Road Reports

Well now rested, recovered from jet lag, I am well under way on the route de vin de Provence.

Yesterday was a light day as I spent the morning securing a GSM cell phone which is based in France. Every place but the USA is using GSM. We of course use multiple favors of wireless and play the game of will my phone work where we go. Not so in Europe, or the rest of the world for that matter.

This phone, a new Nokia 9110 Communicator works everywhere (but the USA). It does everything. Received faxes, checks e-mail, takes messages. Has a full organizer which links to your PC's Outlook contacts and calendar. It is truly a 243g, handheld wonder.

I've linked it to a callback account, so calls now cost 13 cents a minute back to the USA. No charge for airtime when I'm talking that way, as calls received are FREE. Not a bad deal. At that rate the phone pays for itself after the next trip.

For lunch yesterday, I visited the Bastide de Saint Antoine in Grasse. What a wonderful new find. Opened a bit more than two years, the chef has already won critical acclaim in France, secured Relais et Chateau status for his lodgings and lovely restaurant, and is easily on his way to at least one Michelin star.

The beautiful establishment delivers incredible service (I had them fax some papers to get my cell phone to work internationally), fantastic décor and without a doubt some of the best cooking in any spot I've been to in the South of France over the past three trips. Owner Chef Jacque Chibois easily is on par with the chefs working in Mougin and his wine list, full of Rhone, Provence and Languedoc choice selections at very fair prices makes this place the type of spot you would want to eat at once a week.

The by the glass selections and the half bottle choices make it easy to pair with the sun,mountain and sea inspired meat, fish and vegetable based dishes.

I opened with a very nice 1998 Domaine de la Rose Tremiere Cotes de Provence Blanc from Lourges. The wine is dry, crisp, full of citrus fruits and flavors of wet stones. It is a perfect pairing to the terrific tuna served over cous-cous with a very light and aromatic tomatoe coulis, along with quarters of tomato. The easy to eat, light and flavorful diced tuna is like sushi. The vegetables serves with it are in perfect harmony. This truly a healthy, sun drenched dish.

Second course, was a perfectly cooked margret de canard with a sauce of diced onions, zucchini and of course provencal herbs. I opted to try a glass of the Chateau L'Aumerade, from Pierrefeu. This spicy red is full of in your face fruit, black berries, black cherries and is so easy to drink it dissapreared before the duck.

Dessert was a sensational chocolate layered tort which was sublime. A single shot of espresso and I was on my way all for less than 45.00 dollars USA.

More as our journey continues.

Andy