A Taste of Summer in the South of France

18 February 2015

Enjoy a Lemon Inspired Menu in Sainte-Maxime and Celebrate Menton's Famous Export at La Fête du Citron®

The weather may be a little chilly but a taste of summer can be already be found in the South of France. Renowned for its lemon-growing, the city of Menton comes alive each year with an explosion of colour, flavour and entertainment at La Fête du Citron®. The refreshing fruit can be an uplifting ingredient to a wealth of dishes, taking diners on a flavoursome journey reminiscent of sun-soaked al fresco meals. Alongside events in Menton, there's a chance to reawaken taste buds in the idyllic setting of Sainte-Maxime with a three-course Lemon Menu at Saint-Andrews restaurant. These exciting celebrations are set to provide a delicious taste of high-summer to visitors of the Côte d'Azur this February.

Lemon Menu at Saint-Andrews Restaurant

Surrounded by rolling hills and overlooking the glittering bay of Saint-Tropez, Saint-Andrews restaurant provides the chance to admire fantastic views whilst enjoying an exquisite dining experience. Its three-course Lemon Menu begins with a sublime starter of salmon tartare, seasoned with dill and combava lemon. Combava is actually from a family of limes that originate from the Sunda Islands and has a slightly more acidic taste that's ideal for adding a tangy twist to the mouth-watering fish course. Continuing to combine the salty and refreshingly zesty, the main course will be roasted Sea Bream fillet with a savoury lemon crumble. While, a complementary side of mashed sweet potatoes will be flavoured with honey too enhance flavours.

Dessert will provide a taste of one of the most famous and favourite lemon dishes of all time, lemon meringue pie. Taste buds will be whipped into a sweetened frenzy with a blend of shortcrust pastry, lemon filling and fluffy topping... and if all of that wasn't quite enough, a complimentary glass of liqueur Limoncello will provide the perfect way to finish such a flavourful fine-dining experience. Take the opportunity to sample the three-course menu on the 22nd of February for only €26 per person at Saint-Andrews restaurant, by booking now on +33 4 9455 0201 or via email [email protected].

La Fête du Citron®

The famous La Fête du Citron® draws over 160,000 visitors to Menton every year with an array of fruit-inspired attractions and unmissable events. The city was the biggest producer of lemons in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, with varieties grown including Santa Theresa, Villafranca and Eureka. In celebration of this, the city held an exhibition of flowers and fruit in 1928, which was expanded later to become the Lemon Festival in 1935. Themes of the festival have varied annually, from 'Le Citron et la Mer' in 1971 to the musically inspired 'L'année Mozart' in 1991 and children's favourite 'Walt Disney Studio' in 2004. The last couple of years have been dedicated to works by French writer Jules Verne, with 'Around the World in Eighty Days' in 2013, 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea' last year and 'Tribulations of a Chinaman in China' this year.

Over 300 craftsmen, designers and event assistants have been busy putting 145 tons of citrus fruits to artistic use in order to offer just over two weeks of parades and exhibitions in honour of the lemon. Admire beautiful light attractions at Biovès Gardens, join in the exciting atmosphere as giant floats pass by at both the Night-Time and Golden Fruit parades, as well as as taking the opportunity to sample local artisan products at the crafts show. Find out what awaits in Menton between now and the 4th of March 2015 with the festival's full programme here.

Enjoy a refreshing taste of summer this month during a delicious three-course meal in the picturesque surroundings of Sainte-Maxime on the 22nd of February 2015, before heading along the coastline to celebrate Menton's most delicious export at a variety of exciting events.