Le Girelier - Not Worth It

Can't really recommend this place based on the service. If you're looking for a tourist trap with waiters that think they own the yachts outside on the port, then step right in.

Le Girelier's strong point and downfall is that they're a service 'non-stop' type of place. Which means they're open for lunch and dinner and that time in between. Arab time. And that's when we went, obvs. But the vibe was totally off. The head waiter was having a rough day and so we had a rough experience. 

This was the first time I've ever been at a French restaurant where the entree and the main dish arrived simultaneously. The absolute horror! The disgrace of it all! My poor brother clawed his escargots out of their shell only to follow it up with a tepid 60€ bouillabaisse! And my sister received her main dish after we've all finished ours! It's a crime I tell you!!

I however had a pleasant al dente pasta. The interesting thing about the dish is its called "al dente spaghetti" with tomato, so if they over cook the pasta...then that's not the correct dish. But thankfully the kitchen were on point, even if the staff in the restaurant were frazzled and bored. Yes bored.

I can assure you that Mr. Hon Hon Hon got a measly tip! Never again!

Le Girelier

Quai Jean Jaurès

St Tropez

France

La Pizza Cresci - A "Nice" Tradition

There was quite a que outside Pizza Cresci by the old port in Cannes. That's a good sign that a place serves food worth waiting for. And that's exactly what prompted our curiosity to try it. We happened upon the original Pizza Cresci on rue Massena in Nice on a lazy Wednesday afternoon and promptly got a table. Joy! 

The pizza, as one would expect, was baked in a wood fire oven. Now the flair in Cresci's pizza is in the cheese. It clearly wasn't mozzarella. And I refrained from asking the waiter about the cheese; I kind of wanted it to remain a mystery. A cheesy delicious mystery that you just have to try for yourself. (On second thought it is mozzarella...but not the kind you've had before!) I'm not the biggest pizza fan, but this is one pizza I'll crave for years to come. 

34 rue Massena

Nice, France

3 Quai St Pierre

Cannes, France

A Day in St. Tropez

Places I've visited: 

Dior des Lices

13 rue François Sibilli

La Tarte Tropézienne

(Literally everywhere)

Barbarac Ice Cream

2 Général Allard 

Hotel de Paris

Place Croix de Fer

And a random candy shop that I totally forgot! I'll post the address here when I can.

Le Vieux Moulin - Charming, Picturesque, Delicious

"Mother knows best." The age old adage proves to be true once again. I let her pick the restaurant for Sunday lunch at St Paul de Vence, an adorable little town on the hills of the Côte d'Azur. She chose Le Vieux Moulin, an equally cute restaurant just outside the "castle" walls. 

Here, the waiters were friendly, the service was quick, and the view from the terrace was breathtaking. Considering that some loyal local customers seemed to dine here, I took it as a sign that the food here must be good. And it was!

We had the Veal with mushrooms and gnocchi. Heaven. It was rustic and refined at the same time. My brother was fascinated with the gnocchi, which was arguably my favorite part of the dish. My sister had the duck with honey, which she ate silently (meaning she liked it very much.) The two risottos we ordered were the gambas and the scallops. Both cooked to perfection. I can't say this was an unexpectedly good lunch because I did expect a good lunch. What I didn't expect was a great lunch! Which is exactly what we got.

I've been dying to try Strawberry soup for the longest time. Yes, soup. Once I saw it on the dessert menu I knew that was what I was going to order without hesitation. It was everything I had hoped it would be. Sweet, succulent, fresh. The perfect summer's day dessert. But the pièce de résistance was undoubtedly that little scoop of milk flavored ice cream. It was...in a word...spellbinding. I'd have a tub of that all on my own. No problem.

I highly recommend Le Vieux Moulin. As well as a short walk around St Paul to burn those cals!

This place really is a hidden gem. Follow the locals or your mother's instincts, both are always right.

Honorable mention: the vanilla millefeuille!

Le Vieux Moulin

Route de Vence

06570 Saint Paul de Vence

France 

T: +33 (0)4 93 58 36 76 

La Mère Germaine - Fresh So Fresh

Wow. This place... This place reminded me that with the right ingredients and a bit of skill, food is transformed into magic. 

If you ever find yourself anywhere near Villefranche-sur-mer you must give La Mère Germaine a try. I called to reserve a table but they said they were fully booked (obviously.) So with the utmost disregard we headed there anyway. Boy am I glad we did! Tip: they have a valet service. Villefranche is a hilly town. If you park anywhere above the port you're gonna climb back up there post meal. It's great cardio but you're on vacation so why bother.

The Lobster Salad. I mean. Let me tell you. This dish defines freshness. It's as simple as a dish can ever get. But the magic is when everything on the plate sings on your palate. This dish will for ever live on in my memory as the sweetest song my taste buds have ever heard. Every element on the plate made sense. From the lobster, to the mesclun greens, to the grapefruit, to the (ever so light) balsamic dressing. A cohesive dish is a successful dish. A++++

In random order our table also ordered: Prawn Curry, Sole Meunière, and the daily special; John Dory and 2 scallops with squid ink pasta.

The desserts were outstanding as well. We had the creme brûlée; (nature, chocolat, café) and the gateaux au chocolat. The praline feuilletine base was extraordinarily delicious. It added the perfect crunchy balance to the creamy mousiness of the chocolate. Superb! 

This historic restaurant has been doing just fine since 1938. They know what they're doing. And that's fresh fresh fresh food! 

P.S I read that their bouillabaisse is quite good. 

7 Quai Amiral Courbet, 06230

Villefranche-sur-mer, France

T: +33 (0)493017139