So we holidayed in Europe this year… Sammy the boys, myself & friends started off in gorgeous rural England ( with the obligatory trips to London to do this and that… then onto a fast train, through France, all the way down south to Marseilles, then another little train to St Cyr sur Mer; a quaint fisherman town…weather perfect ! loads of medieval villages nearby, markets with produce that brought tears to my eyes, the cicadas singing furiously from sunrise to sunset….
So we ate and we drank, lots… we ate in villages, on the riviera, in little troquets and in Parisian bars and brasserie…. the food disappointed me in terms of how lazy and complacent the industry is in that initial price bracket: 25 euro pp, which is more than enough for a full house experience at the foodbarn…or quite a few other good eateries in SA…. yes, total lack of imagination and fairly aloof attitude from the waiters knowing they’ll get their 14.5% no matter what.
The food at markets and even supermarkets however, was ridiculous, great choice, great fruit and veg, the condiments, olives, spices… the cheeses and the fish…. my word…because the med does not suffer from overfishing, there are no red or orange list there, still caught in the traditional way by little fishers… prices reasonable, (apart from our shocking exchange rate) and the quality exceptional, such taste…
So we cooked at home…. and it felt just like cooking here at home, which is just right. I realised that i was missing my adopted home..
the best meal was had in Soho London at Polpo, the best fish soup was at “chez Henry” near the beach at St Cyr, the boys agreed that the best dessert was the chocolate fondant at “chez Henry” as well, the best macaroon were from “Ladurée” and i could not stop drinking Orangina during the day and Rosé de Bandol at night….
