Fabulous food to eat in the south of France

Fabulous Food in Provence

Bouillabaisse, south of France food

Bouillabaisse, south of France food

Bouillabaisse, which originates from Marseille, is a meal in its own right which can contain different types of fish like loup de mer (sea bass), rouget (red mullet), etc. and shell fish. It is cooked in a stock and served with a spicy red pepper, quite fiery, and garlic mayonnaise called rouille which you spread on croutons and sprinkle with cheese. Salads and fresh sun-ripe tomatoes are typical of the region.For the meat eaters, lamb, beef and rabbit are plentiful but used sparingly in stews and casseroles and can be served with provençale sauces or braised in vegetables and red wine.  The fish and shell fish are world renowned and include moules (mussels), gambas (giant prawns), palourdes (clams), and crab and lobster.

Local cheeses in this area are usually made from goats’ milk (chevres) or ewes’ (brebis) which can be obtained from Provencal markets. These markets are also famed for their large variety of fresh fruits and Herbes de Provence.

Camargue red rice is a variety of rice cultivated in the wetlands. It is a short-grained and unmilled variety of rice and has a nutty taste. It is quite interesting to see the rice growing in the wetlands and, of course, buy some to try at home.

Restaurant cafe, south of France

Restaurant cafe, south of France

As in all of France, there are many restaurants in the Provence area.  Below we have listed just a few, in different areas of the region. Nothing actually surpasses walking in the towns and finding suitable restaurants and most are exceptionally welcoming and the food extremely good. Whether dining in a 6 star restaurant or a 1 or 2 star, on the whole you will have a very enjoyable experience. Of course there are other cuisines to experience in the region and one you may like to try is North African cuisine.

Other specialities of the region are anchoiade—an anchovy tart and pissaladière—an onion tart with black olives. These can either be served as a starter or eaten as a snack, necessary after all the activities you have embraced.

Restaurants in Avignon Christian Etienne, Restaurant Moutardier

Restaurant in Saint Remy de Provence le Bistrot des Alpilles

Restaurants in Marseille La bouillabaisse, l’Epuisette

Fabulous Food in Cote d’Azur

There are many eating places on the French Riviera.  Restaurants display their menus outside so you can see in advance the prices. The prix fixe or set price menus are generally the best value. The main types of food are either Provençal or Niçois and the whole region is dominated by the delicious mix of olive oil, onion and fresh tomatoes, black olives, anchovies and garlic. Most dishes, vegetable or meat, includes these ingredients.

Salad Nicoise, food south of France

Salad Nicoise, food south of France

Although in Nice they use these ingredients, they have a different flavour and bear the name in the menu niçoise as demonstrated by salade niçoise.  This is mainly served as a starter and it is generally agreed that it must contain at the very least quartered hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, black olives, anchovy, tuna and lettuce and garlic in the dressing.

If you would like to stay in these beautiful regions, go to www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk to book accommodation.

Beach front apartment in Valras Plage, south of France

If you’re still looking for your holiday home in the south of France this summer, you’re in luck!  We still have availability in July and August for this little gem:

Valras Plage, Beach View Villa, south of France

Valras Plage, Beach View Villa, south of France

2 bedrooms, sleeps 4-6, private parking.

2 terraces, view of the Mediterranean’s sandy beaches.

10 metre walk to the sandy beach, easy walking distance to all amenities.

http://www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk/detail.php?ref=VAS106

Valras Plage is a very lively town where you can partake in almost every water-sporting activity you could dream of.  This villa is located about a 15 minute walk from the centre of Valras Plage in a peaceful location but still within easy reach of all the hustle and bustle if that’s what you’re looking for.

To book click on the link above, email us enquiries@southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk or click here:  www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk

Wine-tasting vineyard tour availability south of France

Well it’s raining and cold and windy here in Surrey.  I hope we haven’t had our summer already!  If you’re looking out your window, like me, and dreaming of your holiday to the south of France, like me, then you may be interested to see the following availability for May and June for Wendy’s wine-tasting / vineyard tours.

