Notes from the house.

A simple, delicious and nutritious start to your day.

Ingredients

• 3 dl water
• 1 big ice cube
• 2 small blocks frozen spinach
• 1/3 avocado (ca. 50g)
• 1 date
• 1 scoop collagen powder (10g)
• 1 tsp nut butter (10–15g)
• 1 tbsp psyllium husks (10g)
• 1 tsp chia seeds (5–10g)
• 1 tsp cacao nibs (5–10g)

Top with all your favourite things. Pictured here with raspberries, hemp seeds, chia seeds, toasted coconut flakes, cacao nibs and rose petals.

You only need four ingredients to make your own nut milk.

Ingredients

• 2 dates
• 2 tbsp almond butter (use any nut butter for the flavour you want)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 7 dl water

Blend everything at full speed in the mixer, until there are no date chunks left.

Drink the milk fresh. We love it with a dash of cardamom or cinnamon. You can also add it to your smoothie or your oatmeal, or make a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

We love cooking outside. Even just making a little fun dish to make us smile on a trip to the sea. Recently we went to catch some urchin, which we paired with a really delicious romesco sauce.

Romesco sauce

• 2 grilled red bell peppers
• 1 garlic clove
• 100 g cream cheese
• 30 g toasted cashew nuts
• Juice and zest of half a lemon
• A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
• Half a teaspoon salt
• Half a teaspoon pepper

Slice the bell peppers in two, remove the seeds and stem, and grill in the oven until the skin is slightly charred. Let them cool and remove parts of the charred skin.

Mix all ingredients together and blend with a hand mixer or in a blender. Pulse to keep some of the texture from the cashews and the peppers.

Enjoy, like we did, with fresh uni, strawberries, crushed pistachios, a drizzle of olive oil and some seed bread.

Fat loss should not come from a place of self hate or negativity, it should come from a wish to feel good and happy. Here are some tips to make the journey a bit easier, and most importantly how to keep the weight off.

Progress tracking

Personally I never use the scale to track my progress. I prefer to take progress photos once per month: same time, same day, one month apart. There are too many daily fluctuations to see results more often — your period, what you ate the day before, how intense the workout was, water retention. We want the big picture.

We tend to think progress is a straight line going upwards, but in fact it’s a roller coaster. Some days you go a step back, then two steps forward.

Measure your energy

Every week I rate my energy levels. If they are lower than 6 on a scale from 0 to 10 for more than three weeks, I need to make changes to the plan.

Slow and steady

Going too hard into your fat loss journey risks depressing biological processes like menstruation, bone density, immunity and digestion. Quick fat loss also increases the ratio of muscle to fat being lost, and muscle is exactly what keeps the fat off. A slow and steady approach is better long-term.

Calorie deficit

Aim for about a 10% deficit from your maintenance calories. Personally I’m on 2000 calorie maintenance and work out five times per week, so 10% is 200 calories: 1800 a day to lose fat sustainably. The deficit doesn’t only have to come from eating less, it can also come from moving more.

Protein intake

It is especially important to eat enough protein in a deficit. Depending on activity level, aim for 1.3 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilo of bodyweight per day. For me: 60kg × 1.5g ≈ 90g of protein per day.

Eating enough

Reducing calories doesn’t mean reducing volume. You should not walk around hungry, as that usually causes cravings. Eat big portions of nutrient dense food: fruit, vegetables, lean meat and complex carbohydrates.

Workouts

I believe in building strength in the gym and reducing fat in the kitchen. The goal of the workout is to preserve muscle and strength, so the fatty tissue stays away. Four full body workouts per week, 45 to 60 minutes.

Start with hypertrophy: 8 to 20 reps of controlled movements with heavy weight, close to failure — squats, deadlifts, rowing. Rest 60 to 120 seconds between sets, three to four sets, three to six exercises. End with complex dynamic movements pushing resistance with speed: squat jumps, thrusters, wall balls.

