The Good Life France Magazine




The Good Life France Magazine brings you the best of France - inspirational and exclusive features, fabulous photos, mouth-watering recipes, tips, guides, ideas and much more...


Published by the award winning team at The Good Life France

Views
2 years ago

Issue No. 28

This gorgeous issue is stuffed full of fabulous features from beautiful Annecy to the sunny southern Basque country and the city of Pau, the Canal du Midi and much more. There’s a fabulous photo essay of the four seasons of Provence, practical guides and recipes galore with a focus on the gastronomy of the Touraine region in the Loire Valley - from an ancient recipe for macarons to more-ish nougat cake!

Annecy market I love

Annecy market I love French markets. I’ve been to hundreds but I can truthfully say, I would go to Annecy for the market alone. There’s been a market here for centuries, going back to the middle ages. Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday morning stalls are set up and the streets fill with shoppers. I arrived around 7am on a beautiful autumn morning with the dawn sun rising slowly over the mountains, warming the air. I watched mesmerised as a man in a beret cycled past, an old lady pulled a trolley over the cobbles, a baker bought out a tray of still steaming croissants, the scent carried on the air. Beautiful displays of vegetables and fruit, bread and cakes, cheese and chocolate, artisan gifts, baskets and more, were laid out along the ancient streets and over the bridges. This really is a market to fall in love with. Make like the locals and enjoy a hot chocolate or coffee at the Buvette de Marché, the oldest café in Annecy. 20 Rue Sainte-Claire, 74000 Annecy. Eat: There are many reasons to go to Annecy and one that might be less wellknown (for now, get in quick while you can) is gastronomy. Fresh fish from the lake, alpine cheeses, locally grown wines, génépi – a sort of gin/absinthe hybrid liqueur with a kick, farms galore, numerous artisan producers, chefs drawn to the amazing array of seasonal produce, saffron is grown in the valleys as well as other herbs including cumin and dill. It’s not easy to pick just three restaurants to highlight in this gastronomic city, but:

Above: La Brasserie Irma Lunch: Midget, Cave à Manger, is the perfect place for a light lunch tapas style, and a glass of wine. Run by sommeliers Benjamin and Karin it’s friendly, local and delicious. 4 Quai Madame de Warens Dinner: Whatever you do, don’t miss the locals favourite: La Brasserie Irma, Bocuse Brasserie. Yes that Bocuse. Irma, the mother of legendary French chef Paul Bocuse was born in Annecy and lived here before moving to Lyon. The fabulous restaurant which opened in 2020, nestles on the edge of Lake Annecy with wonderful views. It’s the locals favourite secret. You can get a takeaway for a feast on the beach opposite, enjoy aperitifs on a pontoon in the lake, relax in the garden or dine inside the bright interior. The food is superb. Avenue du Petit Port Wine and Dine: Feel like a celeb and take a river taxi across the lake at sunset to eat like a lord at restaurant 1903. Aperitifs: There’s so much choice but the locals tip is to head to the pretty rue Sainte-Claire. Coffee: Aux Roseaux du Lac famous for its chocolate-coffee roseaux (reeds) sweets. 6, rue du Lac Taste of Annecy at home: A few recipes to whet your appetite Reblochon pie Raclette Tartiflette Gateau de Savoie