Monday, November 21, 2005
(Juan Les Pins, France) Bijou Plage is a wonderful beach front place just west of the town of Juan Les Pins heading to Cannes. The nighttime views of Cap D' Antibes in one direction and Cannes in the other are quite enchanting as you see boats with their lights mooring in the harbors. The service and the food (about as fresh as it gets fish caught in the Med) at Bijou Plage all made for a lovely night as Helene joined me after celebrating Thanksgiving with her family a few days early over the weekend. I’ll likely have some photos later in the week as this trip is more business than pleasure, but I’m finding time to include wine and food around that, as after all this is Europe.
Bijou Plage has lots of wines by half bottle and in 50 cl bottles as well. It offers a great view of the sea and one of the longest beach views around. Think Charley's or The Beach House in Cardiff by the Sea or Gladstones In Malibu. It offers unrushed, and perfect service. With the Soft Spanish music playing in the background one felt more like we were dining in someone’s beach house, and even though there were some other couples and small groups having dinner, the scene was ultra-relaxed and very much family like.
The excellently chosen list offered a great many options including all three flavors of one of my favorite Bandol producers, Bastide Blanche, but I wanted to go go more with wines we either rarely see in San Diego (or the USA for that matter) or that I’ve from wineries I’ve visited in the past. Minuty and Ott both met that criteria and a new Cassis producer seemed to be beckoning.
The 2004 Chateau Minuty Cuvee de La Oratoire Rose Cotes De Provence Pale Salmon color with flavors of strawberries, ripe raspberry and tart blackberry. Served with two wonderful dishes, a lovely saumon fume with local produce and a roasted red pepper in a drizzled olive oil and herb de Provence dressing. It was simple, but so tasty. That was followed by a wonderful Soupe of Mussels in a silky smooth saffron broth sprinkled with fresh herbs. Helene then opted for the Riviera fish stew with salmon, mussels, haddock, sole and potatoes in a garlicky aioli broth. I chose the catch of the day, a Fresh Sea Bream in black pepper sauce. Both were flavorful, tasty and succulent. Given the style of cooking I immediately opted for the 2003 Chateau de Fontblache Blanc de Blanc by E. Bodin. It’s a lovely, dry crisp white made from a majority of Ugni Blanc with I suspect some Clairette Blanc. Crisp lime and dry round lemon flavors with brisk acidity makes it perfect with hearty robust pepper and garlic flavored fish dishes. We also had the 2000 Domaine Ott Cuvee Comtes de Provence which was all flavors or raspberry, cola, cassis, strawberry and currants.
Of course there was dessert. I went for the Provence honey cake in a coulis sauce while Helene went for the cheese plate. The honey cake, made from the dried, hard Miel type honey I first enjoyed over 20 years ago on a trip here was fantastic as was just about everything.
Cheers!
--
Andy Abramson
Bijou Plage has lots of wines by half bottle and in 50 cl bottles as well. It offers a great view of the sea and one of the longest beach views around. Think Charley's or The Beach House in Cardiff by the Sea or Gladstones In Malibu. It offers unrushed, and perfect service. With the Soft Spanish music playing in the background one felt more like we were dining in someone’s beach house, and even though there were some other couples and small groups having dinner, the scene was ultra-relaxed and very much family like.
The excellently chosen list offered a great many options including all three flavors of one of my favorite Bandol producers, Bastide Blanche, but I wanted to go go more with wines we either rarely see in San Diego (or the USA for that matter) or that I’ve from wineries I’ve visited in the past. Minuty and Ott both met that criteria and a new Cassis producer seemed to be beckoning.
The 2004 Chateau Minuty Cuvee de La Oratoire Rose Cotes De Provence Pale Salmon color with flavors of strawberries, ripe raspberry and tart blackberry. Served with two wonderful dishes, a lovely saumon fume with local produce and a roasted red pepper in a drizzled olive oil and herb de Provence dressing. It was simple, but so tasty. That was followed by a wonderful Soupe of Mussels in a silky smooth saffron broth sprinkled with fresh herbs. Helene then opted for the Riviera fish stew with salmon, mussels, haddock, sole and potatoes in a garlicky aioli broth. I chose the catch of the day, a Fresh Sea Bream in black pepper sauce. Both were flavorful, tasty and succulent. Given the style of cooking I immediately opted for the 2003 Chateau de Fontblache Blanc de Blanc by E. Bodin. It’s a lovely, dry crisp white made from a majority of Ugni Blanc with I suspect some Clairette Blanc. Crisp lime and dry round lemon flavors with brisk acidity makes it perfect with hearty robust pepper and garlic flavored fish dishes. We also had the 2000 Domaine Ott Cuvee Comtes de Provence which was all flavors or raspberry, cola, cassis, strawberry and currants.
Of course there was dessert. I went for the Provence honey cake in a coulis sauce while Helene went for the cheese plate. The honey cake, made from the dried, hard Miel type honey I first enjoyed over 20 years ago on a trip here was fantastic as was just about everything.
Cheers!
--
Andy Abramson
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