Having an insanely good time on the Mini Cooper Tour – will post again asap!
To Catch A Thief: Take 8
Le Stuff’s Definitive Location Guide to Alfred Hitchcock’ s Classic Film
Series Post #10
Brigitte Auber told me recently that she first met Cary Grant in Cannes, just before filming began on “To Catch A Thief”.
Alfred Hitchcock introduced them on the balcony of Grant’s suite at The Carlton, overlooking the Bay of Cannes.
She liked him immediately.
Brigitte and Cary Grant
The setting for such an auspicious introduction seems fitting doesn’t it?
Where else but The Carlton would a young, beautiful French actress, destined for a long, successful career, meet the most famous movie star on the planet?
Today, more than fifty years later, Continue reading
Filed under Films, To Catch A Thief
Mini Cooper Tour: South of France – June 2 – June 7, 2011
I’ve been very busy lately fine tuning the details of my upcoming South of France Mini Cooper Tour. It would be an enormous understatement to say that I’m excited about this trip. Driving around the south of France in super-cool cars has been a passion of mine for many, many years and to be able to lead a group of like-minded maniacs rally style through some of the best scenery in France is a dream come true.
What is a Mini Cooper Tour, you may be asking yourself?
Good question Grasshopper.
My Mini Cooper Tour is designed for adventurous souls who have little interest in taking a cookie-cutter, guidebook-based tour of the Cote D’Azur. Want to see the south of France through a closed window with forty five other folks crammed into a tour bus?
Sorry, this trip is not for you.
Want to experience the south of France behind the wheel of a sexy convertible, engine roaring, a warm Mediterranean wind in your hair?
Then read on fellow traveler.
The Mini Cooper Tour features the very best sights, villages, roads, food, and wine the region has to offer. This is a tour for people who enjoy driving, but rest assured you won’t spend eight hours a day behind the wheel of your Mini Cooper Cabriolet. There is always a fabulous destination, I just want to make sure that getting from point A to point B is a whole lot of fun.
As always, our good friend and resident “wine guru” Jean Pascal will be on hand to guide us through the intricacies of delicious French wines.
A few highlights?
-Charming “oh so French” accommodations at Le Hameau in St Paul de Vence
-Drive the stunning moyenne corniche from Nice to Eze to Monaco
-Visit the picnic scene location in Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch A Thief”.
-Tour and taste at two domains in Bellet, located in the hills above Nice.
-Enjoy a tour and tasting at a tiny, family owned vineyard below the village of Tourrettes sur Loup.
-Drive the A8 across the border to the hill towns of Liguria, Italy
-A day of wine and sailing off the coast of Antibes.
Sound like fun? Click here for more details!
Related links:
The French Riviera: Driving Heaven?
Top Gear in the South of France: The World’s Best Driving Road?
The French Riviera: Best Drives
French Riviera Road Trip: Essential Tunes for Navigating the Upper Corniche
Filed under Driving
The Classic Goodness of Socca
A simple, yet sublime specialty of Nice, socca (pronounced so-ka) is way up on my “really good stuff to eat” list.
Think chickpea, flour, and olive oil cooked in a flat iron pan to just this side of brown.
Add black pepper and devour.
Filed under Dining and Wine
JP’s Wine Corner: Cheese Assortment, Cucumber Soup, and Beef Tender
My good friend Jean Pascal is a Sommelier/Consultant who runs a successful business in the south of France specializing in the wines of Provence and the Cote D’Azur. He has forgotten more about Claret, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet than I will ever learn in my lifetime, but has graciously agreed to let me take full advantage of his expertise here at Le Stuff.
JP will be joining us on The French Riviera in June for the Mini Cooper Driving Adventure!
My mother called the other day with a simple request. She was planning a dinner party for several friends and needed help with the wine selection.
Our conversation was quick and to the point:
Mother: “If I email the menu to you can you help me pick out some wines?”
Me: “I’m sorry, did you say you were going to email the menu to me…. on the
c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r?!!”
Mother: “Yes honey.”
Me: Who the hell are you and what have you done with my mother?”
The Menu: Continue reading
Filed under Dining and Wine, JP's Wine Corner
The Location of Bertani’s Restaurant
An early scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch A Thief takes place at Bertani’s restaurant.
Bertani, played by French actor Charles Vanel, is a former member of the French Resistance who, alongside John Robie (Cary Grant’s character), fought against the Germans in World War 2.
Several Le Stuff readers have asked about the location of the restaurant and if there actually was, or is, a real restaurant there.
I’ll try to clear up the mystery.
Bertani (left) with John Robie (Cary Grant) and Foussard
The terrace scene was filmed on the western edge of Continue reading
Filed under To Catch A Thief
