Côte d’Azur aioli

To invite the Provençals to taste this succulent dish, the Côte d'Azur always has a lucky hand when it comes to the choice of day and place. This year, it was in Crécy-en-Brie (two hours by train from Paris) that this gastronomic event took place on Sunday June 15. Around ten amateur cooks, all of authentic Provençal origin, operated the traditional pestle for two hours and made numerous mortars of this golden and fragrant sauce, which was abundant and as successful as anyone could wish. was missed and all the guests expressed the most enthusiastic satisfaction.

This is because the aioli was absolutely complete, as with us, in addition to the fact that the ten liters of oil used came from Toulon, from Maison Espanet, which had offered a free Estagnon, which we cannot really explain. thank you, the table was garnished with all the usual accessories: snails, hardened eggs, apples and carrots in dressing gowns, artichokes, green beans, cod, etc... So much so that we had to force ourselves to do honor to the rest of the menu, which was also excellent, prepared for us by the welcoming owner of the Hôtel des Familles, Mr. Bassigny, a considerate and friendly host.

I had promised myself not to mention any names, because the list of guests would be too long, but, regarding the Feast of the Aioli, I consider it a duty to make public the names of the two triumphants for the preparation of this magical dish: Mrs. Ferrari and Mr. Arbaud father.

The meal, decorated with wild gaiety, ended with songs, and, apart from a few wild dancers held in the village hall of the Hôtel des Familles, everyone went off to take part in the various competitions organized by the Festival Committee: balls, races, funny faces, pot, frying pan, etc...

But we had to hurry, the train was not waiting, and, as the journey was long, it was almost dark when we disembarked at the Gare de l'Est, tired and happy from the excellent day spent as a family.

We remind the Members of the Côte d'Azur that the Annual General Meeting will close the series of meetings for the season; it will take place next Thursday, July 10 at the Brasserie Dumesnil, Montparnasse station (on the left, back room). The Committee would be delighted to see a large attendance. to which compatriots wishing to be admitted to our friendly group can join.