A Foodie’s French Riviera

In a few days I’ll be flying to Nice for two weeks at the estate in which Julia Child wrote her famous cookbook duo, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.   I’m already dreaming of the Riviera’s culinary landscape.   What’s not to love about olives, herbs de Provence, lamb, and bouillabaisse, right? 

One of my favorite experiences on the Riviera is to visit the supermarche of all supermarkets.  Carrefour in Antibes is like Whole Foods, Costco and William Sonoma all under one roof…but on steroids.  There are 73 check-out lines and the staff wear roller skates to traverse the seemingly football-sized-stadium offering everything that any foodie could possibly desire.   There are four monstrous aisles of just yogurt alone.  The place is mind-boggling.  If you can’t find it here it probably doesn’t exist.  Check out this quick video of the incredible store:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RXC3nbPe1o

Another special place for the food-lover to procure ingredients for a dinner or a picnique is the polar opposite of Carrefour.   Cannes’ Forville Marché is a covered market in the center of the super swanky city, just a few blocks from where the star-studded film festival is held.  It was one of Julia Child’s favorite places to shop, especially for fish.  I’m taking both groups I’ve organized for a week’s homage a Julia here.   Hopefully one of the groups will be cooking bouillabaisse that night for dinner.

                                     Alziari's is a treasure trove for foodie gifts to bring home

My favorite olive oil producer’s shop is located in the heart of old town Nice.  The Nicolas Alizari company has been producing magnifique oils since 1868.   This jewel box of a store makes a perfect visit when wandering through the cobblestone streets of the historical center.  

Cours Selaya market in Nice offers a bounty of fresh food products

Not far from Alziari you’ll find Nice’s famous outdoor covered market.  Less than 100 meters from Nice’s bikini-clad beach, you’ll find vendors whose families have been renting the same food stalls for generations.  Don’t miss the "socca lady" selling the Riviera’s beloved garbanzo bean crepes called socca---she cooks them as her ancestors did over an open wood fire in a huge, specially-crafted skillet.  And, do sample everyone’s tampenade as each family has their secret twists on the classic.

                               Stunning Biot glass can be mailed home from the factory

The French Riviera offers a plethora of yummy edibles for the gourmand, however, don’t forget the mind-boggling array of Provencal fabrics to buy for your tablescape back home.  Gorgeous placemats, napkins and tablecloths can be found at every outdoor market in Provence's colorful fabrics, as well as some of the area’s finest shops (but make sure you get the ones made in France and not the Chinese knockoffs).  Finally, don’t forget to pay a visit to the enchanting village of Biot, where artisan glass-makers are still making the town’s famous bubble glass into stunning wine and water goblets, and over the top dinner service.

Where it All Started: America’s Foodie Movement

                                  Julia Child changed the culinary landscape of America

It all began in Paris.  Julia Child enrolled in 1949 in Paris' Cordon Bleu cooking school.  Having grown up in an entitled California family that had a chef, Julia didn’t know a thing about the kitchen.  However, her husband had accepted a job in Paris with the Foreign Service Department and Julia was determined to expand her horizons.  Never mind that the Cordon Bleu at that time was only open to professionals---Julia had attended a demonstration at the school and was hooked. Before long, she had talked her way into the program.

Through her cooking activities in Paris Julia met Simone Beck a few years later.  Madame Beck was from an aristocratic family in Normandy, and she had also attended the Cordon Bleu.  Soon Julia and Simone joined with another gourmand, Louisette Bertholle.  Before long the three were working on the first volume of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

During the 1950’s American cuisine was one built around convenience.  Women were joining the workforce and didn’t have time for cooking.  Frozen and canned food composed le menu du jour.  TV dinners were immensely popular for the working mother.  Quick and easy was in:  instant powdered soups were in (remember Lipton’s dried onion soup?) and renditions of tuna casseroles appeared in every woman’s magazine.  Frozen fish sticks were a favorite as were sloppy Joe’s.  Few purchased fresh vegetables or fruits as they spoiled too quickly---besides, everything was available canned or frozen.  It was a horrific time in America’s culinary history.

Then, in 1961, came Mastering the Art of French cooking which sowed the first seeds for change in America's foodways.  But, it was Julia’s TV cooking program launched in 1963, The French Chef, which brought the idea of a brave new world to the American housewife.  With her disarming personality, Julia demystified French cooking.  By the 1970’s, she had become a celebrity, and food and cooking had become as much a part of the pop culture as fashion, art, or rock n roll.

