Petits Farcis in front of the Château de la Napoule: the treasures of the Côte d'Azur

Direction the Côte d'Azur, between Saint-Raphael and Cannes, we land at Mandelieu-La-Napoule.

At Château de la Napoule, log on to OT-mandelieu.fr. As you can see, it is an ancient medieval fortress, which directly overlooks the Mediterranean. A real balcony over the sea, but above all a magical place.

Besides, you are warned from the front door with this quote engraved in stone: "Once Upon a time". Welcome, you're at Henry and Marie Crews, a couple of millionaire American artists. This castle, they restored it during the Roaring Twenties. They made it a play, a universe full of humor and imagination, from plays to gardens.

But it doesn't stop there. Do you see the big tower? This is where they rest, in a vault. Their two tombs are slightly open. You know why ? To let their souls escape and find themselves every 100 years in the closed double tower room at the top of the tower. Their next meeting is scheduled for July 28, 2037. 

And from the terrace of the Château de la Napoule, you have the most beautiful view of the Esterel Massif. This reddish massif covered with very green vegetation plunges its feet into the turquoise blue water and becomes a "cornice of gold" which sparkles at sunset. Well, this is your playground. Let's go, put on your sneakers, connect to "La Cote d'Azur Terre de Sports" by Isabelle Fabre on Youtube. 

On the land side, you can take the hiking trails among the Aleppo pines, the umbrella pines, the eucalyptus trees, to the Pic de l'Ours or to the Balcons du Cap Roux. If you are more athletic, you can do it by mountain bike or electric mountain bike. And then on the sea side, a must at the end of the day, the tour of the coves in the bay of Théoule sur Mer in stand-up-paddle, or even in Hawaiian canoe, very nice with friends or family.

So if that made you want to take to the open sea, well the Lérins Islands are reaching out to you, in the Bay of Napoule. Or Sainte-Marguerite Island, the largest. We go there for its national forest, its ornithological reserve, the pond of Batéguier, its marked paths, its small coves. But also for its fort, Fort Royal, a former state prison reinforced by Vauban and which welcomed the Man in the Iron Mask.

Or L'Ile Saint-Honorat, smaller, more peaceful and more spiritual. It houses the Abbey of the Lérins monks. There are 21 of them living in community. They always produce their wine and their liqueurs (with mandarin, it is the best). 

Here are a few addresses to make the most of your stay: 

- L'Ermitage de l'Oasis, a chic & charming hotel in the completely renovated district of La Napoule, opposite the Port of La Napoule

- The Pullmann Mandelieu for its sea view rooms

Marion Sauveur, what is the gourmet specialty of the Côte d'Azur that we can cook at home?  

A traditional recipe from the Mediterranean basin, which allows you to taste the first vegetables from the vegetable patch: these are the little stuffed ones. And with the first zucchini, it's an opportunity to put the sun in your kitchen. 

This dish of stuffed vegetables finds its origin in the hinterland of Nice. It would be the wives of peasants who developed this recipe, to accommodate the leftovers. They hollow out the seasonal vegetables, stuff them with a stuffing made from already cooked meat, before baking them in the baker's oven for gentle cooking. This allows the vegetables to retain all their juice and flavors.

What is the recipe? 

There is not ONE recipe, since each family has its own recipe which is passed on from generation to generation. But the basics are the same.

We use fresh and seasonal vegetables. It is better to choose vegetables that are small enough, because the younger the vegetables, the more tender they are. At this moment, you can put in your dish: round zucchini, potatoes or onions for example. A little tip to hollow out the onions: make them blanch before. 

For stuffing, use leftover minced meat. Purists will tell you that you absolutely need leftover beef steak. If you don't have any, sausage meat or even cooked ham, it's just as delicious. To mix with cooked rice, here too, we talk about the rest. We add the flesh of vegetables, chard green (that's the real Nice touch), garlic and white bread soaked in milk. Without forgetting to season with fresh aromatic herbs: thyme, rosemary, it has to smell like the South. 

This stuffing is added to the hollowed out vegetables. The hats are placed upside down on the vegetables so that they do not wilt. And we bake 1:30 at 180 degrees. At the end of cooking, let the vegetables cool down (they will have more flavor). It remains to place the dish on the table: the stuffed dishes are friendly. And besides be generous: fill the dish well, since the small stuffed ones are even better reheated.

Marion, when we have the pleasure of going to the Côte d'Azur… where can we taste the best little stuffed?  

• In Mandelieu, I advise you to take a trip to the caterer "Aux mille Pâtes". You can buy their stuffed cookies and taste them at home. 
• In Cannes, at the restaurant "Les bons enfants". Luc Giorsetti creates family, but gourmet cuisine. With its little stuffed ones, you almost feel at home.