At the Table with Courtney Storer and Miraval Rosé: 4 Tips for Provence-Inspired Home Entertaining

Courtney Storer, Culinary Producer for The Bear

Between the Olympics in Paris, the new season of Emily in Paris, and European vacation photos all over social media, you may be dreaming of a chic visit to France. You'd tour the cities and relax in the countryside while indulging in French wines, cheeses, and stress-melting spa days along the way. 

Whether or not you made it to the vineyards and lavender fields in the south of France this summer, you can still bring the chic spirit of Provence to your home by curating your gatherings with the just right details. We recently joined Miraval Rosé and Courtney Storer for a Provence-inspired dinner party to learn just how to do this.

Courtney Storer is the visionary and culinary producer of the Emmy winning series, The Bear. Since childhood, she always aspired to be a chef. Despite advice from family and friends to pursue a different career, her instincts guided her from the neighborhood kitchens in Chicago to fine dining in France, and eventually working at some of Los Angeles’ top restaurants and alongside famed chefs.

As Storer's journey weaved around the world, throughout it all one thing remained true: her culinary reputation focused on balancing finesse, elegance, and approachability. This comes to life through her many recent endeavors including her approach to food production and culture on set for The Bear, as well as her current partnership with Miraval.

For Storer, wine has always been an essential part of the hospitality experience. “My front-of-house experience made me a firm believer that wine is a major part of curating culinary experiences. I’ve always been more drawn to wines that help break the ice, bottles that tell a story and make people feel comfortable while still offering a sense of finesse. Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé does just that, perfectly mirroring my approach to food,” she says.

Together, Miraval and Storer collaborated to show us how to create a sophisticated dinner-party setting inspired by beautiful Provence, home to the Miraval brand. Here are four expert secrets we learned from Storer and can't wait to try:

1. Serve seasonal dishes

A few dishes Storer put together for the Miraval Côtes de Provence dinner party included a beautiful grand aioli, tomato and nectarine salad, a colorful Provencal tian, and radishes with whipped cultured butter.

“Miraval Côtes de Provence showcases the true essence of its terroir and lifestyle of the region. Similarly, my approach to cooking focuses on using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. This works really well year-round in Los Angeles. During the spring and summer, produce is a plenty but you can easily follow this advice from anywhere in the US to prepare simple yet flavorful dishes that highlight the natural tastes and textures in the ingredients,” says Storer.

A few dishes she put together for the Miraval Côtes de Provence dinner party included a beautiful grand aioli, tomato and nectarine salad, a colorful Provencal tian, and radishes with whipped cultured butter.

2. Great wine doesn't have to be stuffy or over-expensive

A great wine can be approachable and versatile.

"Miraval Côtes de Provence gives you exceptional quality while being accessible for everyday enjoyment. It’s also an incredibly approachable wine to add to any dinner table. It’s versatility pairs beautifully with lots of summer foods and different types of cuisine,” says Storer.

3. Less is more

"This is a common French approach in cooking and in life. Instead of a formal dinner, make a grazing style table with your favorite dishes. Create a laid-back tablescape that is elegant by not overthinking it. I like to use a few extra items I’m featuring on my menu as part of the table décor. Some extra fruit, vegetables, and bread that are part of your meal will look great as décor in baskets or platters. If you’re really trying to bring Provence home this summer, add dried lavender and a few bottles of Miraval Côtes de Provence to accent your table,” shares Storer.

4. Dine al fresco

“Al fresco dining is common in Provence (and in Los Angeles) and allows for guests to relish natural beauty and fresh air. Set up an outdoor dining area with soft lighting, cozy seating and take time to make a playlist. I recently found out that there is a recording studio on the Miraval estate where many legendary artists – think Pink Floyd, Sting, AC/DC and others – have recorded. Studio by Miraval is a wine pays homage to the musical legacy of Château Miraval.”