Thursday, August 29, 2013

Figues in Provence. Picnic near St Remy de Provence :)

When doing one of my "foodies tour", the idea is to show who's behind those lovely products that you taste in Provence. Spending time with the producer is usually as important as tasting the produce. And this is certainly the case with Francis at Les Figuières.

The place can prove tricky to find but when you get there, you are trully in the middle of a peaceful figues heaven.....

Francis and his lovely wife Jacqueline opened their Figues grove in 1968 and have, since then, dedicated their life to this gorgeous and tasty fruits. They travel around the world during the winter season to find some new figue trees.

So far they have 4 000 trees with 150 different types of figues allowing them to pick from June to late October.

When you arrive, Francis will surely be around to greet you, have you to taste some fresh figues and tell you jokes.
He'll tell you the story of the figues and is probably one of the very few person in the region able to answer any question you may have.

The lovely (and tiny) shed in the garden is the shop were you'll be able to taste as much as 10 products of his farm. His sweet jam (with orange from Seville, with almond, walnut, spices...) or his savoury chutneys, mustard, vinegar....

And if you are here around noon, you will be able to enjoy his garden for free. Either sitting on one of the "so french" outside plastic chairs and table or sitting under the shade of the figues trees or the hazelnuts trees. (Best to check that no group are booked on the day).

Anyhow, an adventure you wont regret....

Les Figuières
713 Chemin du Mas de la musique
13 690 Graveson en Provence
04 90 95 72 03
infos@lesfiguieres.com
Web site 
10/15 mn drive from St Remy



Provencal figues August 27 2013

Tasting with Francis


Figue "Dauphine" just pick for tasting...

The shop with its picnic place


Picnicing and napping in Provence


 

Monday, August 26, 2013

Restaurant Ô Caprices de Mathias St Remy de Provence My favourite...

Located just outside of the Village centre on the Voie Aurélia (ancient roman road), the restaurant Ô Caprices de Mathias is my favourite restaurant for different reasons.

1 - I really like the way Mathias works, using only fresh food, whenever possible buying from local producers (all his suppliers are mentioned on the web site),
2- He cooks a traditional Provencal cuisine but with a modern twist,
3 - The location is lovely. Admist an Olive grove with a stunning view over the Alpilles mountain and the back of the Saint Paul Hospital where Van Gogh lived,
4 - The Value for Money is there!!!
      3 courses lunch menu including a glass of wine for 20 €
      3 courses dinner as from 31 €
5 - Away from the busy centre, this is a peacefull heaven....

Ô Caprices de Mathias
Domaine de Métifiot
Chemin de la croix des vertus
13 210 Saint Remy de Provence
web site
+33 (0)4 32 62 00 00

Open for lunch and dinner
closed on Wednesday and Thursday
Best to book your table

Mathias the chef

Alpilles view in June 2013
See the tip of Saint Paul Church in the back ground


Fleur de melon and its glass of Muscat wine

Chiboust of Asparagus

Salmon "aller retour"

Fruits salad and espuma of rosemary

Strawsberry ice cream from the garden






Sunday, August 25, 2013

September 2013 Activities in St Remy de Provence

September should be a very nice month weather wise by the the look of the forecast and it is going to be a full fun month.
Bellow some activities you might want to join....


Tuesday 3rd and Tuesday 10th
From 7pm to 11pm
MARCHE DES CREATEURS
50 craftmen by the church and the town hall square


Sept 2nd to 8th

Tennis ATP Trophée des Alpilles where you can see the player (32 of the best world player ranked from 150 to 50th best players).
ENTRANCE IS FREE
more details (in French only)



Organa Festival in the Saint Remy church

Saturday 7th September 6.30 pm
Sunday 8th September 6 pm
Saturday 14th Sept  6.30 pm
Sunday 15th Sept 5.30 pm

Visit of our church organ  between 2 and 4pm on Sunday 15th
more details

Sunday 8th Sept All day
ROUTE DES ARTISTES
100 painters, sculptors and other artists exhibit in the st Remy streets


From Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th
Jazz Festival in the Alpilles



SEPTEMBER 14th AND 15th
PATRIMONY DAY
throughout France
Get free access to a numerous number of museum and site
Access to other places opened on those special day of the year
Check the program at the tourist offices

Sunday 15th Sept All day
Vide Grenier (Garage sell) and Brocante 
Intermarché Car Park

Sat 21st to Sunday 29th
FETES VOTIVES of St Remy
Our local yearly festive week 
Activities worth the trip to St Remy

- Sat 21st 4.30pm
Défilé des vieux métiers
A parade of local wearing the old craftmen clothes
- Fun local Ball dancing by the town Hall on Sat 21st,Tuesday 24th, 

FIRE WORKS 
Tuesday 24th at 10.30pm 
By the church

Plus a number of Course Camarguaise, all local corrida where the bulls dont get killed but the torreros are to grap some ornaments placed on the horn of the bulls.

IN NEARBY ARLES

From August 25th to Sept 1st
ARELATE FESTIVAL
Revive the roman times 
Every day from 9.30am to 6.30pm
By the Arena or the town hall square
Plenty of free activities


Sept 6th to Sept 8th 
The Feria du riz
One the 2 main feria of the year
looked after by the locals, expect a lot of people

Sept 14th and 15th
Parade of the rice harvest
See the camargue horses in the town centre

Sept 21st to 29th
Salon des Antiquaires
Over 100 antiques dealers
10am to 7pm
Palais des congrés (by the Arles Antiques musuem)

This list is of course not exhaustive....