The Saga of the Regions #2: South-West side...
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...
SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ, THE CITY OF CORSAIRS
Ongi etorri ! Welcome to the Basque Country! Celebrated for its rolling, verdant coastline with its immense ocean-blue waves, its half-timbered houses clad in red and white, and the legendary hospitality of its inhabitants, the Basque Country is an inviting place to dine and be merry.
In honour of our new Côté Sud-Ouest boxed set, we've chosen to set sail for Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where the belle-iloise opened its shop at 21, Rue Gambetta in 2002.
Venture into the heart of the "City of Privateers", in the company of Belen, sales assistant and local ambassador for belle-iloise for the past 12 years!
How long have you lived in the South West? Is it a good place to live?
I'm originally from the Spanish Basque country, from San Sebastian, just 30 km from Saint-Jean-de-Luz! I came to live on the French side 26 years ago, when I settled in Hendaye in 1997.
It's a great place to live! The people are happy, it's pretty, friendly, lively... and the food's great!
The weather's fine, even if it often rains: the weather changes quickly, and in a single day you can have anything. The good thing about the rain is that it's good for nature - it's very green here!
LA BELLE-ILOISE
What do you like about your job?
What I like is that we sell good, quality products that are guaranteed to please! Most passers-by don't know about belle-iloise, so I tell them about our history, the brand, our expertise...
Our flagship products are, of course, Sardines à la luzienne and Emietté de thon à la luzienne, recipes inspired by the local culinary world, with Espelette chilli pepper and Bayonne ham! The Basque-style soup is also very popular!
What does belle-iloise mean to you?
It's about eating well: eating healthily and enjoying it. That's what matters most to me. I love the taste of simplicity, and that's what belle-iloise offers: the products are so good just the way they are, there's no need to add anything to them!
What's your favourite belle-iloise recipe?
I really like Tuna with Green Pepper, with its great taste of white albacore tuna enhanced by the fragrant notes of olive oil and green pepper. I love eating it as is with boiled potatoes!
I also love Lobster Bisque, Shellfish Velouté and Rock Fish Soup. I love making risottos with them: I cook the rice, then add the soup, bisque or velouté, and nothing else! No need for cheese or anything, it's delicious and so easy to make!
What does eating well mean to you?
For me, eating well means simplicity, without over-preparation. When you have the right ingredients, the good taste is there, there's no need to add or disguise it! It's also about meals with the family, those that last a long time and where we enjoy being together...
SOUTH-WEST SIDE
What does the Basque Country mean to you?
The Basque Country has always been my home, even if I'm on the French side now! We're a simple, friendly and welcoming people. The countryside is undulating and there are just as many beautiful villages to visit inland, in the hinterland, as on the coast!
Tell me about the town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the area where the shop is located?
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a small town by the sea. The shop is located right in the town centre, on rue Gambetta, the main pedestrian street, 100 metres from the Grande Plage! We're right next to the church of Saint Jean Baptiste, where Louis XIV got married.
What are the must-see places or activities in the area?
In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, you have to stroll through the town along the white houses with their red, green or blue half-timbering... The must-sees are the house of Louis XIV, on the Place of the same name, the fish market and the fishing port in Ciboure, which you can see from the end of rue Gambetta. Everything is as it was in the old days!
In the region, you absolutely must visit the village of Espelette, which is very pretty and full of flowers, and where you can see chillies on every house. For me, it's the most beautiful village in the Basque Country!
A typically local recipe to share?
I love veal Axoa. It's a ragout of minced meat in a tomato sauce with onions, peppers, chopped peppers and Espelette chilli. You can serve it with potatoes, rice, pasta... it's delicious!
At home, I use Espelette chilli a lot - I use it almost everywhere! It's a chilli that's very fragrant and not spicy! It goes wonderfully well with meat and fish: in pasta bolognese, for example, it's very good! It's the little Basque touch that I like to add to classic French or Spanish dishes.
The summer season is about to begin, what can we wish you?
I get a real thrill when I see my customers come back every summer, and they all do! Saint-Jean-de-Luz has a very international clientele, with people from all over: Spain, Germany, the United States, Japan... I love this summer melting pot!
Photo credits: Éric Frotier de Bagneux
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