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Milly-la-Forêt
Vine and the Olive

Food, Wine, Travel and Portrait Photographer based in Fontainebleau, France

03/07/2026

I’m trying something that’s been on my list for longer than I’d care to admit.

We’ve had our pots and pans for over 10 years and it was a brand I didn’t know about before moving here but they make high end cookware that’s made in France and after all the use they’ve had I can attest to the quality. We chose well!

That being said, things that are well loved also sometimes show a little bit of wear and tear. The stainless steel pots are as good as the day we bought them but our non-stick pans need some love (though as I mentioned they’ve far outlived any other non-stick we’ve tried, yes even from big french names.) I know I know, not everyone is into non-stick, I tend to reach for other options first. But I don’t speak for every member of the family and I know that my cast iron and stainless steel pans require a little bit of a learning curve that not everyone is keen on.

So what I’ve been curious to try is Cristels resurfacing program. Buying something that can be re-done is huge and it is keeping these two pans from the landfill and making them safer to use. I logged onto the website yesterday and quickly found the references for my pans and paid to have these two resurfaced. Because no this is not sponsored. I just love that it’s an option and that they stand behind their products and thought someone else might want to know they could do this too! Other pans had to end up in the bin, but these two won’t and that makes me really happy! I dropped them off at the post this morning so they’re on their way. But I guess it’s a bit of a cliffhanger for now... I’ll update you when they come back!

16/04/2026

I've had a different rhythm this year and it's been really great. It's made everything feel a little lighter (which I can't complain about given the world these days...)

Wednesdays have always been a kids day. With no school, I'm usually driving everyone around to their activities and in the past there was no time carved out just for me. But this year there's one hour, where I can just walk and contemplate while the kids are busy. I look forward to this regular walk but it has also reminded me of a class in university at where we discussed the French art of the "flâneurs" or those who wander... I feel like I'm practicing it. Of course, at the time, I probably never imagined I'd be doing it from France myself.

What I love is that I've been wanting to create more space for creativity this year to fill my own creative cup a little better. Yes my work is creative but it's very focused and I still need other outlets to feel fully alive and engaged. I also want to focus on having fun, experimenting and without a need to achieve any particular outcome.

So this week I brought my camera along for the walk with the intention of photographing the colour green. It felt good to be in the moment, aware and noticing what was around me. Life is richer in this state of presence and I have found myself noticing all sorts of great greens since then, like I've changed my mental frequency to color green.

It was an enjoyable process of slowing down. Here are a few of the shots in hopes that maybe you might find a way to add a bit of creativity into your week too. I'd love to hear what kind of activities you are drawn to. I'm looking forward to more. I'm thinking blue might be next... But I've also wondered about finding shapes... Feel free to weigh in 😉

19/02/2026

I know I'm catching myself thinking about spring already but this Friday marks the beginning of winter holidays and it's still chilly out which is a reminder that it's still very much vin chaud or mulled wine season. Maybe some of you will be headed to the mountains for some skiing and this is the perfect warming treat after a day in the snow and a perfect reason to pull out the vintage pot

Here's what you'll need:

2 Clementine Oranges

12 cloves

3 pods green cardamom split open

5 whole allspice

2 sticks cinnamon

3-6 tbsp brown or cane sugar

4 shots spiced rum (optional)

1 bottle fruity red wine

Quarter your oranges, pierce them with cloves and add the remaining ingredients into your pot on over a medium low heat or to gently wam on top of the wood stove. Bring it to a light simmer for 15-20 minutes until all the flavours fill the room and you're good to go! Sugar is measured to your liking. The French tend to serve it less sweet, but it all depends on your taste and the wine you choose to make it with. Enjoy and let me know where you'd like to be sipping your mulled wine!

*L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé

08/02/2026

Call it prep for Wine Paris next week but it's always a joy to gather in a room full of women who have a goal to cheer each other on. Women Work and Wine led by Joy and hosted by Lauren was a great time to see some familiar faces and a few new ones. Abigail led us in one of my favourite art school activities (blind contour drawing) to all have a good laugh and clearly the laughter continued through the night. Let me know if I missed tagging you and go follow to join in next year if you're a woman living in Paris!

