Namaste gastronomads and Happy New Year!  In spite of a few natural disasters like some rain, the whole state of Tamil Nadu being closed for a day due to a strike in support of Jallikattu (bull-taming) and three 'dry' days where we had to have gin snuck in to us, we are alive and well to tell the story of the first ever South India tour.

I'm back in Auckland and it's great to be home... I'm loving our fabulous coffee, our wide open spaces, my wonderful friends and the cleanliness. We really do live in one of the best countries in the world. I love travelling the world, but it's wonderful to come home too.

As promised from Peta's shows in Paraparaumu and Auckland last weekend, and Dunedin and Christchurch this weekend.... Tarte Soleil!! Enjoy!

2 packets of frozen flakey pastry in 32cm rounds
1/2 cup tapenade
1/2 cup something else like sun dried tomato paste, grated cheese, artichoke paste, pesto …
1 egg yolk beaten with a little milk
fennel seeds for sprinkling
 

I'll be hitting the road this November to bring you my brand new show, in association with Farmers. Themed around my latest book (a memoir of sorts) titled 'Never Put All your Eggs in One Bastard' it's a great night out with bubbles complements of Arrogant Frog, the agony aunt couch, singing, giveaways and all sorts of shenanigans.

Tickets on sale NOW!

Paraparaumu – Friday 18 Nov – TicketDirect
Auckland – Saturday 19 Nov – Ticketek
Dunedin – Friday 25 Nov – TicketDirect
Christchurch – Saturday 26 Nov – TicketDirect

I am currently ensconced in the heat and sunshine of Uzès, and rocked up to Johnny Hallyday's concert in Nimes last night. At the end he sang Jacques Brel's 'Quand on n'a Que L'Amour' (When We Only Have Love) in tribute to the people of Nice. When he finished, the audience rose as one and sang the Marseillais. Very emotional.

Salam Alikoum gastronomads,

I am pleased to report that my May Marrakech tour was a wild success. We stayed in our usual fabulous digs – the mud-brick hand built Dar Tasmayoun in the countryside and the chic Maison du Trésor in the medina.

Get the lowdown of what to do and where to go in Uzès from a true local. Check out Peta's top tips in the May/June edition of Life & Leisure magazine.

My chic new house in Uzès is available and willing to be inhabited by fabulous people while I am not in residence. It is in a quiet pretty street, right in the middle of Uzès. 

Three storeys, two bathrooms, one bedroom, large terrace at the top. Air-conditioning, professionally equiped kitchen, entire front facade of glass and steel. 

Xin Chào Gastronomads,

My first Vietnam tour went off like a well directed Chinese opera full of colour, singing and outrageous fashion statements. Like any good opera, it's only ever as good as the actors, and our ready-for-anything gastronomads took centre stage.

I trust you've had restful holidays and made sensible New Year resolutions like will eat more chocolate, will suffer fools less gladly, will go to South India with Peta...
 
India is such a vast and varied country, and many of my India gastronomads have expressed an interest in returning.  The result of my recce, much research, kind connections and the sight of all those luxury hotels is my first South India / Tamil Nadu tour 14 – 25 January 2017.
 

Another year of culinary tours has ended and now it's almost Christmas – that magical time of year when you have to be nice to people you don't like, eat too much marmelade roasted ham and lie on the floor with a drink while listening to bells jingling.

Ciao Gastronomads

I am submitting to R&R at the beach resort of Otranto at the bottom of Puglia... swim, eat, walk, sleep, read, work (just turned in my next book manuscript to Random House – a memoir coupled with the story of building a house in the South of France).

Ola gastronomads

I'm lying low in 36 degrees in Uzès in the South of France, bravely struggling on thanks to gallons of iced rosé, delivering daily cakes to the builders of my new house and girding my loins for my next culinary tour in Puglia, Southern Italy in September. 

The big news is that I have just returned from Vietnam and you know what that means!!! The first ever Peta Mathias Culinary Adventure to Vietnam will be from the 2nd – 12th April 2016. Ten days and nights of the most unbelievably fresh and zingy food you have ever tasted. 

As seen (and made on her ironing board) on stage in Peta's North Island Roadshow.

Ingredients (serves 4)
One boned out rack of lamb, including the flap (Cardrona Merino Lamb)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
fresh thyme
One black pudding, the same length as the rack (from Wild Game Salamis)
Kitchen string
A large tart firm apple like Granny Smith
1 tbsp butter

Peta is bringing her brand new comedy show to the North Island this March. Come and see the return of "Her Fabulousness" with "A Woman's Recipe for Life". 

Two weeks ago we hosted our first food tour of Hawkes Bay and Auckland and I think I can confidentally say it was a huge success.

Julie and I are in love with food, in love with travel and in love with India. Join us in getting to know this fascinating country through its cuisine: be it street food, feasts, or an everyday meal cooked on the floor of a tiny shack.

Ciao Belissimo Gastronomads,

I've just finished my first culinary tour of Puglia. Some of this group I knew from previous tours, some I was related to and some were Peta tour 'virgins' – and together this was one of the most harmonious tours I have ever experienced. I was assisted by the wonderful Ali Pike (or Aleeee-son as they call her there) of Southern Visions Travel in Puglia and together we developed a special schedule for my tour, which was unique and far away from the well-trodden tourist circuit.

Bonjour Gastronomads

I have recently returned to my summer home in Uzès from the Basque tour – half on the Spanish side and half on the French side. Although many of my clients say they knew nothing about the Basque Country before joining my tour, it is an extremely popular tour and we already have bookings for next year.