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I’m fairly easily pleased when it comes to many things. But for me one of my greatest joys is a leisurely lunch with a glass of wine!

I’ve just come across a blog article by Ben from Adventures with Ben, who recounts the time that he visited Zimbabwe and had the best Chicken Sandwich he has ever had – in Zimbabwe of all places.

Well I’ve just been staying in a glorious rental home in the picturesque village of Caromb, in Provence (France). We’d just had a very leisurely start to the day with a coffee and fresh fruit for breakfast followed by a one hour walk through the vines and olive trees on a small lane joining Caromb with the nearby village of Crillon le Brave – the most memorable local road around.

Following the return to our home it was almost time for lunch – I hadn’t thought about food for a couple of hours, so it must be time! We decided not to go out to the market or shops but to make do with what was in the kitchen.

Let me set the scene! It is 28 degrees (82 degrees F), no wind, we are bare-footed, and the lunch table awaits us under the shade of the grape vine covered pergola. Beside us is the petanque playing area and then the crystal clear blue swimming pool, and beyond that the vines and our view over the famous cycling landmark of Mont Ventoux. As well I have my wife Andrea and son Alexander with me! Heaven!

This is our lunch. A tomato salad with vinaigrette and basil, as well as charcuterie and an assortment of cheeses. A bottle of chilled Rosé (some of you may call this “Blush”) is a compulsory addition to any lunch table. To me this dish is a dish from the Gods – no cooking, no preparation required apart from cutting tomatoes, and ripping basil leaves. Now for me if you have the right ingredients you have a treat! When I am not in France I am in New Zealand, and in NZ the tomatoes that are available to us are predominantly hydroponically grown and lack the flavors. In Provence when you walk through a market the tomato screams at you from 50m away “pick me, pick me!” – the flavors of a Provençal sun ripened tomato are intense.

This is the simplest meal you could ever prepare, but the tastiest as well. Look at these photos and be transported to a world of decadent flavors. Can you taste it?!

I'm no chef but if you want to create this at home you just need your tomotoes and basil, but you do need a vinaigrette or just a good olive oil drizzled over the salad. Do you have the ideal vinaigrette? My perfect vinaigrette you can make as follows:

• Get a glass jar with a lid
• Pour in Olive Oil 150ml
• Pour in a Vinegar (White or Red Balsamic) (75ml - always half the amount of olive oil) or even just Lemon juice.
• One Garlic Clove finely chopped
• One teaspoon each of salt, sugar, and (grainy) mustard
• Put the lid of the jar back on and shake as if you were making yourself a cocktail!! Pour over your tomatoes and savour this piece of paradise!

Then add some charcuterie and a selection of cheeses, and when washed down with your chilled Rose wine, any worries you have will have gone! Bon appetit! Now what's for dinner!?