Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Escape to the Mediterranean with ‘Riviera Holiday’
Escape to the Mediterranean with ‘Riviera Holiday’
Imagine: the sun sparkling on the Mediterranean, the scent of lavender filling the air, a chic bistro serving bouillabaisse. Relish a “Riviera Holiday” at this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show.
“The French Riviera is just beautiful for the diversity of the landscape and the wonderful food,” described personal chef Sylvie Ashby of Cuisine de Sylvie in West Chester. “People say it’s heaven on earth.”
Originally from Normandy, she vacationed there with her parents — visiting an aunt, savoring the region’s seafood, olive oil, garlic, goat cheese, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables.
“When you eat a strawberry or apricot from the South of France, it’s like biting into a ray of sun,” said Ashby, who also works at Verbena BYOB in Kennett Square.
But “it’s more than ingredients,” she added. “It’s more the choice of life, a lifestyle.”
Cooking “starts with a trip to the market,” and local specialties include ratatouille (pronounced rah-tah-too-ee), a flavorful vegetable stew that’s “always best the next day.”
Another favorite: tian Provençal — sliced tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and squash baked with garlic and herbes de Provence.
“That’s a very easy dish to make,” Ashby assured. “And it’s beautiful with the colors” — colors bright like the Riviera itself.
“It’s lovely. It’s really lovely,” she said. “When you experience the South of France, it’s also experiencing the people who are involved in the terroir, the food they provide … the legacy lives on.”