What I Ate at Coté Sud Vivre

What to eat at Coté Sud Vivre?
Fruit and more fruit. Olives are a fruit. Did you know.

Abricots are fabulous here. Last night I got to taste fresh apricots from a fruit grower in Provence who supplies Galeries Lafayette Gourmand, Thibaud Piqué Selection. He said his fruits (cerise, melon, strawberry varieties) were picked ripe off the tree yesterday and you must eat them today (note the pit above). His father and uncle have been growing fruit for 40 year. Nothing tastes like fruit fresh off the tree does it?

Eat ice cream in Aix. Very refreshing in the heat. Giovanni Gelateria on the far end of 47, cours Meribeau, the main street. And Aix & Terra has excellent ice cream fruity flavors. Both were at the salon Côté Sud event.

Here's a regional specialty not-to-be-missed, Delices de Provence - candies that look just like fresh green almonds but there's not any almond inside. Just melt-in-your-mouth chocolate ganache. I brought them back to paint but in a moment of temptation tasted one and soon all three were gone. I have seen them in La Mere de Famille but they cost a fortune.

Save yourself a trip to Saint Tropez and eat their famous pastry, la tarte Tropezienne on 15, rue Gaston de Saporta.

First created in 1955 and even as a non-cream eater they are very hard to resist. Fortunately they have minis.

You can save calories and not overdo it with the full-size Tropezienne.
 

For all those fabulous spreads like anchioade, tapenade, moutarde, exotic salts, amazing jams like melon and the best lemon curd ever you must visit Aix & Terra. They were at the salon Cote Sud Vivre. I tried out every single jar on chunks of bread. Certain people can not be trusted with a whole jar of jam. You will be different and will not go hog wild woofing these down with a spoon.

Go to the Aix marché for the best all round food and buy yourself a picnic.

Fresh and prepared foods, plus the famous herbs de Provence and calissons.

Then find a seat at a café and eat all the regional specialties. Much better in my opinion than most of the touristy restaurants I saw overflowing with crowds.

Pick up a typical Provencal market basket to show off when you get home. Everyone will be envious and impressed at your boldness.

Make a watercolor blob. And buy a Provencal dish towel for heaven's sake.