Julia Child inspired many food personalities of today.  One was Alice Waters who grew up watching Julia on television and went to France to study cooking right after her university studies.  While the 1960's and 70's belong to Julia, Alice inspired many of us with her farm to table ideas nearly 40 years ago.  Alice's restaurant, Chez Panisse in Berkeley, is a mecca for many foodies and is one of the most awarded and renowned restaurants in the world.  Alice was also was one of founders of the entire organic food movement.   Alice owes her start to Julia.

Merci beaucoup, Julia!

Sparkling Wines of Burgundy

                          Cremant can be made from the same grapes as nearby Champagne

Burgundy, France’s smallest wine region, is contiguous with the Champagne wine district.  You pass from one region to the other without any fanfare----on one side of the road is Champagne, the other side is Burgundy.  While every village in Burgundy produces a sparkling wine, only the bubbles in the Champagne region may put the word Champagne on their sparkling wine label.  The Burgundians call their bubbly Cremant.

Although today in Burgundy Cremant is not seen as one of the area’s Premier wines, it was not always so.  In 1827 records indicate that there were >1,000,000 bottles of Burgundy’s Cremant sold.  Furthermore, when Napoleon and Josephine passed through Burgundy in 1860, the red carpet which was rolled out for them included several  Cremant.

Cremant from Burgundy is often made from the same grapes as are used in Champagne, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.   In fact, Burgundy’s Cremant has some of the most stringent wine-making rules, so don’t think that Burgundian winemakers can turn their less successful wines into this less known bubbly.   Like Champagne, Cremant is also produced in blanc de blanc (white grapes), blanc de noir (from red grapes) and also Rose.

While I have mentioned Champagne in this article many times, let me be very clear.  I am in no way suggesting that Cremant is Champagne.  Burgundy’s terroir is different.  What I do want to say, however, is that there are some very well made Cremants that offer great value in comparison to Champagne.  It’s also worth noting that the popular Kir aperitif is Burgundian in origin.  Mixed with the area’s black currant liqueur (Crème de Cassis),  Kir Royales can be made by using Cremant versus a still wine.

Officially known as Cremant de Bourgogne, Burgundy's sparkling wines can offer an interesting change for bubble lovers.  Here are some examples to try (all are about $20).  Any would be perfect for a Mother's Day celebration.

     

    ~ Louis Bouillot, Perle d’Auore

    ~ Vitteaut-Alberti, Cuvee Agnes

    ~ Parigot

Suave Soave

Spring has sprung and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate its arrival than with a glass of a well-made Soave (swah vay).   This bone dry white wine comes from the wine district just west of Venice near Romeo and Juliet’s city of Verona.  Made from two grapes that are not grown in the US, Soave offers a wonderful opportunity to ring in Spring by exercising your wine muscle in a new way.

Soave is the name of a medieval town, the name of the wine district, as well as the name of the wine.  Only white wine is made in Soave and the majority of it comes from the Gargenega grape.  Soave can be made from as much as 100% of Gargenega, but by law Gargenega must be at least 70% of the blend.  Gargenega grapes provide high acidity, therefore, offer a powerful structure to the wine. The other grape allowed is Trebbiano, a quite historical grape native to Italy.  One of Italy’s most popular white grapes today, this varietal was used by the Romans to vinify wine, and it was introduced to France by Italy when the Pope moved his headquarters from the Vatican to Avignon in the 14^th century.

The flavor profile of Soave is influenced by the terroir in which the grapes grown.  Located at the base of the Italian Alps, Soave has benefited from millenniums of the Alps erosion.  The volcanic soil washed down has a powerful effect on the taste profile of the wine.  Expect nuances of minerality such as flint and lead pencil interspersed with subtle flavors of citrus, almonds, and honey….even though the wine is completely dry.  Aside from the almond and honey notes, Soave can be similar to a Chardonnay.

Look no further than award-winning producer Ca Rugate for a well-crafted Soave.  This family has a heartfelt bond with the land and has been making wines for several generations.  If you’re one of the lucky folks coming with us on the sold-out Northern Italy Truffle tour this fall, you will have a professional level tasting at Ca Rugate.  If not, you may want to pick up one or more of the following of their stunning Soave for a spring fling:

• Ca Rugate Soave Monte Alto

• Ca Rugate Soave Studio

• Ca Rugate Soave Monte Fiorentino

• Ca Rugate Soave San Michele (a best buy)