But wining and dining is also part and parcel of the lifestyle of the affluent state. Thus, you can expect gourmet fare here. After all, Monte Carlo is only 10km from the borders of Italy. You would find seasonal vegetables from France like eggplants, tomatoes, red and green peppers, chives, spring onions and garlic in the kitchen.
Favourite seafood includes seabass, red mullet, squid, octopus and lobster.
Although the region is hot, the sea is cold. The meat from South of France is lamb while veal is from the Italian Riviera. Chiappone explained that peasant food is about vegetables grown in the backyard such as zucchini flowers and eggplants. I have my own garden of zucchini flowers but you have to pick them early in the morning before sunrise when they open or they will close and go soggy. In the old days, a goat is kept for milk, some of which is used to make goat cheese.