What I Ate in Aix

What to eat in Aix?
Fruit fruit fruit! Olives are a fruit too you know...

Abricots are fabulous here! Last night I got to taste fresh fresh fresh apricots from a fruit grower in Provence who supplies Galeries Lafayette Gourmand, Thibaud Piqué Selection. He said his fruits (cerise, melon, strawberry varieties etc.) were picked ripe off the tree yesterday. And to eat them today (note the pit above). His father and uncle have been growing fruit for 40 year. Nothing tastes like 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 drag. and Aix & Terra has excellent ice creams fruity flavors. Both were at the salon Côté Sud event thanks gawd...

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 what so ever inside. Just a supremely lush melt-in-your-mouth ganache that will have you wanting more. I brought them back to paint but in a moment of temptation tasted one and boom all three were gone : ( I have seen them in La Mere de Famille but they cost a small fortune...hmmm

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

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

So you can save on 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 HAVE to visit Aix & Terra. They were at the salon and I stood there trying out every single jar on chunks of bread. Unfortunately certain people can not be trusted with a whole jar of jam and they know who they are. Still you will be different I'm sure and will not go hog wild woofing these down with a spoon by the sink etc....

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

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

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

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

Make a watercolor blob while your at it just to get into the colorful swing of things...

And do buy a representative Provencal dish towel for heaven's sake.