Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2023 i Victoria

Dear Friends The scent of lavender, with its gentle mingling of delicate floral and evergreen aromas, transports me to the most beautiful destinations in France. I close my eyes and hear the hum of village life in a town recognized as a Petite Cité de Caractère, a special designation for locales brimming with heritage and charm. I imagine pausing at a streetside café and can almost taste the flaky layers of a pâtisserie treat imbued with the favored herb. Aloft on a flight of fancy, imagination carries me to the rolling fields of Provence, where sunlight falls on pale purple blooms swaying in the breeze. In this issue, we invite you to become immersed in Gallic splendor, from strolling through Rochefort-en-Terre on page 25 to sampling a Lavender Cronut on…

Inside Les Fleurs garden shop, pastel blossoms and layers of textured greenery spill softly from an ironstone jug, revealing a miniature world of whimsy—unexpected yet breathtakingly beautiful. As if by design, the entrepreneur preparing the bouquet established a career and cultivated a passion that so closely mirrors the masterpiece before her. Sandra Sigman perfected the art of arranging under the guidance of her mother, a florist, and remembers the satisfaction of crafting a pleasing bouquet. In adulthood, Sandra’s abilities as an ice-skater transported her to the City of Light for work. Her nighttime performances allowed for days roaming cobblestone streets, wandering into the chic flower shops appearing on every corner. Soon, Sandra befriended employees and volunteered at her favorite Parisian shop, Les Fleurs. Despite the language barrier, she studied the…

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a closer look at some of our favorite May/June features: Gracious Influence Esteemed Artist-in-Residence Jenny Bohannon shares her most prized Gallic pieces, the stories behind these finds, and how they add beauty to life at Tallwood. Taking the Path Home Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Château de Bourneau, as the owners of this elegant property recount their restoration journey in the French countryside. An Idyllic Escape All abloom with the wonder of springtime, the characterful town of Rochefort-en-Terre beckons guests to experience the tranquil charms of village life in Brittany. Of Past & Present Hospitality and heritage mingle within the ancient halls of Château de la Villedubois, where the de Farcys serve…

A summer sun’s evening glow drapes over the soaring spires and towering cupolas cresting Château de Chambord. The pièce de résistance of Renaissance architecture in the Loire region, this expansive castle resides on a private 5,440-hectare estate that is home to the largest walled nature reserve in Europe and a sixteenth-century king’s stable turned luxury boutique hotel. In modern times, visitors stand in awe of the elaborate details that embellish the château, along with its formal French gardens, thriving potager, and teeming wildlife park. But for this iconic domain to exist, King Francis I, whose devotion to the emerging arts deeply shaped his reign, once stood in the sprawling vacant marshland and dreamed of its potential: a hunting lodge in the verdant Loire Valley boasting his power, wealth, and exquisite…

As proprietor of his eponymous antiques shop in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., the late Marston Luce had a passion for all things beautiful, and nowhere is that more evident than at his charming retreat in the heart of the Périgord region of France. Since the property lies just below a wooded area, he christened it Sous Bois—French for “undergrowth”—and then spent nearly two decades transforming the humble farmhouse into the elegant home it is today. Marston’s widow, Deborah de Gorter, lovingly maintains the place that holds so many memories. A giant fig tree stands opposite the house’s entrance, its sweet fruit an irresistible draw for beaucoup butterflies come summertime. The ground floor, featuring four-foot-thick limewashed walls, contains a well-stocked kitchen—including Marston’s clipped recipes and cookbooks—and a spacious living…

SEE RECIPE INDEX, PAGE 103, FOR RECIPE INFORMATION.…

Love is the source of inspiration, energy, creativity, and motivation for living graciously. Theearliest experiences most prominent in my memory were with my grandmother, who, being Ukrainian, was instinctively inclined to generous hospitality with special care put into every detail, even on a modest income. She made each meal a meaningful ceremony, from breakfast to any snack throughout a given day. She served all kinds of gloriously flavored food on her best dishes and platters. We often sat at the coffee table eating pastries, fruits, and nuts on gorgeous tin trays that remain permanently in my memory. No wonder I have my own collection that keeps growing! Like my grandmother, my mother also loved to host and serve graciously, finding beautiful antiques and items that she would incorporate into her…

The windows at Château de Bourneau are flung open, beckoning the familiar heady fragrance of lily of the valley mingled with the season’s first wisteria blooms to enter in on a warm breeze. It’s an aroma Erin and Jean-Baptiste Gois eagerly await each year. As it perfumes the elegant interiors, they sigh; summer has finally arrived. The couple didn’t expect to be caretakers of such an extensive property at this stage in their lives—it was a dream they thought would wait until retirement. But with plans made to move to France, Erin needed time to perfect the language before returning to her medical practice, and all advice suggested beginning a labor-intensive preservation project while they were young. “This was our window of opportunity to restore a historical building and create…

Three decades ago, Julie Huh fell in love with France. As a Korean native residing in Australia, her familiarity with the nation was limited, but she became entirely captivated upon being introduced to Gallic style at an auction house. Her dreams drifted to the spellbinding scenery of Paris and iconic countryside châteaux. Years later, fate brought Julie to an old house in the Pays de la Loire region: The French Manoir. Previously featured in Victoria, the abode posed as a great restoration project and, ultimately, was the start of Julie’s latest entrepreneurial journey. Though she had long been involved in business pursuits—studying the subject in Korea and owning an upholstery shop in Australia—this passion was born anew in France, having mingled with her love for eye-catching interiors and soulful objects.…

A GALLIC TEA Begins on page 35 Caramelized Onion Cups p.38 Makes 15 1 (1.19-ounce) box frozen mini phyllo cups, thawed1 tablespoon unsalted butter2½ cups sliced yellow onion (approximately 2 medium onions)1 tablespoon all-purpose flour¼ teaspoon kosher salt⅛ teaspoon white pepper¼ cup dry sherry6 ounces cream cheese, softened and divided1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten½ teaspoon chopped fresh thymeGarnish: fresh thyme sprigs 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Place phyllo cups on prepared pan. 3. In a medium nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 25 minutes. Add flour, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown, about 1 minute. Add sherry; cook until most of liquid has evaporated and thickened.…

Tracing Nana The old walnut clock chimed away a childhood I believed was eternal while I lay on my belly on the lush carpet and flipped through countless issues of Victoria that Nana kept in a wicker basket beside her reading chair. Muffled adult voices drifted in from the kitchen, and I heard the occasional slap of the screen door as cousins ran in and out of the house, begging me to come out and play. But I was too far gone into the magical images of flowers and teacups, faraway seashores, overflowing bookstores, or whatever flight of fancy the current editors had chosen to pierce my beauty-hungry heart. As I finished one issue and reached for another, I marveled at how Nana’s home and garden were every bit as…