19/01/2026

2016. It was the big point of inflection.

I initially came to France in 2012. I knew deep down I was looking at a forever move, still, I hadn’t imagined how it would happen. I was happily single living my adventure in the south of France but it was on a job translating for my former Canadian employer in their French office a week out of every month that I met my now husband. It was completely unexpected.

When my visa ran out, I went back to Vancouver but little did I know that I’d get hired by an airline as a bilingual flight attendant almost immediately. It unlocked the next 4 years living in France, and working in Canada every other month. Building a life while still traveling the world and exploring.

But it was in 2016 I handed in my security clearance and my resignation to move back to France full time. It was such a big year. An international move, a new car, a decision to return to photography when I joined a group of international portrait photographers in Saint Germain en Laye for a fabulous multi day workshop and I even made sure to test out the medical system fully that year when I came down with meningitis and landed a significant hospital stay. At the end of the year, my husband and I even got married on a sunny day in December. There was nothing boring about 2016. 10 years later, a couple kids, and many little renovations later. I’m finally going into my first full year as a French citizen.

03/02/2025

There are two categories I truly love in the realm of food. Alpine foods that I would indulge in ALL the time if I could. (Have you tried Mont D'or, Tartiflette and Raclette?!) The other is snacks, more specifically apéro snacks.

Thankfully I live in the right country for this but I wasn't always so confident in what to make for French friends. It sounds silly but I remember the first time I saw an episode of the French Top Chef and it kind of blew my mind compared to what the North American version is. The bar can be set high, and I want everyone to enjoy food as much as I do.

Thankfully over the years I've been writing down my recipes as I go and this one I wrote up for you on my blog. These are Goat cheese, prosciutto and pistachio bites and they're simple, delicious and the deliver. I've put the link in my profile so you can try them yourself and share them with friends. I've even put in my recommendation for wine pairing in case you need it!

What is your favourite go to snack to prepare and share? I'd love for you to share it in the comments

https://vineandtheolive.com/easy-french-recipe-for-goat-cheese-apero-bites/

Would you like more recipes and food/wine pairing?

10/12/2024

Now it officially feels like Christmas. Last night I got together with two friends and neighbours and we brought our collection of greenery together to make our wreaths. This is one of my favourite yearly rituals, suddenly the front door feels welcoming and ready for the season and while I stress every year I won't be able to make as good a wreath as the year before, I feel quite happy about this one. It feels very me. A blend of tones and textures and perfectly wintery. I'm so grateful for these moments that are shared and even better we got to divide the elderflower liqueur we made as a group in the spring. So maybe it's time to put a little classy Christmas music on and make some mulled white wine and settle in right? I found a rendition of a Canadian Christmas Carol from my childhood that I always liked and added it as a soundtrack.

25/11/2024

I can't help it, I just want the holidays to start already! In a new twist we'll be hosting Christmas this year and I knew the day would one day come but only once have I hosted a holiday dinner. It was Thanksgiving just before I moved to France for the first time. I was living in a tiny 600sq ft townhouse and my friend/neighbour and the best RMT, Cheri, who lived across from me was my co-host and even though both of us were vegetarians we made a turkey for everyone and I made a pumpkin pie inspired ice cream (because I love baking spices and very much dislike pumpkin pie.) and we all huddled around my teeny tiny table but it did go really well and was super delicious! I will say though we always were able to finish each others culinary sentences in the kitchen when we would cook together, it was pretty magic.

So I'm trying to muster some ideas, to think about what kind of traditions we want to create. Will it be turkey? lamb? something totally different? I'm not quite sure but I'm sure we'll plan something delicious and I'll be happy to enjoy the Christmas music, the roaring fire, mulled wine, some regular wine (and Champagne too of course!) and the tree just making for that extra cosy vibe.

What kind of traditions do you celebrate with your family at Christmas? I'm happy to hear about it or any of your favourite tips and tricks because we've got a blank slate to work with and some time to figure it out!

06/11/2024

I think today many of us may need a dose of cosy and calm and the warm flavours of something familiar, in this case an apple crisp (and a dose of lemon for brightness) I think I might need to make another one because there is something about being in the kitchen and these simple family recipes and getting lost in chopping. But first we'll go to the park, see others from our anglophone community for a play at the park and to drink hot chocolate with marshmallows because it feels good to hear the sounds of kids laughing and birds chirping and the leaves underfoot. It's not much but I hope I can extend some goodness in your general direction 😘

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