MARKET GOODIES

Hi guys! It's been a hot hot weekend here in France. Temperatures reached +30 today! In the morning we decided to hit the Antibes market to get some lovely produce for a bbq lunch. I love getting my veg and fruit from there as you know it's fresh and local. 

I'd love to tell you that shopping in the market is cheap but no hope of that... Especially if you love berries and cherries as much as I do!

They don't only sell food. You could go clothes shopping there too!

Or soap shopping!

They sell some beautiful flowers as well.

The market is open every day of the week during summer. If you're holidaying around here you should visit it! In addition to the veg and fruit you can find some delicious cheese, meats and fish. 

My shoes of the day, Ancient Greek Sandals, favourites from last summer.

Then it was time for yet another bbq lunch. Beef, lamb and pork... 

Beautifully ripe tomato with fresh basil and feta. We found the most delicious salt mixed with garlic, which I sprinkled on top.

That was it, my Sunday of lovely food and family time! I hope you all had a great weekend!

Minna x 

EVENING AT MY ANTIBES FAVOURITE

I know I've told you about this restaurant in Antibes before but it deserves another, fresh post. I took these pictures last week when I dined there with my sisters. 

We're talking about Michaelangelo. Mamo, by the way is the name of the owner. A lovely man who is there every single evening greeting his customers.

Melanzane alla parmigiana. Amazing creation made of egg plant and parmesan cheese.

Parma ham and melon. One of my all time favourite dishes. If I had to choose my last meal this would be included.

Michaelangelo's yummy tuna tartar.

My choice of Rose.

My sister's seafood risotto, which used to be the dish I'd go for every time at Michaelangelo. Soooo creamy, cheesy and delicious.

The lamb shank I shared with my other sister. Always a winner, melts in your mouth.

And then an ice cream sundae that would be enough for four people!

Well it would be if you were not a sugarholic like me and able to eat the whole lot in about five minutes all on your own! Quickly, before anyone asks for a spoonful!

And yes, it was Pamela Anderson indeed who walked into Michaelangelo that night. And let me tell you... I doubt that she had one of these sundaes. She was absolutely tiny in every sense and still extremely beautiful. I was so glad to see that, I used to love CJ! ;-)

Minna x 

SOUTH OF FRANCE SUNDAY

Happy Easter everyone! These pictures were taken last Sunday when we spent an afternoon on my favourite public beach in this area. You access it through an arch at the Antibes Marina, Port Vauban. It's normally less crowded than that road side beaches and has lovely views. 

Weather isn't quite this good this weekend but as long as there's no rain to ruin our chocolate egg hunt we'll be okay!

Minna x

ANTIBES SUNSHINE

Hi from the South of France where I have been for the last few days! You never know about the weather here this time of the year and I was expecting to be struggling for ideas for rainy day activities for all of us but nope.... Every day has been sunny and warm!

Le Salise beach in the pictures is not yet looking that nice. Public beaches normally get cleaned up around Easter so by next week they should be looking lovely.

There is something so nice about being here out of season. The beaches are very quiet in comparison to the height of the summer and you feel so lucky if the weather happens to be good.

The view from the playground is not too bad either! And how do you like the hat? Memories from a trip to St Tropez some years back. (Children were definitely not part of that trip…)

Minna x

ANTIBES, MICHAELANGELO

The summer just gone was my sixth one spent in the lovely South of France. The one restaurant I've been going to since the first summer and the one I've been to by far the most is an Italian restaurant Michaelangelo. Michaelangelo is located on a little back alley in Antibes old town. It's unlikely that you'd just happen to wander past it so you must know about it and a lot of people do... It's always busy. The restaurant is cosy with its stone walls and dim lighting. (By the way I LOVE dim lighting, it immediately puts me off if I walk into a restaurant that has its lighting too bright.) Michaelangelo also has a big outdoor terrace. I normally prefer the inside for the atmosphere but the outside if I'm having an early dinner with the kids. It's a family run restaurant and the owners are always present, greeting their customers. The smiley guy in the picture is Michael, the owner's son. A very nice young man indeed!

This is their melanzane alla parmigiana, one of my favourite starters there. The other winner is farciti farci (vegetables stuffed with veal.)



My favourite main dishes at Michaelangelo are risotto with scallops and prawns, baby chicken and tournedos rossini ie. beef with foie gras (in the above picture). I wouldn't recommend the latter unless you're hungry... it's seriously filling. My stomach always has space for it though, it's too yummy to say no to! Their desserts are also heavenly, to mention a couple the meringue cake and the triple chocolate mousse...

You can't leave Michaelangelo without checking out the their impressive collection of pictures of the owners posing with celebrities who have dined there. They have Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford and tens of others hanging on their walls. The last celebrities I spotted there were Emma Stone with her spiderman! Lucky them got seated next to us and got to experience my Australian friend being (apparently...) very Australian (and maybe a tiny bit tipsy) and asking for a picture. Not embarrassing at all! :-) She didn't get one... (Sorry K, I think they should have said yes too!) 

Michaelangelo's website can be found here.


Minna x