vendors and trendy clothes (linen of course) can be found alongside stands selling everything from handmade soaps, handbags, and jewelry. Best markets in Provence: Lourmarin (Fridays) a small yet truly lovely market selling everything from cooked meats to Provencal fabrics and vintage home linens. Aix-En-Provence (Tues, Thurs, Sat.) the whole city turns into a market L Isle Sur-La-Sorgue (Sundays): known for its antiques-over 300 dealers show up each weekend. Visit OnlyProvence.com to find the

14 perfect luxury villa rentals in Provence and plan what to do in Provence during your stay.