What a Week in Provence Taught Me About Rest, Reflection and Running a Bistro

Since Ardallan Kitchen opened its doors more than three years ago, I’ve rarely stepped outside of it — physically or mentally. I love what I do, but like many small business owners, I carry it with me wherever I go. From ordering stock and developing menus to unblocking sinks, doing all the marketing, updating accounts and bookkeeping — if something needs doing, it lands on me to do it.

That kind of all-in commitment is often necessary when you’re starting a business, but it’s not always sustainable. Over Christmas last year, as I watched my sixteen-year-old son Joe prepare for this summer’s GCSE exams, I came to a realisation. While I’ve been pouring energy into the bistro, time has been quietly moving on around me. Joe is growing up and he will soon be going off into the world to start his own adventures.

So we made a decision. For the first time in six years, we booked a proper family holiday abroad and for the first time since the bistro opened, we planned a summer closure for a full week — no admin, no kitchen prep, no social posts scheduled. Just time together.

I knew exactly where I wanted to go.

Back in 2007, I worked as the marketing manager for an organic home delivery company. That December, my boss, Isobel, was deciding what to give our sixty-strong team for Christmas. Budget airlines were still offering £1 flights across Europe, and I suggested something a bit different — why not send staff in small groups to meet the growers whose produce filled our boxes each week?

She loved the idea. Three weekend trips were planned — one to the Netherlands, one to Sicily, and one to the south of France. I was only meant to join the Sicily group, but at the last minute I was also asked to accompany the team heading to Provence. It was a trip that would leave a life-long impression on me.

We travelled through the Luberon — a stunning part of southern France where lavender fields stretch for miles and villages cling to the sides of hills. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in the village of Joucas called Le Phébus, and on the final evening, we dined at the hotel’s restaurant, where the Michelin-starred chef Xavier Mathieu cooked us a vegetarian tasting menu using only local produce.

Each course arrived as a surprise — thoughtful, surprising, and beautifully presented. The final dish was simply named chef’s choice, and it remains one of the most memorable things I’ve ever eaten. Somewhere between the candied carrots, the local honeycomb, the almonds and the lavender, something clicked. It was creative, comforting and completely rooted in the local area.

Years later, I tried to recreate that feeling in a dish of my own. Our lavender carrot cake, now a mainstay on the bistro’s menu, was my quiet nod to that moment. It’s made with honey, almonds, fresh carrot and lavender, and topped with orange-scented cream cheese icing.

With these memories burnt into my mind, it was the first place I thought of when it came to planning this summer’s break. We booked a villa in the small town of Saint-Didier and flew into Marseille from Manchester. With a hire car and a detailed itinerary (yes, I am one of those people!) we spent the week exploring everything the region had to offer. I must admit, I am not very good at lying by the pool — I like to plan, to see things, to learn and taste and soak it all in.

It was just as I remembered. The food, the light, the colour of the stone. The markets were filled with fresh seasonal produce — cheap, abundant and celebrated.

On the final day, we went back to Le Phébus. It looked exactly as I remembered it. Sun-bleached white walls, tiled floors, and those vast uninterrupted views across the Luberon. We had lunch in the courtyard, shared a bottle of wine, and then popped into the hotel shop on the way out. There, I saw a cookbook by Xavier Mathieu — the very same chef who had cooked for us eighteen years earlier. He was still at the helm, still running the restaurant and the family hotel.

Returning home rested and inspired, I’ve inevitably brought a few ideas back to the bistro.

I haven’t revolutionised the menu just yet, but there have been a few adjustments. The Croque Monsieur and vegetarian Mademoiselle version have returned in an updated, more authentic form. The chocolate torte has made way for a dark chocolate mousse with hazelnut praline — directly inspired by the dessert Joe ordered at Le Phébus. And of course, the lavender carrot cake remains firmly in place.

Looking ahead, I’m currently planning a full menu refresh for September across both our daytime and evening services. While I won’t say too much just yet, Provence will definitely play its part in what’s to come.

When you run a small independent bistro, it can feel like stepping away means losing momentum. But this trip reminded me that time away doesn’t take anything from the business — it gives back to it. By pausing, even briefly, I’ve returned with clearer eyes and a greater sense of purpose.

I’m glad I made the time. I’m glad we went. And I’m looking forward to sharing more of what it inspired — soon.