a south of france summer
my month long chef residency
This July I will be the chef in residence at Le Ponte de L’Orme, a precious bed and breakfast in Provence! I have been dreaming of doing something like this since I launched Bakery Darlene in 2020, but the timing never aligned.. aka a massive pandemic.. lots of moves.. etc. So when Julia and Julian started following me from the b&b’s instagram, and shared how they were hoping to have a chef residency this summer, I jumped at the opportunity. Julia had already been following me and familiar with my work and supper clubs. So after a few calls, and a swift race to Zach’s employer to figure out working remotely abroad, I confirmed for July!
Besides jumping into intensive talk lessons to refresh my 3 years of French in high school…I’m now in full recipe development mode. Going back through all my supper club menus, looking at notes I took of any tweeks I wanted to make, and getting to my little “test kitchen.” Julia and Julian are giving me 100% creative freedom with my menu creation which is so fun.. but I am a big dreamer… and having that creative freedom with my own supper clubs I can cast my net quite large and it takes me a bit of brainstorming, moving around things, writing down this and that to finally narrow down my grand menu ideas. So I’m starting to do that work for myself now, while also leaving some room for being inspired once I’m there. Walk through the markets, chatting with different suppliers, and keeping things the dining with court way of making the menu as seasonal as I possibly can!
This opportunity feels like an answer to many different manifestations, so I’m feeling extremely grateful for this opportunity to step out of my norm.
Until then, I have two more cookbook clubs, my birthday, and my dear friends are getting married in White Salmon, OR! If you’re a woman living in SD and interested in joining my cookbook club through University Heights Women’s Walk, dm me! This month we are cooking out of Ottolenghi Comfort— I’m making brownie cookies with tahini cream and halva— and June we are cooking out of
’s debut cookbook: Justine Cooks. I’ve been doing research on one of my favorite (and underrated) wine regions that will be coming to the newsletter later this month, and June’s wine club is going to be my birthday wine list dreams. So keep on the lookout for those! I’ll see if I get to writing any in the 6ish weeks we’ll be away starting end of June, but you can definitely follow my residency along on Instagram and Tiktok, or I’ll be sure to update you when I’m back!Santé!