About Us - The Maison Bonhomie Story
Hello! We are Dawn and Allan. We created Maison Bonhomie to share our love of food, drinks, travel, and experiences that nourish the body and soul. We explore Superfoods that support overall wellness and often have a special connection to specific systems in the body. This is the heart of the Maison Bonhomie story.
Our Journey
Before starting Maison Bonhomie, we spent 12 years running our own contract catering company. Before that, we pursued our passions in separate but connected areas of the food and beverage sector. This is where the seeds of our future were planted.
Dawn studied at Le Cordon Bleu and went on to manage large catering contracts and working with startup restaurants in London. Allan retrained at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, earning three diplomas, before managing a French wine shop in Central London.
Our New Adventure
So, here we are living in South West France, learning a new language, experiencing a different culture, and renovating our guesthouse to welcome visitors.
We are inspired by the landscape, history, and local produce of the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. Our goal is to share these experiences—not just with guests at Maison Bonhomie, but also through our food, wine, and travel website.
Thank you for joining us on the adventure!
Our Philosphy
At Maison Bonhomie, our approach is simple: keep everything honest and natural. This applies to the food we eat, the drinks we enjoy, the artisans who renovate our home, and the travel we undertake. We strive to surround ourselves with honest, natural people and experiences.
Cooking and Lifestyle
We enjoy cooking, so we make almost everything ourselves. We don’t churn butter or mill flour, but we do prepare sauces, stocks, dressings, and pastries from scratch.
Takeaway and home delivery are uncommon where we live, so cooking is part of our routine. Each week, we plan menus and shop for the ingredients we need. We enjoy going out for meals as it can be inspiring and helps us discover new ideas.
We focus on fresh, seasonal produce. Living in this part of France, year-round supermarket options are limited, so we embrace what is in season. It gives our meals a new perspective. Likewise, we choose wines that are organic when possible, free from nitrates, and cocktails made with natural mixers.
We don’t provide diets, fads, or prescriptive nutrition advice. Our goal is to share years of recipes and ideas, showing the simplicity and satisfaction of cooking from scratch. The only tools needed are a genuine desire, some planning, and a good set of electronic digital scales.
What Can We Do For You?
We share recipes to help you cook from scratch using Superfoods like grains, beans, berries, legumes, and local meats and fish. Superfoods nourish your whole body, boost energy, and support well-being. By incorporating them into everyday meals, you can enjoy food that is both delicious and beneficial.
We also share travel stories to inspire new experiences. Travel keeps us curious, creative, and energized at any stage of life.
Living in wine country, we enjoy a tipple and share stories, information, and recipes in our Drinks section. We aim for balance and moderation in what we eat and drink and believe a regular exercise routine helps support a harmonious lifestyle – whether a gentle stroll through the vineyards, a pilates or tai chi class, keeping our bodies moving supports a harmonious lifestyle and puts a smile on our faces.
Finally, all the recipes on our site are tested and perfected by us. We don’t copy or paste other people’s recipes. Everything at Maison Bonhomie is genuinely ours unless otherwise noted.
Bon voyage and bon appétit!