Weekend in Camargue part two

The day after the party here we took a day of relax . As we love so much fish and the seaside we decided to have lunch in "Le Grau du Roi" , a village on the coast and then to make a "siesta" at the beach . 

The restaurant were we had lunch is called "Le Palangre" see their site here

We had a tour of the port were the most of restaurants are and then decided to have lunch here
and I must say that everything was delicious with very fresh fish and lots of tasty vegetables .Before leaving I asked to enter into the kitchen to make  my compliments to the chef and then I realised why everything was so good : he was skinny annd with an healthy look   ! I commanded a traditional recipe of Camargue  "Brasucade de moules " here the recipe in french : it's very easy to do and nice to share with friends on summertime .

Brasucade of mussels

For 4 servings
2,5 kg of mussels
25 cl of extra-virgin olive oil (possibly of Provence )
Thyme , rosemary and laurel 
1 clove of garlic crashed
freshly grounded black pepper
1 teaspoon of Pastis
Arrange all the ingredients for thee marinade in a jar , close and let stand  for one day at least ( better few days )
Wash the mussels , put them in a big Paella plate and on the fire ( you'll need a big fire , better on wood like in the video here ) throw the water that mussel will eject , then add thhe marinade and let cook about 5 minutes . To eat immediately with friends  while tasting a chilly Rosé !

My neighbor's plate!

Dory's stuffed  rolls & vegetables

Tartare of shrimps and fruits , a nestful of flavors

Restaurant Le Palangre

56,Quai Général de Gaulle

30240 Le Grau du Roi

Phone 0033 (0)4 66 51 76 30

Weekend in Camargue and a fiesta

Last Sunday we were invited to a birthday party in Aigues Mortes (here) and as parties in Camargue are " very serious" we programmed to stay 2 days , that became eventually 3. We arrived at noon and met some friends in the centre of the town .They were drinking some chilly  rosé as everybody does here. Taking the time .....

We like so much Aigues Mortes because it's open-spirit and full of funny and original people . And women are charming , very feminine .



Claudia and her hands & feet , love them !!

Then we went to a home in the countryside nearby , were the party was.

An enormous pan full of extraordinary mussels , two rams on the barbeque , roasted potatoes , accras , and goat's cheese.

I brought some Prosecco and Aperol and made a venitian "Spritz" .

It was really a big party that lasted till morning ( but we went to bed before midnight , like Cinderella )



To continue.......

Camargue/Aigues-Mortes and the 'Bac de Sauvage'

Last Weekend my son came from Italy with a friend and we went back to Aigues-Mortes : I wanted to take him to Papy-Moise for a nice lunch . We arrived very late because of an heavy traffic on the roads but the owners where so happy to see us that they served us an amazing lunch . I felt so hungry that I totally forgot to take some photos , next time...

My son

  Rue de la Republique , Hotel "Le Templiers"

 

Then when you leave Aigues-Mortes towards St.Marie de la Mére  at a certain moment there's a small road on the right  with a signal '  Le bac du Sauvage' : a tiny country road that leads to a small restaurant . Then there's the river and a boat that transports you to the other side for free . Last year we arrived at noon so we stopped and had lunch : fresh fish and a wonderful "crème brulée'" , I can stil remember.

Now we just had a coffee or a glass of wine while waiting the boat .

Having coffee

Pretty 70 ths

Waiting for the boat

We do love this place ,it's magical ....far from the madly crowd ,authenthic . A little corner of Paradise .

Camargue/ Aigues Mortes

I do adore Camargue ,it's amazing ! If you come to Provence I highly recommend you to have a trip there . It's wild , and strange ....not easy to get as a tourist :you'll have to be open-minded . The first time I went to Aigues-Mortes it was with my son and we just had a tour : it's a very small city , closed by stone-walls , and I can imagine as it would appear in the Middle-Age coming from the country-side or the sea-side ,emerging from nothing ..... a fortress, with the tower of Constance on one side,emerging powerful. 

The Constance Tower viewed from the Channel

Last year I went to Aigues -Mortes with my love and we discovered a wonderful place that's called 'Papy Moise' ,a sort of "bar à tapas' where the food is simply amazing . But it's not as simple to be accepted there , the first time we waited half an hour before to be served ....but we felt that it was a good place so we had patience and we were rewarded ! Fresh oysters , best quality butter and baguettes were served to us with cold white wine . Now we are friends so every time we go we are welcomed . That is what I love , people just taking care , not disposable to sell themselves just for money . I don't have photos of Papy Moise , but next month we are invited  the owner's birthday , I hope to take some snapshots !

Here's my son ....we were on the way to Aigues-Mortes , and he pretended to make auto-stop .

Still my son ...on the way to Aigues-Mortes

The Tower of Constance

Aigues-Mortes

The walls