May 31st, 2010 | 
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My very favorite regional event has just announced this year’s program. Les Etoiles de Mougins is a yearly gathering in Mougins of the hottest local and international chefs prepared to display, explain and demonstrate their latest concoctions. Roger Verger formerly of Le Moulin de Mougins, David Faure of Aphrodite and René Redzepi of Noma in Denmark are just a few of the past guests of the festival. What I like is that you actually get to taste their treats and get the recipes after you watch the chefs in action.
This year’s festival will take place from September 10 to 12 and the theme will be Women Chefs. It’s about time! Anne Sophie Pic of the celebrated Maison Pic in Valence will headline the event. Other chefs include Sophie Bise, Rougui Dia, Fatema Hal, Flora Mikula, Laurence Salomon, Josy Bandecchi, Hermance Carro and Fanny Rey.
An admission fee gives you access to the seven demonstration tents but there are large areas of the festival grounds that are open to the public. Tastings of regional products, wines and culinary specialties are available to everyone.
For more information, see the Les Etoiles de Mougins website or see more about Mougins.
See the French Riviera Calendar of Events
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It’s the 50th anniversary of the Jazz a Juan jazz festival in Juan-les-Pins and the planned program is outstanding, much better than last year. Running from July 14 to July 25, the festival includes major international jazz stars. Check this out:
Wednesday July 14
NJO Nice Jazz Orchestra
Thursday July 15
George Benson, David Sanborn
Friday July 16
Spokfrevo Orquestra, Monte Alexander, Chucho Valdes and the Afro Cuban Messengers
Saturday July 17
Dee Dee Bridgewater, Melody Gardot
Sunday July 18
Django Reinhardt hommage
Monday July 19
Paco de Lucia, Avishai Cohen
Tuesday July 20
Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove
Wednesday July 21
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack Dejohnette
Thursday July 22
Kyle Eastwood, Diana Krall
Friday July 23
Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Maceo Parker
Saturday July 24
Manu Katche, Marcus Miller
Sunday July 25
Liz McComb
See more about the Juan-les-Pins festival, including online booking.
Artist Mary Payne will be exhibiting her work at Artemisia gallery/studio from May 28 to June 4. American-born and Nice-based, Ms Payne has been painting for 20 years. She works in etching, oils and mixed media even using spices and make-up to produce a desired effect. The title of the exhibit is Donut-eater & Other Stories (Le Mangeur des Beignets) and includes series never before shown. “Each painting is a story”, said Ms Payne, adding that the exhibit includes both figurative and non-figurative styles.
As rue Saint Antoine winds its way up to Le Suquet hill overlooking Cannes, there are a number of shops and restaurants set up to tempt the tourists into stopping. You can bypass many of them but don’t miss Le Relais des Semailles if you have any interest whatsoever in fine dining.
The decor is cozy and traditional, perfect for a romantic dinner or a tete a tete among friends. Chef Bertrand Saint-Vannes marries fresh, local products with traditional classic preparation and the result is splendid. The soupe de poisson drew raves from around the table. Asparagus is in season now and was delightfully presented with truffle sauce and a poached egg. Yum. My main course was a free-range chicken with creamy polenta on the side. The light sauce gave the tender chicken a pleasing zing. The dessert was OK; fresh stawberries sat on a crumbly nutty cake with a slice of chocolate on the side. I very much appreciated the amuse-bouche at the beginning of the meal and the freshly-baked bread on the side.
The lunch menu is €34. A bargain! Read more about Cannes restaurants.
Sleek and modern, L’Affable is one of the better mid-range Cannes restaurants. The subtle lighting, modern art and gleaming tableware provide a perfect setting for a business lunch or friendly diner a deux. Chef Jean-Paul Battaglia applies a light touch to his preparations. Nothing is too terribly rich or too terribly spicy. He prefers fish and seafood over meat and does wonderful things with vegetables. I began with a Ceviche garniture mimosa, raw fish with a sprinkling of herbs on the side. The fish was sea-fresh but could have used a little something extra to highlight the flavours. The main course was a perfect dorade served over pureed potatoes married with a light and subtle sauce. But the highlight was an incredible Grand Marnier souffle at the end, a real tour de force, neither too sweet nor too rich (see photo).
The meal was excellent value for money, priced at €38. See the website or more on Cannes restaurants.