The Secret Chef
Born and spent childhood in Bangkok, my father being in the Diplomatic Service, I gained from an early age an intense appreciation of excellent cooking from my Thai nanny and English mother.
After graduating in biochemistry from Oxford University, I pursued a 25 year career in finance and management consultancy, before deciding that it was time for a major change of life style. I bought an old wine Domaine and set about opening my hotel Le Domaine aux Quat’Saisons in France, South of France hotel near Carcassonne.
As well as being hotel co-owner I am its chef. I started cooking at the age of four, some 40 years ago – I made my first croissants at the age of 13.
A selection of pictures from the hotel South of France hotel.
I love French food and use influences from Spain, the Maghreb and Thailand freely in my cooking; this is not the predictable style of French cooking where nothing every changes. My cuisine reflects the best of seasonal produce, cooked and served simply and elegantly. It is imaginative but highly accessible – fresh flavours that do not overwhelm but accent the finished dish. I hope you will enjoy reading my recipes; they are full of practical cooking hints and tips.
Please use the ‘recipe index’ function at the top right to navigate and find recipes.
Hi there
I started of my journey today looking for a particular grass recommended by the MGS and came across your 2 very interesting websites – featuring the 2 great pleasures close to my heart – gardening ( and in particular Mediterranean gardening ) and food ( particularly French food).
I must say that the website on your garden and your thoughts and recommendations about gardening in a Mediterranean climate is very informative and i love the photos. It has certainly given me lots of food for thought since I also am trying to garden in the Med – with a house in Portugal on the Silver Coast
I have promised myself to come and visit your Domaine – hopefully next Spring – to see at first hand the garden and enjoy some of the receipes on the website.
Regards
David T Rose
Dear David,
Thank you for your comment, most appreciated.
What is the grass that the MGS recommend by the way?
Best regards
David Coles
Dear David
The grass was ” ampelodesmos mauritanicus ‘. Is it worth considering ?
I have started planting some grasses – the usual – stipa gigantea, – nassella tenuissima, leymus, bothriochloa blahdii etc . Do you have other suggestions ?
By the way do you know about the MGS – the Mediterranean Garden Society ?
When are you open in 2012 for paying guests ?
Best regards – David
Hi David,
Ampelodesmos mauritanicus is quite slow growing and looks dull in summer if it gets very hot and dry; it is a grass for the cool season.
I have a short post on drought tolerant grasses that gives some other ideas.
Pamaps grass Cortaderia selloana, Pennisetum orientalis and Pennisetum villosum are also good.
Yes I do know the MGS.
In 2012 we open at the end of May for the season, look forward to seeing you then i hope.
Best regards
David
Hi David
Thanks for your comments –
I have already read your thoughts on the website on ”water wise ” gardening and grasses –
I think i will pass on the pampas grass which I do not particularly like but will certainly try out the pennisetum grasses. There is an excellent grass nursery here in the South of England – Knoll nursery – from which I have bought all my grasses.
You are fortunate in having Olivier Filippi’s nursery near to you – I have bought quite a lot of plants from him which have been shipped to my house in Portugal which has worked out well.
Hope to meet you in 2012.
Best regards
David
Hi David,
Ok, each to their own on the Pampas grass, hope you will like the Pennisetums. Yes i know the Knoll Gardens nursery and the Fillipi one too, both are good.although I do 99% propagation myself now, i find the results so much better.
Yours
David