The TOUCH of
June…
...has arrived much earlier than expected. It feels like we only just began May — I sat down to write this letter and boom, June is here, all warm (hot, even) and humid, as if someone has switched on both the lights and the sauna setting, just to make sure we don’t miss the start of these warm days and the three summer months to follow.
For me, it’s absolutely wonderful – I love the heat. I only start to feel truly comfortable when others are already beginning to complain it’s too much. That’s when I proudly take out all my dresses, skirts, and shorts from the wardrobe, trying frantically to decide which one to wear today – they’re all desperate to be seen. And they will be – at markets, in shops, during coffee pauses under umbrellas to shield from the harsh rays of the sun, and while holding glasses of wine on terraces late into the evening, when the city slowly stirs back to life after a full day of work.
Summer feels different in Lyon. Even though school doesn’t end until July, the streets – usually filled with children – already seem quieter, although they’re still in school. The workdays, too, feel more relaxed, and evenings draw everyone out – even those who’ve spent the past months hiding in the deepest corners of their flats during the colder seasons. Then the weekend arrives, and the city suddenly seems deserted. I’ve no idea where everyone goes. Though rumour has it that, especially in my arrondissement, people escape to their houses in the countryside or up in the mountains. Pas mal, non? Sometimes, when I walk Gatsby early in the morning, it feels like I’m the only one left in the quartier – apart from a few much older dog owners I greet along the way.
Yes, June is special. It’s the time between work and holiday. Between a cool spring and a hot summer. Between the final grapefruits and the arrival of strawberries and cherries, bridging the path to melons, watermelons, peaches, and apricots. June is the month when men seem to gaze a little longer at women who are enjoying the season of dresses and skirts, letting the sun kiss their skin. The more, the better. June is when the heartiest recipes are packed away for good and everything light begins to fill homes and restaurant menus. It truly is a month of plenty – in every sense.
Make
That dream come true
Book the most incredible experience
Have you ever read a book, seen in a movie, or seen on social media how someone sets the most adorable and divine French dinner table? How can someone whip up the most incredible French dishes with such ease that it is almost unbelievable, not only during festive seasons but all year long? Have you ever tried a light and airy chocolate or berry tart, wondering how the pastry can be so incredible, the same as admiring every bite of the salad someone has made for you? And then biting into that piece of succulent chicken, wishing you could make that. And have you ever dreamt of being in a place you have seen in a movie, wishing you could be one of those people eating on the terrace of that stunningly renovated French house, drinking wine, eating and laughing? I have good news for you. All of that and even more you will experience here in La Manufacture Royale de Lectoure, all you need is to book your place to make your dream come true. Discover and book
Travel
Le Bistrot d’Abel
This place holds a dear place in my heart, and almost every person coming to visit us in Lyon ends up here at the dinner table, as this place, in a way so traditional, has managed to be modern too. Maybe not in terms of the interior (although too), but more on the food side, turning the very heavy Lyonnaise cuisine into a much lighter version without losing the taste of what it should be. Discover
RECIPES
From simple appetisers and dinner dishes to easy-to-make cookies, tarts and more laborious cakes. But, mostly, all French and seasonal. Visit
HOME
From essentials like the softest and best-made duvets and cleaning materials to scents, candles, interior design accessories and all that makes your home the best place to live in. Visit
Drinks
One can pretend that a meal without wine is the best. But one can also be honest and say that it lacks that excitement of discovery. Some may say that coffee is the worst thing ever, exchanging it for tea or a chai latte, while others say that one cup of coffee is such a pleasure that it even times stops. And there is no right or wrong, as long as the product you use is made with respect, love and, preferably, a sustainable approach. Visit
BEAUTY
No matter the beauty rituals we have, we do have some. Some get by with a simple wash with soap. Some need four different products. Some crave an SPA visit every day, and some do not wish for anything annoying to their perfect, natural skin. I like to have a bit of everything, yet, as long as it is natural, clean and makes my mind and body happy. Visit
My latest recipes
Featured
EVENT
Cooking weekend in Burgundy. May 2025
Bits and pieces of our May experience.
