Eating Your Way Around the Cote D’Azur

The stunning coastal region of the Cote D'Azur is an ideal destination in which to enjoy French camping holidays. Geographically the area is incredibly diverse, and in the space of a few hours you could find yourself in lush hill-top towns, quaint traditional fishing villages or cosmopolitan seaside resorts. With around 300 days of sunshine a year in this part of France, camping is the most versatile and fun way to explore the attractions of the magical Mediterranean coastline; and without a doubt, one of the most delectable delights of the region is its food.
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<br>Commonly known as the French Riviera, the Cote D'Azur is home to over 160 different nationalities. This amazing cultural diversity is represented in the huge range of cuisine available for your eating pleasure. If you choose the freedom of hiring a mobile home in France, you could eat lunch like a local in a mountain village and dinner like millionaire in a five star restaurant in Cannes! But whichever way your taste buds lean, by experiencing the wonderful blend of modern and traditional foods that you will discover on a camping holiday to France, it will open your eyes to a world of gastronomic pleasure.
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<br>Market food
<br>One of the best things about French camping holidays is the ability to really get to know the community and live like a local – and the best thing about being a local on the Cote D'Azur is visiting the many marche paysanne (farmers markets) and marche bio (organic markets). They all offer a mouth-watering array of fresh foods and produce, but best to arrive early because by noon all you'll be left with is the crumbs! Pick up some cured or potted meats, freshly baked baguettes and crumbly fruit pastries, and pop back for a picnic in your mobile home. France is renowned for her cheeses and you may also want to add a few pieces of pungent, creamy goat's cheese to your lunch. The markets are not just a wonderful place to buy your daily food - you can also pick up a fabulous selection of olives, oils, spices, lavender and dried herbs.
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<br>Traditional Specialty Dishes
<br>If you travel slightly inland you will find ancient hill towns still living as they have done for centuries. On your French camping holidays on the Cote D'Azur, your camp site will be in easy proximity to these out-of-the-way villages. They are a great place to try some of the delicious traditional dishes of Provence-Alpes-Cote-D'Azur. The cuisine from this area is very distinctive. Its Mediterranean location brings with it the influence of hot spices and fresh seafood. You should definitely not miss trying the traditional Ratatouille and Bouillabaisse, heavily flavoured with local herbs, and packed full of fresh vegetables or juicy seafood. You will also be able to sample delicious Tapenade made from local green and black olives, Pistou (pesto, heavily laden with garlic and salt), and Rouille – a spicy sauce for seafood that comes with croutons and grated cheese.
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<br>Cordon Bleu
<br>If you feel like experiencing the life of the rich and famous, there are plenty of 5 star restaurants in Cannes or St Tropez in which to live out your food fantasies - and plenty of secret corners around which to park your mobile home! France is deservedly famous for its fabulous cuisine and the sophisticated palates of international guests of the Cote D'Azur are well catered for. You can dine in luxury on such dishes as plump Moules and Sea Bass in a delicately scented broth; sublime truffle soufflé stuffed with hidden olives; zucchini filled with lamb on a fresh wild thyme sauce or scallops with 'crème légère au caviar' and a port dressing. And of course you will want to wash it all down with a chilled vintage chardonnay or a glass of aromatic aged port, as you watch the passing parade of millionaires!
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<br>However you choose to experience the food on your camping holidays in France, you can be sure that the flavours of her cuisine will be equally matched by the flavours of her stunning countryside.
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<br>About the Author: Eamon Hoolihan is the brand and advertising manager of Canvas Holidays, one of the leading European camping and mobile home holiday operators in the UK. With over 40 years of experience, Canvas offer a superb range of<a href="http://www.canvasholidays.co.uk/Destinations/france/Vendée-850-0.aspx" rel="nofollow"> French camping holidays </a> as well as holidays to Spain, Italy and a total of 9 European countries.
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