Posted in Film, Food on November 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
‘The Menu – Ralph Fiennes celeb-chef horror comedy cooks up nasty surprise’ was the Guardian headline for their review of this film which opens in Aix tomorrow.
Indeed the first half shows Ralph Fiennes on intimidating form as the star chef welcoming his guests fresh off the boat from the mainland, greedily anticipating their seven-course meal. (more…)
Posted in Children, Event, Food on November 20, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I can hardly believe the brightly-lit kids’ Christmas carousels are already swishing youngsters round and round at the bottom of the cours Mirabeau, but here we are. Your Christmas dates:
Now – Jan 2 Les Maneges de Noel – Carousels
Now – Dec 31 Marché de Noel – Main Christmas Market in Cours Mirabeau
Now – Jan 2 Foire aux Santons, by La Rotonde
Nov 30 – Dec 4 Marché International des Villes Jumelles: Brits should get to the stall from Bath pronto to bag themselves mince pies and crackers. Outside Tourist Office
Dec 3 – Dec 24 Giant Christmas Tree and Dec 1 – Dec 18 Santa’s Letter Box, Place des Precheurs. Tree inauguration and photos with Pere Noel Dec 2 18:00hrs
December: Nativity scene made with santons, outside Monop’
Dec 10-11 La Fete d’Huile d’Olive, outside Tourist Office
Dec 17 – 24 Le Marché des13 Desserts, outside Tourist Office
Website with more events:
https://www.aixenprovence.fr/Programme-des-festivites-de-Noel
Posted in Event, Food on November 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »
This is late – apologies – I have been trying to get dates for this fun event for some time.
It’s the 13th annual ‘Village Italien’, held each November in Cassis. There’s an Italian market with lots of lovely food, wine, clothes, leather goods etc. Twenty stalls in all in the Place Baragnon.
And, like every year, there will be a parade of historic vehicles, Vespas and Fiat 500s, which will also be displayed on the esplanade Charles de Gaulle and la promenade Aristide Briand.
There’s also a show of photography and children’s activities.
Details : service communication Ville de Cassis au 04 42 18 36 16).
Posted in Event, Food on October 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »
A ‘One Day, One Chef, One Menu’ event is being held in restaurants throughout the Bouches-du-Rhone on Thursday 20 October. (more…)
Posted in Art, Children, Food on July 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Martigues is a small historic town, on the Etang de Berre and dissected by canals which lead out to sea. It was painted by local artists then ‘discovered’ by the Fauves who arrived with bright paints to capture the light of this pretty Mediterranean port. We have very much enjoyed walks here as well as visits to the Musee Ziem which displays many of these local pictures and is free to visit.
The town has an active tourist office who are offering the following specials…
Sunset Cruises
From 1st August, these Monday evening cruises take visitors around the canals, informed and entertained by the captain, a native of the town.
Details: 44 passengers max and dependent on suitably good weather.
From 19:30 on 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Aug,
12 euros pp, 3 and under free.
Camping Paradis
The popular TF1 show is filmed on a beach close to La Couronne, beautifully empty for most of the year except when the film crews arrive to recreate a typical French campsite with bustling reception chalet, beach bar and superette. A tourist office guide leads the one-hour tour and divulges anecdotes and set secrets to delight fans of this warm-hearted show.
Details
At 09:30, Tuesdays, 2 – 30th Aug.
4 euros for adults, 3 euros for children
Full details and reservations: https://www.martigues-tourisme.com/evenements/culture
Posted in Food on May 20, 2022| Leave a Comment »
A walk along the promenade at Les Lecques, around the little port and out to sea along the jetty has always been a family favourite, but I’ve always struggled to find a vegetarian lunch after our walk. It’s a typical French seaside resort with all the menu choices the locals obviously enjoy. Paninis/pizza slices have long been the only alternative.
