Where we bought the prawns and oysters. Check out the typical striped shirts
Home | A bit about us | Archives
24 September 2015 7:13 am
Where we bought the prawns and oysters. Check out the typical striped shirts
Our order
We were in Sainte Maxime’s—a mere stone’s throw from St Tropez, France’s playground for the rich and famous and a whole lot of wannabes..
To be honest, we were on the way to St Tropez when we decided to check out the wonders of Sainte Maxime’s. First we stopped at the beach, Plage de la Nartelle. The beach is nothing all that special if you come from Australia—the land of amazing beaches—but we found something to intrigue us.
The French military (I assume the Navy) were having exercises on and near the beach. We weren’t allowed to cross the sand near the sea (because that’s where they were landing their equipment), but once we were up by the road we could walk among the vehicles and talk to the soldiers. Not that we had enough French for any sort of discussion.
Libby and Daniel, daughter and son-in-law, went for a brief swim on the beach and then we set out to explore and find lunch. That meant driving on a bit farther and finding a precious parking place. As principal driver, I was pleased to find something free and convenient.
Then we strolled through the streets of Sainte Maxime and were lucky enough to come upon the town’s covered market. It’s tucked out of the way, and probably quite easy to miss. But we’re all market experts, so it’s unlikely that a market would go undetected by us.
We strolled in to check out what was on offer. Luckily Daniel has enough French to figure out that it was possible to order a meal at one of the seafood counters, and then have it prepared and delivered to the eating area, which is named, of all things, Daniel Coquillages.
So we ordered a selection of prawns (shrimps) and oysters. Libby and I went on to order some duck rillettes (sort of like paté) and finely sliced ham, while the fellows found a table and ordered bread and wine.
The tables around us were filled with locals (except for one German couple), so we knew we were in the right place for people who didn’t feel the need to be among the rich and famous.
It was a most amazing choice. The food was superb. Plus, about the time we finished our carafe of white wine, the woman who was serving us insisted on giving us an extra half carafe for free. Our collective French couldn’t figure out why, but we polished it off and made Poor John, our non-drinker, drive us on to St Tropez.
The tail-end of the extra wine
All in all, it was one of the nicest meals we’ve had in France.
The food was excellent and people were quite happy to have me take pictures in the market itself.
If you’re ever in the neighbourhood, be sure to stop by. As an aside, I often post reviews on Trip Advisor. I posted one about this place and was the first person to ever do so. Still surprised that such a great find is so little known.
Just a third of the cold-cuts case.
Posted by leggypeggy
Categories: Food and drink, France, Markets
Tags: Australia, beaches, food, French Riviera, Libby, military, oysters, prawns, restaurants, Sainte Maxime, St Tropez
Mobile Site | Full Site
Get a free blog at WordPress.com Theme: WordPress Mobile Edition by Alex King.
Oh lunch looks lovely! We had a designated driver his name was Norm. Like Poor John a non drinker & they are very handy to have a round.
LikeLike
By jeanettev2014 on 24 September 2015 at 8:16 am
I’ve done the bulk of the driving on this trip. so it’s great when someone else can take over when you’ve been tipping the bottle. 🙂
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 24 September 2015 at 3:35 pm
Wow, those prawns look tempting. I like trip advisor too and have posted a few good recommendations. With all those food postings we will have to call you the galloping gourmet.
dorothysstories.wordpress.com
>
LikeLike
By Dorothy on 24 September 2015 at 10:34 am
I can live with that. 🙂
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 24 September 2015 at 3:37 pm
It looks great but I don’t understand what “tail-end of wine” means.
LikeLike
By suchled on 24 September 2015 at 10:48 am
I hope never to get to the real tail-end of the wine.
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 24 September 2015 at 3:38 pm
That platter of prawns and oysters looks truly delectable. Markets and local food really are the place to stroll around in foreign countries. You really do get a sense of place (and flavour).
I haven’t had prawns for ages. Yummmmy.
Wish our market stall holders weren’t so shy with a camera around. Aussies don’t like strangers taking their photo in the street and it makes my street photography efforts so few and far between posts.
LikeLike
By Vicki on 24 September 2015 at 11:40 am
Vicki, sometimes I wish I had a camera tooth.
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 24 September 2015 at 3:38 pm
What a lucky stumble upon!
LikeLike
By Yvonne on 24 September 2015 at 11:51 am
It sure was.
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 24 September 2015 at 3:38 pm
Oh what a lucky find,,,,, it’s a shame when you realise from the like of Trip Adviser that they have no other comments but lucky find for you all that lovely fresh food 🙂
LikeLike
By blondieaka on 24 September 2015 at 12:22 pm
At least now other people might be tempted by it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By leggypeggy on 24 September 2015 at 3:39 pm
Loved your order. Here in India too , the best meals are often to be found in ‘Khau Galis’ translated as food streets with a variety of pop ups . Nothing fancy but the food is simply yum !
LikeLike
By priyankamoraes on 24 September 2015 at 3:24 pm
I love finding out-of-the-way places to eat in India. I’ve had some sensational meals that way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By leggypeggy on 24 September 2015 at 3:40 pm
That is a gold mine!
LikeLike
By Michael on 24 September 2015 at 10:03 pm
It really is a gold mine. I could go back again and again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By leggypeggy on 25 September 2015 at 3:22 am
I love seafood… and those prawns and oysters are simply WOW!
LikeLike
By goodlifeoclock on 24 September 2015 at 10:47 pm
They were WOW!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By leggypeggy on 25 September 2015 at 3:22 am
We went on a delayed caravan honeymoon in 1984 and it was the simple fresh food in Provence and all along the coast that we remember, especially Sainte Maxime.
LikeLike
By chattykerry on 25 September 2015 at 1:12 am
It must be reassuring to know that Sainte Maxime’s is still memorable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By leggypeggy on 25 September 2015 at 3:22 am
It is – and wonderful blog and photos, per usual. You sound like you are having a marvelous time, enjoy!
LikeLike
By chattykerry on 25 September 2015 at 3:59 am
Looks so much more pleasant than eating in a place full of snobs.
LikeLike
By LaVagabonde on 25 September 2015 at 2:51 am
You bet. I’d eat in a market any day.
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 25 September 2015 at 3:23 am
This article has made me very hungry and thirsty!
LikeLike
By yeahanotherblogger on 25 September 2015 at 9:16 am
Does the same to me every time I look at it. 🙂
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 25 September 2015 at 3:29 pm
Fantastic!
LikeLike
By lifestyletalks.wordpress.com on 26 September 2015 at 3:26 am
It sure was.
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 26 September 2015 at 5:27 am
Oh my goodness your meals are incredible here! So jealous of this whole trip.
LikeLike
By cookiesnchem on 26 September 2015 at 10:12 am
We’re eating too well. My waistline is complaining. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
By leggypeggy on 26 September 2015 at 4:11 pm
It’s worth it! 🙂 Calories don’t count on vacation!
LikeLike
By cookiesnchem on 26 September 2015 at 10:58 pm
Yeah, but they’ll add up when I get home.
LikeLike
By leggypeggy on 27 September 2015 at 1:53 am
[…] if you’re new to the blog, you should check out the great meal we had in St Tropez or another great ‘seafood-y meal’ from my cooking […]
LikeLike
By Saint Tropez shows us something of her maritime history | Where to next? on 15 October 2015 at 9:27 pm
[…] 2015, I tempted you with two locations—the huge market in Barcelona, Spain, as well as the more intimate market in St Tropez in the south of […]
LikeLike
By Riga’s market one of the best | Where to next? on 2 June 2017 at 7:24 am