While most of France is not Mediterranean, three of the country's 27 regions are Mediterranean. The regions of Provence and Languedoc rim the Mediterranean from east to west, from Menton (Provence) close to the border with Italy on France's Côte d'Azur, to Perpignan (Languedoc) on the border with Spain. Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean, is also part of France.
While olives are grown in all three Mediterranean regions of France, food historian Clifford Wright calls olives "the king of Provençal cuisine." Olives are ever present in the dishes of this region, including the wonderful condiment
tapenade, a mixture of olives, capers and anchovies. Another condiment,
aioli, used on fish and vegetables, is made with olive oil, garlic and egg.
The three constants in Provençal cuisine, according to Wright's reading of the experts in the cuisine, are "olive oil, garlic and the aromatic herbs, such as
herbes de Provence or aromatic condiments such as
pissalat," a mixture of anchovy puree, herbs, spices and olive oil.
Add plenty of vegetables and fish and seafood, and you'll have a veritable Provençal feast. See the recipes below or explore the suggested cookbooks for classically-Provençal dishes such as
ratatouille, vegetable
tartes and quiche,
bouillabaisse,
salade niçoise, olive oil-braised leeks or onions, vegetables with
herbes de Provence, and fish with olives and garlic, or with aioli.
The region of Languedoc has much in common with Provence. Along the seacoast, there is a famous dish,
bourride, a fish stew with garlickly mayonnaise -- very similar to the
bouillabaisse of Marseille. Closer to the border with Spain, the gastronomic traditions of Catalonia and Spain are felt. Tapas and pork are common on menus in this part of Mediterranean France. Languedoc is also known for wine and for rice production.
And, as is true of most of France, the cuisine changes from town to town. With a common foundation, each place has food traditions that are based on the ingredients that grow locally, prepared and passed down over the years, like family heirlooms. As you travel gastronomically around the Mediterranean, be sure to drink in the treasures of the French coast.
Click on a photo or recipe title below to link to the full recipe.
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