Mediterranean Relaxation: And fish on the menu + Recipe

Image credit: Rachel Shenk

I wake up late.

My vacation relaxation mode must be kicking in. In the dark of our shuttered cottage,

My Fitbit tells me it’s already 9:30.

Today is market day in the next town over and we’re hoping to buy some fresh fish for our evening meal before it closes. I slowly get up and open the window shutters and wooden door to the blue sky and sun I expect when I’m staying here in Le Brusc, a small town that sits on the Mediterranean in southern France. After our morning cup of coffee and a generous slice of baguette spread with butter and Nutella, we check with our daughter and husband who are staying in the next cottage over with their 14-month-old daughter. She’s still napping but as soon as she wakes up we’ll be ready to go.

I make my grocery list from a fish recipe I found in our hosts’ cookbook. It gathers recipes from farming women of this area based on the local foods and customs. I take along our reusable grocery bag, we pile in the car and are off to find a parking place not too far from the market. As we arrive, we can immediately tell that booths are closing down. With the presence of the Tramontane, one of the two winds that sometimes hug this coastline, it’s possible that the market vendors decided to close early.

Fortunately, the fishmongers are still open and they still have the fish I’m looking for. It’s a family operation with the grandma gathering the fish and weighing them and the grandson fileting them for us. The rest of the market is now shut down so we’ll have to get the remaining ingredients at the local supermarket. But while we’re here, we stroll along the water’s edge and take in the colorful boats, turquoise water, and blue sky, even with the wind.

Image credit: Rachel Shenk

Image credit: Heidi Shenk

On our way back home, we stop at Maison du Cygne (Swan House), an outdoor museum/garden where local artists show their works, and then stop for a drink at the harbor. So far this day has been in full relaxation mode.

Later, back at the cottage, Jim and Heidi cut vegetables and I put together the layers of the fish dish, boiled some potatoes , and threw together a green salad.

With the orange flan that I made earlier, a bottle of local rosé, and slices of fresh baguette, we enjoy a delicious supper together.

This is what memories are made of!  And here’s the recipe if you want to make the dish as well.

Image credit: Rachel Shenk

Recipe: Fricassee of Fish

2 lemons

Salt and pepper

1 bay leaf

3 cloves of minced garlic

¼ c. minced parsley

2 T. olive oil

6 filets of hake or white fish

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 zucchinis, thinly sliced

3 tomatoes, thinly sliced

1 c. heavy cream

Method:

Turn the oven on low. Cut one lemon into wedges to serve at the table for squeezing on the dish. Juice the other lemon.

Rinse and dry the fish then dip it in the lemon juice. Dip the zucchini in the lemon juice as well. Fry the onion in the olive oil until brown then remove to a large baking dish.

Keep in the oven while you sauté the zucchini slices until starting to brown. Then remove and layer on top of the onions in the baking dish.

Keep in the oven while you fry the fish filets until tender then remove and layer on top of the zucchini in the baking dish. Keep in the oven while you fry the tomato slices.

Remove them and scatter them around the edges of the dish. Sprinkle the garlic and the parsley on top.

Add the bay leaf. Put back in the oven while you heat the cream in the same frying pan. Pour over the ingredients in the dish and serve immediately. Sprinkle as needed with salt and pepper.