No restrictions

No food is off limits. Focus on eating less energy dense food on an empty stomach, and eat it in moderation. First the nutrient dense meal, then the brownie, ice cream, chocolate or popcorn.

Mindset

Take small steps. There is no race to get to your goal. At some point you will go way off plan — plan for that. Life is unpredictable. Do your best, and don’t throw everything away when you derail. Move on, get back on track, and remember why you started. You’ve got this.

Throwing a dinner for family and friends is a really nice way to make your life, and the lives of the people you love, feel a little bit richer. Here are our tips for a successful and uncomplicated evening.

Stick to the cold stuff. If you’re cooking different dishes, make just one or two hot ones. It’s easier to prep, serve and cook everything perfectly.

Keep it simple. There’s no need to overdo it. Cook whatever you’re comfortable with, but spend a little extra time on the plating — people really notice it.

Dim the light. Nothing creates a cosy ambiance like a well lit room. Get some candles. If you don’t want to splurge on flowers, go outside and pick some greens for the table.

Separate the dining table from the food table. Everyone decides when, how much and what they want to eat, and nobody has to interrupt a good conversation to pass a dish.

Have delicious non-alcoholic options. Indirectly encouraging people to drink less is always a good thing, especially if they have a car ride home. Pour them in a nice glass and most people won’t miss the cocktail at all.

Big dinner, small dessert. Small dinner, big dessert. Most people don’t enjoy feeling excessively full. Balance a heavy meal with a lighter dessert, and the other way around.

August dinner menu

• Burrata with yellow heirloom tomatoes, homemade pesto, fresh basil, olive oil and lemon zest
• Figs with chèvre, thyme, nectarine and soy soaked almonds
• Melon with stracciatella, dried cranberries and crushed pistachio
• Pasta with homemade tomato sauce
• Sliced melon, figs, olives
• Affogato with caramel for dessert

Pesto

• 3 bundles of fresh basil
• 3 dl extra virgin olive oil
• 1 handful toasted and salted cashews
• 1 tbsp pistachio
• 1 tsp sumac
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Zest and juice of half a lemon

Mix everything with a hand mixer.

In our family, we take birthdays very seriously. There are normally only a few times a year when you can sit down all together and enjoy time with your closest, simply celebrating and recognising how lucky you are to be in this special someone’s life.

1. Collaborate with someone to find a thoughtful gift

Lost on what to give? Reach out to someone else who is also looking for a gift and get insight on what they are thinking. If you’re looking at something a bit over your budget, buy it together. As soon as you are two, the price range opens up.

2. Personalised over price

It is always more important that the gift is personalised, rather than expensive. If it really represents the person, the value goes up automatically, and effort put into something homemade counts for a lot. Flower bouquets can be pricey — go for a walk and pick wildflowers instead. Make a drawing, a card, a poem. A little salad on the beach with a cold Aperol Spritz in a thermos is easy, affordable and guaranteed to create a good time. Pack real cutlery and nice glasses to make it extra.

3. Arrange a fun activity

Know what the person likes. You can even plan the birthday with them. If they love to relax with a book on the beach, organise a beach day. If they love sport, book that class they’ve been wanting to try. Remember it’s not about you: taking your dad to a spinning class when golf and beer are his favourites is not the recipe for birthday success.

4. Drizzle attention throughout the day

Why save all the fun for dinner? Breakfast is just as important. Surprise them with their favourite breakfast in bed, invite them for brunch or a coffee, or send a treat.

5. Not free on the day, or far away?

Send a sweet message, a poem, some flowers. A small effort goes a long way, and it might just make their day.

There is a reason why we moved to this beautiful village. The secret hikes, hidden gems and panoramic views make this place feel like pure magic. Two million tourists come through every year, so it is easy to get lost in tourist traps. Here are our favourite places.

