My lovely friend Kylie and I
Menton is the first village you encounter in the French Riviera. A stone's throw from the Italian border and ten minutes from Monaco. It is nestled firmly into the foothills of the alps, affording you spectacular (contrasting) views of the graceful blue waters of the Côte d'Azur and the striking Alpine mountains. Growing up so near the Italian border as well as near the affluent crowd of Monte Carlo, Menton offers tourists a unique combination of French and Italian flavors.
Just across the border, a mere 15 minutes by train, is the small Italian village of Ventimiglia. Ventimiglia has benefited from its proximity to the border, yet has remained firmly rooted in its Italian upbringing (you'll only find people smiling and speaking Italian here). This village also hosts one of the best and most sought after farmers' markets in the region (Chefs from as far as 50mi come to find the choicest ingredients for their restaurants). If this is your sort of thing, it is a must visit if you are staying along the Côte d'Azur. Best days to visit are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday when the old ladies from surrounding villages bring their hand-picked produce.
I had the great fortune of staying with Kylie (my first roommate when I lived in Shanghai!) and her husband Ricardo, who happens to be the Chef de Cuisine at Mirazur (#11 on the World's Best Restaurant list.). Unfortunately I didn't get to visit the restaurant (this trip), but Ricardo did take me to the farmers market (which was almost better). His entire cooking philosophy is based around fresh local ingredients, so this market is like a toy store for him. There is nothing quite like going to a traditional farmers market with a Chef, they taste, they touch, and they speak a different language (Ricardo also speaks Italian, French, Spanish, and English, which helps). I ended up with my bags full of artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and deliciously fresh fruits. It was awesome.