So I was delighted to come across the Olala Café on a recent visit. (more…)
Posted in Food on March 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Now 3-stars: Villa Madie
Four restaurants of France’s southeast stepped up to one-star status, two others attained two stars, and, in one of the evening’s big surprises, the ultimate three-star rating was awarded to Dimitri Droisneau, chef of the Villa Madie overlooking the blue waves of the Mediterranean from Cassis. The only other chef to receive the coveted third star this year was Arnaud Donckele for Plénitude at Paris’s Cheval Blanc hotel.
The four restaurants which obtained one star are:
Villa La Coste
-Hélène Darroze à Villa La Coste (Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade)
-La Bastide de Cajpelongue (Bonnieux)
-Ceto (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin)
-Une Table au Sud (Marseille)
The new 2 stars:
-Le Blue Bay ( Monaco)
-Duende (Nimes) (with a duo of chefs guided by Pierre Gagnaire (3 stars Paris)
This annual event, a sort of academy awards of restaurants, was held outside of Paris for the first time in the Michelin red guide’s long history, in an effort perhaps to “decentralize” its focus.
The city of Cognac, birthplace of Francois 1er and home of what is arguably the planet’s most prestigious and refined spirit, hosted some 200 chefs, 100 journalists, and innumerable other guests during three days of vineyard and cellar visits, tastings, and gastronomy offered by the great houses of Cognac, including Hennessy, Remy Martin, and Martell.
Anticipation and angst among an ocean of white-jacketed chefs positioned in the front rows of Cognac’s L’Avant Scène theater on Tuesday evening floated in the air just before the kick-off of the ceremony, but they quickly gave way to the emotion and joy of the chefs called up on the stage to receive their stars.
In Provence, there are now some 90 restaurants boasting at least one star in Michelin, which revered or detested, is the granddaddy of restaurant guides. For the full list of winners, go to:
After nearly two years of Covid 19, severely impacting restaurant activity, this year’s Michelin ceremony was a harbinger of a return to normal and proof of the resiliency of the French fine-dining sector.
Posted in Food on December 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »
We had a Camembert to eat up and I suddenly remembered a French recipe which I hadn’t made for a long time and which was perfect for a winter’s feast: Baked Leek and Potato Gratin. It’s really simple and quite delicious. Here’s the recipe: (more…)
Posted in Children, Food, Patrimoine on October 2, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Here’s an idea for a splendid day out in Provence right now – the tourists have in the main gone home and there are still sunny days to enjoy.
Boating on the lower gorges du Verdon isn’t as well known as Lac St Croix but all the better for that in terms of easy parking and access to boats. And it’s very beautiful.
Posted in Children, Event, Food on May 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Bowling along on a bike by the Med sounds like heaven to me, especially when there’s no traffic!
That’s the offer tomorrow, 10h -18h, when 4 kilomètres of the Corniche, from Malmousque to David, plus l’Estaque Plage, will be open to walkers, skaters, and cyclists. Lots of free sporting activities – things to try – and of course, food.
Food-trucks and ‘terrasses éphémères’
The trucks will be dishing up icecream, Breton and Mexican specialities, now there’s a choice, as well as burgers and bagels.
The pop-up terraces have been provided by ‘la Ville de Marseille’ as a free service to local restaurateurs and cafetiers. What a good idea, especially right now.
Renting a bike
Click here for details; 1000 nouveaux vélos électriques en libre-service
Sorry for late notification but only just stumbled across this nice event.
The South of France. Enchanted by the deep blue of the Mediterranean, the olive trees, poppies, irises and that dazzling light, artists found their creativity flourished under the hot sun. My new book takes you on a journey visiting museums and galleries as well as artists’ studios and their favourite painting spots. From Van Gogh in Arles, to Signac in Saint-Tropez; from Cézanne in Aix, over to Nice for Renoir and Matisse, the story unfolds of artists who knew each other and painted together in the warm south. Prepare too to meet colourful local artists who captured their beloved Provence for us to enjoy.
Buy: in Book-in-Bar, Aix, or online. Please click here: /art-in-the-south-of-france-the-inside-story/paperback/product-23586102.html
aixcentric 