Provence from Fayence: Provence Guide

Rosé

It's official. I'm an adventurous hipster who likes challenging tastes, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

And what, dear reader, are you?

Provence ceramics

In Australia, it seems, architects and designers opine thus about Provencal crafts:

"Provence, in the south of France, is known around the world for its warm weather, picturesque villages, healthy food, colourful landscape and colourful home ware ceramics."

Watch out!

Grape diet

L'Occitane has launched some grape-based products: Grape Shower Oil, Grape Crushed Polish, Grape Warming Body Wrap, Grape Anti-Water Retention Gel and Grape Beauty Milk. But smothering your body with these things is not enough: you need to go on a 30-day grape diet.

"Those who have tried the whole thing testify to having lighter, more supple and toned bodies with sharper minds and lots more energy," says the reviewer from Malaysia. She lost 2kg in a half-hearted, slimmed-down version of the Grape Diet. Here's L'Occitane's official grape page, highlighting the "French tradition of detoxing by eating only grapes for several days."

This writer has always believed in having a large amount of grape-based products in his diet. There is a proven techniques - pioneered by the Romans - involving squeezing the juice out of grapes and letting it ferment in barrels. You then bottle the stuff and take the product orally. It comes in two basic colours: red and white. A hybrid pink version - particularly popular in Provence - is also available for summer months.

Provence pricier than Languedoc

People considering a property investment in the south of France should consider Languedoc. It's a bargain, according to Creme de Languedoc.

Go there and stay. Provence should stay a peaceful haven.

French Riviera cuisine

"On the beach, families dip into baskets and pull out whole fruits, sandwiches made with fresh-baked baguettes and salads. Children sprinkle salt on red-ripe tomatoes and snack on them like summer peaches as juice dribbles down their chins. Not once did we see pre-packaged sandwich bread on the store shelves."

Folk from Atlantic City are awe-inspired by a week's fine dining on the French Riviera. "There is nothing like a chunk of crusty French baguette bread slathered with Banon's award-winning fromage de chevre au lait cru, a rich pungent goat cheese tenderly wrapped with leaves to preserve freshness. "

They quickly spot that French pizzas are better than American: "We found pizza on most menus, but the preparation is unlike the typical style found in the United States. The pies, served with a fork and a serrated knife, have ultra thin crusts and are enough for two people to share as an appetizer or one person to eat alone. Absent is an overload of cheese and grease."

Nougat

Nougat, it appears, is from Provence. Technically, Drome Provencale, but close.

The French claim that nougat traces back to a Greek walnut confection known as nux gatum or mougo that was originally made using walnuts. In the 17^th century, Olivier of Serres planted almond trees close to Montelimar. It is thought that the almonds replaced the walnuts in the Greek recipe and evolved into nougat. Today, Montelimar is known mostly for nougat. The first commercial factory opened in the late 18^th century and now this city has 14 nougat manufacturers producing this wonderful confection.

Nougat is made by whipping egg whites until they are light and frothy. Sugar or honey syrup is added to stabilize the foam and creating a frappe; almonds (or other a list of other nuts such as hazelnuts, pistachios, or walnuts) are added. And therein lies the problem.

For those of you who enjoy amusingly bad translations, a history of nougat is provided by one Montelimar nougat manufacturer, Gerbe d'Or: "historically, the starting of the nougat goes back to several centuries."

Good Year for Russell Crowe?

Provence feelgood movie "A Good Year" has been released, to decidely mixed reviews.  A few nuggets:

• "Crowe's turn at comedy in his new movie has been panned."
• "Crowe himself seems to want to forego any romanticism - he has a goofy hair-parting, wears unappealing outfits and hums, haws and sputters in search of some humour. A Good Year is at times downright clumsy"

I meanly quote China Daily in full:

"The only real dud, though, was Ridley Scott's A Good Year, adapted from Peter Mayle's A Year In Provence, in which City whizkid Max inherits a crumbling French chateau. The first 20 minutes are wonderful, thanks to a flashback to Albert Finney as Max's uncle, former owner of the chateau.

Equally good are early London scenes with Russell Crowe as the obnoxious Max. Once the film hits France, the rot sets in faster than it attacks the chateau's vines. A miscast Crowe shows little knack for comedy, smirking his way through scene after scene filled with clich¨¦s about France. Sadly, a Good Year barely qualifies as plonk."

Here's a link to the Good Year trailer.

Mons luxury appartments

We're thrilled that our friend Arja who has lovingly converted the Signeur of Mons' townhouse into luxury appartments is being plugged by the NY Times. Second only to Leslie Caron.

Millionaire Fair

Cannes will be riddled with millionaires looking for new Bentleys and gold-plated mobile phones.

Am I bothered? No, but I am amused by the hilarious translation on the Cannes Palais des Festivales website:

"The Millionaire Fair enjoys without precedent a success and gathers the main actors of luxury industry made of a hundred companies. The most luxurious cars, the watches, the most precious jewels, the most sumptuous residences, unique concept of living, unusual boats and all the most beautiful that the world can offer to himself, will be presented to the public in a muffled atmosphere. This is why the Millionaire Fair is the ideal event to form contacts and to allow the epicureans to find themselves in a luxury and exceptional place.

The Millionaire Fair became rapidly an inescapable concept through the world. The visitors and the clients enjoy an unique experience, entertaining even magic where we can appreciate music and all the entertainments proposed, while discovering all the new luxury products. In September it will be the turn of France to go into ecstasies over this spectacular abundance."

Rich they may be, but can they speak English?

Gordon Ramsey in St Tropez

Gordon Ramsey - A list chef & now dubbed "gorging Ramsey" by the Mirror - went the beach at St. Tropez after a nice, big lunch, took off his shirt, as you do, to reveal a big, fat tum. Quoth the Mirror, "as he stripped off on one of the Cote D'Azur's beaches, it was clear the foul-mouthed star has been letting himself go. His flabber heaved as he jabbered on his mobile while walking on the beach."

I am starting a campaign to keep the beaches of the Riviera clean.