Escape the winter with a culinary journey along the southern coast of France, from the ancient city of Marseilles to the colorful village of Menton on the Italian border. Join travel writer and Wanderlust Tours owner, Shawnie Kelley, as she shares her discovery of this sun-kissed cuisine from Marseilles to Menton while living in Nice and researching the region. Through a cooking demonstration combined with personal experiences and pretty pictures, Shawnie transports you to several Mediterranean seaports while discussing how this coastal cuisine is distinct and different from that of upper Provence.

As many travelers do, we begin our journey in Marseilles, France’s first city, founded by the Romans and famous for its spice and fish markets. The first recipe showcases this gritty city’s cultural diversity with a rouleaux de fromage au sésame – a North African-inspired savory, cheesy cannoli-like spring roll. Next, we travel along the côte d’azur, visiting a few villages where Linguine and Seafood en Papillote is found on every menu. The white wine, lemon, and cherry tomato broth offers just the springy zing we need this time of year. We end by paying homage to the Menton Lemon Festival, one of the world’s largest, held each year in mid-February. The Lemon Chiffon Pie with Gingerbread Crust draws on the two fragrant flavors popular in southern French desserts. During the demonstrations, Shawnie talks about food traditions and the Italian and African influences on the coastal cuisine.