Provence
I’ve had a home in Provence, a modest one, for many years. I raised goats there and made goat’s milk cheese that I sold in the open markets. My son was born there, and my neighbors of now almost 45 years, are like my family. Provence to me is more than a second home – it’s a second life.
My husband, daughter and I restored an old stone house in a beautiful hillside village only 15 minutes from Manosque, and half an hour from my small farmhouse in the upper Var. It was a virtual ruin when we bought it in 1994, the last home of a retired shepherd, his dogs, and pigeons. We brought it back to life with such elements as wood-fire baked floor tiles from the famous tile center in Salernes, a classic Provencal dark, glossy red double tile sink for the “coin cuisine”, and hand-carved wooden doors. A favorite spot of all who come is the terrace that overlooks the village and oak-studded forest beyond – the perfect spot for aperitifs and dinner or anytime.
I get notes from people all over the world – it’s been translated into Dutch, Polish and Korean -who have read this book of mine. Some relate to the adventure of starting a small farm in a foreign country, others to the funny anecdotes surrounding raising goats and pigs. Some people even write and want to know what happened to my first husband or ask about Ethel. The people in the book have been my friends and neighbors since I was a young mother and I look forward to seeing them every year, sharing meals, long walks, and endless conversation. It’s available as an e-book too.
Windows on Provence: Musings on the Food, Wine, and Culture of the South of France
Georgeanne Brennan evocatively renders an insider’s knowledge of Provence’s villages and their ancient customs and traditions. Through rich essays, each examining a unique facet of Provençal culture, she shares her view of the southern region of the country. Brennan’s engaging text, together with alluring photographs, takes the reader on an unforgettable tour, from the sun-drenched Côte d’Azur to the craggy mountains of Haute Provence; to lavender, poppy and wheat fields; through markets full of richly-hued fabrics, antiques and seasonal specialties; to harbors filled with fishermen selling the morning’s catch; over hills covered in vines; and into centuries-old buildings and castle ruins, all brought to life through the author’s eyes.
La Vie Rustic: Cooking and Living in the French Style
James Beard Award winning author Georgeanne Brennan translates the tenets of a certain way of living—an approach to daily cooking that’s rooted firmly in the French tradition—for American home cooks everywhere. Featuring recipes driven by the seasons and the outdoors, paired with lovely lifestyle photography, this inspiring cookbook weaves together her personal experience, stories, and tips about how to create a sustainable life—one that celebrates the relationship between the land and the table, and among food, family, and friends—no matter where you reside.
My Culinary Journey: Food and Fetes of Provence
Provence—the place of Georgeanne Brennan’s early culinary inspiration—where she writes in lush detail about the food, people and French festivals she celebrated during her lifelong journeys through the region.
As a young woman, she and her husband, with their small children, bought a farmhouse with a little land and some goats, in hopes of realizing the dream of an idyllic existence in the French countryside. Now, these memoires, documented in A Pig in Provence, are accompanied by forty delicious recipes, gorgeous photographs (many are the author’s personal photos) and informative, lively text featuring information about seven of her favorite regional French festivals.
This isn’t my book but my daughter, Ethel Brennan’s and photographer Sara Remington’s book. I wrote the forward for them, at their request, and even went on some photography excursions with them. The stories are their childhood stories of summers spent in France, a decade apart, and the recipes are those they remember from those long summer days and nights when they were children. Ethel and Sara met a few years ago while working on a photo shoot and discovered they had similar experiences growing up. Filled with recipes, stories, and lush photographs, it is truly special.