Georgeanne Brennan’s Provence: On Garlic, Gardening, Cuisine & Creative Living (She had me at garlic!)

For years now I’ve been bullying myself into reading things I “ought to” — regardless of whether the words were compelling. But this summer I swallowed two of Georgeanne Brennan’s books whole and enjoyed that novel feeling of indulging myself. Not only in words so lovingly crafted to convey all that is Provençal, but in the accompanying photography as well: pictures punctuating paragraphs that transport one ‘cross the Atlantic and south towards the Mediterranean Sea.

To France.

To Provence.

Achtung! Attenzione! Attention, s'il vous plait!

@POSTCARDFROMSTEF'S FIRST GIVEAWAY! 

Enter to win yourself a copy of one of Georgeanne Brennan’s beautiful books (“Windows on Provence” or “My Culinary Journey”)! 
Visit @postcardsfromstef on Instagram to enter (and for all of the juicy details)! 

This giveaway is in collaboration with Yellow Pear Press. It will commence on August 20, 2018, and run until Midnight, Pacific Standard Time, on August 22, 2018. Winners will be announced @postcardsfromstef on Instagram on August 23rd! Stay tuned!

The Seasons of Provence

In her latest book, “Windows on Provence,” Brennan talks culture. She talks history. She shares treasures from her years as an American expat in France. Her descriptions of the colorful and quintessentially French cities, towns, and countryside transport her readers to a different life, a slower-paced life. And maybe most appetizingly, she speaks of the significance of food and of drink in the seasonal nature of Provençal living.

"Come fall, the figs hang sweet and heavy on tree limbs and come into full flush. The markets start to fill with the burnished copper Musquée de Provence pumpkins, then freshly harvested chestnuts, walnuts and almonds. But the best thing about fall is the wild mushrooms found after the first rains." 
 --Georgeanne Brennan, Windows On Provence

A Conversation with Georgeanne Brennan

Until reading your books, I wasn’t aware of what an immense roll seasons play in the unfolding of day-to-day life in Provence. Or of how deeply Provençal culture is connected to the cycles of the earth. 

With that in mind, do you personally have a favorite season or time to visit?

My favorite time to be in Provence is the fall — from mid September to mid-late October. You get the best of the end of summer plus the intimation of the colder weather. You can eat outside during the day, or by a cozy fire in the evening. Mushroom season begins in October, along with fall vegetables and fruits, but there are still late-summer tomatoes and peppers.

Selfishly, I also wanted to get your take on travel to Provence with my own dietary concerns in mind. I’m a pescatarian by choice and gluten-free by necessity. While traveling, however, I try not to let food restrictions stop me from experiencing destinations via my taste buds, especially considering how tightly cuisine and culture are entwined. I love stumbling upon local specialties that are naturally free of gluten — yay, cheese! — or that can be made gluten-free without much in the way of modification to the original recipe.

Is there a particular Provençal specialty you would recommend for someone like me?

Socca and Panisse are made with chickpea flour, water, and olive oil — and they are delicious and authentic Provençal. Fishwise, you are in paradise — so much to choose from. 

Or a particular fête, perhaps?

The Grand Aioli’s, held in August, are all vegetables, with salt cod, and of course the garlic-mayonnaisse. So, just omit the bread. 

Speaking of fêtes, Brennan’s vibrant descriptions of the many one might encounter in Provence are, well, merveilleux!

Fantastic Fêtes of France 

In both Windows on Provence and in My Culinary Journey whole sections are devoted to the fantastic regional fêtes of the villages and towns of southern France. It seems there’s always an excuse for communal celebration in Provence! Learning about these occasions was a joy — as most of the feasts and festivals I’d never heard of before.

For example, Brennan talks of the feast of fishermen — a “Grand Fête du la Bouillabaiss” (in rudimentary terms: a celebration of fish stew!) — and shares delightful details on the Roma fête at Saintes Maries de la Mer. But it’s her ambrosial descriptions of the “Grand Aioli Fête” that speak to my soul most. Aioli is the garlic-mayonnaise of Provence, and Brennan shares a tasty plan for throwing one’s own personal aioli party.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the smell of fresh garlic. So much so that I’ve toyed with the idea of crafting my own “eau de garlic” fragrance some day. Therefore, the idea of throwing a garlic-themed party seems like divine inspiration to me!

But who is Georgeanne Brennan?

Perusing your website, georgeannebrennan.com, I saw that you’d been featured in the Wall Street Journal. So, of course, I hopped on over and found the article in question: “On Her Farm in Northern California, Georgeanne Brennan Digs In.”

Reading about you online and following your journey via your books has rekindled an urge in me to take up gardening. ASAP! For a person who has no roots to want to suddenly grow roots, well that says something!

I’ve always admired my father’s green thumb, and deep down imagined it would be nice to have my own garden, some day. But as a happy sufferer of wanderlust, that some day, was never today. You’ve reminded me that there’s something divine in the call to connect to the earth — through planting, through harvesting, and then, wonderfully, through enjoying the fruits of one’s labors.

How much time do you spend in the garden these days? And what do you have growing at the moment?

I have a very large garden that I do something in everyday. Right now I’m harvesting thyme, winter savory, rosemary and basil, along with tomatoes, summer squash, peppers, and eggplants — all the vegetables for summer and fall harvest. In October, I’ll be harvesting my saffron crocus. I’ve planted my escarole, frisee, and radicchio as well as beets and radishes. Soon I’ll plant broccoli, cabbage, chard and kale for fall, winter, and spring harvest. 

In reading your autobiographical “My Culinary Journey,” it became apparent to me how completely your decision to study abroad in France as a young woman has impacted your life today – not only with regards to gardening and all things culinary, but your life as a writer and pursuit of creative living.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in establishing your own creative life? And what advice would you give to others trying to do the same?

I think that if you are doing something you truly love and care about, not only will you have the rewards of those experiences, but they may well lead to a career. The challenges are always financial. It is not easy to be self-employed, whether as a small-business owner, writer, consultant, or journalist. I’ve had many day jobs…

Now I am working on a life-long dream, my mystery novel, “Deadly Memories,” set in Provence of course. I’ve finished the book, and I’m polishing it up to send to my agent within the next month. Very exciting for me and a bit nerve-wracking.

Personally, I’m very much looking forward to the publication of Brennan’s mystery novel! And the idea of branching out to a different genre of writing is not only inspiring, but it seems quite liberating as well. As Brennan says, “if you are doing something you truly love and care about, not only will you have the rewards of those experiences, but they may well lead to a career.”  Fine words of wisdom to end on, methinks.

---

And what do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments section! (Especially: Do you think my “eau de garlic” fragrance will be a success? Just trying to gauge interest levels…)

Make sure you enter the giveaway!

@POSTCARDFROMSTEF'S FIRST GIVEAWAY
Win a copy of Georgeanne Brennan’s latest book, “Windows on Provence” or “My Culinary Journey”! Visit @postcardsfromstef on Instagram to enter (and for all of the juicy details)! 

This giveaway is in collaboration with Yellow Pear Press. It will commence on August 20, 2018, and run until Midnight, Pacific Standard Time, on August 22, 2018. Winners will be announced on August 23rd! Stay tuned!

---

Georgeanne Brennan has the uncanny ability to transport readers into the daily rhythm of life in Provence. Apart from actually visiting the South of France, strolling through the postcard villages, drinking the wine, and inhaling lavender-infused breezes, Brennan’s books are the next-best things! And if you are planning your own trip to Provence, then all the more reason to “dig in.”

Find out about “Living the Vie Rustic – Sustainable Living in the French Style” on Georgeann Brennan’s website: lavierustic.com.