Shopping Like a Chef on the Cote D’Azur

France is the epicenter of Western cuisine and if you want to shop like a chef on the Cote D’Azur take a break from the region’s glitz and visit its local markets. The culinary artisans to whom food is a labor of love sell produce, meats, cheeses and regional specialties.

Most travelers to the region spend time in Nice. In the heart of the Old Town is Cours Saleya, pictured above. Past the flower market are stalls manned by local farmers selling herbs, spices and produce from Provence every day except Monday.

Best known for its glitz, glamour and film festival Cannes’ market is Marche Forville, located on the doorstep of La Suquet, the city’s old town.

West of Cannes you’ll find Antibes’s market, Cours Massena, in the old part of the city.

To truly shop like a chef it best to get to these markets in the early morning hours. Most open at 6 a.m. and by noon are closing down for the day. Taking a morning stroll through one of the region’s markets makes an excellent way to start a day of exploring.

France Bound

I’m flying to France via London later today, where I’ll be spending the next 9 days on the Cote d'Azur.

It’s been about 10 years since I’ve traveled to France, somewhere I used to travel often when I lived in London (as well as before and after) while I was editing Europe-focused publications from New York.

Most of my travel to the French Riviera was on business and I’m looking forward to taking time on my own dime to explore more thoroughly the stunning towns along the coast and inland with camera in hand of course.

Naturally I’ll have plenty to report when I return.

What places have you not visited for a long time that you miss?

Mannequins From Around The World

It seems that wherever you travel most mannequins appear to have European features. Perhaps there is some worldwide monopoly on the often freakish figures, much like Monsanto has on soybeans?

This bobble headed mannequin outside a uniform shop in Dongdaemun Market in Seoul, South Korea would no doubt make some small children cry. Perhaps she is overcompensating for her headless comrades?

These androgynous mannequins in an Issey Miyake showroom in Tokyo are minimal and more chic. The fit right in Aoyama, an upscale fashion shopping district.

This feminine looking mannequin in Bur Dubai Souk in Dubai looks displeased to be wearing a gutra (head cloth) and dishdasha shirt dress traditionally worn by men in the UAE. Perhaps her male counterpart was on holiday the week I was there.

I’m contemplating starting a mannequin business that represents the cultures of the world. Naturally proper research would involve extensive travel.

Cape Cod Bound

I’m heading to Cape Cod tomorrow for the rest of the week. If the weather cooperates, this is a good time of the year to go – after the summer crowds and before the gloom of the end of the year kicks in.

Looking forward to getting out of the city, photographing this scenic part of the country and reading and sleeping by the ocean. A day trip to Nantucket may factor in as well.

I have posts lined up while I’m away. When I return I’ll also be posting more regularly again and catching up on travels from earlier this year.

Where do you like to go in the off season?

Street Scenes: Where Time Stops In The Haight

Haight Ashbury in San Francisco was the epicenter of 1960s hippie culture in the U.S. Today some remnants of that era still survive if you don’t include the touristy shops selling tie dye and Grateful Dead t-shirts.

On the corner of Haight and Ashbury is a clock permanently set to 4:20 p.m., which is known as international bong hit time.

420 is code for those involved in cannabis culture. Reports vary as to where 420 originated. Urban legend has it that 420 is police code for marijuana. Others argue 4:20 is the time a group of high school students in the neighborhood in the 1970s used to meet after school to partake.

Today April 20th is an unofficial holiday for cannabis culture folks to gather and light up. In San Francisco the day is celebrated in Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park.

I happened to walk by Hippie Hill on April 20th of this year and saw large groups of people sitting in circles engulfed in plumes of smoke. At the time I was unaware of the holiday and just assumed this is what the locals do in San Francisco.

Have you ever unexpectedly stumbled across a counter culture or unusual holiday or festival in your travels?

Conveyor Belt Sushi Tokyo

Japan is a foodie county and the only one I know that combines gizmos with dining. Pictured below in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant a few steps below street level.

Conveyor belt sushi, or kaiten-zushi in Japanese, is Japan’s version of fast food sushi. The conveyor belt winds its way throughout the restaurant within grasp of diners. Patrons take food from the conveyor belt as it passes by. If you look closely at the photos you can see ample condiments including big tubs of ginger on the counter.

Would the novelty of kaiten-zushi draw you in for a bite to eat?