aixcentric

What is it about British male chefs and Provence?  We’ve had, off the top of my head, Keith Floyd, James Martin, Rick Stein, the Hairy Bikers, Jamie Oliver, usually on wheels, swooning over markets, drooling over fishing boats, finding authentic grannies in kitchens … and so on.

If you can get BBC live or on i-Player, there’s a new series beginning tomorrow starring Marcus Wareing. This Michelin-starred chef and ‘MasterChef The Professionals’ judge has left his two restaurants (the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge and the Gilbert Scott at St Pancras) to rethink his future, well away from  the heat of the kitchen and the pressure of running a business right now.

TV beckoned, he starts with a series on Provence and it will be interesting to see his take on the region. Continue Reading »

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An extraordinary sale – for the first time in 50 years the Ballet national de Marseille opens its doors for a sale of stage costumes Continue Reading »

…and all three not to be missed. Continue Reading »

Playwright Marcel Pagnol died 50 years ago and a programme celebrating the man and his work starts today. Continue Reading »

The Aix Carnaval 2024 will take place on Saturday April 27th.  This year the star turn is the parade of 3 mechanical elephants created by the company Oposito, masterminds of this year’s event. Continue Reading »

So the flame is lit and on its way!

It arrives into Marseille on 8th May sparking off celebrations across the city as the Olympic Games 2024 finally begin. Continue Reading »

The terrible fire at the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris in April 2019 had the world looking on in horror at the televised pictures showing flames and smoke billowing from the 800-year-old building. But spectators also marvelled at the courage and skill of the firefighters who climbed interior staircases to dowse the inferno.

As the blaze was contained, experts could start to scope the damage, but also examine the items that had survived intact.  The Crown of Thorns for instance had been saved by a human chain, the organ was safe – all 8000 pipes of it – and 16 statues which surrounded the doomed spire had just been sent to Bordeaux for repair.

From the shadowy side chapels lining the nave came 17th century religious paintings, now fresh and clean and going on show in Paris.

They are from a series of 76 oil paintings called the Mays.

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The Cours Mirabeau will be lined Sunday 14 April with 50-60 stalls displaying antique items – furniture, linens, pictures, kitchen equipment, books, jewellery -hopefully in the spring-time sunshine. Continue Reading »