Awarded two stars in the Michelin guide and eleventh place in the World 50 Best ranking, chef Mauro Colagreco naturally establishes himself as one of the greatest chefs in France. Located in Menton, near the Italian border, its restaurant, the Mirazur, is renowned for its very fine cuisine and its bird's eye view of the Mediterranean. Presentation of some of his favorite producers from his good addresses in Menton.
L’HUILERIE SAINT-MICHEL, IN THE HEART OF THE OLD TOWN
“When I arrived here, I didn’t know anyone. I was so overwhelmed by the work that it was the suppliers who became my first friends. Karim Djekhar , the owner of the Saint Michel oil mill, helped us a lot and from our friendship was born an olive oil with lemon from Menton. Then another with fresh ginger. To date we have developed six oils together. With Karim, our ambition is to develop a new one every year. This oil mill has existed since 1896, there is a history here. Now there are customers from all over the world who come to buy their oils here and there are some Mirazur recipes on their website / Huilerie Saint Michel – 5, Rue de Bréa (Menton) – www.huilerie-saint-michel.com
THE PROSPER BOAT, LAST FISHERMAN IN MENTON
“Last March, there were only two small fishermen left in Menton. Now there is only one left. And succession is not assured. This is perhaps the third and last generation of the Prosper boat. Sad observation for a city on the edge of the Mediterranean; However, there is no shortage of fish here. All you have to do is dive with your mask to discover all the maritime wealth of this region. Too many constraints, too much regulation, too much administration no longer allow small sinners to survive. And yet on the Italian side the little sinners are doing well. Lionel and his wife Manuela are the last survivors of a system that favors large fishing boats, leaving no room for boats that have been present on the coast for several generations. Fishing professions no longer attract young people too much either. You should know that it's a difficult job, they work seven days a week. For five years, the fish we serve at Mirazur have mainly come from their boat, Prosper. The rarest are the dolphin sea bream or the pomfret, here called the blue damsel, but it is the whiting which remains the favorite fish of the Mentonnais. »
LEMONS AND OTHER PRETTY PRODUCTS FROM MARTA, ON THE OLD MARKET OF MENTON
“The best lemons in Menton are at Marta’s. It has been located at the Vieux Marché in Menton for 15 years. Here, our land is very limestone, with a lot of clay. The microclimate with very mild winters makes our lemons simply good. It is in the hills, near Castellar, that Marta grows lemons, but also tomatoes and potatoes. Some varieties are only intended for the Mirazur restaurant. Depending on the season, on its small stand, you can also find honey, olive oil and edible flowers. I don't hesitate for a second to taste hyssop, this shrub found in the Mediterranean regions. These flowers can be purple, blue, white or red. Hyssop is a vegetable plant. Its leaves, fresh or dried, are used to flavor raw vegetables and salads, stuffings for pork, goose or duck, but also in sauces and soups. Towards the end of August, Marta no longer sells lemons, but she always keeps a few with her. For his little hunger pangs. And here, the lemon is also eaten with the skin which brings out all the aromas and gives an astonishing taste. »
AU BAISER DU MITRON, THE REGION’S BAKERY
“For me it is the bakery of the city, even of the region. The breads are prepared in a 1906 wooden oven made from Biot refractory stone, historically recognized as one of the best natural oven stones in existence to this day. Pierre-Léon Poilâne, the renowned baker, also worked bread in this oven. I met Kevin le Meur quite quickly after my arrival in Menton and the feeling passed. The association between some of my culinary creations and its Ebène bread – bread with vegetable charcoal, grapes, prunes, anise and fennel – is obvious. At Kevin, we have been bakers from father to son for four generations. And I'm not the only one working with him in the region, other top restaurants – Albert of Monaco's personal chef; Ronan Kervarrec of the Chèvre d’Or… – have his bread on their table. In its bakery, you can find seaweed bread, Japanese bread or even Russian Borodinsky bread. And a lemon tart whose recipe he jealously guards. A magical address. » / Au Baiser du Mitron – 8, rue Pieta (Menton) – www.aubaiserdumitron.com
THE LITTLE PORT, I LOVE IT!
“I like to eat here, at Lisa and Gariel’s. At the stove, there is Nicole – everyone calls her Nini. They are real Mentonnais who really cook local products. Their fried baby supions and their peach and lavender soup are absolute delights. Plus, here, we “bagnete” (sauce) with the bread! Only happiness. » / Le Petit Port – 4 Rue du Jonquier (Menton) 06500 Menton
THE JEAN COCTEAU MUSEUM
“The museum was inaugurated at the Bastion de Menton in November 2011. It contains the world's most important public resource of the poet's work. The donation includes 1,800 pieces, including 990 works by Jean Cocteau. It is a cultural address that has done a lot of good for the city. » / Jean Cocteau Museum, Séverin Wunderman collection – 2, quai de Monléon (Menton) – www.museecocteaumenton.fr
THE MENTON FESTIVAL
“This year the Menton festival celebrated its 65th anniversary. It is on the Saint-Michel square, at the foot of the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, one of these sublime places open to the horizon and the sea, that every year during the summer period, this magnificent classical music festival takes place . Other concerts take place at the Jean Cocteau Museum. I am sensitive to music and art, I try to attend at least one or two concerts every year, even if the Festival unfortunately falls during a very intense period for the Mirazur. » / www.festival-musique-menton.fr
THE RED ROCKS BEACH (BALZI ROSSI), LOCATED 700 METERS FROM THE MIRAZUR RESTAURANT
“It’s quite simply the most beautiful beach in the region. Hidden in a small cove, the beach is already on the Italian side. A private beach, accessible only on foot. It is a unique beach for its beauty but also because you can sometimes hear a singer singing opera arias at midday. I like to relax there from time to time. This is a secret address. »
