I'll hopefully be spending a month in the south of France (Montpellier, to be exact) this summer and just wanted any tips you may have on foods and wines that I can find around there! Thanks in advance!
I recommend getting a schedule for the morning markets in all the little towns around there. Then, every day you can go to a different market and try out the different breads and cheeses and olives and vegetables--yum, whatever you like to eat, just remembering my time there is making my mouth water. We usually ended up buying picnic food for later in the day--goat cheese on walnut bread was my particular favorite, but there were so many different things to try. Tapenade, pissaladiere. Apricots--really delicious apricots. Oh, and not at the market, but I also liked the pita bread stuffed with lamb (gyros) that you could buy on the street--cheap and delicious.
I'm sorry, I don't know the first thing about wine. My aunts and uncles, who were with me, would go to the small-town wineries with big plastic jugs that they would get filled from nozzles in the wall, like at a gas station, and they were always happy, but since they love wine and speak French (neither of which is true for me) I don't know if that's useful advice.
I'm jealous too....
Posts: 106 | Location: from California/now in Asia | Registered: 13 December 2004
I second Americanglobetrekker and Rosemary's posts - I looved socca in Nice, and market day throughout Provence. We also enjoyed going into grocery stores and finding new and delicious spreads, jellies, and cheeses.
Try the pistou (pesto) on pasta or meats...
Posts: 35 | Location: Seattle | Registered: 05 April 2007
Definitely try cassoulet since it's the specialty of the Languedoc-Rousillion region (which Montpellier is a part of). I love this dish! For wines, of course try the local Languedoc wines or even Cotes du Rhones.
Posts: 25 | Location: H.K. | Registered: 09 June 2005
