Breaking News....The Tri-Centennial Commission selects Elkins Park

Well-informed sources have learned that the Tri-Centennial Commission has designated Elkin's Park East as the nation's first No Chores Chill Zone.  Residents near High School Park, Elkins Park, Melrose Park, Jenkintown, Abington and Glenside are encouraged to lay down their To-Do lists, grab their appetites and seek nourishment in the downtown Renaissance of Elkins Park.  Busy lives need exceptional local vendors who care more about the relationship than the sale. Fresh from Provence, Gourmet to Go, is that type of quality local business with great prepared food for great times.  Go Green, Shop local.  Thanks for Living Well.  

Last sunrise in paradise...

While it's sad to leave such a beautiful place, we are excited to be returning home!

But before we go...one last sunrise:

Guilty is taking a break...

where the living is easy, ...

the sunrise's breathtaking, ...

and the pool and ocean become one and the same!

 Ahh paradise.

Guilty's Due....

Guilty...Guilty...GUILTYYYYYYYYYYYY... Those tropical winds are calling my name and I am so there.

Our trip to the Seaside Cottage at Round Hill is going to be a life defining moment in a truly legendary life.
Check out these photos of our vacation villa in Jamaica.  OMG

http://www.jamaicavillas.com/villa/seaside-cottage-at-round-hill/photos

Sweet 16 Tournament of Luxury Vacation Villas

Vacation time is coming up fast and Guilty could not be happier.  We fly out next week.  When it comes to a well-earned island retreat in the lap of luxury, it's all about the numbers.  Three and half acres on a mind blowing beach. Nine nights in a beautiful island paradise.  Twenty seven gourmet meals prepared by a private chef and countless memories just waiting to be forged.

Guilty searched long and hard to find just the perfect family getaway. My extensive quest for summertime bliss was a labor of love and a commitment to our never ending  high standards for the Guilty Pleasures Club.  Fortunately, there were numerous vacation options available with cool island breezes, tropical sunsets and family friendly summertime prices. From St. Croix to the Roatan Island in Honduras to Nicaragua and back again, we found a treasure chest of stunningly beautiful villas that met all of our lofty expectations.  It was an exhausting and successful journey in search of opulence, family adventure and fiscal sanity.

In fact, in the end, there were so many amazing choices for us to consider, that making a decision was really the hardest part.  Would we escape to a breathtaking beach in El Salvador or the spectacular Pacific Coast of Nicaragua?  Would our stay in paradise be on an isolated beach on Bonaire or perhaps a cliff side palace in St. Martin?  Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.  I drove Thin Mint crazy at first.  But then, like the visionary she is, my beautiful bride of almost 23 years, saw the light, 

We decided to put together a Sweet 16 Tournament of Vacation Villas to share with our luxury-minded legions. However, just whittling the list of vacation options down to only 16 finalists was a difficult task unto itself.  Let alone, choosing just one.  Of course, as always, Guilty and Thin Mint would not be denied.  Here are the 16 finalists for the first ever Luxury Villa Showdown.  Just like March Madness, our fiercely competitive tournament is destined to become an annual event with stunning upsets and big surprises. 

http://www.vrbo.com/347898#photos Ranked # 1.  Incredible waterfront property in Honduras. The Kissing bug epidemic in Central America and Mexico scared us off.

 

http://www.vrbo.com/252475#photos  Bequia property ranked # 2.  Just an amazing home.  Airfare was a little high for a family vacation.
 

http://www.vrbo.com/257646#photos

Ranked # 3. Jamaican 3.5 acre waterfront estate. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. Lot's of  Guiltorious Glee looming with an outdoor shower and a well-trained staff of five.The Villa is next to the world famous Round Hill resort. www.roundhill.com  This spectacular property is a winner on every level with too many perks to pass up. 

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p296694#photos  Ranked # 4.  St. Martin villa on Dawn Beach.  An awesome property.  Love this house, but we have been to the island too many already.

http://www.vrbo.com/143126#photos  Very nice property in St. Croix.  Ranked # 5.  I love this Villa on the cliffs 

http://www.vrbo.com/175999#photos  Ranked
# 6  Incredible all-inclusive for 6 people in Nicaragua.  OMG  Same kissing bug concerns.

http://www.vrbo.com/218687#photos  Ranked # 7.  A fantastic property on Grenada.

http://www.vrbo.com/219216#photos  Fabulous for the money in Nicaragua.  Ranked # 8. 

http://www.vrbo.com/216040#photos Ranked # 9.  A very nice Jamaican property with staff. 

http://www.vrbo.com/40246#photos  Great waterfront property in Antiqua.  Ranked # 10   

http://www.vrbo.com/233134#photos Wonderful oceanfront property in El Salvador.  Very tropical and inexpensive.  Ranked # 11, 

http://www.vrbo.com/52036#photos  Ranked # 12.  Great waterfront property in Negril . 