Wine tasting & vineyard tours, Languedoc, south of France

Wine tasting & vineyard tours

http://www.vinenvacances.com/  This is Wendy’s website if you want to find out more about what she does.  When booking a tour, be sure to mention where you saw this (South France Holiday Villas).

If you’re looking to book accommodation, check out www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk

AVAILABILITY

May Tours:

Wednesday May 9th – Half Day tour to Domaine Gayda only – 4 places available €70 per person – this is a half day tour starting at 12.00 and with lunch followed by a tour of the winery and a tasting

Saturday May 12th – Corbières & Lagrasse – 2 places available – €90 per person

Thursday May 17th – Minerve & Minervois – 4 places available – €90 per person

Tuesday May 22nd – Corbières & Lagrasse – 2 places available – €90 per person

Wednesday May 23rd – Malepère & Limoux – 3 places available – €95 per person

Thursday May 31st – Limoux & Gayda – 4 places available – €95 per person

June Tours:

Friday June 1st – Corbières & Lagrasse – 1 place available – €90 per person

Wednesday June 6th – Limoux & Gayda -4 places available – €95 per person

Thursday June 7th – Malepère & Limoux – 4 places available – €95 per person

Saturday June 9th – Cathar Castles Vineyard Tour – 4 places available – €100 per person

Wednesday June 13th – Cathar Castles Vineyard Tour – 4 places available – €100 per person

Friday June 15th – Gayda & Limoux – 6 places available – €95 per person

Saturday June 16th – Cathar Castles Vineyard Tour – 4 places available – €100 per person

Thursday June 21st – Minervois – 6 places available – €90 per person

Tuesday June 26th – Minervois – 1 place available – €90 per person

Wednesday June 27th – Fitou & Corbières – 6 places available – €100 per person

Wendy Gedney

Vin en Vacances

Tel: +33 (0)6 42 33 34 09 (Fr)

Tel: +44 (0)7880 796786 (UK)

Special offers on south France holiday villas!

Can you believe it’s that time of year again when most of the weeks in July and August have been booked out already?!  It certainly crept up on me!

Some of our owners are looking for bookings for their remaining weeks in high season so have been kind enough to inform us of their special offers:

Spacious villa, private pool, internet, Tourbes, south of France

Villa with private pool in Tourbes

TOURBES HOUSESpacious 3 bedroom villa, private pool, large garden, table tennis, basketball, internet, 4 bikes.

WEEKS:
2nd – 16th June
30th June – 21st July
1st – 22nd September

http://www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk/detail.php?ref=TOUR103

3 bedroom villa, private pool, air-con, internet, Capestang, south of France
Smart villa with private pool in Capestang

MAISON PAULA

Smart 3 bedroom villa, private pool, air-con, internet, all amenities easy walking distance.

WEEKS:
5th – 26th May
2nd – 16th June
30th June – 14th July
1st – 29th September

http://www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk/detail.php?ref=CAP109

Luxurious villa, private pool, internet, Nissan, south of France

Luxurious villa, private pool in Nissan

VILLA DONNA

Luxurious 17th century villa, private pool, 6 bedrooms / 5 bathrooms, air-con, internet.

WEEKS:
1st May to 7th July
21st – 28th July
4th -23rd August
15th Sept onwards

http://southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk/detail.php?ref=NISS103

To find out more and take advantage of these excellent special offers, contact us at enquiries@southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk

Book a holiday to the south of France!

Well, Easter’s over (hope you all had a very pleasant one by the way), the French presidential election has officially begun (yesterday) and Sarkozy is ahead in the opinion polls for the first round.  We are in a lull of excitement, so that means there’s nothing for it but to begin (if you’ve not already) booking your summer holiday!

I’ve picked two of my favourite villas for you to peruse through, happy hunting:

4 bedroom villa, private pool, table tennis, south of France

4 bedroom villa, private pool, table tennis, south of France

Private pool, table tennis, internet, 4 bedrooms, sleeps 10.

Availability still left in May, July and September!

