Now that the holidays are just a memory and a frightening number on the scale, I thought I'd tell you how, for us in Monaco, all those kilos got there in the first place.
Every December, Monaco's
Port Hercule is transformed into a charming Christmas wonderland or a
Village de Noël. It's similar to those that pop up during the holidays in cities and towns all around France and it's quite pleasant to bundle up and stroll between the little wooden huts buying charming, inexpensive gifts and grabbing a snack
al fresco. But that's where the similarity ends...
First of all, you'd never recognize it but Monaco's
Village is in
the exact same spot where the pits are set up in May of each year for
the Formula 1 Grand Prix race. Multi-million dollar race cars zoom around Monaco and end up here at the finish line where the Prince, along with anyone in the general vicinity, is doused with champagne by the driver of the winning car.
Mixed in with the traditional fare you'd find at any French
VIllage, Monaco offers the sorts of food you're more likely to indulge in at a high-end gastronomy event than an outdoor Christmas Village...
There's champagne of the white or rosé variety served in flutes that are glass, not plastic. There are a selection of fine red and white
wines to wash down foie gras on toasted brioche and a variety of oysters. Beside the oyster stand is one selling steaming plates of mussels and
cold sea urchins with lemon wedges. Pinky wipes are kindly provided as needed. There's Bellota ham from Spain and Hungarian Goulash. And if it's not luxurious, it's probably strange like giant marshmallows coated in chocolate called Têtes du Choco and on the savoury side of strange, "Cheese and Fries" and Badass Burgers from a
"Secret Recipe transmitted from Biker to Biker." Looks to me like the Cheese and Fries were copied from Quebec and look a lot like Poutine to this Canadian girl!
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| Monaco's Port Hercule. A Christmas Fair in December, the Grand Prix pits in May |
If you or the kiddies would like to munch
on something more traditional, there are old standbys like Churros, waffles, or crêpes spread with Nutella or doused with Grand Marnier. There are entire booths devoted to cochonnerie, (I love that word) which is the French term for junk food like lollipops, candy apples, and cotton
candy in your choice of 10 flavours. Personally, I prefer a modest helping of yeast-raised, sugar coated doughnuts made à la minute while you watch and lick your chops.
Apart from the food and gift stands, there's entertainment with daily
puppet shows, karaoke, magicians, games, a Ferris wheel, a beautiful
antique carousel, a skating rink, and sprinkled here and there, creepy looking
sculptures.
Good friends Christine and Geoff and I took a spin around the skating rink one fine and sunny day which was quite pleasant until a giant teenage girl careened
into Christine and then took me out along with her. After we pried our aching bums off the ice, we called it a day
and fled to the safety of the Ferris wheel to take in the spectacular view.
One thing for certain,
people in Monaco may not be skilled skaters but they're definitely
skilled eaters.
6 comments:
I'll have 2 waffles doused in Grand Marnier and covered in Nutella. This Christmas village sounds like a wonderful culinary experience.
Oh my gosh. That final photo made me bust out with laughter!! I scared the dogs! Wow, that is all kinds of creepy but the food is all kinds of...ready? "Yummy." Your favorite word. :)
Two waffles coming right up. Then we can meet at the skating rink.
Yes, yummy.. Especially the doughnuts. You'll have to check it out next year.
I would so love to be there. What a delight. I once saw a diner eating oysters in a restaurant in Monaco; the oyster so fresh, it moved ever so slightly in its shell.
Come next year and we'll skate around the rink together!
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