2005-7-30 5:24pm
As owner of a retail shop specializing in French food products and French country gifts I often get asked for travel tips. This past winter and spring brought many such inquiries from customers. Since my business focuses on food, the most popular request is for a great restaurant recommendation for an upcoming trip. Customers see me as a sort of concierge with private knowledge of the finest places to dine in France. Truth be told, when I travel to France I try to blend in with the locals -- often dining at the single restaurant available in a quaint French country town (I prefer the small towns off the beaten path). I don't make a point of going to the hottest spots, nor do I seek out chefs and restaurants that are on the rise or praised by Michelin and other top reviewers. Instead, I dine for the combined enjoyment of good food and company and absorption of the local atmosphere. Don’t get me wrong, I have been know to enjoy a fine meal at a top caliber restaurant such as Le Moulin de Mougins… it’s just not what I choose on a regular basis.
Often my favorite restaurant is not a restaurant at all, but wherever I find myself at the end of a day holding a bag filled with the goodies I've collected at various markets. I very much enjoy making meals of fresh bread, cheese, quiches, tapenade and pates. Picnics with these ingredients often provide a great meal and wonderful memories, especially when combined with a nice bottle of wine, a view and the company of a fellow traveller.
A couple of years ago my mother accompanied me on a trip around Provence, France. She was accustomed to visiting main-stream towns and dining at top restaurants. Her normal day involved taking in breakfast, lunch and dinner at fine restaurants. I warned her in advance that my style of traveling around France may seem to her as if we’re “roughing it”. I think it took her a moment to adjust, though before long she was looking forward to our breakfasts of pastries, croissants and preserves accumulated on a quick trip to the bakery (la boulangerie) and our end of day meals prepared from the day's 'harvest' accumulated from the markets. In lieu of taking in all meals at restaurants we would enjoy coffee and tea at a little cafe and long leisurely lunches at another. In addition to offering an incredible experience and gastronomic delight - dining this way also provided exceptional savings.So when people ask me for suggestions my most popular response is often "visit the local markets, pick up cheese, bread, pate and other delights and make your own fun". In another post I plan to list some of my favorite markets... Since in a way they are the source for my favorite French restaurant.
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