The best part of traveling to beach towns is relaxing by the water...
And eating damn good seafood. Just a stones throw from Italy, Nice is the perfect place to execute one of Earth's most delicious combinations - seafood and pasta. Can I interest you in some clams + linguine...
Or, fruits de mer + spaghetti?
What could be better than adding a bit of pasta? Fresh artichokes.
Like so -
Grilled, succulent, baby octopus with artichoke, finished with a bit of fresh tomato and parsley. It's quite a problem that I only have one stomach and the metabolism I seemed to have in college has come to a screeching halt. But, you've got to make room for the local specialities and make promises to yourself that you'll do an extra few minutes on the treadmill when you return. Especially when I only have two days to enjoy what Nice has to offer.
Local to Nice is Socca - a thin, chickpea pancake cooked for a few minutes in a hot wood-fired oven. It starts as a very liquidy batter and olive oil.
It's then whisked together and pushed closer to the fire.
It puffs a little and browns. It's best tongue-burning hot right out of the wood-fired oven.
Its the ultimate Nice street food. If you're ever passing through Nice make sure you get some and its worth the wait to get a serving just out of the oven.
WOW Yummy!
Everything is so delicious looking. The pasta look so scrumptious. Love seafood pasta. Of course Socca is the best!
Posted by: elra | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 04:36 PM
Oh my Gog! that puff is totally mouth watering and sounds soo yummy :) I'm craving for it. I love the pic of sea.. so relaxing.
Posted by: ann | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 04:59 PM
ohmy I love baby octopus...that dish looks so good!
Posted by: Jen | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 05:48 PM
Oh my! I have never been interested in visiting Nice but now I am! All of that food is divine! Heaven on earth! My favorite stuff. Lucky you!
Posted by: Jamie | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Sea food & Beach Beautiful place on earth!
Thanks for sharing :)
Have a wondreful Day!
Posted by: foodcreate | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 09:18 PM
every thing looks so good...I dont know where to begin...
Posted by: doggybloggy | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Nice! How lucky are you? The socca looks delicious. And nice toenails by the way!
Posted by: Darina | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Looks delectable Adrienne! How I envy you and your lovely travels to these beautiful faraway places! I love trying street food when I travel- that socca = YUM.
Posted by: lisa (dandysugar) | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 10:55 PM
We are definitely interested in clams and linguine with socca on the side. Good stuff.
Posted by: The Duo Dishes | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 11:20 PM
You've no idea how jealous I am right now. The food, the travels ... ugh, when, when when will I get to do any of that?!?!
Those dishes look amazing. I would take any of those in a hearbeat but the octopus with fresh artichokes sounds absolutely divine.
Posted by: maria | Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Wow, the seafood pasta and that scrumptious baby octopus looks excellent! I haven't tried socca when I was in Nice but we were only there for a day and overnight.
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 12:29 AM
I really wish that I could all those dishes that you posted!! Octopus is one of my favs!! Oh man, am jealous .... hahah
Posted by: mycookinghut | Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 01:10 PM
It's hard to beat really fresh seafood, it all looks so good!
Posted by: Sam | Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 02:37 PM
The socca sounds very similar to Italian farinata, which I've made a few times and is just superb. As for the seafood, well, the pictures say it all. Lovely indeed.
Posted by: Daily Spud | Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 12:17 AM
Your first photo is the picture of relaxation on the beach - blue skies, bluer water, white waves, sandy sand and bright red toenail polish! 8-D
The only thing that beats it are the pics of all that delectably, deliciously gorgeous plates of seafood and pasta. Oh, I'm salivating . . . ! And this is the first I've heard of or seen socca - would love to try it.
Thanks for taking us along another great weekend jaunt!
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 01:19 AM
my dear god. i was about to grab my mid-morning snack and now my luna bar pales in comparison to that seafood linguini!!
also, pretty toes, cousin.
Posted by: snackpak | Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 03:06 PM
Yum Yum yum,...the food looks so tasty & yummie!
I love Nice! I have been there a couple of times & I love the city!
Do enjoy!
Posted by: Sophie | Friday, June 26, 2009 at 01:45 PM
Thought I had posted, swore I had in fact, but have to say, love to toes. Sets the tone for relaxation really well. The oven is something I dream to have one day for pizzas and now I'll have to add socca to the equation. Looks like you had a wonderful time.
Posted by: OysterCulture | Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 12:24 AM