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p227082#photos  Bonaire property ranked # 13. On the beach in dive central

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p334879#photos  St. Thomas property on the cliffs above the water. ranked # 14. 

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p927563#photos  Ranked # 15 a St, Croix property.  Very nice. 

http://www.vrbo.com/271990#photos  A fantastic  treehouse in Nicaragua above the ocean.  Ranked # 16

Fresh from Provence is open for business!!!

For years our loyal and discerning clientele have asked us for a way to enjoy our delicious food at home no matter what the occasion. Well, the big day is finally here. We are proud to announce that Fresh from Provence, our new Gourmet to Go store in Elkins Park, PA is open for business. Located at 7901 High School Road in the heart of Elkins Park, business is already booming. From Montreal Style smoked meats to incredible fresh salads to fabulous desserts to Gluten free delights, we are quickly becoming a local treasure and the toast of this storied community. Check out the store's new website, www.freshfromprovence.com. We hope to see you soon. Come hungry and be prepared to enjoy the best of Provence anytime.

Our Gourmet to Go store and the Provence Plaza outside are perfect location for your next corporate or social event, Whether you want an elegant wine tasting, a fun birthday party or spectacular Chef's dinner, Fresh from Provence is the smart choice for affordable luxury.

Big news is coming to Guiltytown

With this year's sensational Super Bowl in the rear view mirror, spring training is only weeks away and it's now time to turn our attention to more Guiltorious pursuits. It's no longer enough to daydream of delicious delicacies or to exchange decadent recipes with Club members. From dining at Mira Moto to savoring Chef Chad's fabulous desserts, we need to live the life.

The success of our Guilty Pleasures Club has led to more ambitious adventures Fresh from Provence. In the next few weeks there will be some very exciting news for aficionados of living well. Breakout your smartphones and ready your tastepuds, Big news is coming to Guiltytown.

PIEMANIA IS A WARM WINTERTIME GUILTY PLEASURE

It's now December and winter is settling in. It's time to get cozy. We have several tried and true epicurean delights that help us cope with frozen mornings and frost-filled evenings. One of our favorite survival strategies comes straight from the ovens of our Pastry Department. PIEMANIA IS BACK and we are true believers is the power of the Pie! Here is our Guilty Mantra, repeat after me...

I love warm pies in the winter.

I love warm pies that are baked in different shapes and sizes.

And I especially love warm pies that are served ala mode.

Piemania is our salute to living well in GuiltyTown.

At your next party catered by Provence, Guilty suggests you get lost in PIE MANIA. It's a selection of freshly baked of large seasonal pies to include Strawberry, Banana Creme Pie, Blueberry, Apple crumb, chocolate pecan and Key lime pie accompanied by vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and Chantilly whipped cream.

We love to be creative when it comes to pies and last week we decided to experment. We enjoyed a warm Apple crumb pie with a Caramel & Sea Salt Gelato. The combination was so delicious we were lost for words. Sometimes you are lucky enough to savor a personal Guilty moment that is almost indescribable. This was one of those rare raptures.

Princeton's Peacock Inn is a First Class Guilty Pleasure.

This past weekend was just a sensational moment in time. The Indian Summer weather was especially beautiful, business is booming and the word is spreading, "Provence Catering's highly acclaimed international cuisine is better than ever." The reviews on the web are outstanding. We are being hailed by many of our discerning clientele as the Mid-Atlantic's finest off-premise caterer.

Thin Mint and Guilty celebrated their 22nd Wedding Anniversary this weekend, enjoying a five course gastronomic feast at Princeton's Peacock Inn. Our gourmet meal was magnificent and the service was sublime. Everything was perfect and I highly recommend spoiling yourself at this storied property that dates back to the Revolutionary War. Here is a great review on this recently renovated historic landmark.

Lancaster County Market in Wayne is a local treasure chest of Guilty Pleasures.

One of Guilty's favorite Epicurean adventures is my annual Holiday Season shopping spree at the Lancaster County Farmer's Market in Wayne, PA. This upscale market is always bustling with upbeat patrons, but that is especially true during the Holidays. My favorite Farmer's Market is like an action scene from the "Christmas Carol" with incredible aromas wafting in the air and deliciously prepared foods casting a spell of Guilty Pleasures. With a local focus, savvy and smart shoppers are looking for gourmet foods to enjoy at home.



Over the next month or so Guilty will be visiting with different market vendors to sample their specialities and help spread the word. Holiday shopping is always more enjoyable when the Guilty Pleasures Club helps to guide the way. Come hungry and be prepared to sample, smile and purchase personal delights. Sharing is permitted, even encouraged. It's the Guilty Code.