The French and Italian Riviera spans from La Spezia, Italy all the way to Toulon, France. A large chunk of the Riviera, the French “Cote d’Azur”, has attracted foreigners since the arrival of the British upper class in the late 18th century. The arrival of railways in the 19th century brought even more, and was immortalized by the slew of famous painters and writers attracted by the region’s spectacular vistas, colors and light.
The climate and resources of the region also cultivated rich culinary traditions linked to fresh produce, grains and seafood from the Mediterranean. Where are those products today? Does the sea still offer its bounty for local dishes? These are just a few of the questions we seek to answer in our journeys.
We will be focusing our research on the zone from San Remo, Italy to St. Tropez, France, through the famous cities of Menton, Monaco, Nice, Antibes, Cannes among many other smaller cities and villages on the coast and in the hinterland. We will explore and document their markets, local culinary traditions and meet producers of fruits, vegetables amongst others.
References: Wikipedia, Merriam-Webster