La Colombe d’Or

Our neighbour and all time favourite restaurant, one of the most eclectic and authentic places in the South of France. Very hard to find a table in summer, but the charming bar opens at 19.30. Our favourite starters are “Les Hors d’Oeuvre” and “La Cassolette d’Escargots de Bourgogne”, then “Loup de Mer” (ask for it grilled rather than poached), “l’Aïoli tout simple” or “Fricassée de Volaille”. Meat lovers should go for the “Pièce de Boeuf avec Eschalots”. For dessert, the “Fraises et Framboises avec Chantilly” or the “Gâteau au Chocolat”.

La Balance

The most beautiful little shop, with a small collection of antiques and a big collection of vintage jewellery. Bertrand will show you each piece until you find the one with your name written all over it. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and whenever Bertrand decides to go treasure hunting.

Café de la Place

Loud Americans and quiet locals in perfect harmony, arrogant waiters, and people playing boule like their lives depend on it. Amazing for people watching. The pain au chocolat is one of the best we’ve ever had, and the shaken iced coffee is very good.

Fondation Maeght

An iconic museum with a breathtaking garden. Listen to the cigales as you take cover from the sun under the pines. Modern and contemporary art, with summer concerts and documentary screenings in the Miró labyrinth.

The remparts

Escape the crowds by walking the rampart. Beautiful views and laid-back bars, and at the end of the village a plateau with views from Nice to Antibes, above the most beautiful cemetery we have ever seen.

La Terrasse

Extremely low-key, almost exclusively locals, and the food exceeds our expectations every time. The daily specials are very good and the pizza is worth a mention. The tarte tatin is the best we’ve ever had. Portions and drinks are extremely generous.

Hotel Messugues

Hidden in the streets behind the Fondation Maeght. The pool is a dream, and so is the small pool-side restaurant.

Chapelle Saint-Claude-et-Saint-Charles

The most beautiful view of the village, worth the short uphill walk.

Le Domaine VDH

A gorgeous villa facing the woods, available for rental and for daily or nighttime events. An infinity pool, cosy nooks, and a surreal view.

Nice is a real city: loud, sunny and a little rough around the edges, which is exactly its charm. Skip the busiest stretch of the Promenade and spend your time in the old town, at the port and up on the castle hill. Here are the places worth your time.

La Merenda

Niçois classics on paper tablecloths, from one of the most respected chefs in town. There is no phone: stop by the day before to book your table. Open on weekdays only, and cash only. Order the courgette flower fritters and the tagliatelle with pistou, and finish with the sweet chard tart.

Chez Davia

A family bistro opened in 1953 by Davia, the grandmother of today’s chef, Pierre Altobelli, who came home after years in starred kitchens. Gingham tablecloths, terrazzo floors and Niçois bistro dishes: barbajuans, marinated anchovies with tapenade, fried baby squid, and a lemon tart to finish. Closed on Mondays.

Cours Saleya on Mondays

Every Monday the flower stalls of the old town make way for the antiques market: old linen, silver, ceramics, frames and prints. Go early for the best finds, then stay for a coffee on the square. The rest of the week it is the flower and produce market.

La Part des Anges

A natural wine shop and bar with hundreds of bottles, and a simple family-style lunch. Ask what to drink, they love to talk about their winemakers.

Pinpin

A bright neo-brasserie near Place du Pin, by the port. No starter-main-dessert here: a menu that changes every week, a raw bar, dishes from the grill and organic vegetables, all made for sharing, with biodynamic wines. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Colline du Château

Climb the castle hill for the best view of the Baie des Anges on one side and the port on the other. There is a waterfall at the top, and shade under the pines.

Barrique

A small natural wine cellar and bar on rue Barillerie in the old town, with bottles from small, independent growers and homemade tapas. The perfect place to end the day. Open from late afternoon, Thursday to Monday.

Beyond the red carpet, Cannes has an old village on a hill, a morning market, and two quiet islands fifteen minutes away by boat. This is the Cannes we like.

Marché Forville

The covered market at the foot of Le Suquet, every morning except Monday, when it becomes a flea market. Local vegetables, fish straight from the boats and everything you need for a picnic on the islands.

