The Saga of the Regions #1: It looks like the South...
Four boxes, four regions, and a mosaic of flavours synonymous with escape! At la belle-iloise, we love to treat you to our quality preserves, and to take you on a journey with their countless recipes. So, to mark the launch of our new Regional Gift Sets, we're taking you on a little tour of France and its beautiful horizons...
MENTON, LA VILLE DES JARDINS ET DU CITRON
Bèn-vengudo ! Welcome to Provence! Famous for its gentle way of life, its luscious garrigue and its charming calanques lined with olive, lemon and mimosa trees, Provence invites you to laze around in the glorious sunshine.
In honour of our new On dirait le Sud gift set, we've chosen to escape to Menton, where La Belle Iloise opened its shop at 2, rue Piéta in 2009. Take a stroll through the heart of the "City of Gardens and Lemons", in the company of Giorgia, a sales assistant and local ambassador for belle-iloise for the past 12 years!
How long have you lived in the South of France? Do you live in Menton?
I come from a small village very close to Menton, but on the other side of the border, in Italy! I grew up there and returned to live there after my studies: my husband comes from the same area, so we really are natives (laughs). It's a village renowned for its taggiasca olives, which are as good as Nice olives!
LA BELLE-ILOISE
How did you get to La Belle Iloise?
I discovered belle-iloise when I was wandering around Menton one day to visit my parents, who have lived there for around thirty years. The shop was looking for a sales assistant, so I applied, and today I've been working here for 12 years!
What's funny, and what I love, is that I arrived at la belle-iloise on 23 April, Saint George's Day, which is also my birthday because my name is Giorgia! (laughs).
What do you like about your job?
I like to welcome people in the belle-iloise spirit, show them our products, our know-how, the latest novelties, and have a good time together! I explain to them that la belle-iloise is a French family business, that we haven't been around for a day, but for over 90 years, and that there's a whole history behind it!
What does belle-iloise mean to you?
For me, it's above all a wonderful experience, a human adventure that I really enjoy! La belle-iloise's values resonate with my own: the desire to do things well, the love of quality, respect for people, nature and the environment... all these things are very important to me!
I also appreciate the company's spirit of perseverance: the fact of always moving forward and staying positive, even in difficult times, without giving in or taking the easy way out. At la belle-iloise, we don't do things by halves!
What's your favourite belle-iloise recipe?
I love all the products, and if I had to choose just one, it would be the Sardines with olives from Nice!
They remind me of my childhood, surrounded by olive trees. I still have them in my garden and on the hills above the village. Because it's so mountainous and steep, we can't use machinery, so we harvest the olives by hand, using nets, just like in the old days, and then we make our own olive oil at home!
I love citrus notes, so I'm also crazy about the Sardines with lemon thyme and Timut pepper, and the Sardines with green pepper and kumquat!
What does eating well mean to you?
For me, eating well means eating healthily, with simple, well-made products that haven't undergone too much processing. I pay a lot of attention to the origin of the products: I only buy French or Italian products. It's not quantity that counts, but quality!
When it comes to meals, I like to take things slowly, enjoy the peace and quiet, and take my time when eating. At lunchtime, I often have my lunch facing the sea, in the peace and quiet! But the best thing of all is the conviviality, eating together around the table. During the week, I don't have the time, so at the weekend I make the most of it by cooking and sharing good meals with family and friends!
LOOKS LIKE THE SOUTH
What does the South mean to you?
The South is a superb region, always sunny. The sea, the mountains, the sun, the light... everything here is magical, and there's everything you need. It's the dolce vita!
Tell us about Menton and the area where the shop is located?
Menton is a lively and pleasant town to live in. The shop is located in a small pedestrian street in the old town, 2 minutes from the beach.
There is a magnificent bitter orange tree, a bigaradier, right at the entrance to the shop. It's a very typical Côte d'Azur tree. Passers-by stop to admire it, especially when it's in flower, as it is at the moment! You can smell the orange fragrance all around the shop, it's great! (laughs)
What are the must-see places or activities in the area?
The best thing to do is wander around the old town, wandering through its picturesque streets and colourful facades.
Menton is like a small village! From the church of Saint-Michel, you can admire a splendid panorama of the town. There's also a lovely walk along the Sablettes beach, between the Vieux Port and the Port de Garavan, and some magnificent Mediterranean gardens to visit, such as the Serre de la Madone!
A typically local recipe to share?
Green pie, also known as spring pie! It can be made with chard, squash, artichokes or wild herbs such as borage... depending on the season, or what's available!
I work the pastry with a rolling pin to make it as thin as possible. I cook the vegetables with onion, parmesan, pepper and salt, then arrange them on a layer of pastry, before closing the pie gently. I take good care of the edges to make it as pretty as possible, and then I put the whole thing in the oven at 180 degrees for 40 minutes!
The summer season is about to begin, what can we wish you?
May the season go well, and may we have a fine summer, with heat and rain too, because that's important for nature!
Photo credits: Éric Frotier de Bagneux
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