We’re excited to tell you about one of our absolute favorite places, Bandol, France!  Bandol is special because it is part of the Provence, region of France, and also part of the amazing Mediterranean Coast.  This prime placement means that Bandol has the best of food, wine and the sea!

One of the reasons we love Bandol has a number of sandy beaches with clear blue waters.  It also has a large marina which houses many boats and yachts.  Along the water is a beautiful promenade surrounded by cafes, and restaurants and during Summer nights hosts a bustling arts market.

One of our favorite things about Bandol is its excellent food scene.  The town is filled with top-quality restaurants, wine bars, and bakeries.  There are so many great places to eat, it can often be hard to decide!  We spent an entire week here and still have more places on our list that we didn’t get to try.

In addition to its great food, Bandol is also famous for its wine.  The main grape in this region is Mourvèdre, a red grape that thrives in warm, dry conditions.   Bandol produces outstanding red wines that age well and develop a lot of complexity.  They also produce excellent roses that are fresh, crisp and perfect for sipping by the sea. 

The Bandol wine region has absolutely stunning scenery.  We highly suggest booking a wine tour when you visit.  Just 20 minutes from the sea, you can drive through a beautiful countryside, picturesque vineyards and taste some delicious wines. 

In addition to wine, this region is also well known for some culinary delights. Particularly, tapenade and anchiode.  Tapenade is an olive based spread, and anchiade is a similar paste made from anchovies. Many restaurants make their own and will serve it to you with some bread, and of course, there are plenty of places to buy jarred versions to take home.  

You’ve likely also heard of herbs de provence, a mixture of dried herbs originating from this region.  Around Bandol you can find a number of local products such as salts and butters that incorporate this mixture.  

Herbs are also important in the dish we’re making today, Beef Daube Provencal.  This hearty beef stew calls for a bouquet garni, a bundle of herbs often found in traditional Freench dishes.  While these are often easy to find in French grocery stores, you can also make your own if needed.  

At first glance, Beef Daube Provencal may seem similar to the famous beef bourguignon, but its reliance on the flavors of the region of Provence make it quite different.  This dish combines beef, with local flavors such as orange, olives and red wine, slowly simmered to create a delicious meal.

To make the Beef Daube Provencal you will need

• 2 pounds (900g) beef chuck or braising cuts, cut into chunks
• ¼ cup red wine (ideally a local one)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 4 large tomatoes, diced
• Zest of 1 orange 
• 1 bouquet garni
• Beef stock
• 1/2 cup pitted black olives
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Begin by preparing your vegetables, chop the onions, peel and chop the carrots, mince the garlic and chop the tomatoes.  Then, brown the beef.  Season it with salt and pepper.  Heat some olive oil in a heavy bottomed pot on medium-high heat and add the beef.  Brown it on all sides, then remove the beef from the pot and set aside.

Lower the heat to medium and add your onion, garlic and carrots.  Sautee them for about 3-4 minutes, until they have softened.  Then, add 2 tablespoons of flour to the pot.  Cook for about one minute, while stirring, then deglaze with the red wine.  

Add the beef back to the pot along with the chopped tomatoes, orange zest, bouquet garni and the beef stock.  Allow the stew to simmer for 2-3 hours, until the beef is very tender. Before serving add the olives and remove the bouquet garni. 

This stew is great served by itself, or alongside some potatoes or noodles.  The orange zest and olives give it a unique flavor that is unlike other beef stews and highlight the flavors of Provence.  Enjoy it with a glass of Bandol wine for a perfectly local meal!