Le Suquet

The old town, with steep cobbled streets and pastel houses. Walk up to Place de la Castre for the view over the bay, the port and the Esterel mountains.

Aux Bons Enfants

A small, old-fashioned bistro serving honest Provençal cooking at a fair price. The kind of place Cannes still has if you look for it.

Astoux et Brun

A seafood institution for more than seventy years. Oysters, sea urchins in season and the catch of the day.

Île Sainte-Marguerite

Take the boat from the old port and walk the eucalyptus and pine trails around the island. In summer, from June to August, book lunch at La Guérite, a restaurant in a cove that turns festive as the afternoon goes on.

Île Saint-Honorat

The smaller island belongs to a community of monks who make their own wine. Walk around the vineyards, then have lunch at La Tonnelle by the water, with a bottle from the abbey.

Pompon

A small bistro behind the town hall, a stone’s throw from the old port, run by Clio Modaffari and Anne Legrand. A short menu of around a dozen plates to share, made with produce from the region’s farmers and fishermen. Book ahead; closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Antibes is Picasso, ramparts, a morning market and the most beautiful coastal path on the Riviera. Come early, swim often, and leave room for a long lunch.

Marché Provençal

The covered market on Cours Masséna, every morning from 6 to 13 (closed on Mondays from September to May). Local olive oils, herbs, olives, cheese and flowers. Come early and have a coffee in the square after.

Musée Picasso

Picasso worked in this castle on the ramparts in 1946, and the collection shows everything the Mediterranean gave him. The terrace over the sea is almost as good as the art.

Fondation Hartung-Bergman

The villa and studios the painters Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergman built for themselves among the olive trees, between 1965 and 1973. A rare chance to see where two artists lived and worked, with galleries, studios and a garden. Open on weekdays; guided tours on Thursday afternoons.

Sentier du Littoral

The coastal path around the Cap d’Antibes, over white rocks and past hidden villas. Wear proper shoes, bring water, and stop to swim wherever the water tempts you.

Plage de la Garoupe

A small bay with fine sand and very clear water. Go in the morning for a free spot, or book a sunbed and lunch at Les Pêcheurs or Plage Keller.

La Taille de Guêpe

Colourful, beautifully flavoured dishes topped with edible flowers. Book ahead.

Villa Eilenroc

A Belle Époque villa on the tip of the Cap with gardens running down to the sea. Opening times change often, so check before you go.

Nomade

Jaume Plensa’s giant sculpture of letters above Port Vauban. Beautiful during the day, even better when it is lit up at night.

Hôtel Belles Rives

A 1920s villa on the water in Juan-les-Pins, where F. Scott Fitzgerald once lived. Have a drink on the pontoon at sunset and feel like you have travelled back in time.

Ten minutes above Cannes, a medieval village built in circles, where Picasso spent the last years of his life. A village for food lovers: come for lunch and stay for the afternoon.

La Place de Mougins

Classic French cooking in the heart of the village, with tasting menus built around regional lamb and local fish. The place for a long, special lunch.

Bohème

A modern restaurant led by Peruvian chef Manuel Rondan, with a grill, ceviche and plenty of Mediterranean dishes made from local produce.

FAMM

The Female Artists of Mougins Museum, opened in 2024 and dedicated entirely to women artists, from Berthe Morisot to Tracey Emin.

Centre de la Photographie

A small photography centre in the old village, with exhibitions from photographers around the world.

Place des Patriotes

The entrance to the village, with a large sculpted head of Picasso and a view over the hills to the sea.

The old village

Wander the circular streets with their galleries and fountains, and find the centuries-old communal bread oven on rue des Mûriers.

Le Moulin de Mougins

The sixteenth-century olive mill that Roger Vergé made famous, still a restaurant today. A piece of Riviera food history.

Étang de Fontmerle

A pond at the foot of the village that fills with lotus flowers in summer. A quiet walk before or after lunch.