£800 – £1250 per week!

http://www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk/detail.php?ref=PUIL102

Private pool, 5 bedrooms, air-con, Capestang, south of France

Private pool, 5 bedrooms, air-con, Capestang, south of France

Private pool, air-con, internet, UK satellite TV, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, sleeps 10 comfortably.

A week left in July, weeks left in May, June, August!

£920 – £2588 per week!

http://www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk/detail.php?ref=CAP104

New Property Discount – hurry!

Large Private Pool, south of France

Large Private Pool, south of France

We’ve just added this luxurious traditional French villa and the owners are kindly offering some excellent introductory discounts:

  • 15% off weeks starting in April, May or June.
  • 10% discount in July for a two-week booking

This luxurious 6 bedroom, 6 bathroom property has a private pool, internet connection, and is within easy walking distance to amenities.

Click on the link to view the property: Luxurious Traditional French Manor

Dine Outside, south of France

Dine Outside

 

 

 

 

 

Dine Inside, south of France

Dine Inside

Double Bed, south of France

Double Bed

Twin Bed, south of France

Twin Bed

6 bathrooms, south of France

6 bathrooms

enquiries@southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk or go to our website www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk if you have any questions.

These deals are based on 12 people, 6 people, or anything in between as 1-3 bedrooms can be shut off on the second floor.  To check out the same property but with prices based on 6 people, click on this link:  Luxurious Traditional French Manor – sleeps 6

Luxury Spa Resorts – Garrigae

Check out this new website dedicated purely for Garrigae properties:

http://villaslanguedoc.com/

It’s actually much more affordable than it looks!

It’s still only in the planning stages… so there will be a lot more work done in the immediate future…  BUT it’s a great place to watch out for discounts and to find a holiday for all the family!

Les Jardins de Saint Benoit, France

Les Jardins de Saint Benoit, France

Availability Update for Vineyard tours in Languedoc-Roussillon

Wine-Tasting Languedoc, France

Wine-Tasting Languedoc, France

If you’re looking for something to do during your stay in the Languedoc this year, take a look at the following website which offers fantastic vineyard tours, wine-tasting, and collection & drop off in an air-conditioned vehicle with a wine expert, Wendy: www.vinenvacances.com

Wendy currently has the following availability for April: 

Wednesday April 11th – Corbières & Lagrasse – 4 places available – €90 per person

Saturday April 14th – Minerve & Minervois – 4 places available – €90 per person

Friday April 20th – Domaine Gayda & Limoux – 4 places available – €95 per person

Saturday April 21st – Minerve & Minervois – 4 places available – €90 per person

For accommodation www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk

Joyeuses Pâques (Happy Easter)

Well, only two and a half days to go until Easter.  I expect the Easter Bunny is very busy so I hope they’re wrong about the snow and that the sun holds out for him!

We’ve still got some availability for Easter weekend at some of our luxury spa resorts (I’m working on a new site for them currently but if you’d like to see the work in progress www.villaslanguedoc.com).  It’s STILL a massive 25% discount so if you’re feeling like a lastminute getaway, contact us at www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk

EASTER TRADITIONS AND FACTS IN FRANCE 

Easter in France

Easter in France

I found out some interesting traditions and facts surrounding Easter in France so I thought I’d share:

  • On the evening of the Thursday before Good Friday, called Le Jeudi Saint, no church bells will be heard in France.  It is a tradition that they all remain silent.
  • La Chasse aux Oeufs – Easter egg hunt – occurs on Easter Sunday because on Saturday evening the “Easter Bunny” (Le Lapin de Paques) has scattered Easter eggs all around for all the children to find!  It is also tradition that children build nests on the Saturday so the Easter Bunny can put eggs into them and sometimes the Easter Bunny is even left some carrots to nibble on!
  • If a boy is born around the Easter period, he may be named Pascal which means “belonging to Easter”
  • In French, “Lent” is “Le Carême”
  • The week before Easter Sunday is called La Semaine Sainte which basically means Holy Week.
  • Palm Sunday is called Le Dimanche Des Rameaux (rameaux means branches) because when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he was greeted by palm branches being laid in his path.  Today the French carry decorated branches to church in celebration.