Professional and accomplished classically trained private Chef à Domicile, Tessa Baker specialises in organising bespoke, tailored parties from a romantic dinner for 2 to an entire wedding. She also has on call a team of dynamic waiters, waitresses and Maitre d'Hotels, many whom have worked with master chefs such as Jacques Chibois and Alain Ducasse.

Tessa trained in Switzerland as an apprentice chef for three years, subsequently working in restaurants in England as both chef and manager. She ran her own catering service at the General Trading Company in Sloane Square, where she undertook a small cocktail party for Princess Diana. She was chef at the Restaurant of the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, creating a menu entirely set on quotes from Shakespeare's play: Twelve Night.

Expanding her culinery talents she travelled to the South of France and worked as head chef in St Tropez, before discovering more exotic flavours and foods, working privately for 5 years sailing around the world. Tessa's love is Mediterranean cuisine using totally fresh local produce and a touch of spice, to create menus brimming with health, colour and vitality.

Martin Waddell has a background in commercial law, small and high technology company investment. He has spent over 20 years helping such businesses be launched. What became clear to Martin early on, was that the personal financial goals of small and new business owners are inextricably linked to the business's themselves. This lead to the development of personal financial advisory services, providing a one-stop-shop for such clients.

The sunshine, the Med and the mountains, not to mention a tax & social security regime beneficial to large families led to Martin choosing to settle his family of six in the Languedoc area. He now provides regulated personal financial services in France as part of the highly respected Spectrum-IFA Group [ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] and business consultancy services through his own brand Sud-de-France [www.sud-de-france.co.uk]. All Spectrum related advice is free to clients and business consulting initial meetings are non-chargeable.

If you need advice including mortgages, financial planning, investments, pensions, tax or even family life in France Martin is pleased to help. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A keen hill walker and sailor in the UK, Huw Williams did not realise at first, when offered a job on the Cote d'Azur, that he would be moving to an area so suited to his style of life. Having worked in the hospitality industry and wine trade for 12 years, he made a career change into I.T. which brought him to France in 2000. Huw now runs an I.T. business “Wireless and Web” from home constructing web sites and installing IP networks. “Riviera Rambling was a way to motivate us to walk in different areas rather than be tempted to repeat the same walks” he claims. Well, it seems to have been successful as, even though the site is only 11 months old, it already boasts 40 walks in the 06 department.

Born and brought up in the UK, John went to Australia in his early 20’s, and continued his work as an actor/director/writer and producer in theatre, TV and radio. Some 20 years ago he was bitten by the news bug, and became a journalist and broadcaster, reporting and presenting news on ABC Radio in Australia, He decided to return to London 10 years ago, working with American National Public Radio, and as a correspondent for various international news broadcasters. Eventually, missing the sun, and looking for a new challemge, John and his wife decided the south of France met the criteria. Being Francophiles helped! After having been a visitor for several years, 2 years ago they relocated to the “old village” in Roquebrune Cap Martin, and have been renovating and rebuilding what was originally the village olive mill.

It is Olivier’s mission to communicate the magic and explain the wonderful diversity of terroir-based wines – wines that reflect the unique characteristics of their vineyards in contrast to standardised wines that are manufactured in the winery.

Olivier Hickman is a dual British and French national currently residing in Sablet, Provence, not far from his maternal roots in Orange. Having graduated with first class honours from Cambridge University, Olivier spent ten years working in finance, eventually as a Finance Director for Warner Music. Seeking a career change, Olivier obtained his wine qualifications from the Wine & Sprits Education Trust in 1998 and set up a UK wine importing business, specialising in wines from the Southern Rhône.

In 1999, Olivier commenced a viticultural project in Valréas, Provence, and continues to cultivate and make wines from those vineyards today. Since 2000 Olivier has also been involved in several winemaking projects in Provence and the Languedoc. Having gained significant and broad-ranging experience of all aspects of the wine business, Olivier set up a wine education and wine tours business in 2005, show-casing the top villages of the Southern Rhône appellation.

Stephanie Brown moved with her husband, daughters and dogs from Washington, DC, to the village of Châteauneuf-de-Grasse in 2007.  In Washington, Stephanie was a curator at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens; before that, she received a doctorate in French history from Stanford University.  Her fascination with France and things French goes back to childhood, when her World War II-veteran grandfather used to disappear to Paris every year for a few months and return with wonderful treats in his suitcase.

Tamara Cyhan moved from Seattle, WA to Aix-en-Provence, France in March 2008 to be with her boyfriend Bryan. She is originally from Pennsylvania, USA and has lived in Washington, DC and Seattle, WA.

She is a nurse by profession, but is getting by in France working remotely for the Seattle company Urbanspoon and writing short stories about her adventures in Provence. Her adventures in Provence usually involve some type of outdoor activity such running, mountain biking and hiking. Exploring Provence on foot and bike has been quite an adventure!