THE FRENCH RIVIERA - France 2014 - page 1065

(Note: Not all destinations are covered in detail in this topic.)
Adynamic concentration ofwell-organized modern-andcontemporary-art museums
(many described in this topic) litter the Riviera, allowing art-lovers to appreciate these
masters' works while immersed in the same sun and culture that inspired them. Many
of the museums were designed to blend pieces with the surrounding views, gardens, and
fountains, thus highlighting that modern art is not only stimulating, but sometimes simply
beautiful.
The Riviera's Cuisine Scene
The Riviera adds an Italian-Mediterranean flair to the food of Provence. While many of
the same dishes served in Provence are available throughout the Riviera (see “Provence's
Cuisine Scene” on here ) , there are differences, especially if you look for anything Italian
or from the sea.
Local specialties are bouillabaisse (the spicy seafood stew that seems worth the cost
only for those with a seafood fetish), bourride (a creamy fish soup thickened with aioli, a
garlic sauce), and salade niçoise (nee-swaz). This salad has many variations, though most
include a base of green salad topped with green beans, boiled potatoes (sometimes rice),
tomatoes (sometimes corn), anchovies, olives, hard-boiled eggs, and lots of tuna. You'll
alsofindthesetastybreadtreats: panbagnat (likea saladeniçoise stuffedintoahollowed-
out soft roll), pissaladière (bread dough topped with onions, olives, and anchovies), fou-
gasse (a spindly, lace-like bread sometimes flavored with nuts, herbs, olives, or ham), and
socca (a thin chickpea crêpe, seasoned with pepper and olive oil and often served in a pa-
per cone by street vendors).
Italian cuisine is native (ravioli was first made in Nice), easy to find, and generally a
goodvalue( pâtesfraîches means“freshpasta”).Forwine,Bandol(red)andCassis(white)
are popular and from a region nearly on the Riviera. The only wines made in the Riviera
are Bellet rosé and white.
Remember, restaurants serve only during lunch (11:30-14:00) and dinner
(19:00-21:00, later in bigger cities); cafés—except for the smaller ones—serve food
throughout the day.