Near Menton…
I have been exceptionally lucky this summer. Living in London means that I’m always a two-and-a-half-hour train ride straight to the heart of Paris. Diana Vreeland said that ‘the best thing about London is Paris.’ Dare I say she is right?
Aside from my proximity, I was in France for a number of occasions. First, in Normany for my godson’s baptism. Then, the annual family stay in Provence. And most recently, a trip to Paris to plan my wedding there to Mr. English. I know, it’s not fair. I’m jealous of myself. The point is, I don’t feel right about it unless I share the wealth. I’m always posting my own French-inspired recipes. But where do I get the inspiration? From the pictures I take when I’m in la patrie. In honor of France’s big fête today, I think we all deserve a little bit of French food ogling. Consider this post book one in food writing’s Fifty Shades
Normandy
Trouville: Moules à la Crème
You should have seen how many frites came along with!
Try this.
Trouville: Bavette with Shallots (that’s flank steak, to us). What a classic!
Trouville: Cidre Buché
I never leave Normandy without a few big gulps of their dry hard apple cider.
No one likes it but me, so I get the bottle for myself.
Try this (I love this!).
Provence
Aix-en-Provence: Provençal Vegetable Lasagna
My mom’s favorite meal in my favorite town.
Also the inspiration behind my Roasted Ratatouille Lasagna.
Cassis: Niçoise Salad
Just off the plane in our favorite seaside nook, I have to order a classic Niçoise.
Mr. English and I fight over which part is best.
It’s obviously the haricots verts. What’s he playing at?
Try this, this, or this.
La Ciotat: Zucchini and Zucchini Flower Beignets
I eat these every summer. Batter fried and delicious.
Try these or this.
La Ciotat: Tapenade
We went to a cool restaurant built on the site of the old shipyard.
Provence without tapenade is like clocks without time.
It just doesn’t make sense.
Try this, this, this, this, or this.
La Ciotat: Steak Frites
Mr. English ordered this exquisite filet au poivre.
I stole most of his frites. Couldn’t be helped.
Try this.
La Ciotat: Fresh Grilled Sea Bass with Ratatouille
I split the whole beast, fresh from the Mediterranean, with my mom.
Sea bass is my absolute favorite. The ratatouille was deeply caramelized.
Try this or this.
La Ciotat: Maman and I hunt for olives
There is nothing like a Provençal market.
We ate these olives every night before dinner with a bottle of rosé.
Definitely try this. It’s a family classic.
Cassis: Seared Tuna Tartare at Nino
I took everyone out to Nino our last night there.
Cassis: Steak with Morilles
This was delicious.
The shallot on the left roasted whole in its skin was the biggest surprise.
Cassis: Sea Bream with Truffled Risotto
Also at Nino. The BEST risotto.
Paris
Paris: Salmon Tartare
Pre-wedding planning lunch in St. Germain.
HERS
Paris: Steak Frites with Red Wine Sauce
HIS
Merci beaucoup for this culinary “Tour de France.” I have just returned from “home” myself, and have recognized some of the dishes we enjoyed during our vacation. 🙂 I bet you have made all your readers very hungry. Felicitations for your upcoming wedding! Happy summer! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Happy summer to you too! I just made myself very hungry too! Thank you. Happy Quatorze.
Les moules à la crème me font drôlement envie….. j’adore ça! Avec des attaches bretonnes, comment ne pas fondre devant une telle assiette.
Mais la cuisine provençale a aussi énormément de charmes, mon mari étant de la région, je ne peux qu’aimer aussi! Les lasagnes végétariennes me semblent très attirantes.
Et le coup des olives au rosé le soir me fait sourire, actuellement en vacances en Provence, c’est tous les soirs rosé et olives à l’apéritif, sur la terrasse au son des cigales.
C’est incroyable, n’est-ce pas? J’adore toute la cuisine de tous les lieux différents. Profitez de la rosé et des olives!
Do you mind adding restaurant names where you have them? So that if I’m ever in Aix-en-Provence I have a chance at finding that Provençal Vegetable Lasagna? Miam miam…
Hi Lynn…of course! The restaurant in Aix is called La Pizza (not very imaginative!) The tuna, steak, and sea bream in Cassis were all at Nino. The steak au poivre, sea bass, and tapenade in La Ciotat were all at Au Chantier: http://www.auchantier-laciotat.fr/. And that’s unfortunately all I remember. The Paris lunch was at a street corner bistro we ducked into near St. Sulpice. I should have jotted down the name, but I didn’t. I hope this helps!