There is nothing more comforting than tasting the delicacies of the local gastronomy of Marseille after you take a bath at the amazing coves of Les Calanques or when you go out for a snack after a morning of sightseeing in the city centre. Our AVE (high-speed) France trains, AVE (high-speed) International travelling between Spain and France will take you to the city centre in less than 5 hours, so you can savour Marseille's dishes and wines.
Marseille's art de vivre is known for its simplicity and gastronomy. Gastronomy is an art in Marseille, mainly due to its magnificent climate, proximity to the sea and the vast wealth of local resources. Among many other peculiarities, the culinary base of Marseille is made up of a combination of fresh products with a wide variety of types of fish, aromatic herbs and the star ingredient: olive oil.
Below are some examples of dishes you can't miss.
There is no better way to start the day than with a nice coffee or tea, accompanied by a croissant with butter and wild berry jam. The more daring can try Croque-monsieur or Croque-madame, an appetising sandwich made with ham and Swiss cheese or gruyere, grilled or baked au gratin, and finished with a fried egg.
Where is the best place to enjoy it? Any café or terrace with views to the beautiful Vieux Port, one of the most legendary in Europe and the best place to experience the seafaring past of Marseille.
Croque-monsieur
Seafood and rural dishes were soulfully blended to create this tasty soup, prepared with fish, clams, prawns, monkfish, parsley, tomato, olive oil and white wine. The stew is cooked in a saucepan and served with toast and rouille, a sauce made with olive oil, bread crumbs, potato, garlic, paprika and saffron.
Some can't tell the difference between bourride and bouillabaisse despite being two quite different dishes. Marseille's bourride dates back to a period long before that of the bouillabaisse: this is a very simple dish prepared with white fish and an aioli sauce that helps bind the broth.
This dish is made with salted anchovies, garlic, vinegar and olive oil. It is usually eaten accompanied by toast as a starter or as an appetizer, especially during spring-summer.
Marseille gourmets devised this recipe with bouillabaisse or bourride leftovers, as an alternative to reheating these leftovers. This fish soufflé is mixed with bread crumbs dipped in milk, eggs and cheese, poured into a mould and cooked in the oven.
Oursin is the French term for sea urchin. Two dishes were created using the term "Oursinade":
Oursinades are used to refer to the gatherings of friends who meet to enjoy a hearty plate of fresh sea urchins. Another less known term is the traditional sea urchin cream prepared with white fish broth, mixed with a sea urchin puree.
Sea urchin platter
This traditional Marseille dish is very similar to Spanish tripe, prepared with stuffed intestines and leg of lamb, mixed with white wine and tomato, often accompanied by a vinaigrette.
If there is something you cannot miss before leaving Marseille, it is Four des Navettes, one of its famous patisseries, known for being the oldest in Marseille and for its navettes – a ship-shaped biscuit with a secret recipe.
If you also want to enjoy a nice wine with the city's traditional dishes, you should try Pastís, a very popular drink among the people of the port of Marseille. This is a traditional French alcoholic beverage with an anise base, which is watered down and served with ice. This thick-textured and yellowish-coloured concoction is the perfect aperitif for warm days.
Marseille's port area has plenty of fantastic restaurants, where you can taste a rich dish of bouillabaisse using the traditional 50-year old local recipe, while enjoying spectacular views to the sea.
At Maison du Pastis, you can taste more than 75 different types of the famous drink and the incredible absinthe drinks.
If you wish to continue delving into French culture, in addition to Marseille, you can visit many other cities connected by Renfe's AVE (high-speed) France trains, which will take you from city centre to city centre directly. Perpignan, Narbonne, Béziers, Montpellier, Nîmes, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Valence or Lyon.
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